Mabula Game Lodge

It’s a great location with fantastic game drives.

The power blipped off a lot during our stay. I appreciate the weather will have been a factor in this. At night this meant the air-con beeped as power came back, disturbing sleep.

Comfortable accommodation and great game drives

No drinks included at all and no water freely available. Felt pushed to buy drinks and tip all the time which was a bit annoying.

The game drives

The pool was under construction, electricity kept tripping

The game ranger was top notch. There are a large variety of wildlife, just not a lot of it (very little birdlife). The restaurant staff was generally friendly and helpful.

We initially given an inferior room to what we booked and the check-in staff was not very eager to rectify this. We did eventually get a room which was close to what we booked. It then took a long while to get the room serviced. During checkout it was also a hassle to get someone to assist with our luggage. We first called and then I actually had to walk to reception to get some action. There were not that many people checking in or out at that time.

Rooms and food

Please improve you TVs

Perfect for a family trip as it was surrounded by wildlife such as Nyala, Warthogs and Rock Hyraxes. The game drives were led by knowledgeable, friendly guides, and ponchos and hot water bottles were provided to combat the cold on the early morning drives. We saw a good variety of game close up. We also went pony trekking and played several games of Padel.

Unfortunately the pool area was out of bounds because it was undergoing renovation.

Wonderful place. Good food. Friendly staff.

The room was nice, I loved the animals coming into the lodge like Nyala and Warthogs

The service at meals was terrible, table was not cleared, we weren’t served for drinks, I requested a special diet (chicken breasts) due to allergies and it was not organized properly when we arrived. No bush meal or boma meal we were there 4 days. For the price I expected a bit more.

Our stay at Mabula was absolutely unforgettable, and a huge part of that was down to our incredible ranger, Karla. She was genuinely AMAZING! Every single animal we asked to see on each game drive.. she found!! Her knowledge, passion and enthusiasm made every drive so special. She had a brilliant way of explaining everything, spotted things we would never have noticed ourselves and made every moment feel exciting. She was warm, funny, patient and completely invested in giving us the best possible experience, we honestly couldn’t have asked for a better ranger. Every member of staff made us feel so welcome and looked after throughout our stay. The service was warm and thoughtful, and the food was absolutely delicious with so much choice. There was such a friendly atmosphere everywhere we went. Mabula was a truly special experience that we’ll never forget. Thank you to the entire team—and especially to the wonderful Karla, who made our trip even more magical!

A few hiccups on reception, I think this was due to new staff. Nothing which effected our stay though :)

Your staff are the friendliest and very professional. We felt like royalty. The food is amazing and exactly what we like. the fig tree meal was totally unexpected but a most welcome surprise.

Not a big deal, but in room 21 the shower mechanism side knobs are in disrepair and the toilet seat is loose. Apart from these minor issues everything was great

The facilities are lovely and it’s a beautiful lodge. The food is really great!! Loved the food!

I think the lodge staff needs to be trained a bit better on customer service- it was quite underwhelming for most of my stay. For me it’s an important factor that determines if I will recommend the place and/or come back.

Clean, Modern and peaceful

Lack of outdoor space in the rooms

Lovely lodge and wonderful staff.

Not that I didn't like it at all, but the buffet food didn't impress, was just ok.

Everything

Nothing

The food was great. Out if this world. The game drive was one of the best I have been to.

Rooms are not as they are advertised

Safari

N/A

Outstanding. Everything about this place reeks of comfort, efficiency and enjoyment.

That I couldn’t stay longer!

Best experience ever, everything amazing ❤️

The Game Drives, the Room the facilities the hotel staff were all excellent

I feel there could be a bit of an improvement with the food

The images on the website of the rooms and patio..but in reality the rooms are small and dark. Patio is just the entry way to your room looking at a closed wooden fence. The buffet was the only good thing about Mabula. There were hardly any animals!! A couple of springbok and we drove for 2 hours not seeing any animals!

