Bukela Game Lodge - Amakhala Game Reserve

Friendly staff, great locatioo, great guides

On a eu un très beau séjour au Bukela Lodge. Le personnel était particulièrement attentif et agréable!

Le personnel, la décoration, le lieu tout était parfait .

We had such an amazing experience at Bukela! We came all the way from Argentina as a family of 17 and honestly had the best time. The lodge is beautiful, the food was great and everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. Being such a big group, we really appreciated how well everyone took care of us and made everything feel easy. We shared some amazing moments together and are leaving with memories we’ll talk about for a long time. A huge thank you to the whole Bukela team for making our stay so special. We loved every minute of it and hope to come back one day! Love from Argentina 🇦🇷

wonderful breakfast. Location was perfect.

Nothing

The people are amazing. The location is quiet and tranquil. It’s peaceful

Nothing

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wir hatten einen wunderschönen Aufenthalt und vor allem die Safari war ein absolutes Highlight! 🦁🐘 Unser Ranger Philwar einfach großartig – sehr freundlich, kompetent und aufmerksam. Er hat uns unglaublich viel über die Tiere und die Natur erzählt und dafür gesorgt, dass jede Safari zu einem besonderen Erlebnis wurde. Man hat gemerkt, wie viel Erfahrung und Leidenschaft er mitbringt. Vom Service über die Unterkunft bis hin zur Safari war alles perfekt Wir haben uns rundum wohlgefühlt und würden dieses Hotel jederzeit weiterempfehlen. Die Safari mit Phil werden wir definitiv in ganz besonderer Erinnerung behalten! 🌿🦒 Vielen Dank für diese wunderschöne Erfahrung – wir kommen sehr gerne wieder!

We really enjoyed our stay. The reserve was beautiful, and the cottage was big and spacious. The game drives were enjoyable and informative, and we saw almost all the animals, including many rhinos and cheetahs very close to us, which was amazing. Unfortunately, most of the lions had been temporarily removed, and the only remaining male lion went into hiding, so we didn’t see any lions. We also didn’t see leopards or hippos.

The bed was a little uncomfortable. Our only disappointment was our last morning drive with Lucky. We searched for wildlife at the beginning, but it felt like he eventually gave up and wasn’t sure what else to do, so he took us to a dusty conservation centre that wasn’t very interesting. The drive also ended earlier than expected. We would have preferred to spend that time looking for wildlife.

Absolutamente todo, trato del personal, las instalaciones, los game drives con Philip…

Nada, solo que tuvimos mala suerte con el clima y llovió.

We just wrapped up our 4 night stay at Bukela Lodge and it was incredible! The hospitality from the lodge was second to none, amazing food and drinks, brilliant facilities and beautiful rooms. Of course the highlight was the game drives where we got to see everything from elephants, to lions, to rhinos, giraffes you name it, we saw it. We even got lucky to see a brown hyena and black rhino which are super rare! Abi our ranger was fantastic, she is super knowledgeable and her passion for wildlife comes through in everything she taught us about the animals. Highly recommend stay here for a relaxed and well run South African safari experience.

Architektur. Ranger. Personal. Essen. Reserve.

The perfect safari stay. The lodge is beautiful with roaming wildlife nearby, two beautiful pools and thoughtful decorative touches throughout. It felt very special and we particularly thought the food was brilliant, almost always a la carte (all inclusive) with creative, locally inspired dishes and great wine. The team at the lodge couldn't do enough to help, beginning with pre-drive breakfast and coffee, all the way to escorting you 'home' each night after dark. Everyone there is fantastic. The drives were unbelievable, and we had very close up encounters with so many animals and wildlife, big and small. We spent five nights, therefore ten drives and never got bored. During the daytime relaxation, we loved the massages. Abi our guide was one of the most passionate yet gentle people we have had the pleasure of spending time with, and kept us enthralled with personal input and vast knowledge every day. She is a true asset with a real connection for what she does and we loved every minute!

Nothing!

Wahnsinnig sympatische und freundliche Angestellte. Das Essen war herrvorragend. Der Ranger hat alles gegeben, damit wir so viele Tiere wie möglich sehen.

Nichts, alles war top.

Beautiful upmarket tented camp amazing staff setting . All the big 5 The N2 is on game drives as long as people are ok with that.

Nothing

Everything was just perfect , from the stunning views to the luxury Safarai tents , the amazing food and the fabulous staff who really went out of their way to ensure guests had a great experience

Nothing !

