Vuyani River lodge exceeded all of my expectations from the room to the delicious food! Thank you to all of the staff who were extremely welcoming and helpful! A special mention to chef Adelaide who catered for my food preferences at the last minute without fuss. Also to Thomas our guide who managed to spot all big 5 plus much more in one game drive!!

Stayed in May 2024

Nothing

We travel regularly to South Africa and we have been to many lodges before. But this lodge is hands down the best we have ever experienced! Our chalet was spacious and everything you look at is special. The bed is huge and comfortable and the deck is perfect for relaxing.The AC worked flawlessly and the Wifi was super fast. We loved the elevated outdoor shower! This is the best thing ever! The food was very tasty, the wine and spirits are all inclusive and the wine is excellent, we were so surprised. The safaris were simply out of this world! We saw cheetahs, lions, elephants, leopards rhinos, giraffes zebras and even wild dogs!!! So,so lucky. This lodge is an absolute gem! We stayed far too short and we will return very very soon! Many thanks for a great stay.😃😀

Stayed in May 2024

I loved everything about the property

Stayed in April 2024

Vuyani had one large table for all guest to have their meals at. I am not sure if they encourage social interaction with strangers but we requested our own table for meals which they gladly set up for us for the remainder of our stay.

The game drives and friendly staff was a huge plus. The facilities were great

Stayed in March 2024

Occasional road noise but lovely stay all round

Tranquil, unpretentious, comfortable lodge. Very attentive committed staff

Stayed in March 2024

The service was beyond my expectation. Kind and friendly staff. Clean, beautiful , peaceful and relaxing place. I loved everything.The food was amazing. And thank you Vuyani River Lodge team for going extra mile to make my birthday special. I would definitely visit again.

Stayed in February 2024

Not a lot to say here really. I thought it was maybe a little bit too pricey for what you got. But the staff were wonderful so they deserve it.

A beautiful location, amazing food (including wildebeest steak!) and the daily game drives were very interesting. The room was comfortable and well decorated. Pool area was lovely but it rained a bit during my stay so didn’t get full use sadly.

Stayed in January 2024

We got lucky and had a great safari group the whole time, but I guess if you were less lucky then you might end up spending the game drives and meals with people you don’t click with. That’s me clutching at straws though - there was nothing really to criticise.

Our stay at Vuyani surpassed all our expectations, it was honestly unforgettable. I can’t even explain how attentive and lovely the staff were, our every need was catered for and it truly felt like luxury. The food was like being in a fancy restaurant every day, all day long. The housekeeping was discreet yet happened constantly. The lodge is beautiful and, of course, top of the list are our incredible safari guide Stuart and our tracker Pino. They really made our trip. Stuart shone with happy energy and they were both incredibly talented when it came to finding the animals and answering all our questions. This really was the trip of a lifetime.

Stayed in February 2024

nothing

love it. absolutely stunning place, extremely friendly staff. Just love it!

Stayed in December 2023

Room was amazing. A special mention to Jared and Direct who were an excellent safari guide / tracker. Both were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate in what they do.

Stayed in September 2023

amazing holiday here exceptional staff who made you feel part of a family . do not hesitate just book it and go it’s everything it says it is and more

Stayed in April 2023

Nothing not to like!

It was a fantastic stay. The food was great with lots of choice. Drinks were plentiful and generous. The pool area was very comfortable with lots of sun loungers and parasols. We even saw a lion from the pool one afternoon!! The chalets were very well equipped and felt luxurious. The game drives exceeded all expectations. We loved the stay and recommend it.

Stayed in March 2023

Nothing.

Very attentive staff, food was excellent, two game drives per day seeing all the big 5 and many more animals. Kayla our driver was a champion! Lovely outdoor hot shower, beautiful pool, drinks on tap all the time, and a beautiful setting. Highly recommended!

Stayed in March 2023

Nothing. All fabulous!

Amazing staff - so friendly and accommodating. Cute rooms. Incredible game drives (our guide was Kayla and our tracker was Direct). I think 3 nights is the perfect length which included a half day morning trip up to Kruger.

Stayed in January 2023

There is only an outside shower!