This is not a big 5 resort. They have very few animals and only have 2 or 3 lions in an enclosure! The ranger didn’t bother taking us to the enclosure to see them! We drove around randomly, and then the ranger spent more time setting up the drinks and snacks on the Land Rover for his advertising! We paid big bucks to see big 5. Saw nothing!

Breakfast was superb. Good selection The location is ideal. Halfway between Joburg and Polokwane The game drives were very good. Every game drive was exciting

The adjoining rooms in unit 17 not good if you are not taking the adjoining unit because of sound is not fully suppressed.

Location , and overall experience

Maintenance being done at our room on outside , had to draw curtains for privacy .

The Aesthetics are beautiful, and the Boma evening was lovely aswell. The Game Drive was amazing, our guide;Carla, was amazing.

The fact that there was no room service and Al Carte menu. Additionally the Spa Treatment was not so good, the receiving staff was not as professional and not as welcoming.

The staff is amazing and made us feel so special. The food is great and the safari trips was breathtaking. I recommend this 100%. We will definitely go back.

None

dinners,lunches and breakfast was fabolous

We would like to be allowed to eat after 8pm without waiters irritation

Game drives, cleanliness every where. Rooms exceptionall

There's an amount I was told to pay, they say is for conservation. Why should I pay for conservation?

The design of the lodge is amazing, the Boma, the pool, the entrance to the lodge. I also loved how the guides on the safari respected nature, tracked the animals but kept at a distance which allowed nature to be nature whilst still allowing beautiful sightings.

One light in the room flickered and we forgot to let maintenance know.

The room was good. The buffet for all breakfast, lunch and dinner was also good. The game drives were great. Our guide Karla was exceptional the entire time. The waiters were also amazing.

- When booking, it wasn’t specified that even lunch and dinner would be buffet. There’s no À la carte at all in the facility. Not everyone enjoys buffet service. If I had known prior, I wouldn’t have booked. - There was no concierge service!! For a facility advertised as “luxury” I don’t expect to carry my belongings myself and go look for the room by myself upon check-in. That’s what happened; was just given a room key and I was by myself from there. - The spa!! The spa was not clean, there was a wet, mouldy smell in the building which we had to bear the entire treatment. There are no gowns or slippers in the spa. You basically change from your personal clothes and straight onto the spa bed. After the massage, we weren’t given anything to clean the excess massage oils, I had to step on the floor with my oily feet to grab my clothes and dress. No water offered after the spa treatment which is essential after a massage! The massage beds were the most uncomfortable I’ve been on.

Delicious food and amazing setting

The waiters and food and beverage staff were fabulous unfortunately the reception staff were grumpy and unhelpful

Big5 Game Lodge, with lots of animals to be seen.Especially many Rhinos. Resort is nice and has a great pool as well as children playground stuff

Lions are kept in a separeted fenced huge aerea

The Breakfast was fine as well as the lunch and supper. What would be great if the Lacto vegetarian options are displayed with a sign as we were not the only ones looking for vegetarian options. The outside of the room area also needed to be more tidy I believe.

The game rides could be more comfortable if the water bags were much warmer in the mornings The vehicle that we use M3 seems very old and the ranger was struggling to hear the radio messages. it seems that the earpiece provided to him does not necessarily work in the vehicle allocated. The room could have been tidier as there was dust seen in some places. The bathroom window needs to be fixed or better maintained. The Basin stopper does not work properly. The shower facility does not work for the other options that have been installed. The TV could not be selected for seeing items on UTube.

Beautiful game reserve near Bela Bela. Roads and other infrastructure in the reserve are in good condition. Well trained and very friendly staff. Delicious food. Our room was spacious, clean and very comfortable.

The room looked as it appeared in the photos. Nice sized lounge space, good balcony and bathroom.

Geyser had moments of being lukewarm

The food selection and spa was great

The bed was requested to be made up as twin beds, however it was made up as a king bed with linen not the correct size Communication from staff on changes for dinner arrangements should improve

We were upgraded to Kingfisher Villa which was an absolute luxury stay. With only 5 rooms accommodating not more than 10 people at a time it was very private and comfortable. Tshebo was our ranger who made sure we had great sightings and all of the Big 5. At the Villa, Nikki went an extra mile to make us feel at home. The rooms were absolutely clean, spacious with all the possible amenities. We had a great stay and would come here again for sure. Hospitality was beyond exceptional.

