Kapama Karula

Reviews

"My husband and I stayed at Kapama Karula in July 2014, to celebrate my forthcoming 50th birthday. We were there for 2 nights/3 days, as part of a 14 day South African trip. What can I say about this wonderful paradise, other than "perfect". Nothing really needs to be addressed, upgraded or changed. Let's see, where do I begin? A) Accommodation This is brilliant. Brand new lodges (whether standard, superior or family), that are state of the art in modern design, fixtures, fittings and furnishings - and completely in sync with the surroundings. All light and bright and airy, with a great balcony too, enabling you to watch the wildlife coming down to the riverbank to drink! Neutral tones, comfort and a homely feel. It's a shame you won't spend more time in them, because you'll be on safari for most of your stay. There are also two "5 star" tents at Karula (which we didn't stay in) that are set back from the river (so no views of the wildlife from their balconies) but are also decorated and fitted out to the same standard. B) Food What a wow factor here. Your own personal waiter to greet you at every meal (for the duration of your stay) - sensational service, and fabulous food. If you can't see what you like on the menu (and there is plenty to choose from) just ask for a variation, or something else. Nothing is too hard. We found the food first class, and often too much of it! There's a "pre-breakfast" before you go on safari, a cooked breakfast afterwards, 3 course lunch, afternoon "high tea" and then a 3 course dinner. All gourmet stuff you'd get in any high-end restaurant and all inclusive in your stay. Thank you Cliff for looking after us so well! C) Safari Let's face it - this is why people really come, and you won't be disappointed. Again, your own personal guide and tracker for the duration of your stay so you can. Safari vehicles are open (no roof or sides) and cater for 9 guests, so you could have company depending on your group size. They offer 2 safaris each day - a morning drive (leaving 6.30-7am) and a twilight drive (leaving 4-4.30pm). Both go for around 2.5-3hrs. You'll stop for a break mid safari, with refreshments on offer. Given Kapama is a private game reserve, you can get up very close and personal with the wildlife. Their vehicles are allowed to venture off road to get you a better view. This was the main difference we felt, between the private game reserves, and Kruger National Park (which we also went to, on safari). In the public/national parks all vehicles are required to have a roof and remain on the main roads - so going on safari in a private park, has 2 huge advantages (open vehicle and go anywhere). Yes - we saw the big 5 in the 2 days we were there (4 on our first trip out!) but we were amazed at all the other animals we saw too, some of which were quite rare. The guides are very knowledgeable, and will commentate or answer your questions, and then some. We had Edwin and Reckson - who were delightful! On the cold morning safaris, we were provided blankets and hot water bottles so we were toasty and warm whilst watching the amazing wildlife, and the sun come up. I don't recommend you sleep in and miss these morning drives! This is when most animals are out and about. 4) Staff The people at Karula are sensational and are the key to their success. Every one of them will remember your name, and everything else you divulge about yourself. They have a great sense of humour, a strong commitment to conservation and plenty of knowledge and experience in Safari Tours & luxury holidays. You really feel like someone special, with very personalised attention from the moment you arrive, until the time you very sadly have to depart. I only have 2 very very small criticisms : 1) The massage and relaxation options on offer, are not available at Kapama Karula. You need to travel to another location to engage in these. These are offered at one of their "sister" properties, Kapama River Lodge. In very minor inconvenience. 2) Periodically, they put on a BBQ night, which is held outdoors in their "bomber" dining area. What an amazing outdoor dining area this is! Magnificent! However, despite the 5 star food we experienced for the entire trip, the BBQ food was not up to scratch. Being Australian (the kings of BBQs), we were disappointed. Meats were either too raw, or overdone (irrespective of how you requested them to be cooked). Plenty of variety though, and I would suggest you try the more exotic game on offer, such as ostrich, crocodile, kudu, buffalo etc as these were very tasty (perhaps just not at the BBQ night!) So two very minor negatives (neither of which impacted the fabulous time we had). This is an AWESOME place, where you are guaranteed an awesome experience!! I desperately want to go back!"

- Lisa

---

"We were amazed at how beautiful Karula lodge is. The suites are out of this world! The staff, service, and food were all excellent. We wished we could have stayed longer!"

