RiverBend Lodge

Concessione privata dell’Addo per cui non si paga l’ingresso al parco. I Safari essendo una concessione privata possono essere fatti fuori strada per cui si possono vedere gli animali davvero vicini. Struttura in perfetto stile coloniale molto bella. Cibo molto buono dalla colazione alla cena, ci siamo sentiti davvero coccolati.

Essendo appunto una concessione privata non sono del tutto assenti i segni dell’uomo, tipo alcuni piloni dell’elettricità

Beautiful buildings and within Addo National Park

Absolutely nothing!

It’s a beautiful spot in a stunning park! The staff are absolutely amazing, and the game drives are conducted with so much passion, enthusiasm, and respect for nature. We were also thrilled that there was room for our 19-month-old son to join us!

The dinner follows a strict set menu; unfortunately, the chef is not flexible if there is something you don't like. Additionally, the bar closes at 20:00, which feels way too early for a hotel. To top it off, service was inconsistent as they forgot our morning request for hot milk on multiple occasions.

Ze geven je het gevoel dat je een familie lid van ze bent en zijn heel erg betrokken. De kamers zijn ruim en alle faciliteiten die je nodig hebt zijn er. Echt een prachtige uitzicht en uitkijk punten.

We hebben deelgenomen aan Gamedrive , maar helaas beide keren niks spectaculairs gezien. Het is een heel groot gebied, maar jammer dat ze niet weten waar ongeveer bepaalde soorten zijn en als ze zijn kunnen ze zo diep verstoppen dat je ze überhaupt tegenkomt. Hoe ze dat anders zouden doen, daar voor heb ik geen idee. In de avond kon je geen gebruik maken van de bar , er was letterlijk niemand. Je kon ook niemand telefonisch bereiken.

The staff were charming and friendly and lovely. The beds were comfortable with good linen and pillows.

The property is very tired and neglected. The main gardens are beautiful, but the view spot and boma areas are embarrassing. There were broken latte on the grass outside our chalet that had been dumped there months ago. Other than the soup, the food was very underwhelming. The wine list was very average and ridiculously expensive. NEGLECT is the word to use. We were hoping for a luxury treat and a special family night and we did enjoy ourselves, but the accommodation was utterly disappointing and completely overpriced.

Der Koch Sam hat super gekocht und die Pirsch-Fahrten mit John haben viel Spass gemacht.

Exklusive Lage im Nationalpark mit vielen Naturerlebnissen, sehr freundliches Personal, sehr gutes Essen, durch Upgrade in Longhope Villa Charme von Kolonialzeit

Einrichtung schon ein ein wenig in die Jahre gekommen

L’accueil et le service exceptionnel La propreté et la l’infrastructure de la chambre avec piscine privée La qualité des repas Les safaris avec Mikki, sa passion et ses connaissances des animaux

Absolument rien, cet établissement fait un sans faute

We had a great time at the Riverbend Lodge. We were welcomed with a nice drink and taken to our upgraded cottage. Beautiful. The staff was very attentive and friendly. At 15:00 a very tasty complementary high tea was offered every day. Breakfast was also very good. Above all was the game drive’s with Roland (we did two). We had an unforgettable tracking experience. We had fun tracking some lions that Roland “sensed” were hidden in some bushes hiding a kill. What a treat. And to finish off at our last breakfast a family of elephants just walk in front of the Varanda and a buffalo could be spotted as well. Thanks for the wonderful memories.

In der River Band Lodge erlebt man den "Spirit of Afrika", phantastische Lage im Addo Park, individuelle private Safari Touren mit eigenem Fahrer, hervorragendes Essen, freundliches und engagiertes Personal. Die Ausstattung ist im kolonialischem Stil und hat ihren eigenen Charme. Ein großer Dank gilt unserem Ranger Matthew, der uns tolle Erlebnisse in der Tierwelt und Vegetation ermöglicht hat, mit Professionalität und viel Humor, sowie der Köchin Sophie und das gesamte Team der River Bend Logde für den besonderen Service! Wir kommen immer wieder gerne!!

