Shumbalala Game Lodge

Reviews

"In March 2014 my partner and I did a three day stay and safari with Shumbalala Game Lodge. More than a lodge this is an experience. Gracious! Not only is the lodge luxuriously appointed, the staff is beyond attentive, the food beyond expectation the game drives are spectacular! My best recommendation goes to this Lodge! Exceeded in almost every way. Shumbalala is located near Kruger National on the Thornybush Reserve. We were thrilled to see leopards, lions, elephants, herds of water buffalo, hippos, zebras, giraffes, wilderbeast, impala, springbok and more and more during our game drives. Topped off guided bush walks, star gazing the southern hemisphere...all while having afternoon high teas, 5 star meals and more. Its a small Lodge, youll get better attention, and you will interact with others from around the globe...enjoy! All my best to Jeandra and the crew! Spectacular!"

- Jerome.

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"My wife and I have stayed at five star properties all over the world, but there is none that can compete with Shumbalala. From the moment of greeting by Steffi, the innkeeper, to the moment of departure from Wayne, our guide, everything was PERFECT. The accommodations, the food, the setting, the game drives. the service, the wines...everything was ideal. If you ever consider a visit to the Kruger region of SA, you MUST book into Shumbalala."

- Janet

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"My wife and I spent 3 fantastic days at Shumbalala with our two daughters in their 20's. We had a wonderful time. The rooms, service and food were all excellent and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. More like staying in a private home than a hotel. The game viewing was also first class, especially the chance to see the big 5. Wouldn't hesitate to go back!"

- Mike

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"Such an amazing trip that there are no adequate words to express The ranger and tracker were beyond well versed, I felt incredibly comfortable and happy, and was lulled to sleep by the lions roaring. The food was amazing, the lodge was beautiful and the game drives were out of this world! I highly recommend this place!"

- JL. Roger

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"Like everyone else I only have great things to say. Wayne and Herman were our Ranger and Tracker and were both knowledgeable and great fun. Rooms were great as was food. Only 8 people at a time made it feel very personal."

- D. Gunz

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"My wife and I had the pleasure of staying at Shumbalala for 3 nights. Outstanding staff.....Steffi the manager was very accomodating to our every request. Wayne and Herman our guide and tracker were incredible. Our game drives revealed the wonders of seeing the Big Five even including leopard on a kill, lion on bushwalking led by Wayne.....adrenaline rush! My expectations were high and they exceeded them all. I highly recommend Shumbalala ....food, accommodations, and staff. The personal interaction gave us an insight to life there and the wonders of the bush!"

- Tom

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"My wife and I have stayed at five star properties all over the world, but there is none that can compete with Shumbalala. From the moment of greeting by Steffi, the innkeeper, to the moment of departure from Wayne, our guide, everything was PERFECT. The accommodations, the food, the setting, the game drives. the service, the wines...everything was ideal. If you ever consider a visit to the Kruger region of SA, you MUST book into Shumbalala."

- Janet

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"Such an amazing trip that there are no adequate words to express The ranger and tracker were beyond well versed, I felt incredibly comfortable and happy, and was lulled to sleep by the lions roaring. The food was amazing, the lodge was beautiful and the game drives were out of this world! I highly recommend this place!"

- JL Roger

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"Like everyone else I only have great things to say. Wayne and Herman were our Ranger and Tracker and were both knowledgeable and great fun. Rooms were great as was food. Only 8 people at a time made it feel very personal."

- D Gubz

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"This was our first safari and our first stop. Couldn't have asked for more. We felt secure on all the day trips and saw all the large animals, including elephants, African buffalo, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, leopards and countless species of birds. A bonus was the absolutely delicious food. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly, as were all the staff. Recommend this without equivocation."

- Dr Deut

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"we spent 4 nights at Shumbalala at the end of July with our 3 teenaged kids and it really was the most amazing vacation we ever had. The lodge itself is beautiful and the rooms were spacious and lovely. Loved the crackling fire that awaited us in the room when we returned from dinner. The staff were lovely, food was great and appreciated that Steph could cater to our vegetarian needs. The highlight of course were the amazing game drives with Wiehan, our ranger and Palance our tracker. They were both extremely knowledgeable and professional and Wiehan has a great sense of humor and was great with the kids. We loved the pit stops along the way for coffee and muffins in the morning and wine and nibbles in the afternoons. I had thought that 8 game drives was too much and that we would get bored but we could have stayed longer since each drive was different and each time we never knew what animals we would see. i highly recommend this lodge and hope we can come back in the future!"

