Gooderson Dumazulu Lodge & Traditional Village

A convenient family resort near Hluhluwe and St Lucia. The rooms were a bit dated but spotless, and the service was excellent. Breakfast at the restaurant was good, while dinner was less satisfying.

We loved ending the evening by the fire, toasting marshmallows and looking at the stars. The staff set it up for us and were wonderful and accommodating throughout. Our weekend at Goodersons Dumazulu Lodge was peaceful, and the food was delicious. The rooms and gardens around the huts were neat and clean, and seeing the crocodiles in their enclosure and the snake world was a bonus. Some room and bathroom finishes are older, so it may not suit someone wanting a modern feel, but we had a great experience.

Service was amazing, 9/10, while dinner was average, 6/10. The self-catering room really needs an urgent upgrade. It’s a short walk to dinner and breakfast, but you’ll get soaked if it’s raining.

The unit was very disappointing and nothing like I expected from the photos. We had to wait a long time for someone to open the gate because the intercom was out. The bathroom was in poor shape, with stained toilets and shower floor and a loose toilet seat. The pool was filthy, murky, and clearly not cleaned. Insects kept dropping from the thatched roof, even while we slept, and I found fleas on me in the room in addition to the mosquitoes. The AC barely worked, the unit was dim, and most of the lights were out. The kitchen lighting was so poor I had to keep adjusting my eyes to see. Not what I expected from a Gooderson name.