Located right in Addo concession area. Good service, had great safari sessions. The private pool in Cottage 1 - the honeymoon suite - was a refreshing plus!

No generator to supply electricity to rooms when power cutoff due to a storm … provided lanterns… thankfully power cutoff was only 3 hrs that evening

Das beste Essen unserer ganzen Reise - Danke an die Köchin Zuzu. Sehr freundliches Personal, besonders Moses. Danke an Mikky unsere Fahrerin für die tolle Fahrt, haben Elefant und Löwen hautnah erlebt. Die Lage zum Ado Park ist perfekt, aber auf der Gebiet der Lodge haben wir so viel mehr gesehen.

Nous avons tout aimé. Ce lodge se trouve dans une réserve privée accoler au Parc National Addo. Nous avons rencontré notre Ranger Mikky pour 4 jours de safari. Elle est très compétente, connait parfaitement le comportement animal et nous avons eu la chance de croiser lions, buffalos, rhinocéros, des éléphants etc tout ça avec des stops "apéro ou tea time", vraiment inoubliables. Le personnel est à l'écoute, la nourriture est copieuse et bonne. Les chambres sont grandes avec une terrasse ouverte sur la nature. Encore un grand merci à Mikky et à toute l'équipe du River Bend Lodge.

Das Beste, was man sich an Game Lodge vorstellen kann - fachkundige Game Drives (John!) und köstliches Essen (Sam!). Eine Wohlfühloase ! Super Leistung, jeder Cent gerechtfertigt !

Alles fantastisch!

Tolles Personal! Die Lodge liegt mitten in der Wildnis, alleine die Anfahrt ist schon klasse. Die Gestaltung und Einrichtung sind großartig. Das Restaurant (ich hatte Frühstück und Abendessen) fantastisch.

Dass ich nicht länger bleiben konnte. 😉

Great location Lovely comfortable room

The food wasn’t as good as it could have been

What can I say, outstanding in every way. We thought we were just going to a lodge on the edge of Addo park but it was so much more. Beautiful property with outstanding views and its own safaris. All staff were lovely and very accommodating, Matt our ranger, made the holiday really special with all of his knowledge and enthusiasm. Thank you, we were so lucky to stay with you. 😊

Absolutely nothing

Great location. Nicely laid out for everyone. Suites were luxurious and had everything you needed. Game drives were excellent. Rangers passionate and very knowledgeable.

Only a few minor quibbles regarding our booking and speed of service on our last night.

De rust en het geweldige personeel

Rooms, food, service, guide.

Lack of access to electric outlets and hence charging areas.

The room and facilities exceeded our expectations. The unit no 1 with private pool and super king size bed was great. The quality of food and the service exceeded our expectations

Variety of game and quantity of game and birds on the game drives did not meet our expectations

My stay at Riverbend Lodge was genuinely memorable. Matthew and Leo were fantastic guides, both incredibly knowledgeable and easy to spend time with. Exploring the Addo concession with them made every game drive feel special. The staff throughout the lodge were warm, attentive and always ready to help. The food was another highlight. Every meal was delicious, and the four course dinner was a real treat. My room overlooked the waterhole, which made the setting feel peaceful and connected to nature. The space was well designed with a very comfortable bed, and the outdoor shower was a wonderful touch on hot summer days. Riverbend Lodge offered a beautiful mix of comfort, great service and unforgettable wildlife experiences. I left with only good memories.

It would be helpful to have clearer information about the different pricing options when staying on a B&B rate, as this would make planning a bit easier. The viewpoint at the waterhole could also be even more comfortable with a few cushions, especially for those relaxed midday moments spent watching for game. My car could have received a quick buff before check‑out, which would have been a nice finishing touch before leaving such a great place.