Everything made us feel very welcome a truly awesome we had celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary

Everything!!!!!

Nothing

Lovely staff / highly experienced guide / very good food with lots of variety

Everything was done with excellence. Food was very good. Great game drives. Friendly staff.

Nothing

Quick from JHB except for roadworks but a good drive. The staff were friendly. There are a lot of animals around the hotel which was lovely and we had some good sightings of cheetah, rhino, lion and zebra, giraffe on the drives.

1. Superior rooms advertised are actually the pictures of suites so you are completely thrown when you get there and the room is far less than what was expected. Superior rooms are comfortable clean and bathrooms are great. Rooms are a little dated. Chairs are far too big for the room and you have to keep pushing them out the way to get to the light switch or to open the glass door leading outside. 2. Game drives are good but the vehicle we were given was changed twice - were not good. my seat was broken. the windshield was cracked. the gears caught on one vehicle and couldn't go above gear 2. We had terrible rain on one drive and got soaked completely and there was lightning and we had to ask to go back as the ranger was just continuing. We couldn't even sit comfortably as the cooler box with drinks was under our seat and the back was not long enough and we had to sit with our feet on and off. Other vehicles were fine. It was our group that kept getting the bad vehicles not sure why? Also not sure how we were grouped. Other guys always got to sightings before us and we missed out. Plus sightings are only 5 mins. 3. Service is very slow and I had to ask for washcloths 3 times before it came on day 2.

Staff

Room

The friendly staff, the food, the game drives and the food.

The fact that the walls are thin, you can actually hear the person in the next unit. The bed/mattress as well needs to be changed.

An overall satisfying experience. The game drives were great, the ranger was engaging and knowledgeable. Food was good and with great variety, except for the queues.

Leaving

The food was amazing , freindly stuff , clean rooms, Informative safari drives.

Our rooms were far apart and also parking to our room was. Bit too far aswel and kids play room wasn’t working …

The Game Ranger was phenomenal. The core of the experience is for the animal sightings and this was exquisite

1. the room images advertised for your room booking (ie: table or chairs on a patio) actually do not apply and misrepresent the facility you are booking / ie the room type For example I booked a room the images shows a table and chairs on a patio outside - we checked in and there was a window with a ledge and no chairs to sit outside. when i complained i was told that online wasnt updated. Further to this, early check in on booking was arranged via booking.com and confirmed via this platform - upon our arrival the front desk & front desk manager knew nothing about this and for over an hour noone endeadvoured to assist until I lost my sense of humour and then they showed us to our room. this overall dulled my initial experience Also the food included is only buffet options - however this was still satisfactory

Overall experience was amazing. The staff were exceptional - very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The food was great and the game drives were amazing.

Das Bett und die Dusche

Keine Seife die Zimmer sind sehr dunkel

Mabula Lodge is an experience that should be taken up if given the chance. From the moment you arrive, you are warmly welcomed. The staff are sincere in their efforts to make your stay memorable. Job is an excellent, knowledgeable guide. The food is varied and always fresh and tasty. They have upgraded the Boma since we were here last and it radiates class. A pleasure indeed!

Cant say that there was anything that we did not enjoy during our stay. The pool area is looking great with a stunning bar to service the guests while they relax.

Well maintained Organised Friendly and accommodating staff

We had 3 rooms 39 and 40 were great Room 66 was a bit away from us and didn’t receive all the amenities such as milk Showergel etc also there were ants in that toilet

The accommodation and facilities are well maintained and clean. We traveled with our 2 year old and the staff were always very accommodating. Its a perfect family friendly getaway, not too far from Johannesburg.