- Christine

---

"All the excellent reviews are true. The staff are the friendliest people on earth. Your every need is cared for. The suites are spacious and very tasteful. The food is excellent. The is a LOT of game to see. What more can I say?"

- Richard

---

"Stayed for 3 nights in a luxury suite. Wow - total decadence and an experience I want to repeat as soon as I can. The room was huge with a living room and a beautiful fireplace (although it was way too hot for that). The bathroom was also huge with a indoor and an outdoor shower. Standing in the shower looking out at the bush, watching monkeys, antelope and kudu wandering past was surreal. The room also had a large deck and large private pool. The whole suite including the deck and pool was totally private with no-one able to see in, and the next suite was around 10metres away and positioned so you couldn't see it. Rooms were serviced a couple of times a day, while you are out on the safari drive. One morning we could hear the lion roaring from our room. Amazing. The food was exceptional with a waiter appointed to you for your whole stay. Each meal was off a menu with plenty of choices and easily the same standard as any top restaurant in the world. As there are only around 12 rooms it is a very personal hotel. The service was exceptional and all the staff greeted you with such genuine friendliness. We were picked up at the airport by the ranger/guide who was to be our guide each day on safari along with a tracker. He was awesome and so friendly and knowledgeable. There was only one - two other couples on the drives and he catered for whatever we wanted to see and stopped to explain and answer questions. I would highly recommend spending the bit extra and staying at Karula. We had one night at South Camp afterwards. It was also excellent and much cheaper, but the difference in what you pay is definitely reflected. At Karula you pay for luxury and that is what you get. I will definitely be going back."

- Judith

---

"Very nice lodge with 10 houses and 2 tents, we had family room 1 and it was great. Room is definitely 5 star including heated swimming pool. Food and drinks are top quality, and staff is very friendly and helpful. Game drives are great and their rangers are top quality. Single drawback is that there are many electricity posts going through the area, so you lose the feeling of being in the bush, but largely compensated with great gzme viewing, we saw leopard, cheetah and lion. Rhino and elephants viewing was superb"

- Rik

---

"From the moment we arrived at the airport at Hoedspruit, everything was arranged by Kapama Karula to perfection. The staff were very friendly without being interfering. Andreis was very professional and helpful - as were all of the staff. There was not a single thing which I would say could be improved. Internet was slow but who cares when you are in such an amazing place with so much to see and do. The morning and evening game drives were very exciting and varied and we only wished that we could have stayed longer. Treated ourselves to day spa treatments twice which was wonderful. Only comment - food was too good and hard to resist. Great place for families, honeymooners, anyone who wants to be spoilt. Friends have visited 3 times previously - now I know why. Thanks Kapama Karula staff - we will see you again."

- Tanya

---

"My family had three nights at the Kapama Karula park and thoroughly enjoyed the professionalism and the attention to detail afforded during our stay. We were rewarded with not only sensational safari outings, but beautifully presented meals and nicely appointed accommodation. We would return again perhaps during a different season as the end of 'winter' afforded little colour, otherwise was a very comfortable temperature both day and evenings."

- Janelle

---

"Our Kapama Karula experience was one we will remember for a long time. The camp itself is modern yet blended into the bush. The luxury room was HUGE, beautifully decorated and included a private infinity pool. The entire river facing glass facade could be opened which made the room feel part of the natural surroundings. We were allocated a friendly and knowledgeable game driver and tracker for our morning and evening game drives (in the 3 days we were there we managed to see all the animals there were to see except leopard). We were also allocated a server for the rest of our stay. The food that was served 3 times a day was top quality as well as the service. Kapama Karula is a gem and a true 5 star experience, we were treated like gold during our stay."

- Steve

---

"This place is absolutely amazing. From the airport transfer until leaving, everything was amazing. The rooms are so incredible they seem out of a magazine. We stayed in a suite with our own infinity pool, which was heated (important if windy). You can see wildlife right from your deck/pool overlooking the river. The indoor/outdoor shower was incredible. The beds were very comfortable. All of the staff was friendly. The food in the restaurant was very high quality, you can tell they put a lot of effort into the taste and the presentation. We really enjoyed the BBQ night too. This was our first safari experience, and wow. Our ranger, Janco, and spotter, Roy, were both great. Janco was very knowledgeable about all the animals, birds and plants. You could really tell how excited he was to see the wildlife as well. We couldn't have asked for a better experience, and we did see the big 5 as a bonus. If you are looking for an amazing experience, accommodation and food, look no further. We found it very, very hard to leave this place. however many nights you're planning to stay, book one more than that. You'll be happy you did and you get more chances to see the animals."