Für angebliche 5 Sterne und diesen Preis zu abgenutzte Ausstattung, zu langsames/wenig Personal, auf Nachfrage ob wir die noch zur Anreise angekündigten Spa Anwendungen nutzen können wurde nach einer halben Stunde telefonisch mitgeteilt, dass die Masseurin krank sei… Extrem enttäuschend, kann man sich sparen. Schlechtes Preis-Leistungs Verhältnis

Sehr gutes Management, sehr gute, sehr freundliche und hilfsbereite Ranger (Mikky), hervorragendes Personal, hervorragende Küche, wunderschöne Lage und Atmosphäre. Toller Service von allen Seiten.

Great scam place

Everyone is so nice, zero info what is included in the service, just a silly joke that you will see in the morning. And I saw, instead of 4.5K invoice I was aware of I got 9K. All best practices of South Africa hostile service, they just smile and scam yoi.

Ausstattung, Mahlzeiten

River Bend Lodge is a truly special place. We were warmly welcomed by Chris (manager) and John (our ranger) and Rachel wo guided us around the property and to our suites. Throughout our stay we were genuinely pampered by an incredibly friendly, smiling team who made everything feel effortless and personal. Zuzu cooked with all her heart the dinner. Chris was discretely present and very alert of our well-being. The lodge is beautifully set in the bush, offering remarkable privacy, space, and tranquility. The suites are generously spaced, ensuring a deep sense of exclusivity and calm. We lived the outdoor shower! You really feel as if the bush belongs to you alone. The safaris are exceptionally interesting and engaging, made unforgettable by our private guide, John. Having him on five game drives was such a huge privilege. The bush is clearly his home. His knowledge is so vast, his storytelling captivating, and his passion infectious. Every drive felt personal, educational, and so entertaining, never rushed and never routine. Our expectation had by far been exceeded and we will keep memories for ever of these tours and wild animals, and of John. We highly recommend the River Bend Lodge to anyone seeking an intimate, high-quality safari experience with outstanding guiding and a true sense of place.

Having a sun bed on the private terrace would be a plus

Alles war einfach nur fantastisch! Wir waren in der Long Hope Villa, die 1 km von der Haupt-Lodge entfernt liegt. Das gesamte Personal hat sich hervorragend um uns gekümmert und das Highlight waren die privaten Game Drives mit John. Er ist so verbunden mit der Natur und den Tieren dass es ein grandioses Vergnügen war. Die Villa ist ein historisches Farmhaus, mit viel Liebe zum Detail und behutsamen modernen Features ausgestattet.

Es gab nichts das uns gestört hätte.

Tolle Anlage, wir hatten all inclusive gebucht und es war auch alles dabei. Die Safaris waren sehr beeindruckend, 2 mal pro Tag gings in den Busch ca. 3 Stunden, so konnten wir fast alles sehen, war sehr beeindruckend

Fabulous boutique reserve traditional buildings with great views. Excellent safari drives with Ranger Mikky.

Rooms are excellent

No gym

Uitzicht en de rust!

We misten wel een comfortabele bank of stoel buiten bij je huisje.

A beautiful, lovely, rustic lodge located in the middle of nature. The personnel are so kind and attentive. The food is superb. The game ranger is so experienced and knowledgable, she explained so many things about wild animals and made sure I was comfortable at all times.

We cannot wait to go back to Riverbend Lodge. The staff were incredible. The game drives we plentiful. The grounds were stunning and well managed. The rooms were so comfortable.

Отель понравился, в колониальном стиле, уютный, комфортный. Приветливый персонал. Ужин вкусный, комплекс. Странность, что нигде не написаны цены, узнали только при check out

Брали сафари, кроме зебр, обезьян, антилоп и буйволов никого не видели, и то далеко и разбегаются, слабовато очень. Некорректно указаны условия при бронировании в Booking. Написано, что в цену бронирования входят все налоги и сборы. А в итоге взяли сбор за въезд в национальный парк за каждого человека. И плюс 7.5% за все услуги, включая проживание, питание, сафари, напитки и те же сборы. Вопросы к менеджменту, почему это не указано в условиях бронирования.