- Julie

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"In March 2014 my partner and I did a three day stay and safari with Shumbalala Game Lodge. More than a lodge this is an experience. Gracious! Not only is the lodge luxuriously appointed, the staff is beyond attentive, the food beyond expectation the game drives are spectacular! My best recommendation goes to this Lodge! Exceeded in almost every way. Shumbalala is located near Kruger National on the Thornybush Reserve. We were thrilled to see leopards, lions, elephants, herds of water buffalo, hippos, zebras, giraffes, wilderbeast, impala, springbok and more and more during our game drives. Topped off guided bush walks, star gazing the southern hemisphere...all while having afternoon high teas, 5 star meals and more. Its a small Lodge, you'll get better attention, and you will interact with others from around the globe...enjoy! All my best to Jeandra and the crew! Spectacular!"

- Jerome

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"My wife and I had the pleasure of staying at Shumbalala for 3 nights. Outstanding staff.....Steffi the manager was very accommodating to our every request. Wayne and Herman our guide and tracker were incredible. Our game drives revealed the wonders of seeing the Big Five even including leopard on a kill, lion on bush-walking led by Wayne.....adrenaline rush! My expectations were high and they exceeded them all. I highly recommend Shumbalala ....food, accommodations, and staff. The personal interaction gave us an insight to life there and the wonders of the bush!"

- Tom

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"I've done what I would term a 'luxury' safari once before in South Africa, but Shumbala provided not only incredible, intimate accommodation, but also fabulous game viewing opportunities, come rain or shine! The lodge itself is right in the middle of the Thornybush reserve, and to be welcomed by the exceedingly friendly staff and a cup of iced tea was just what we needed after the bumpy ride in (try to get a 4x4 if you're driving yourself there!). Our room was beautiful, and the three visits a day from housekeeping meant that despite our best efforts, it stayed that way! The game drives were incredible. We were lucky in seeing a leopard just enjoying itself at the side of the road and not minding us being so close, but our ranger really went the extra mile to ensure we saw absolutely everything we could, and safely. When a rhino was hiding away on our last drive, we were led on foot (at a safe distance, I might add!) to take a look - really an incredible experience. I was also pretty smug that while some lodges were sending out packed 9-seater vehicles, there were only 4 of us at Shumbalala at the time, and I believe that with a maximum of 8 for safari, they will always provide a personal experience with great views when on the drives. The food was great throughout the trip, with the chef and her team taking into account any and all food whims and making sure we never went hungry. Overall, this place was awesome. We saw everything we could have hoped for, slept in beautiful surroundings, and drank and ate until we burst, with very friendly staff around to help us at all times. Thank you Shumbalala!"

- Joanna

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"My wife and I spent 3 fantastic days at Shumbalala with our two daughters in their 20's. We had a wonderful time. The rooms, service and food were all excellent and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. More like staying in a private home than a hotel. The game viewing was also first class, especially the chance to see the big 5. Wouldn't hesitate to go back!"

- Mike

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"I've done what I would term a 'luxury' safari once before in South Africa, but Shumbala provided not only incredible, intimate accommodation, but also fabulous game viewing opportunities, come rain or shine! The lodge itself is right in the middle of the Thornybush reserve, and to be welcomed by the exceedingly friendly stuff and a cup of iced tea was just what we needed after the bumpy ride in (try to get a 4x4 if you're driving yourself there!). Our room was beautiful, and the three visits a day from housekeeping meant that despite our best efforts, it stayed that way! The game drives were incredible. We were lucky in seeing a leopard just enjoying itself at the side of the road and not minding us being so close, but our ranger really went the extra mile to ensure we saw absolutely everything we could, and safely. When a rhino was hiding away on our last drive, we were led on foot (at a safe distance, I might add!) to take a look - really an incredible experience. I was also pretty smug that while some lodges were sending out packed 9-seater vehicles, there were only 4 of us at Shumbalala at the time, and I believe that with a maximum of 8 for safari, they will always provide a personal experience with great views when on the drives. The food was great throughout the trip, with the chef and her team taking into account any and all food whims and making sure we never went hungry. Overall, this place was awesome. We saw everything we could have hoped for, slept in beautiful surroundings, and drank and ate until we burst, with very friendly staff around to help us at all times."

- Joanna