Fantastic stay at Bukela From the first moment the staff were superb with such a high level of customer service and friendliness The tented accommodation was excellent and fully met our needs The food was also excellent and plenty of it, particularly breakfast after the game drive, and my partner’s dietary requirements were met with no fuss And of course what can I say about the game drives, great wildlife viewing and such a knowledgeable guide whose respect for the animals was great to see - and his driving skills were brilliant - saw 4 of the big 5 and so many memorable moments; rhinos at sunset, elephants in the mist, cheetah and cubs feeding on a kill, and finally the lions sat gazing over the plains Stayed for 3 nights which was perfect - highly recommended

Loved the luxury tent. The staff were fabulous. The setting of the camp is good. Had some great sightings of cheetah on a kill and lions.

Too close to the N2

Die Bukela Game Lodge im Amakhala Game Reserve war sehr schön und ein außergewöhnliches Erlebnis, dass sich definitiv lohnt. Die Game Drives sind super und die Ranger sind sehr freundlich und wissen über alle Tiere Bescheid. Wir bedanken uns ganz herzlich bei unserem Ranger Stan.

Very friendly and accommodating staff Beautiful rooms Stunning location and park Great activities Amazing food

Our stay at Bukela Lodge was absolutely unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel incredibly welcome with their warmth, professionalism, and attention to detail. Every member of the team went out of their way to ensure we were comfortable and well looked after. The accommodation was outstanding — beautifully designed, spacious, spotless, and perfectly blended into the natural surroundings. It was the ideal combination of luxury and relaxation. The food was exceptional throughout our stay. Every meal was beautifully prepared, full of flavour, and presented to perfection. Dining at the lodge became a highlight in itself, and the chefs truly deserve special recognition for the quality and variety of the cuisine. The game drives were a true highlight of the trip. Our ra ger Stan was knowledgeable, passionate, and had an amazing ability to spot wildlife while making every drive exciting and informative. Their enthusiasm for the bush and the animals made the experience even more special. Thank you to everyone at Bukela Lodge for creating such wonderful memories. We cannot wait to return and would highly recommend this incredible lodge to anyone looking for an exceptional safari experience.

die Lage, das Personal, die Game Drives, die Unterkunft (Zelt) waren toll ausgestattet

das Management war mit der Regensituation dermaßen überfordert

Great location and excellent facilities. Guide was excellent.

Slight problem with the taps in our lodge which flooded the floor

We had such a wonderful time at Bukela and the Amakhala Game Reserve. This lodge has now become very special to us. They treated us like royalty and provided an extra little treat for us due to celebrating our wedding anniversary. We thank them for that so much. Food was tasty and the game drives were amazing, ask for Evanz as your guide. The guy can read the animals like he was one of them. He put us in such prime spots for viewing while respecting the animal's space. Our room was really nice with great amenities. You simply cannot go wrong here for an African Safari Lodge.

The tented accommodation was exceptional, comfortable and clean. The room was serviced twice a day with clean towels, a log burner and drinks. The food was amazing and safari drives and our guide was fabulous.

Nothing. The view from our lodge was good but would have liked to see the water hole.

Das Zimmer war sehr schön und sauber

Das Essen war dem Preis absolut nicht angemessen

Top Lage, sehr ruhige naturnahe Atmosphäre, super Personal, mega toller Ranger

Nichts:)

Spent two weeks in South Africa and Bukela was the best part of our trip. The accommodation was superb, the food delicious and the staff were so friendly ,it was just the best experience . Our guide, Evan ,was so knowledgeable and managed to get us the most incredible experiences with the wild animals. The place, the people and the animals were such that we will never forget our trip to Bukela Lodge. Dont think—— just go!! Noelle

The staff were so friendly and helpful and our room was lovely with special touches like an elephant shaped towel on arrival and stories left on our bed . The game drives with Stan were amazing and he made them informative and fun

It was all great

Die Lage der Lodge sowie die luxuriösen Zelte sind traumhaft. Schade, dass wir nur 1 Nacht bleiben konnten.

