Tshwene Lodge

Everything

My stay was short

Amazing place, you know it’s good when your gutted to be leaving , the perfect safari experience you create a bond with the family that run the lodge they treat you like royalty and go above and beyond all your needs , Stephen the game driver makes the whole experience even better he’s love for the animals in the bush and enthusiasm for the drives really gives you the safari experience you pay the money for

Nothing

The toiletries were very nice. The room was nice. The bush and game we saw

The "All Inclusive" items were not explained on checking in and the first time we saw a menu was when we checked out and had to pay for items we didn't know was not included. The game driver was the worst we've ever had. Could hardly get a word out of him. Felt like he was just driving us around as a favour to someone. Another guest summed it up perfectly. It's like the guy who takes you to the airport. Spent almost an hour looking at a cheetah behind a bush under a tree that you could barely see with binoculars. 6 other game vehicles came and went but we had to sit there. I'm sure we would have seen much more by driving around. Had to ask him to move forward at almost every sighting as he parked with himself having a nice view not so much for the rest of us in the back. The game drive only included 2 drinks which is not mentioned anywhere. Was never enough drinks for all the people on the drive. The plunger coffee was terrible and full of floating ground. We're on a game drive not charting the unknown like pioneers needing a cowboy brew. Breakfast. No fresh juice like apple or orange in sight just a nondescript pale mixed fruit concoction. Same colour as the jar of jam. Seemed as if someone just mixed two tablespoons of the jam with water. Burned croissants served to all guests every mroning. Didn't seem to be freshly baked or even baked from frozen. Terrible. Not a hint of cheese to go with the dry toast and jam. At least on the second day we received the cold toast with our eggs and not at the end of the meal. No condiments other than salt and pepper on the table. Didn't even get a sausage on the first morning. After talking to another guest we were probably lucky as they said it was inedible. One dry piece of streaky bacon was all we got. Poached eggs not patted dry just placed on the plate soaking wet. Asked for medium soft got them hard as rubber. One fried egg hard the other medium. Not what we asked for.

The staff treated us so good and the food was good as well

Just one of the guest travelling alone she was extremely rude to the staff talked to them like they were kids and she really made us uncomfortable as other guest because the staff was really going above and beyond for us to enjoy and if I can advise she needs to be banned from the lodges as she seems to be hoping from one lodge to the other from Welgevonden reserve and nothing satisfied her.

Our stay was truly unforgettable! From the delicious food, drinks, beautiful rooms to the kindest staff! We had the best game drives with Steven. What a magical place and great value for money.

Nothing! It was magical.

Steven is the crown jewel of this wonderful establishment. He is the first face you see on arrival and he sets the standard for the entire experience. You can tell the guides from the other lodges also respects him tremendously. He is so in tune with the animals and it shows in the exceptional sightings we had.

No criticism, everything was prepared on exactly the right level.

Welgevonden is a special gem, a very different type of game reserve. Tshwene lodge was a lovely place to stay and the game drives were the highlight. Everyone in these reviews mentions Steven, and he is extremely knowledgable and experienced. He managed all situations calmly and ensured that the guests were safe and had good experiences. The lodge staff were very friendly, and the rooms were spotless

The furniture is a bit dated, and the dinner was probably a bit over-cooked. Breakfast was lovely. The house wine was below average.

The driver Mr. STEPHEN provided the most extraordinary perfect service ever and the Chef the food was perfect and the bar tender Ezzi the ladies supporting and the gentlemen Lauren's we happy.

Game drive and hospitality in the lodge

Small and intimate setting perfect for escaping to the bush and unwinding.

The food was disappointing, it was home style cooking and not the culinary experience you would expect from a Rare Earth property.

Well done, lovely interieur, nice very private rooms

The many stairs are for us as elderly people somewhat unpleasant

Amazing location. Superb facilities. Staff always friendly and helpful

Nothing

Please add a small gym. We need to exercise daily even when on holiday. Especially when we plan to stay longer than three days.