- Lawrence

---

"Kapama Karula offered us true luxury, as well as superb game viewing and the most knowledgeable guide of our 3 week multi-country trip. We booked a Superior Suite, and boy, was it ever! I wanted to move in and stay forever. With an airy, spacious feel, beautiful natural decor a luxurious bath (indoor/outdoor shower & soaking tub) and our own private pool. That alone would have made me happy but add to that a gracious, friendly, attentive staff; elegant, delicious meals (so much so that we never had lunch - too full from the scrumptious breakfast) and a guide and tracker that couldn't be beat. Juluka, our guide, was thoroughly professional, educational, informative and just a delightful man to be around. Each game drive seemed to bring a new, special, experience. Thanks, Juluka, and the whole staff at Kapama Karula!"

- Nanciose

---

"We stayed for four nights for our silver wedding anniversary, and we could not of chosen a better place to celebrate, the service was absolutely outstanding, without being invasive, all of the staff, from top management, to the room maids were so friendly and approachable, nothing was a problem. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted and made to feel welcome, with hot towels and drinks, everything was explained and our room was ready, We were introduced to our team for our drives, which was Janco, Alveet and Nicholas, who were great, very informative and very easy to get on with, the drives last for 3hrs, stopping as you come across animals, birds or other things of interest, with the guys explaining all, and encouraging questions, at the half way point stopping for refreshments, which in the morning consisted of tea/coffee, with muffins, and on the evening drives, wine/spirits and nibbles, which was good, it gave you a chance to chat, and to get to know each other. The food, before the drive, was a light breakfast of croissants, cold meats and fruit, as the drive starts at 6am, and finishes around 9, after which, there is breakfast, which included a buffet table as well as a menu for a cooked breakfast, which was certainly hearty, 1pm is lunch with 3 courses followed by high tea at 3.30pm, just before your afternoon drive at 4pm then you return to dinner, which was either inside, or out, all of the food was of a very high standard, and well presented. There are only a total of 12 suites at Karula, including two tented, we were in suite 8 which was spacious, well laid out, and clean. with everything we needed, from tea/coffee making facilities, fresh fruit and room safe. The room was very comfortable, with a king size bed, large sofa's, a stand alone bath, plus two showers, one indoors and one out. Also our own balcony looking across the river, one morning we had monkeys out on our balcony and in the trees, which was great to observe. I would recommend that you do not miss any of the drives, even though they are early, as you just do not know what you are going to see, your drive can just change in an instant, as one morning we were driving for about half an hour and seeing the easy to view animals, such as impala's, when the tracker noticed lion tracks, which we started to follow, well, they disappeared into the brush, when just up ahead there was a group of hippo's, with one out of the water, then to the side of that there was a crocodile basking on the bank, as we looked up the road we saw the lion walking away from us, which we followed, and managed to get up close too, as if that was not enough, on the way back there was talk of a leopard, which we were very lucky to see, and which completed our big 5. I could go on and on with this review, and I would like to say a big thank you to All of the staff for making this a truly memorable vacation."

- Peter

---

"Coming from Asia, we heard only about the great national parks in Kruger and always dreamed about going there. As it turns out when we started planning the trip to visit the great safari, we ended up Kapama and it made a world of difference. The facilities in our camp were brand new and in fact when we were there in May they were still doing the landscaping and the wifi wasn't great (* we asians need our wifi!). That aside the hospitality, food and rooms were amazing. As for the game watching, we saw all the Big 5 except for the elusive leopard and were duly rewarded to have a cheetah nonchalantly walking by us while we were having our mid-way drinks! The guide informed us that the upside with private reserves is that they limit the trucks that visit each sector of the park and that way when you spot a game it will often be just yourselves and not crowded by dozens of others which is an experience-downer. Highly recommended and cant wait to come back!"

- Ronald