Das Essen war qualitativ nur bedingt gut. Schade

Tolles, luxuriöses Zelt mit Sonnenterrasse und Liegen zum Entspannen mit Ausblick. 2 inkludierte Pirschfahrten pro Tag(!) mit guten Startzeiten um 6 und 16 Uhr, je ca. 3 Stunden mit anschließendem Frühstück bzw. Dinner. So hatten wir 2 Nächte und 4 Pirschfahrten auf dem fast 90 Quadratkilometer großen Geländes und haben, dank des tollen Guides Lucky, die Big Four gesehen. Zwischen den Pirschfahrten ist Zeit genug, tagsüber die tolle Anlage zu genießen. Die Getränke sind inkludiert, es sei denn, man möchte etwas spezielles. Auch die Vollpension incl. Nachmittagskuchen überzeugt sehr. Sehr freundliches Team, dass immer hilfsbereit zur Seite steht. Der auf den ersten Blick etwas hohe Preis war für uns absolut gerechtfertigt. Wir planen schon für 2027.

Nichts 😀

Sehr empfehlenswert. Tolle Gamedrives, bei denen auf die Wünsche der Gäste eingegangen wurde. Das Personal war immer sehr bemüht und freundlich. Essen ebenfalls sehr gut. Wir wurden an Weihnachten sogar mit einem leckeren und sehr liebevoll gestalteten Buffet überrascht. Wir würden mindestens 2 Nächte Aufenthalt empfehlen.

This property is unfenced in the Amakhala Game Reserve. We had a tent and a lodge and both were exceptional! The staff were attentive and the food and drink plentiful and included in the price. Two games a day were included (morning and afternoon) with amazing trackers (we had Stanford). We saw more than we could have ever wished for! The scenery was amazing and we were blown away by the whole experience and wished we had stayed longer than the two nights we booked.

Nothing! It was exceptional.

Einfach alles war ein atemberaubendes Erlebnis von A-Z. Luxury Tent war absolut traumhaft, top ausgestatet, riesig und die Aussicht 10/10. Ganzes Areal wunderschön gestaltet! Das Essen war wirklich erste Klasse. Personal extrem freundlich und zuvorkommend. Die Safaris waren auch ein einzigartiges Erlebnis mit unserem Ranger Tim der uns das alles ermöglicht hat. Waren richtig traurig zu gehen.

Wir hatten eine tolle Unterkunft mit Blick auf das Wasserloch und konnten gleich bei unserer Ankunft schon Tiere beobachten. Zwei Pirschfahrten waren beinhaltet und vor allem morgens konnten wir viele Tiere beobachten. Alles war perfekt organisiert. Tolles Personal und leckeres Essen. Wir hatten leider nur eine Nacht und wären gerne länger geblieben. Es hat an nichts gefehlt.

Der von der Unterkunft organisierte Transfer war relativ teuer verglichen mit den Preisen, welche wir sonst für Transfers in Afrika für ähnliche Strecken bezahlt haben.

Some umbrellas around the pool are required

This review isn't about the safari as we haven't been yet, it's about the company replying to queries. I've emailed the company 5 times now to ask a questions about our safari trip but nobody has answered our query. Extremely disappointing, especially considering the cost of the trip. Sadly doesn't feel like the behaviour of a top travel company? We're very frustated and disappointed.

Das Personal war unglaublich freundlich und zuvorkommend. Insbesondere unsere Rangerin Colia war super nett und hat unglaublich viel Wissen mit uns geteilt. Wir können die U reeking Allen wärmstens empfehlen!!

The main areas were all modern and beautifully maintained, rooms were huge with everything you could need and we had an amazing view over the reserve. Staff were super friendly and couldn’t have done more for you, same goes for the rangers. We loved the coffee stop on our morning drives. We had some amazing sightings, including at the water hole right by the property. Good location for only an hours drive away from an airport.

Unlikely to see a leopard!

Wir haben 2 Nächte in der Bukela Lodge verbracht und waren begeistert. Die Zimmer bzw Zelte sind toll eingerichtet und haben viel Platz. Zimmerservice kommt zweimal täglich und macht das Zimmer auch für den Abend fertig. Betten waren bequem und Zimmer war komplett dunkel was bei einem Zelt nicht selbstverständlich ist. Das Essen war sehr lecker und es gab immer viel Auswahl sowohl mittags als auch abends. Die angebotenen Game drives waren super. Zwei Game drives pro Tag und Essen und alle Getränke waren inklusive.

Wir hatten zu wenig Zeit noch länger zu bleiben

During the night, we encountered wildlife in our room (first a bat, later a large spider) and tried repeatedly to reach the lodge for assistance. For more than an hour, no one was reachable by phone and no help was available at all. Especially in a remote safari lodge, reliable night-time availability is essential. Feeling completely without assistance at night was the decisive reason why we did not stay for the second night, although it was already paid for. After our early departure, the lodge never contacted us again. The only goodwill credit we received came from Booking.com, and it did not even cover half of one night.

