Rhulani Kruger Villa

I really didn't want to leave. It felt like leaving family behind, and Rhulani is a breathtaking, Black-owned lodge near Kruger that feels like a home away from home. The place is beautiful even while going through renovations. Giraffes, monkeys, warthogs, and all sorts of animals were right outside the window when we woke up. It's a three-minute walk to the Kruger National Park fence, where you can sit and watch animals and already feel like you're inside Kruger. The hospitality was amazing, and the friendly staff provided whatever we needed. The food was wonderful too. We don't eat pork, so they accommodated us with fresh fish, and the generous three-course meal was amazing. I'll definitely be back.

The buildings seem structurally fine, and the showers and bathrooms inside the dwellings work. But the place needs a proper makeover, with flooring and wooden fixtures repaired or replaced. On a hot day, a horrible smell hangs over the area, apparently because the septic tank was built near the rooms. The pool area needs redoing too: parts of the wooden deck are cracked, and termites have eaten away at some of the wood. It needs to close for a major renovation if it's going to reach three- or four-star standard.

The place is lovely and peaceful, but management was poor during our stay. We paid for breakfast when booking, then left without getting any because apparently we hadn't told them we'd want it. There was no microwave in our room, so I had to walk to the main kitchen to heat my food. We also couldn't open the bedroom door to the balcony. Please have a backup for load shedding too, we were left in the dark for 20 minutes on Saturday night.

Rhulani Kruger is a great place to stay. Everything was neat and in good order, and the staff were very friendly. It felt secure, with a beautiful view and harmless wild animals wandering around. My friends and I enjoyed our stay and will definitely go back.