Amazing place to enjoy a true safari experience backed up by amazing staff. Ranger John is the best ranger I have experienced in 20 years of visiting South Africa

Very nice lodge north from the main Addo park. Staying here allows you to do drives in this part which is very different and super beautifully compared to the main park. The lodge is great but the game drives are very overpriced for what you get. The ranger was excellent but for these prices you should get a lot more than just the drive

Best breakfast ever. Wonderful game drives. Can’t recommend this place enough

We loved everything

Property is dilapidated and is in dire need of a make over

For a premium price one would expect a premium facility

The staff were very helpful and friendly and the food was very good. The garden was beautiful.

A revamp of the rooms is required as not 5 star - the owners need to repaint and update the rooms. Very expensive for what was offered. Showers were very small and bathrooms small and dated. Game viewing was average. The pool was not sparkling blue and we did not see anybody using it.

The staff and our guide , Mikky, were excellent and very personable. We really enjoyed the food the chef prepared for dinner. Mikky took us on beautiful drives : plenty of elephant herds, zebra , cute warthogs, kudo, red wildebeest, a rhino …

The farm house (Long Hope) was comfortable, with all the amenities, but does need a major renovation.

We stayed at Lodge for 3 nights at the end of November, chosing the "All Inclusive" package. It was the best adventure and the best place we stayed during our trip through South Africa. Leo, our tour guide, has showed, explained and I jetted into us the wholesome approach to safari. You could feel like a carefree child that went on adventure to discover. We wish every tour guide could show to its guests such an excepcional respect towards the animals. Leo transforms such kindness, that at the end of the day you feel extremely rewarded by seeing every little living on safari, inuding birds, elephants, monkeys - all living wild and free. In the breaks, we could learn so much by having just a casual conversation with him. We really felt like being invited to magnificent kingdom of the animals, without feeling like some random intruders. A beating heart of this place is Debbie: what an outstanding manger. You "don't see her, don't hear her", but she is there and she keeps and eye on everything, ensuring such a comfortable stay for the guests. Debbie just transmits calmness, kindness, warmth, and professionalism. It was a real pleasure know her. The amazing Crew of the Lodge gives you a total family vibe. They winked an eye at us every time they left us a nice surprise in the form of flower petals or chocolates. Everything from warm towels to wipe our hands, through tasty meals (delicious soups!), was full of kindness and joy of hosting us. From warm welcome to a family-like farewell (followed by messages to check our further progress on the road) - everything was such a beautiful sign of being human that I came back completely refreshed. Enjoy every second of staying at the Lodge. Go out on adventure. Admire the nature with the respect and curiosity of an explorer. Feel fresh air on your face. Eat boldly and healthily. Relax in silence. Enjoy the polite, interesting conversations with wonderful people.

All good

It was perfectly positioned, John our game guide was superb, we managed to see so many game and he was so knowledgeable and helpful and was so much fun

Delightful deluxe homestead style accommodation with wonderful welcoming staff. Delicious meals and the location was exquisite. A rare and unique experience.

The location of the breakfast tables with a direct view of the waterhole is excellent, while the service, variety, quantity and standard of all meals were exceptional. The game drives were varied and well conducted. The game viewing opportunities were numerous. The staff were very attentive, the facilities are fantastic and the location perfect. It is easily accessible from the main road system.

There was nothing about River Bend Lodge we did not like!

Between the food, staff, location and the game drives, everything was perfect! 2 night stay was amazing and the food was delcious. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

Nothing. Everything was amazing.

We enjoyed all that were offered by the lodge The food and especially the staff

We had a fabulous stay at the lodge, food was amazing, staff super friendly , can only recommend this lodge highly

nothing

Wundervolle Lodge im Addo Nationalpark. Es lässt sich jedoch nicht verbergen, dass der Zahn der Zeit nagt und an der einen oder anderen Stelle renovationsbedarf herrscht.

