Tenikwa

The staff who clean and the people serving breakfast and dinner were friendly and doing what they could. For me, the bigger issue was management. The accommodation smelled strongly of cleaning products for the first day and night, so we asked them not to clean on days two and three. The room furniture was very basic, including a textile wardrobe, and the rooms need updating. There were missing shower tiles. Tap water came out brown, so bring water for brushing your teeth. The 5l bottle in our room wasn’t sealed, so we didn’t use it. Breakfast was limited to a choice of omelets, or coffee or tea with a pre-filled yogurt and cereal in a plastic cup. There was no buffet and no choice beyond that. It wasn’t enough to stop us feeling hungry, so I don’t understand the praise it gets. Dinner, if booked, also had few choices and wasn’t much food. The pool is tiny, about 2m-1m, despite looking bigger in the photos. For what you pay, it’s too expensive. I don’t understand the many good reviews on booking.com.

You can visit Tenikwa for a few hours without staying overnight, and there’s a new Wellness Spa that was absolutely blissful. I loved seeing how the team multitasks and keeps track of everything on the property. Rehabilitation and awareness are at the heart of what they do, and many staff members are from the local community. Do check them out, you won’t be disappointed. Brent James Owner Genesis Travel Solutions

We stayed two nights, but I wish we’d booked longer. It would make a good base for exploring further afield, and we left feeling relaxed, sad to go, and eager to return. It was a life-affirming visit. We were the only guests in the lion cabins, so had the place to ourselves, apart from the giant tortoises wandering around. At night, Mkhulu & Khlumba roared often, which beats any alarm clock. We could spend hours alone within a metre of these magnificent animals. Davidson was especially welcoming, and owners Mandy & Len made us feel like part of the extended family. We shared plenty of good conversations, especially over a glass of wine. The stay was on the last days of Jan 2023, in the LION CABINS on the SLEEP WITH LIONS PACKAGE, which I believe is only available directly through their website. It includes dinner, breakfast, and a Forrest & Fur tour, all arranged smoothly in a relaxed, informal way. The food was simple, tasty, and unfussy. Chicken lasagne was a revelation. If you have a specific request, like a braai, get in touch before arriving and I’m sure they’ll try to accommodate you. The accommodation is very comfortable, with a glamping feel but no canvas. It’s set up for self-catering, with a fridge freezer, gas stove, full kitchen utensils, and a small braai.

We booked the Lions cabins months in advance while planning our honeymoon, as we did for all our stays. The Tenikwa Nature Lodge website made it sound like the room and lion experience would be something magical to share together. What we got felt very different, like false advertising. The room was a poor metal shed covered with basic materials and pictures. The shower and sink were exposed, rusty metal, worse than what I’ve had in the military. The water from the shower, toilet, and sink was yellow, and the room key was a bit faulty. There was no wifi, but we had to put up with those things. Overall, it was a letdown and by far the worst place we stayed in at SA. Avoid it if you can.