The fact that there's no gym.

Great stay, great experience, great game, great food. Sina and her team went all out with food. Game drives were incredible and highly enjoyable. All the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. 10/10 experience.

Only thing missing was bedroom slippers when walking around the room at night.

Unbelievable staff, especially Steven! Outstanding people and such a great service.

We had a great time! The location, the food, the lodge, the game drives with Steven, a real gift. The highlight of our trip! The luck that Steven was so dedicated and was able to show us the entire big 5 and so much more. Recommended in every way. Between game drives you can lie by the pool and with a bit of luck you can spot animals from your room or pool.

The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating , absolutely fantastic

The beds were not so comfortable

We felt safe in the welgevonden reserve The food was very good ,fresh salad and vegetables in the middle of nowhere.all the staff were very helpful and friendly. Steven our guide was amazing.

Nothing

I would like more fruit for breakfast. Too much bread for me but I am fussy!

I noticed that the other guests complained about not walking alone to their rooms. They didn't like all the steps. I didn't like the narrow width of the steps perhaps fewer deeper steps would suit more people. I guess you could fence the path to the rooms.

The location is absolutely beautiful. Lovely and friendly staff. Wonderful game drives.

There was a power outage. No back up battery, solar or generator which was disappointing. The duvet is very hot for a bush lodge especially as there was no air conditioner in the room.

Absolutely everything, the warm welcome, our beautiful chalet, the amazing staff, the delicious, beautifully presented meals, Steven, our fabulous guide on all the game drives, the spectacular sightings .. white rhino, buffalo, lion, cheetah and a black rhino all before breakfast!

There is nothing to not like

The location of Tshwene is in the heart of the reserve and nestled in the bush. The main lodge, bar, pool and dining area are intimate and tranquil. Paul and Piet were excellent servers and Thomas was a fabulous guide. The food was diverse and comforting without being lavish. The rooms are clean and neat and the outdoor shower was private and fabulous!

Although we knew there was no Air-con in the rooms, the fans weren't enough, and the lack of airflow made the rooms stuffy. The game vehicle was broken, so we drove in the backup vehicle, which did not have all the channels and make any exciting sightings not available to us, so we missed out.

The Location is magnificent and the birdlife to die for, we enjoyed many hours watching birds from our room balcony and enjoyed the swimming pool with this crazy heat we have been having. The staff were attentive to our needs and the food was delicious!

Important to note that there is no aircon, so manage your expectations accordingly.

Great position in the park for all game viewing. The staff were so friendly. The lodges were beautifully appointed. Super king beds with superb bedding. Large bathroom with shower and bath. The main lodge has wifi, a bar and 2 lounges. Refreshing pool and deck. The food was excellent and surpassed any expectations. Amazing guiding from Stephen and Tomas. Great hospitality from Ezekiel and his team. We will be back!!

Nothing

THE FOOD, THE GAME RANGER WAS EXCELLENT

THE DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ANNIVERSARY. THERE WAS ANOTHER COUPLE WHO HAD THERE ANNIVERSARY AS WELL AND THE SERVED THEM SEPARATE DINNER. WE THOUGHT IT WAS FOR US AND ONLY THEN ISIEZEL READ THE MAIL. LATER AFTER DINNER WE GOT A BOTTLE OF SPARLING WINE IN OUR ROOM BUT BY THEN WE ALREADY HAD DINNER. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO GET THE WINE WITH OUR MEAL. THE STAFF DID NOT COME TO GREET US WHEN WE LEFT. THEY WERE ALL STANDING THERE WHEN WE ARRIVED BUT NOBODY WHEN WE LEFT. ROOMS WERE VERY HOT, AN AIRCON WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE EVEN IF THEY HAVE A FAN.

Second time visiting this lodge and it’s really lovely. An affordable safari not far from JHB. Beds are so incredibly comfortable and staff were kind and helpful. Superb massage too!