Everything was perfect

Everything

Absolutely nothing

If you’re looking for a truly fantastic place to stay, this one stands out from the moment you arrive. The location is ideal perfectly situated to give you easy access to everything you might want to explore, while still offering a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere away from the crowds. What really makes the experience exceptional, though, is the staff. From the warm welcome at check-in to the attentive service throughout your stay, every team member goes out of their way to make you feel comfortable and valued. They’re not just helpful they’re genuinely friendly, always ready with recommendations or a smile that makes the whole place feel like a home away from home. The rooms are beautifully maintained, combining comfort with thoughtful touches that make a real difference. Whether it’s the cozy bed, the spotless cleanliness, or the little extras that show attention to detail, everything is designed to help you unwind. Overall, it’s the kind of place that leaves a lasting impression not just because of how nice it looks, but because of how it makes you feel. Relaxed, welcomed, and already thinking about your next visit.

Nothing

服務超級好！大家都好貼心

沒有

The Game Drives were good and informative. Our guide and host, Lucky, has great knowledge and looked after very well. The food was mainly very good with ample variety. The rooms are very well kept and are big enough.

Nothing that we we didn't like but maybe since it's a family orientated lodge there could be more games and play areas for the kids.

Comfortable. Game ranger friendly.

Food. No African experience. No boma dinner offered. The fish was dried out in pots on warming plates. Will give food 6 out of 10. Maybe

The relaxed and friendly atmosphere

There wasn't anything I didn't likek

Meals were of excellent quality

Das Essen war ausgezeichnet 👌🏼, und man konnte es auch draussen geniessen. Die Lage der Zimmer, wunderschön. Hotelarchitektur & das Design mega schön & stilvoll.Das es immer Wasser auf dem Zimmer hatte. Das man Tiere wie Klipspringer & Nyalas in der Hotelanlage ganz Nahe sieht. Die Game drives jeden Morgen um 5.30 & Nachmittags um 16.30 , die inbegriffen sind. Abbie unsere Fahrerin/ Expertin hat das mega gut gemacht . Wir haben alle Tiere gesehen , ausser ich , der Leopard.

Die Zimmer sind geräuschdurchlässig und recht dunkel.Die Kommunikation über Booking.com ist unzuverlässig, ich habe meine Fragen nicht beantwortet bekommen, jedoch ich soll auf englisch kommunizieren.. diese Antwort bekam ich sogar 2x. Das Badezimmer könnte mal eine richtig gute Reinigung bekommen.

Truly amazing experience. We thought this trip would be a once in a lifetime, but we're already trying to plan our return to Mabula it's that good. Staff are lovely, nothing is too much trouble. Safari drives were the icing on the cake. Monaya was fantastic, her knowledge and stories kept is entertained as we moved around the reserve

Fantastic rooms and lovely staff who made this a dream trip. The game drives are amazing.

Room and swimming pool area.

No reading material or books available especially books about wildlife. Manager absent.

Big five gesehen game drives mit neuen toyotas und super guide Anlage und restaurant vom feinsten

The location, the food, the staff, the rooms

Parking situation at the units could be better, 4 units per block with only 2 parking spaces causes some confusion.

We loved our room and the dining room food was amazing and all the staff were very friendly and attentive and very accomdating we had a wonderful stay and we had 2 toddlers in our group and they could join with everything so the parents had such a good time as well.

We had an amazing experience on our game drives, thanks to our incredible game ranger Louis! 😊 He truly went above and beyond to make our game drives unforgettable. His passion for wildlife and dedication to providing top-notch service made all the difference. If you're looking for a memorable safari experience, Louis is the guy to see! Highly recommend!

I wanted to share some feedback about our experience. We felt that the staff seemed to be going through the motions, almost like they were just doing their jobs because it's what they do for a living. It came across as if anything we asked for was an inconvenience to them. Also, we noticed that there was a push to get us to buy drinks, and when we declined, the staff became a bit short and seemed less interested in helping us. We understand that inclusivity is important, but it felt like there was an expectation to purchase something in order to receive good service. We're sharing this in the hope that it can help improve the experience for future customers.

Everything

The cost for what you get is too expensive however I do understand that mabula is priced towards an overseas market