Kariega Game Reserve Ukhozi Lodge

Service Quality: The staff at the lodge provide exceptional service, going above and beyond to ensure guests feel welcome and looked after. Many reviewers highlight the attentive and friendly nature of the team, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

A very slick operation - from welcome drinks on arrival to cold flannels ready and waiting at the end of each game drive. Food is of a high quality and there are daily menu changes. Catered very well for me with a gluten free diet. We were also lucky enough to be there for one of the Bomas and it was lovely to hear the ladies singing. Thanks to our guide, JJ, for searching high and low for some of our spots; although the rangers work together to try and find the elephants and lions, they all have their own methods and we had some thrilling rides along the way, along with some stunning views when we stopped for a break. They don't overcrowd the animals - no more than 3 jeeps are allowed at a sighting at any one time - and consequently it never felt commercialised and, most importantly, the animals didn't appear to feel threatened. The lodges were stunning and the wellness centre offered a good value range of treatments - would advise booking on arrival if you want a particular time slot.

Words almost fail me trying to write this review because there are just too many good things to say! From the moment we arrived until the moment we left, everything was… well, not just perfect, but more than perfect. The staff were incredible – every single one of them so thoughtful and kind. Our guide Melissa was an absolute star. She went above and beyond to make sure we saw everything we hoped for and that we were comfortable every step of the way. Most of our drives had just four of us, but for our last afternoon and morning we were the only guests in the lodge – and that meant we had Melissa all to ourselves! Honestly, who gets that?! I’d have totally understood if they’d combined us with another group since we were just a couple, but no – we had our very own private drive, which felt unbelievably special. Melissa was fab: knowledgeable, fun, considerate (she even made sure the snacks and drinks suited us), and just an all-round wonderful person. We can’t thank her enough. And it wasn’t just Melissa – everyone else was amazing too. I’ll admit, I was a little worried before going that I might have to ‘make do’ as a vegetarian. How wrong I was! The food was absolutely fantastic – I honestly don’t think I’ve ever eaten so well on a holiday. They even made me a birthday cake, and on our last night, despite us being the only guests, they put on a proper Boma with singing, dancing, and an explanation of the songs. It was magical and we felt so spoiled. They even helped patch up a broken suitcase so we could travel onwards without worry – just another example of how nothing was too much trouble. And of course, the animals! That’s why you go on safari, right? This was our very first one and I knew there was a chance we might not see everything… but wow, were we lucky. Within hours of landing in Port Elizabeth we were already face-to-face with lions. Then came zebras, giraffes, rhinos, elephants, wildebeest , antelope galore, and even wallowing hippos. We ticked off everything we’d hoped to see (okay, except for the lion cubs – but that just gives us the perfect excuse to come back!). Honestly, if you’re hesitating about whether to book this safari – don’t. Just go. It was magical from start to finish, and I couldn’t fault a single thing. Huge thanks to Melissa and the whole team – you gave us memories we’ll treasure forever, and we really hope to see you again.