Province of KwaZulu-Natal Hotels

• tompt
• Reviews: 2523

Helpfulness

Abu Madi Game Ranch: Great views of the bush

We stayed at Abu Madi for two nights in August 2010. We were with 7 people, 5 stayed in the main lodge and the other two had a squaredavel close by.
We arranged to have breakfast and dinner in the lodge, which was great. Susan is a great cook.

Arriving at the lodge we were greeted by Martha, who showed us around and after that Susan served tea and biscuits on the patio. The patio overlooked the bush of the Zululand Rhino reserve.
Before dinner we took our car into the bush and managed to see rhino and buffalo in just an hour.
Dinner was served buffet style in the dining room.

Unique Qualities:
- As the lodge is lodge at the top of a ridge the view over the bush is overwhelming.
- Every night a porcupine family comes to feed on the leftovers.
- Great birdwatching, birds are fed by the lodge owners early in the morning.
- Small scale and very personal.
- Price is very good for a safari lodge.

Our verdict:
We will visit again in 2011, as this is a very good value for money option.

• Opinion of Price: N/A
• Address: Abu Madi Game Reserve, 6 km from Mkuze
• Phone: +27 35 5731233
• Website: http://www.abumadi.com
• Related to: Safari, Photography, Birdwatching
• Written October 15, 2010

Patio at the lodge

4 more images

---

Was this review helpful?

• CelticSu
• Reviews: 49

User Rating

• Eish
• Reviews: 116

User Rating

Ithala Game Reserve Mbizo Bush Camp: In the bush on the river with wildlife

Mbizo Bush Camp is located on the banks of the Mbizo River in the Ithala Game Reserve. This is a perfect location for an active or restful family holiday. The river has muddy pools - some quite deep - to swim in (see picture). The bush camp has a dedicated guide (Simon has been there for years) who takes you on morning or evening game walks nearby.

The camp has 2 rustic self-catering huts that sleep 4 people each, making a total of 8 for the bush camp. The toilets and showers are located in a separate "hut" (see picture) which means you will need to bring a torch for evening ablutions. Each house has a lounge and kitchen, which are roofed and enclosed by reeds, but are otherwise open to the elements (and the great view). The bush camp has a braai and boma area.

It is possible to see some signficant game: rhino, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hyena, buck of many type, genet (see picture), wildebeest, leopard or smaller cats if you are lucky (there are no lions in the reserve). The guides are also knowledgable about the plants and insects in the area.

Booking is through Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife .

Unique Quality: The openness of the huts is so appealing: in the heat the roof provides shade; in a thunderstorm you are dry but see the fury of the storm outside.
The location is also a pleasure: the river below provides cool swims and great mud packs. :)
Simon - the guide - is also very knowledgable. He has hosted us for 3 visits to Ithala, and is always very accommodating and adjusts the walks he takes us on depending on how active we are feeling for the day. He also is very conservative regarding safety and will not take you too close to elephants or other dangerous animals.
Lastly the starlit showers have been an inspiration to me to put an outside shower at my home.

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Address: Near Louwsburg in northern KwaZulu Natal
• Phone: +27 (0)33 845 1000
• Website: http://www.kznwildlife.com/site/ecotourism/destinations/WildlifeParks/Ithala/
• Related to: Hiking and Walking, National/State Park
• Written November 10, 2007

The location of Mbizo Bush Camp

4 more images

---

Was this review helpful?

• nebulaflash
• Reviews: 34

User Rating

Didima Camp: beautiful chalets among the mountains

Situated near Cathedral Peak, the Chalets here had self-catering facilities and the camp itself also had a store, lounge and restaurant.

Our chalet had a kitchen area, a sitting room, a balcony for each bedroom and sitting room with fabulous views. The walls are made of stone and the high ceilings covered with a thatch roof in the style of architecture that fits the Zulu region.

There was also an interpretive museum here and walkways with San Rock Paintings.

Unique Quality: The way the chalets were created provided a feeling of belonging here in these mountains. Staff were really helpful and welcoming.

Baboons climbing over the roof in the early hours of dawn provided a little entertainment, the drongos perched patiently on nearby bushes for a few crumbs, and a few springbok would wander through the resort on quiet days.

