Thanda Safari Lodge

Reviews

"The whole experience was wonderful. The villa is perfect, a place of luxury, and you could almost reach out and touch the wildlife drinking from the watering hole. Fabulous setting and stunning location. The staff were fantastic - just attentive enough without encroaching on our time together. The rangers were super experienced and so informative and found us all we wished to see and more. We didn't miss out on a thing - our mission was their mission. Elephants, giraffes, zebra, buffalo, lions and cubs, cheetahs, white rhino - even black rhino and a leopard, and so much more. They got us so close to everything and were determined to give us the best experience possible. Be prepared for heat and cold on the drives, though the rangers had a supply of blankets and rain macs for us to use. There were so many little extras too which just added to the whole thing. Very high standard of service overall. Just superb."

- Lizzie

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"Thanda was an outstanding experience! Four days in the tented camp was the nexus of a bush safari experience and luxury. The staff was simply outstanding. Ephraim and Ronnie, our guides were like old friends after the first evening ride. Thami was an exceptional manager only equaled by the remarkable well trained and pleasant staff. Over four days we saw just about every type of animal on the reserve. The relatively few vehicles searching for game made the rides enjoyable and intimate. We did see the Big 5 several times during our visit. Our guides were more like naturalists than game spotters. We left feeling quite knowledgeable about the flora and the history of the Zulu people. I would highly recommend Thanda. It is a three hour drive from Durban through commercial forests and sugar cane plantations. We certainly could have stayed longer. Inclement weather for our first two days made for a unique, but still enjoyable time. We highly recommend a stay in the Thanda tented camp."

- Donald

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"We recently stayed at the Tented Camp for 2 nights and from the moment we entered the reserve to the moment we left, the service was nothing short of exceptional. The "new lodge" (as the last time we came, the camp hadn't had its revamp) is absolutely stunning and the tents are great. Our bed was beautifully turned down for us every night and always spotlessly clean. When in the communal area, the staff were extremely friendly and always willing to help, no matter what the request. The rawness of the staff is so endearing and their welcoming smiles really do make a guest feel at home in the camp. The staff were a huge contributing factor to great experience we had at Thanda. The fact that they are all from the surrounding communities makes it that much more special to us as it is the Thanda "project" that our country needs more of! For our drives we had the "dream team" of Sbu and Madida who did everything they could to give us the best game viewing experience. They managed to find us the big 5 including lions on a kill as well as two leopards and cheetah. They ensured that we were always entertained on our drives and were extremely patient when answering the many questions that were fired their way. Their positive attitude and love for the bush is clear to see which made the drives so much more enjoyable. Overall, a fantastic experience that will be hard to match!"

- Jonathan

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"Thanda was recommended to us as the game reserve to visit north of Durban and it was! We had a three night stay in the lodges and everything was superb. The accommodation was wonderful and extremely spacious with great outdoor area. The staff throughout the stay were so helpful that in addition to everything else they did for us, they staged and impromptu barbecue for my wife's birthday with cake! The drives were equally as exciting and our guides both knowledgeable about the animals and environment and where to go so we saw the best views. We literally saw everything close up with spectacular photo opportunities at every viewing. We saw animals around the lodge watering hole, had a great surprise evening bush meal with Zulu dancers in the jungle, met some great people but the stars were the animals themselves who did not fail to disappoint. I was not that keen on going in the first place, but would certainly return for more of the same - can't recommend enough."

- Bruno

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"Wouldn't have missed this wonderful place for anything. Even the most ardent ant-camper would love this style - we'd call it "glamping" - glamour camping - with nothing spared to give us a wonderful experience. All staff were fantastic - Rangers, trackers, housekeeping and food and beverage staff - providing outstanding service and quality. The morning and afternoon safari drives were wonderful, our drivers and trackers exert in their knowledge and able to show us the very best of African wildlife. We loved being able to go off road and follow animals through the bush to be able to watch at such a close distance - Far closer than we had ever hoped for. Sundowners each evening found us in a beautiful spot somewhere in the reserve to watch the sun go down. The serenity of the camp was a welcome relief and it was wonderful to sit out on the individual deck of our tent and listen to and watch the birds and impala right at the edge of the deck. All meals were excellent and we enjoyed our evening under the stars at the boma. Our introduction to Zulu culture was very welcome and gave us an insight into the history and lives of the Zulu people. I would gladly have stayed longer and couldn't recommend this place more highly. Certainly a place to recommend to anyone visiting Africa. I hope to return"

- Chris

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"We stayed in the luxury villas and they certainly know how to cater to your needs. Accommodation and service excellent. The experience with the animals were the highlight. we stayed 2 nights and got to do 4 game drives as well as an activity with the elephants. We were up close with pride of lions, cheetahs, elephants in particular, and saw leopards from a distance. Wow what an experience. A few elephants actually visited a watering hole at our accommodation site. We did not get to see the Rhino and I only found out later about another location where they are in abundance, so we could have taken a short drive to see, next time."

- Carolyn

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"We stayed 4 nights at Thanda and enjoyed every single minute of it. There is probably nothing left to say - just see the other positive recommendations. Just - you don't want to miss it! We will come back, for sure."

- Andrea

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"What a fantastic place for a safari / honeymoon. The staff were very professional and friendly. The game drives were excellent. The food was excellent. The stay was great value for money. We were looked after so well."

- Nelly

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"Recently returned from a 4 night stay at the fantastic Thanda Game Reserve with my husband & 13 year old daughter. What an experience! The lodge itself is first class, as is the food. The game drives were great, and Zaks and Willard our driver and guide went above and beyond and were such fun. The overall staff were great too. Would highly recommend."

- Jennifer

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"7 stars for such and amazing, beautiful slice of heaven. Africa and its wilderness at its best. Staff were absolutely amazing and catered for every request. Game rangers knowledge of the wild was unparalleled and they happily engaged the kids in trivia while on the drives."

- Ben