Hornbill Lodge

The river view is lovely, and the staff were friendly and apologetic, but the meal was basically inedible. We ordered chicken liver starters at R100 each, which felt very pricey for livers. The gravy seemed to be made with Nando's sauce and flour, and was congealed, with no sign of fresh ingredients. The hake and prawns had no flavour either. The place could do something with that view, but they shouldn't be serving food like this.

Benjamin led our quick hike with Hashtag and Belle. He was a good-natured, very knowledgeable young guide, and we really enjoyed both the walk and the conversation.

The check-in was a nightmare. Our first room had a leaking roof and a bad-smelling carpet, so I asked for another one. It was better than the first, but still not good. At dinner they had no chicken, so we ordered two beef burgers. They were the worst I've ever eaten, a waste of my hard-earned money. On the second night, I asked the facility manager if I could heat my food. He refused, saying I'd dirty his microwave ☹️. The rooms had no small complimentary soaps or body wash, no kettle, and no tea station. The stoves barely worked, too. This place needs new owners or management to reach its potential. I wouldn't recommend it. I didn't even bother with breakfast on the last day, we just left 😱

A stunning location that hosts lots of events, though it gets hot in summer. The bathrooms need work. It's great for events, but hire toilets.