The Elephant Hills B&B

There’s potential here: it’s within walking distance of a shopping complex and restaurants, and a good walk from the beach. I was staying for work when accommodation in the area was scarce. If I hadn’t paid upfront, I would have chosen somewhere else after the first night. There were lots of details needing attention. The pool was never properly cleaned, so I didn’t use it. There were only five TV channels, and I’d be lucky if three worked properly. The serving station, bowls, and cutlery weren’t always clean. My room had no emergency light, and there was no generator onsite. The gates weren’t automated for parking. I got one bath towel and no hand towel, and there was nowhere to hang my towel. The shower had no soap dish, there was no curtain hook or tie, and the aircon was loud. Breakfast had canned fruit in syrup, and fresh fruit was rarely available. The cleaning staff were friendly and helpful, though they sometimes missed things. Natalia was always willing to help. My biggest complaint was how it felt like they were doing me a favour by letting me stay. The woman who checked me in wasn’t friendly and didn’t even introduce herself on the first day. She seemed more focused on getting payment for the whole stay upfront. We booked a room for a colleague arriving later, but she gave it away to someone ready to pay.

The management was accommodating and the staff were super friendly during my week at the lodge in February 2024. It’s conveniently located near the sea, shops, and everything else, and it’s quiet and neat. The pool is to die for. Elephant Hills BnB is excellent value for money and will be my go-to when I travel to Richard's Bay for work.

The beds were really comfortable, the shower was clean and nice, and the air con worked great. Breakfast was lovely too. A great experience overall.

Everything seemed perfect, but two of my things disappeared: my brand new JBL earphones and the yoghurt I’d left in the fridge. I’m certain both were in room M4. I’m never going back.