At night, in winter, you might spot a controlled grass fire on a distant mountain - but don't be alarmed - the people there have a way of making sure the fires do not travel beyond the control areas.

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Address: Central Drankensburg, Kwazulu - Natal.
• Phone: +27 (0) 36 488 1332
• Website: www.kznwildlife.com
• Related to: National/State Park
• Written July 8, 2007

our chalet at Didima

---

Was this review helpful?

• mtncorg
• Reviews: 3229

User Rating

Helpfulness

ANTBEAR GUEST HOUSE: South African Gem

Unique Quality: This is one of those possibilities for a quintessential South African/International experience. Situated high in the foothills of the Drakensberg, you have a grand view to the north with the Drakensberg Escarpment visible from Giant's Castle all the way to the Amphtitheatre at Royal Natal National Park. The setting is country rustic with chickens and the occasional grey rhebuck wandering about on the lawns. Eclectic and whimsy is evident throughout with the larger rooms enjoying jacuzzi tubs and lofts and the smaller rooms still very comfortable. There is a large central house containing the kitchen, a large dining room and a comfortable lounge replete with books and magazines and a large magical fireplace. Andrew and Connie are very amiable hosts with plenty of stories from their colorful lives. but it is not a one-way conversation around the breakfast/dinner table. This is where the guesthouse concept truly takes off. I spent four nights here and guests came and went from countries like Belgium, the US, South Africa, Germany and Denmark. Conversation takes the place of electronic media. Social intercourse making the World seem smaller. These are the moments when vacations can take on a bit of magic, sitting there under thatched rusticity. Conviviality in the extreme, I recommend staying here for several days to take advantage of the hospitality and the location - many places to see in the immediate vicinity (Kamberg, Giants Castle, Champagne Valley, the KwaZulu battlefields, Weenen Game Reserve, African Stork Reserve, etc).

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Website: http://www.antbear.com/
• Related to: Historical Travel, Food and Dining, Road Trip
• Written April 10, 2007

Antbear Guesthouse - KZN

4 more images

---

Was this review helpful?

• nora_south_africa
• Reviews: 1095

User Rating

Helpfulness

• nora_south_africa
• Reviews: 1095

User Rating

Helpfulness

• nora_south_africa
• Reviews: 1095

User Rating

Helpfulness

Hotel Shakaland: Cultural hotel ZULU

a wonderful cultural experience!!

Take a step back in time and enter the world of Shaka, King of the Zulu at his Great Kraal overlooking the Umhlatuze Lake.

• Opinion of Price: most expensive
• Address: Eshowie Kwa zulu Natal
• Website: http://www.places.co.za/html/5505.html
• Related to: Arts and Culture, Luxury Travel
• Written October 26, 2006

---

Was this review helpful?

• Bwana_Brown
• Reviews: 3530

User Rating

Helpfulness

Westbrook Beach Hotel: A Swimming Pool to Ourselves

On arrival, we were given the choice of an upstairs room with a view or a ground-level room opening onto their lawns leading to the Ocean-front. We took the latter and loved every minute of it! It was great to just step out onto our little patio or continue onward across their beautifully grassed lawn to watch the waves crash onto the rocks! Because of the salt air, there was a sign in the room asking that the TV be left on at all times to keep it heated up so the circuits did not corrode! In addition to a set of concrete steps down to the sandy beach, the hotel also had a beautiful and almost deserted swimming pool that we found very enjoyable!

Unique Quality: This hotel really had a 'family' feel to it. On check-in, the Irish gentleman on duty mentioned that he had been in Canada in the 50s and also Kasama, Zambia in the 70s. Before our first dinner, we also had a pleasant chat with the hotel barman, an Indian who had worked there for 21 years. Our Malawian pal Robert had been there for 26 years and the hotel also had a very creaky cat, at least 20-years old according to the staff. He walked very stiffly and we would see him drinking from the chlorinated pool before laying down for a sleep in the sun. After our second evening meal there, the old cat followed us back to our room where he gulped down three dishes of water that we set out for him! This spot was totally relaxing!

• Opinion of Price: N/A
• Related to: Family Travel, Road Trip
• Written April 24, 2004

Westbrook Pool

---

Was this review helpful?