ANEW Hotel Hluhluwe Hotel

Even for just one night, the hospitality and entertainment made a lasting impression. We were greeted with a delicious, beautifully prepared spread that made us feel welcome right away. The Zulu dance performance was another highlight. The dancers' strength, power and rhythm were captivating, and it really showed the richness of the local culture. A lovely hotel with a warm, memorable atmosphere.

The rooms were very nice, and we liked the pool area and lounge. Staff were generally friendly and polite, and we did have a lovely stay, but it didn't feel like the four-star experience we expected. The porter watched us unload our own car. Restaurant service varied with how busy it was and the waitresses' moods. The food was decent, but not four-star standard. It's a nice enough hotel, just not deserving of its rating.

I booked two rooms for four days, and the carpets in the passages were never vacuumed or swept. They reeked. The throws and pillows in both rooms smelled of stale sweat, and the outdoor tables and benches stayed covered with leaves, twigs and water whenever we walked around. The bathroom extractor in room 224 didn't work. Maintenance took two days to inspect it, said the switch was on the roof and they'd check and come back, but never returned. Housekeeping also mopped every room with the same mop and bucket. The water was black and smelly by the time they moved from room to room. I asked them to mop again; they brought clean water but used the same old mop. Getting towels each day was a lucky draw. Sometimes we got bath sheets, sometimes not, and hand towels were just as unpredictable. Housekeeping staff watched videos and TikTok in the corridors between rooms. The buffet advertised vegetarian pasta. Since the hotel doesn't cater to halaal guests, we ate vegetarian food, which is usually fine. But the pasta advertised as vegetarian had chicken in it. I reported that to the manager, who seemed apathetic and uninterested.

The room service and Hluhluwe conference package were excellent during our stay from the 24th to the 26th of March. Special thanks to Mr Sibonelo Silangwe for his attention to detail and for keeping a close eye on my delegates. I appreciate the whole team who were there. We had an excellent stay and look forward to more fruitful engagements at your facilities.