Feels a bit old in places and could do with a decor refresh

Tshwene is a small lodge with 5 rooms. This makes attention to detail easier. You feel like you are part of a family when you stay there. The food is excellent and a stand out aspect of this lodge.

At this price point, there is nothing really to make mention of. If you want higher levels of luxury expect to pay at more than twice the price. The guide did rush drives slightly. We would’ve preferred a more laidback approach, allowing us to soak up the scenery of the reserve a bit more.

The property is rustic and matches its surroundings.. bush

1. No WiFi in rooms 2. No light on room patio 3. Beds seemed end of life 4. No working tv - Dstv 5. Room doors do not lock - maybe this is a saftey thing but found it odd.

The lodge is simply stunning. The cabin/bedroom is spacious and clean, with an amazing view of the bush. The staff is welcoming and very professional. I've had a great massage in the spa—highly recommended! Our guide (Ricardo) was the best. He's passionate about his work, knowledgeable, and professional.

Amazing experience, can only recommend this place, small and intimate with 5 villas, luxurious treat. Game drives were amazing too.

Beautiful setting and really nice lodges. The food was very good and the stuff very friendly and professionell.

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Beautiful lodge set in a beautiful location within the reserve. Very clean and comfortable rooms. The staff was excellent and friendly and all requests were met. The food was good and portions generous. Game drives were phenomenal. Exceeded our expectations and we will certainly go back.

Honestly one of the best game lodges we've stayed at. From the warmth of the staff to the comfiness of the rooms (best bed/ linen ever), there was nothing we didn't love. We will be going back again and again! Because it's a smaller lodge (only 5 rooms) it feels like home. The lodge was very accommodating to us and we couldn't have had a better weekend. Steven, our ranger, was excellent (even in a hair-raising situation with a rhino)!

Quite literally the only thing we didn't love were some of the desserts. Just not the best compared to everything else. Other than that, we cannot fault a thing!

The food was amazing, each day was an absolute treat. Sinah our chef really outdone herself. The game drive was an adventure Johannes made it very interesting for us and luckily the animals also came to play. My partner loved the outdoor shower . The staff was very welcoming, made our stay very comfortable.

The lodge is beautifully situated and offers spacious and beautiful rooms. We felt really good at the lodge. Our guide for the game drives, Gibson, was really nice, explained everything well and was very attentive. We were really lucky and saw many lions, a baby rhino and a baby hippo. The food was good.

The room service was questionable. One bottle with water in the fridge had flies and mosquitos in it. This should not happen but OK. I took it out and put it on on table, visible for the cleanign staff to replace it. The bottle was simply put back in the fridge with the flies and mosquitos still in it. Also, the lodge is not solar powered. In a country that has a long history of loadshedding (planned power outages) and considering the high price of the accommodation, this is rather surprising. In our case, we didn't have power from 9pm onwards and also in the morning when getting ready in the dark for the game drive. The one candle in the room was old and did not burn properly. I would expect a Lodge like this to install solar panels and an inverter for the guests to always have electricity.

The peace and quiet of the bush was exactly what we needed. The food is amazing, the game drives were epic. Perfect trip.

There isn’t a single thing I didn’t like.

Food was great, guide was knowledgeable and dedicated to the guests enjoyment. Central location. Very pleasant lodge facilities.

No back up power during load shedding.

Everything about Tshwene Lodge was amazing. The staff, the food, the room were all incredible, and the reserve itself is stunning. As a vegetarian I wasn't expecting to be blown away by the food but it was honestly some of the best meals I've ever had anywhere. We had amazing game drives, saw the Big 5 plus so much more. There is a lovely atmosphere in the lodge and the chill out areas/pool are lovely. Definitely bring a book as you have a lot of time to chill during the day between the drives. I honestly couldn't recommend Tshwene Lodge more. We also stayed one night in their sister lodge Ekuthuleni, as Tshwene was booked out, and that lodge is also incredible - if you get to visit either lodge count yourself lucky!