Alles was perfect! De locatie, de mensen, de sfeervolle en super comfortabele huisjes met open haard, de natuur, de deskundigheid en vriendelijkheid van de ranger, de safari’s met de big five, fantastische massage, de gezellige bar, heerlijke ontbijtjes voor en na de safari, de cappuccino met leeuwenkopjes in t schuim, de ruime keuzes bij lunch en diner

Niets viel tegen maar extra plus zou zijn: Iets sfeervollere ambiance bij het diner, kaarsje, muziek? Een kussen op de ligstoelen bij het huisje

Amazing…freaken amazing! From the lodge itself to the dinners to the game drives. Great pool and great staff. Such a great find with close viewing of wildlife. Highly recommended. Our luxury tent was overlooking the water hole visible from the terrace, bedroom and also bathroom. Game drives were very nicely set up. 5am wake up was hard but the wildlife was incredible at this time. Stayed 3 nights and it was perfect.

Loved everything.

What an amazing experience we had at the Amakhala Game Reserve staying at the Bukela Game Lodge. The lodge was beautiful and the “tents” were every bit as amazing as the pictures. Staff was very attentive and always available. Grounds are open and animals were around the tents most of our 5 days there. Food was plentiful and good, though not as amazing as everything else. The game reserve was awesome. Our guide Evence helped us see everything except the jaguar, but that is a tough one! Lions, Rhinos, Hippos, Cheetahs, All types of deer and Lots of Elephants and some Giraffes. Amazing. The game reserve is large and while there are some popular spots, during our longer than normal 5 day stay we went on new roads every day and saw a new animal every day às well às the reserve is 70 square miles. Lots of space for lots of animals. Stayed in a luxury environment for a very accessible price through TravelZoo and loved every minute!

Game Drives waren für uns ein voller Erfolg; die Chance viele Tiere zu sehen ist sehr hoch (dank tracking); Die Bungalows bieten alles Notwendige und sind geräumig; Zeitablauf zwischen Game Drives und Essen sind gut aufeinander abgestimmt und es bleibt ausreichend Zeit für die Erholung zwischendrin; Personal rundum sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit

wenn es etwas zu bemängeln gab, dann die Bett-Matratze (zumindest in Bungalow 3), die meines Erachtens zu weich war

Erfahrung in einem luxuriösen Zelt zu schlafen !

Ich habe mehr Tiere erwartet, außer einem Leoparden haben wir aber the big Four gesehen

Everything! All the staff were so attentive and couldn’t have done more for guests.

Nothing at all - it was amazing!

I can't recommend Bukela enough. The staff are simply incredible, we can't thank them enough for making our time there so special. A huge shoutout to B who made the game drives so fun and informative, a truly brilliant ranger. Every second of the stay was amazing, from start to finish and the staff are the reason for that!

The service and staff were impecable. Nothing was too much trouble and everyone was polite, cheerful and extremely helpful. The game deives exceeded our expectations

We had a fantastic time at Bukela Lodge, stayed for 2 nights but could happily have done more. The wildlife drives were the major highlight but the whole experience was special, the staff were so helpful and friendly. We stayed in a luxury tent but it was basically a fully equipped hotel room with a great view of the watering hole to spot animals coming to drink. We had three daytime safari drives and we saw so many animals - rhinos, elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, various types of antelope. We were able to get very close for some great photos. Our guide was Lucky and he was brilliant, so knowledgeable about the wildlife in the park. We also paid for a night safari which gave us a really different experience, not as wide a range of animals about but we saw a caravan and an aardvark and lots of smaller mammals. Unforgettable experience and we were sorry to leave!

This is a fantastic game lodge with great facilities, food and staff. We had a great time here and enjoyed everything about it especially the game drives

toller Service, noch schönere Safaris mit hervorragenden Rangern, sehr gutes Essen, alles super

die Pools könnten beheizt sein…

Absolut top und sehr zu empfehlen! Preis/Leistung ist gegeben. Sehr zuvorkommendes Personal. Gute Weine inklusive, Essen top und viele Extras zwischendurch. Safaris super - man sieht sehr vieles!