The location of this property is superb!!! There is a lot of extras activities you will be able to do while encountering the big five!!

Stayed in January 2023

Lovely place, thanks so much!

Stayed in December 2022

Small disappointment regarding the packing of the food and drinks: The staff forgetting our main meal (chicken) when we went to a whole day trip to Kruger, so we were left with only potato salad :( Same with 2-3 times when the drinks we ordered before the drives were not there. I think that is the only thing that probably needs some improvement to make it a 10.

The game viewing is Amazing!. We loved our guides . Ocean and Krest!! commited and puntual. Going into the bushes with the land rovers was MAGICAL, gives you that sense of adventure, they were able to track lions during eating and a Cheeta!.. The food is amazing :) and we've got breaks with home made cookies and wine during the evening.

Stayed in October 2022

What an amazing stay it was! If Discovery Channel were to create a theme park, it would be called Vuyani, no doubt! The Vuyani game drivers are absolutely awesome, as within the very first day I have witnessed the Big 5 and so much more: a leopard, six elephants, rhinos, a lioness with three cubs, hunting, two male lions, one following another, roaring for attention, baboons, numerous giraffes, herds of gnu, impalas, kudus, buffalos, zebras and tremendously adorable warthogs. The videos I have from the trip are truly unbelievable, like a random giraffe photobombing a video of a zebra running away from a rhino, or a leopard dining on an Impala on a tree. A trip to remember, for sure! The hospitality of the hotel and the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff was above and beyond, too. Everything you can possibly think of was meticulously thought through and already included in the stay: the game drives, the drinks in the minibar, two amazing bottles of Alvi's Drift (one of the best private wineries in South Africa), pick up and drop off to the local Hoedspruit airport, Africology amenities in the room. One thing that wasn't included and was oh so worth the money was the Africology Spa massage by an Africology therapist, which can be arranged at the property. So relaxing! The rooms are very comfortable and have all the necessary amenities, a super powerful hairdryer and a very stylish copper outdoor shower. It is an absolute dream of a location, and my trip was just perfect thanks to the Vuyani team. Bonus tip: ask for a sundowner at Pangolin Rock, one of the most Instagram worthy "she said: Yes!" spots in South Africa.

Stayed in July 2022

The only thing I didn’t like was having to leave to go home

The game viewing was out of this world. The rooms were beautiful. The staff were amazing - so friendly and helpful. it’s a small lodge and all meals are with everyone sitting around the same table which was great as a solo traveller. A luxury stay with a relaxed feel.

Stayed in April 2022

My room has a really bad pee smell in the carpet. There are carpets all over including the bathroom area, it’s open area between bathroom sink and a bed. I can’t sleep because of pee smell. I report to the staff, she said the cleaner will clean again but I think the smell already suck inside the carpet. You can’t get rid of it. It’s not a good memory. The room also near the railroad, so it’s noisy.

The staff is great, most of them pay attention to customers needs.

Stayed in May 2024

Poor customer service

Stayed in July 2023

When i checked out i raised the food issues with the manageress- Lani. Instead of accepting the feedback as constructive criticism aimed to try and assist the lodge to provide a better overall experience, she became quite hostile and sarcastic, and said that no "overseas guests" had ever raised such a complaint, as if my complaint (coming from a local who has stayed at many lodges across the country) is somehow invalid and doesn't count- a very strange response i told her. she also had a no-care attitude when i advised her that her response is not acceptable and they should treat all guests equally. To make matters worse, when i got home i noticed bite marks all over my body causing severe itching and discomfort. They obviously don't clean and sanitize their beds (and perhaps the rooms) properly.

Breakfast was very average and insufficient for the number of guests. often food ran out. also during lunch and supper. One evening we were told we would have a braai. A typical South African Braai would at least have boerewors and chops or meat. There was an impala stew, chicken on the braai, and very few salads. The stew ran out quickly and some guests, including me, only got chicken. not an impressive "bush braai" experience at all. At a particular lunch we were given pies and salads- not what one would expect at these rates.

Stayed in December 2022

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Stayed in November 2023

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Stayed in November 2023