Protea Zebula Lodge

The spa and gym are in good order, and the bar and its service were good. The breakfast was good too, and my experience with staff overall was positive. The facilities are good, but the kitchen is having issues: not every menu item is available, and meals take forever to come out. Even with just five tables, we waited hours for pasta, with nowhere else to buy food when the service stalls. The hotel has bicycle rentals for sightseeing, but the bikes weren’t available because of maintenance problems.

The rangers know so much and clearly care about the animals and their environment, and the activities are well worth doing. The food was top class. From the moment we walked in, the staff were professional, warm and friendly. Our room was spacious and clean, with that home-away-from-home feel. It was a relaxing and satisfying stay.

We got married on the 5th of September and chose Zebula for a short honeymoon. Reception staff were amazing, and the self drive was exciting, with so many animals to see. We expected a great time, but were highly disappointed. At the restaurant, we waited about 30 minutes for help. My glass was dirty, as was the cutlery, and the food took over 60 minutes. When it finally arrived, it was more like Cafe food than fine dining. My husband got food poisoning from the chicken wings he ordered, which made being ill on our honeymoon especially unpleasant. We also wanted to try some adventure activities, but nobody told us there wouldn’t be any from a Monday to Wednesday.

The game drive was worth it, and the guide was very knowledgeable. I’d recommend him to anyone. The food was nice, the cocktails were amazing, and I’d definitely recommend the milkshakes. But service all around was absolutely shockingly bad. If you want a drink at the restaurants, you have to go find a waiter or waitress yourself, and the food takes a very long time to prepare.