The whole experience was amazing. We couldn’t fault the staff or the whole safari experience. Nothing was too much trouble. Monde our ranger was first class his knowledge and ability to seek out the best wolf life sighting was first class.

Sat at the airport feeling genuinely sad to leave such a beautiful place and the people that have made this part of our honeymoon adventure so incredible! We arrived as guests we’ve left as friends! The lodge is beautiful, everyone calls it home and I can see why! The views from the pools, from your balcony, from the restaurant is stunning. The facilities are second to none, spotlessly clean, turndown service, outside shower with the possibility of a naughty little monkey taking a peep are all fabulous. The food if you’re not a foodie before you arrive you will be by the time you leave! There is so much of freshly prepared, home cooked goodness! Not forgetting the wine, being the perfect accompaniment! The safari, it was our first and I’m honestly not sure what is left for us to see. Our Ranger Mondie (apologies I don’t know how to spell it correctly) is in ours and several other people’s opinions THE BEST! There wasn’t an animal that anyone on our Jeep asked to see that he did not find! This man never gives up and man can he drive!!! His knowledge of the animals and the reserve is just incredible, his nature towards us and more importantly the animals is so kind. He is a a truly beautiful soul! The above is all wonderful and why this lodge is rated and awarded so highly but honestly the reason you need to visit is the people. Blessing and Ouzie know how to look after their guests from a champagne breakfast to the perfectly most beautiful decorated morning cappuccinos or an afternoon glass of fizz watching the watering hole they were always ready to welcome us with their infectious smiles and laughs!

Beautiful lodge, well cared for. Excellent staff who couldn’t do enough for the guests. Enjoyed the game drives with Brian who was very knowledgeable.

The difficult access track…we feared for the car tyres.

From the moment you arrived until the time you left you were made to feel special. The food was excellent, the drinks were good, but the wines could have been better quality

There was nothing.

Eine ganz besondere Unterkunft mit sehr freundlichem Personal. Die Highlights waren die Gamedrives. Einfach unvergesslich!

Staff are extremely friendly and helpful. Always smiling and happy to help. Food was delicious, even down to the light breakfast before and on the game rides.

We had a wonderful five night stay at Bukela Lodge. First, the game drives were absolutely amazing. We had Abi as our guide, and we absolutely loved her. She has a conservation degree and shared so much information about the animals, birds, plants and everything else. She also makes a great “Ranger Special” coffee in the morning and sundowner cocktail in the evening. She made sure we saw as many animals as possible and every drive was different and exciting. The accommodations were spacious and comfortable with wonderful views from our deck. The staff were also top notch and we always enjoyed chatting with Mister V at our meals. The food was top rate and plentiful. We had a traditional South African braai one night which featured several grilled meats. The Lodge also accommodated my daughter who is pescatarian. This was our first Safari, and everything exceeded my expectations.

Die Lage

Tiere waren nicht sehr viele zu sehen.

Very beautiful game lodge. Overlooks a watering hole so you get to see animals there too! Food is lovely. All inclusive aspect is nice. Game drives are great and you see lots of animals. The staff are really kind and friendly and put on a Braai and dance one evening which was so fun! They do their best to help. Tent is nice and has air con, bathtub, toiletries, hairdryer. The other rooms are nice too but we wanted the tent for the experience. The provide a light breakfast before the game drive and then breakfast, lunch and dinner. They feed you well.

They gave us the wrong room but sorted it out on the first evening. The staff sometimes gave you something you didn’t order (drink and food) which happened a couple of times. The shower in room 7 was quite bad. We only had an outdoor shower but the pressure wasn’t good. Also had issues with no hot water so one evening we couldn’t have a bath or shower. Sometimes towels weren’t replaced in the room which was a little frustrating.

