Gem in the bush lodge

The owners were very friendly, but ants made the place so unpleasant that I checked out after just one night of a three night booking. I knew it was one of the cheaper places to stay and only needed somewhere to sleep, but the ant problem was massive. They were in the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, even inside the kettle. It didn’t seem like they’d got in just that day, so I’m not sure when it was last dealt with. I felt like ants were crawling on my skin all night.

A real Hoedspruit gem for anyone wanting a break. Clean, safe and affordable, with a fantastic host.

Good morning Heleen, We’re very unhappy about what happened when our team arrived yesterday. We paid well in advance for three comfortable rooms, but our men were put in what looked like a backpackers’ bed. You had told us more than once that they’d be in separate rooms on the same premises. The team itself wouldn’t have made a fuss, but you kept saying how much effort you’d made and how busy you were, as though confirming a booking weeks ago was a favour. You also called the people who made the booking “useless.” We didn’t get what we paid for. We’re extremely disappointed and wouldn’t recommend or return to your accommodation. The owner replied that, as discussed several times, each person had a room and we had agreed the booking was fine. They said they never claimed the rooms were at the same property, and that the property was not a backpackers’ place. They said they had used it many times without complaints, that our team hadn’t communicated properly, and that the contact number provided didn’t belong to one of our members. They advised us to book five star accommodation in future because our guests seemed unhappy with normal budget accommodation, and to update our contact details.

We had a really relaxing stay and loved the wildlife that came to say hello. Our hosts were wonderful, gave us privacy and were very helpful whenever we needed them. The only drawback was the lighting. A few LED bulbs would make a difference.