The lodge is situated in a private concession of Addo national park and is the only one that conducts game drives in the area. The staff, including the guides, will do anything they can to make your stay unforgettable. This means you get to enjoy spectacular nature (no less than five biomes!) in peace and quiet on your own terms. The garden is a haven for many birdspecies and a dream for any birder or bird photographer. The waterhole right next to the garden attrackts all kinds of wildlife, including huge herds of elephants, which also creates great opportunities for wildlife photographers. I took many of the best shots I ever made right from the grounds of the lodge! And does it get any better than eating a delicious meal in the company of elephants? I felt right at home from my first stay here.

Gardens were absolutely beautiful. Wonderful staff and the rooms were clean and spacious with everything a traveler needs to relax.

The staff were so helpful and friendly

A truly memorable stay, friendly and helpful staff and an experienced guide! And - of course - the vicinity to Addo National Park!

The load shedding - but on the other hand and in that surrounding not really a problem, but a valuable hint not to waste energy!

Fine meals... but the wildlife is the thing. Our guide took great care to design long drives which took us all over the vast range of their land. We saw rhino as well as lion, but also had great encounters with smaller animals and birds.

Nothing

Staff was very friendly and helpful, Rangers also a great experience.

The restaurant was a bit sub par for a five star lodge.

Old colonial style , beautifully furnished rooms in wonderful parkland . Antiques and memorabilia of past times abound.

Nothing

Very friendly staff and beautiful views of elephants at breakfast

Quiet luxury in the African bush

Special Location with an unique atmosphere… We enjoyed the excellent kitchen, staff and the beautiful landscape…

Probably the finest place that we stayed at in South Africa. Rooms were large and comfortable. Food was excellent. Exceeded expectations.

The grounds were really beautiful with cottages surrounding artfully landscaped grounds that were filled with birdsong. The chef was truly excellent and we enjoyed our breakfasts and dinners. Our park ranger, Paul MacKenzie, was outstanding. He knew the wildlife really well and had many tales from his interesting life. Rafa, one of the elephants blessed us with his presence at the gate on the day of our game drive and were fortunate to spend a lot of time with one of the lions. The Park concession was very good because it gave us long views. In contrast, during our solo drive from the bottom of Addo to the top, there was large bush obscuring views. I found the staff at River Bend to be really friendly and enjoyed my many conversations with them, particularly time spent talking to Jenna. I also enjoyed talking to Gladys, who worked in the kitchen. She and I share an interest in sewing with Shweshwe. We highly recommend River Bend. It is truly a 5 star experience.

My criticism has to do with a policy that seems to be commonplace in resorts. We never ate all the food offered to us at breakfast such as breads, meats and cheeses as well as many fruits. Uneaten food, no matter what good condition it might be in, is always thrown away. I think this is unconscionable, especially in S Africa. I think the owners of River Bend should feed their staff, but also find a way to fairly distribute food to the needy. River Bend is a rich peoples’ destination. Rich people have an obligation to share. I hope other travelers affirm these expectations.

Uniquely Situated in the Addo Concession (extra fees & charges - but they're well worth it!) We booked Cottage 1 - Private Pool, Outdoor Shower Staff are excellent - from Veronique and Jenna right to the servers and our Game Driver "Micky-Lea" (sp? 🫣) 5 ⭐️ hospitality - they seriously are accommodating and seeking to make the guest experience, the best possible Beautiful place to relax and enjoy the early a.m. sunrises and evening sunsets on the property. The inner garden and courtyard are just beautiful... especially in the golden hours

Just a couple simple observations (not really dislikes) - The facilities are definitely a little "mature", but simple, clean and rustic... just like a traditional farm stay should be in South Africa - If you want to go on multiple game drives per day and into the Main Addo side, and not have to worry about extra for meals and drinks... definitely worth considering the "all-inclusive" option - If you're looking to relax and self drive a little bit while enjoying a full hot breakfast along with a full breakfast buffet available, you can save a little by paying for your options without the all-inclusive

1. The staff’s service was exceptional - both the knowledgeable game drive guides & the attentive service staff team 2. The rooms were large and spacious and well appointed

1. Not load shedding proof - Given the price tag and the persistent nature of load shedding, it seems unfathomable that a luxury property wouldn’t have full backups for WiFi, some lights, if not the air con 2. The price for the all inclusive rate is a lot. In hindsight, we would have gone for the Bed & Breakfast rate and purchased everything else a la carte since the game drives weren’t that hard to secure.