I purchased a steeply-discounted voucher from Travel Zoo for six days at Bukela Game Lodge. I was pleased with the price, because I believe a stay at Bukela can run anywhere from 600 USD to close to $1000 per night. I did not have a great experience with reservations at Lion Roars (parent company) when trying to secure the days for my visit (slow responses, and polite but unhelpful), but Travel Zoo was helpful. That said, I had a fabulous time at Bukela. I stayed during the third week of October, and the weather had surprising temperature fluctuations. The day of my arrival was cool and rainy. Two days later, it was 94°F at the height of the afternoon. Pro tip: pack so you can dress in layers. Clothing color doesn’t much matter because you are almost never out of the game drive vehicle. But you might want to avoid red, because evidently the animals don’t like it. Avoid white because of the dust, and I was told that it attracts ticks. When it was warm, I wore shorts and a tank top — and sunscreen! When it was cold, I had boots, leggings, a tunic, a cropped sweatshirt, and a linen hoodie. The lodge will give you a fleece-lined, hooded rain poncho, which is wonderful for windy or early morning and late night drives. At this time of year, a long scarf is also a great idea, as the drives can be windy. Be prepared to have a light breakfast at 5:30, and be on the road for your three-hour game drive by 6 AM. Return to the lodge at 9 AM for a hearty breakfast, and then most folks take a nap, or sit by the pools, or in the lounge area for water-hole viewing. There is a light lunch at 2 PM. My husband, who is a carnivore, wasn’t that jazzed by the lunch options. I am a pescatarian, and I thought the vegetarian options were outstanding. The second game drive of the day is from 4 to 7 PM. It is generally warm at 4pm, but it can get chilly at the end of the ride. Some folks go straight from the game drive to the bar or dining room for a pre-dinner cocktail. Dinner, which was a rather slow affair when I was there, can last for an hour and a half — or longer, if you get talking to the folks at the tables around you. The food is plentiful, as is the liquor. (No children under 12 at this lodge.) I stayed in a tent with the equivalent of a thatched roof. It had a combination heating and air conditioning unit, as well as a small wood stove, which I didn’t use, but I’m sure would’ve been lovely. The tent was glamping in every sense of the word: coffee/tea station, stocked beverage fridge, porch with chaise longes, comfy seating area inside, huge bathroom with a soaking tub, shower with sliding glass doors opening on to nature, and housekeeping service twice daily. The staff were wonderful and so friendly. My only two complaints: unbelievably hard bed and no portable fan. Tipping was suggested at ZAR 150 per person per day for the general staff (an envelope will be provided at your checkout to leave that tip). For the ranger — who drives and shares knowledge on the two daily game drives — R150 per person per day is also suggested, and we tipped our ranger at the end of our last drive. I scheduled a deep-tissue massage — it was great. Book early, so you are not disappointed; Americans will find the price reasonable. You can also purchase from a limited selection of books, clothing, and jewelry at reception. To get ti the lodge, we flew Safair from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth (close airport to the lodge). I think most folks scheduled their transportation from Port Elizabeth to Bukela through the lodge. The charge was US$123 each way, which is expensive — but convenient. We used the Uber driver who drove us around Port Elizabeth during our short stay, and we paid him R1300 to take us to the lodge, and R1500 to return us to the airport. We communicated via WhatsApp, so it was convenient — and about half the price of the lodge-scheduled transportation. Our game drives were marvelous. We saw water buffalo, cheetahs, lions, warthogs, ostriches, zebras, elephants, rhinos, monkeys, hippos, birds, tortoises, and all manner of antelope and similar species. In a word, spectacular. I could have been satisfied with two days of game drives, and it was a real treat to have five days. Though, I will say that getting jostled around on the bumpy roads started to get a bit old at the end. The third row of the game drive vehicle at the back is a bouncy ride if you are on bumpy trails. If you have a bad back, ask to sit beside your ranger. In the last 45 minutes of a drive, we stopped for a small snack and a beverage. There are options for teetotalers, and my preference was coffee in the morning with Amarula, and gin and tonic in the afternoon. All in all, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I recommend Bukela without hesitation.

Die Dusche hätte besser sein können

This lodge lived up to expectations and the game drives were first class. The staff were great and our ranger Brian excellent. Food and drink were good and our safari tent was very pleasant (although the hot water was intermittent). All in all, we enjoyed our time here but this is not a 5 star lodge. It feels a little tired in places and the AI food and drinks package is very basic. However, the game drives made our stay worthwhile.

Fabulous experience from start to finish. Luxury safari tent was amazing, staff exceptional, food really good, our guide was simply the best, went above and beyond to give us the best safari experience ever. Exceeded all of our expectations

Everything. Fantastic room, amazing lodge. Food delicious. Staff were wonderful, especially the manageress who took the time to speak to all guests. Very well organised drives, great ranger, ponchos and snacks provided. Wonderful stay!

Nothing. Everything thoughtfully done

Friendly staff Great safaris Magical experience

Mainly food related experience Very slow service One night a 3 course that was outstanding The next night Braai that was very poor Quality of meat very poor Ordinary salads Scones for breakfast as only bread Before safari , dry and fell apart What’s wrong with toast?

