Elephant Lake Hotel

The people made this Christmas trip, especially Nathi. His knowledge, sharp eye for wildlife, enthusiasm, and easy humour kept us interested through a full day out. He was thoughtful and made sure everyone felt comfortable and informed. We spent four nights and five days at Elephant Lake Hotel in St Lucia, with breakfast included each day and tours arranged by Go Safari St Lucia. On day two we took an estuary cruise and saw hippos close up, along with other wildlife. It was peaceful and surreal. The next day we drove about two hours from St Lucia to Bayete Lodge for an elephant interaction. It was moving and humbling, and one of the biggest highlights of our trip. Our first day was a full-day game drive, including a Christmas braai, which made for a memorable start. The whole holiday was full of moments we’ll treasure. Thank you to Go Safari St Lucia, Elephant Lake Hotel, and Nathi for a joyful Christmas away.

The hippos were the standout for us. Less than two hours after arriving, four wandered over to the pool for a drink, then headed into town, right below our balcony. That was a real holiday highlight. The room itself was basic and medium-sized, with a hard, cheap-feeling bed and a toilet that didn’t flush properly. The air conditioning and small fridge worked well. During a five-hour city-wide blackout yesterday, though, the hotel’s generator and solar panels didn’t help. There are quiet-after-10 signs, but drunken tourists still woke us, and suitcases rumbling over the tiled hallway floor didn’t help. Early departures also made sleeping past 7 am impossible. With so many other places around, I wouldn’t stay again, except for the hippos.

The rooms were roomy and cleaned thoroughly, and whenever we asked for something it was handled quickly. Breakfast was good too. There are lots of restaurants just a short walk away. We enjoyed our stay at Elephant Lake Hotel and would choose it again if we return to St Lucia.

The views and location were nice, but the Wi-Fi barely worked in about half the rooms. One morning, while I was sleeping with the Do Not Disturb sign on the door, housekeeping A. made a lot of noise right outside, then opened the door and asked, "Must I not disturb?" It was a very disappointing stay. The staff seemed clueless and the Wi-Fi was practically unusable. I wouldn’t return or recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy a holiday.