First Group Sanbonani Resort

The restaurant was the one part we didn't enjoy. We skipped eating there because it didn't feel inviting and the menu looked limited. We had a lovely two-night stay at Sanbonani Hotel. Check-in was quick, and the reception team greeted us warmly. Since we arrived early, we had a drink at the bar and went to the spa while waiting for our room. The spa was a highlight, and the bar had very good cocktails at excellent prices. Our room was tidy and the bed was comfortable. The pool area looked beautiful, the water was just the right temperature, and waiters came by so we could relax with a cocktail. We both enjoyed the visit, and I'd rate it a solid 4 out of 5.

The pool stayed clean, the buffet was definitely worth it, and the food was Heavenly, except for the margarita pizza, which was badly burnt. I especially loved the bacon and cheese fries, they were TO DIE FOR! The cats were sweethearts too, though one had ticks and looked like it was suffering. I wish they would get better treatment. You could hear the neighbors constantly, including a crying baby, because the walls were so thin. The WiFi was horrible. Paying for every round of Billiards felt outrageous, we probably spent more than R200 just on that. And switching off the ice cream machine on slightly cold days is diabolical. IT IS NEVER TOO COLD FOR ICE CREAM. JUSTICE FOR ICE CREAM EVERYDAY. I'm glad they made bingo free. I would've flipped if I had to gamble on vacation, and my friend ended up winning twice. The quiz was easy to follow, too. I won't be coming back soon, though. The six-hour drive wasn't worth it. I definitely recommend the bacon and cheese fries, and I loved those sweet cats.

The unit was a real letdown: the couches smelled strongly of sweat, the drains stank, and ants were everywhere. We couldn't leave food out for even a few minutes without it being covered. Noise carried straight through the thin walls from the neighboring unit, making it hard to relax. The gym felt unhygienic and smelled unpleasant, and some equipment, including the air bike, didn't work. WiFi was poor and unreliable. At the restaurant we waited about two hours for food, even though only a few other guests were there. We'd had an exceptional stay at Sabie River Sun last year, so we decided to try the timeshare places available and booked Sanbonani Resort Hotel & Spa. This time was a big disappointment. Reception staff were unfriendly and unhelpful from the start, and the unit wasn't clean or well maintained. We had booked Monday to Friday, then Friday to Monday, but packed up and left early Saturday morning. It fell far short of what we expected compared with our previous experiences in the area. We were so disappointed that we left early, and unfortunately won't return.

A peaceful, beautiful place with good security, clean surroundings, and a handy location for visiting Kruger national park. You can choose a self-catering holiday or stay at the hotel.