We have one last safari drive to complete in the morning before we say goodbye to what has been an outstanding experience from start to finish. Abbie our guide has been outstanding, and I hope she enjoys her up coming birthday. This has been a fantastic experience and each game drive has provided a new experience to add to the wonderful service and food at the lodge.

We traveled with another couple to Bukela, based on a recommendation we saw on TravelZoo. From the very minute we arrived, the experience was amazing. The staff was so welcoming, accommodating, hospitable, helpful and friendly. Not to exclude any staff (they all were fantastic), but Jeanne, Sandi, Vij, and Blessing all added to the overall feeling of being part of something special. We were greeted with a welcome cocktail, and were given a bit of an orientation to the property and what to expect during our visit. The tent accommodations were very comfortable, clean and functional. We had no problems, our travel companions had a couple issues with the hot water system, but these were always resolved very quickly with a phone call. We had an unusual situation with a lost personal item. The staff including the maintenance staff, went way over and above without hesitation to help us find our item - even to the extent of removing some of the deck boards on the wooden walkways so we could look underneath the deck. Top notch service. The food service was fantastic. We felt like we never stopped eating from start of day to end, and the food choices were nicely varied and all delicious. Our ranger, Monde (pronounced Mon-dae), was exceptional. His knowledge of the reserve was extensive. He had an amazing eye and ability for spotting and tracking wildlife, whether close or far, large or small, and made us feel comfortable and safe as we were near the animals. Overall, this was a fantastic experience we would highly recommend.

Everything! Food great, nice bar, good staff. Enjoyed our safaris

Water not very warm but to be expected as remote

Bucket list trip with my sister. It was fabulous. From the moment we arrived until “tear in my eye departure”, it was wonderful! The food was delicious. The accommodations were cozy and comfortable , so quiet , so beautiful our guide, Evance , was outstanding and driving us around and finding all the animals. We stayed six nights and we did all of the extras. The horseback riding was amazing giraffes walk right up to you and your horse . The star-gazing ,to see stars we’ve never seen before in the northern hemisphere …outstanding …the nighttime Safari and the bird safari …do them all and get a massage! All of the staff is marvelous. In the states we’ve gotten used to hotel staff not taking care of your room when you’re gone. This staff comes twice a day to your tent to clean up open windows close windows. It’s amazing. One of the best trips we’ve ever taken.

It was located in the most beautiful surroundings and each luxury tent was well looked after with good attention to detail. Beds were comfortable and there was plenty of space.

Beautiful lodge. Friendly staff. Great game drives. Plentiful food

Communication was poor about what was included

My wife and i travelled to Bukela Game Lodge in the Amakhala Game Reserve to celebrate my 70th birthday, and it was one of the best experience of our lives.From start to finish, everything was truly 5-star. Our ranger, Mundi, was extraordinary-his knowledge and tracking skills were second to none, and thanks to him we saw the Big 5 along with many other animals in their natural environment. Returning to the lodge after each drive felt like coming home, the warm welcome made us feel like family.The entire Bukela team was both professional and genuinely caring. Highlights included a Braai evening with wonderful local singing and dancing, consistently excellent food, and the special touches for my birthday. I was treated to a private champagne dinner, followed the next morning by a "buzz fizz" breakfast and a birthday cake, with the staff singing to me in both English and their local language. Bukela Game Lodge is a place of warmth, beauty, and unforgettable memories. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a truly special experience. Merlon and Jennifer

From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed like family. The entire staff went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable — from the warm smiles at every meal to the thoughtful details that made each day feel special. Our ranger, Wangu, was outstanding. His knowledge of the wildlife, patient explanations, and ability to spot animals we never would have seen on our own made every drive an adventure. Each outing felt like stepping into a nature documentary, and yet it was deeply personal and unforgettable. The spa experience with Aya was absolutely exceptional. From the moment she welcomed me, her calm presence set the tone for pure relaxation. Her massage was both deeply therapeutic and wonderfully soothing. I left feeling renewed and restored - truly one of the best treatments I’ve ever had. The lodge itself was beautiful, blending comfort and nature perfectly. The food was delicious, the rooms immaculate, and every part of the experience felt carefully considered. What impressed us most was the genuine care and passion of the people here. It’s clear that the staff love what they do, and that spirit shines through in every interaction. We leave with memories we’ll cherish forever — and already dreaming of our return. Thank you for making our safari an experience of a lifetime. — William & Amy