Karongwe River Lodge

All the staff were thoughtful, friendly, and a big help throughout our stay. We ate really well, with plenty of choice, including a traditional braai. The game drives were fascinating, and our guides were great. We saw the Big Five more than once. It was our first safari, and we’d happily return to Karongwe for another relaxing, fun time in the bush.

We had a lovely two-night stay and would recommend the lodge. The food was delicious at every meal, with lots of variety. Staff were very friendly, and the drives were well organised. Rifos and Spotter Patrick knew their stuff and were welcoming; they listened to what animals we wanted to focus on and gave everyone time for photos and questions. We saw all of the Big 5 multiple times. The one disappointment was the extra-cost bush walk. It was advertised as a two-hour activity, but ended after 45 minutes, and we only went a few metres along a path. There was no bush walk or animals like we expected from the description. At 30€, it was disappointing and below the lodge’s otherwise high standards.

Solomon and tracker Jonas were a terrific team. Their care for the animals and enthusiasm were inspiring, and we saw the Big Five and more. The drives were excellent, and with those two you’re in good hands. Food is superb, with lots of choice and vegetarian options. You select lunch at breakfast, then dinner at lunchtime. The day has a nice rhythm: wake at 5am for a 5:30 morning drive, return at 8:30 for breakfast, then time to unwind before lunch at 1:30. There are two pools, an on-site spa, and chairs on the balcony. After more downtime, the afternoon drive runs from 4 to 7pm, followed by dinner at 7:30. The rooms are lovely, with beautiful river views, and you’re surrounded by nature and wildlife. I can’t praise the place enough, it was perfect for our safari.

The lodge is in a good location, and we saw a lot of animals during our stay. The team clearly puts effort into helping guests see the Big 5. Still, after staying at three lodges on our South African safari, this was our least favorite. On its own we might have enjoyed it more, but beside the exceptional standards of the other two, it felt closer to 4.5 stars than five. George was friendly, but his guiding style didn’t match what we’d experienced elsewhere. He kept his tracking “secrets” to himself, so we often didn’t know what we were looking for until we found it. We wanted more explanation about animal behavior and the ecosystem, and that was missing from our drives. We also felt the animals’ space wasn’t always respected as much as we’d have liked. Sometimes we got too close, which seemed disruptive to the wildlife.