Amazing small little place with only 5 rooms. Staff is amazing. Make sure to get Elias as a guide, he is so knowledgeable about all animals and nature. His safaris were the best experience I had so far. Thanks for the great stay!

Everything from our arrival at the main gate was spectacular and well considered. Drinks and Biltong after a trip from Joburg was just what we needed! The staff at the Lodge were extremely friendly and made us feel welcome the whole way through and everything we needed was catered to, including towels for the pool. Our room was bright, airy and spacious with a massive incredibly comfortable bed with some of the best linen I’ve experienced. The shower, bath and outdoor shower were precisely as advertised and wonderful smelling shower gels, shampoos and conditioners were provided. None of this compares to the absolutely spectacular game drives we went on! If you are looking for a game drive, book this right now. You have the option to go in the morning and in the evening and each has its own magic. We saw the Big Five up close in one morning drive and got to watch the lions hunting in a nearby plain! Elias, our driver was extremely knowledgable about the game, birds and plants in the reserve and his tracking skills are like nothing I’ve ever seen. I haven’t even mentioned the delicious food. Superb! Loved our stay here and can’t say a bad word about it.

I give 10/10 very very rarely on booking.com, but this stay deserved it! We enjoyed the time extremely and everything was perfect. To name a few things: - the welcoming to the lodge every time we came back from a drive with warm towels and aperitives, - fantastic game drives (4 of the big 5 seen) incl. snacks, tea, sundowners, rain ponchos, blankets, etc., - great food with amazing views or around the campfire, - rooms incl. room service twice a day, we loved the outdoor shower, bath tub, amazing view, giant bed (even if the lodge is already few years old, the entire interior is very timeless and we didn't had the feeling that anything was dilapidated) - excellent massages (!), - public area. incl. pool, - cocktails/drinks, sundowners We would definitely recommend to stay at Tshwene and enjoy their full feel-good package!

Amazing lodge. Cindy and her team really let us feel at home. Wish our stay could be longer. I can recommend Tshwene Lodge to any person looking for a breakaway with an exclusive feel to it...and the food was excellent!! Facilities was clean and staff very friendly!!

Our driver that took us for game drives could have interacted a bit more with the guests during the drive - especially about sharing smaller facts about the bush and engaging more often. But besides that, we had excellent sightings and overall a great experience! I can indeed compliment our driver on excellent driving skills....very cautious when he had to pass a bumpy area..;-)

The staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating. They catered to our every need. The food was incredible. Our ranger was an absolute star!

There was no backup power throughout the lodge during loadshedding which was disappointing.

When I did the booking I must say that I was concerned as the price quoted for what was offered was far less than other lodges. However the need to get away overcame my concern and I booked a 3 day stay over Christmas. We drove to Welgevonden Game Reserve. We were pleasantly welcomed by the lodge's game drive vehicle and our guide, Elias, was excellent. When we arrived at the lodge itself, after an hour game drive, we were met by the warm smile and the wonderful hospitality of the lodge's team, Sinah, the chef and person responsible, Ezekiel, Linah, Maria and Lawrence. What an amazing team. For the entire period of our stay they made us feel special. Sinah wooed us with her culinary skills. What amazing dishes. The premises are excellent. Located in a quiet position overlooking a ravine. Immersed in the South African bush. Ideal for a quiet get away. Only 5 units with comfortable amenities. I loved the indoor and out door showers and my wife the baths. Swimming pool, spa - great massage by Linah and the restaurant / bar managed excellently by Ezekiel. Excellent game drives with Elias who new exactly how to read the bush and where to find the animals. We saw all the big 5 and the lesser game.

Everything was perfect. If I can add what may be improved is the lack of wifi in the rooms. But then again, when you are looking to get away, do you really want wifi in the rooms??

great experience it was, the staff is friendly with great service. it's definitely a place to go to if you are in need of a peaceful getaway. total tranquility.