Friendly attentive staff & service.

N/A.

Beautiful scenery and excellent food. Staff very attentive and pleasant. Rooms comfortable and great game drives.

Breakfast was brilliant and in practice was a brunch. The living room and bar area were cosy and very comfortable. We could have easily have stayed for much longer.

The game drive could have some improvement. Coffee was terrible and although the driver was very nice, appeared to have a health condition that prevented him to do the job and did not transmit much confidence of his capability to deal with emergencies, should they arise.

The Staff was always looking out for us to make our stay special.

We booked all inclusive in the villa for 6 people. It was amazing. We had a private chef and wait staff and 2 game drives per day. The chef prepared us breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. The food was delicious. On the game drives we also had homemade snacks and drinks. The villa had a large fenced garden and private pool. We came in winter so never had a chance to use the pool but it looked amazing and I’m sure a real treat in summer. After our afternoon game drives, we came home to a camp fire in the garden and were served hot drinks and aperitif. It was such a lovely experience. Our game driver - Leo - was excellent. Really passionate about the animals and super engaging. We travelled with 2 young kids - 9 and 12 - and he went out of his way to keep them included, showed them how to track animals and let them out the vehicle when it was safe to put their tracking to use. The resort also has a back up generator so load shedding isn’t really noticed. We were lucky enough to see lots of elephants, plus the buffalo and a black rhino. Plus lots of other animals like zebra, warthog, plenty of different type of antelopes, baboons, emus, velvet monkeys, meerkats, jackals and more.

The park says it has the big 5 but it only has 3 lions so we never saw any on our trip. To get from one end of the park to the other it would take 6 hours so like finding a needle in a haystack.

a world class retreat in the bush. Really special weekend with outstanding attention to detail. the staff are amazing, we loved the game drives to the special dinner at the fireplace. thank you

Location, guide, personal, late check out, we saw elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalos and many more.

All fine

Great game drives, and our guide Leo was incredible!! So knowledgable and passionate. The location of the lodge and views were fantastic, with it being on the park - we saw monkeys and zebras from our room!!! Breakfast was lovely as was the regular cleaning of our room/turndown service

Didn’t feel ‘all inclusive’, with mini bar not being restocked at any point (apart from water), premium wines being the full price instead of a supplement, and it not feeling like you could get a drink at any point i.e no bar staff at the bar and unclear if there were opening times for this.

Quiet, well kept,

Loadshedding contingencies aren’t really in place. However, the property was still amazing without electricity.

The food was all excellent, with a very generous breakfast, and the location is beautiful. The room was large and very comfortable, and outdoor shower is a lovely feature. Although there was no socket suitable for the hairdryer, an adaptor was quickly provided when I asked for one.

Service in the restaurant was very charming, but slow. The hotel is not really promoting the spa because of staff shortages, though I am sure if you pre-book for treatments this is not an issue. Also, it is worth noting that the lodge is not situated within the main Addo park, although it does appear to be so on maps of the area.

Had an absolutely incredible time here as a family. Moses, Debbie and the staff are all wonderful people, extremely attentive, the food was excellent and our ranger Christiaan could not have been kinder. We saw lions roaring, wild Rhinos, water buffalo and lots of elephants. The garden is a magical oasis.

Nil

great spacious apartment. great breakfast

-

Everything! River Bend Lodge is a truly wonderful experience from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave. We were warmly greeted by the Manager, Debbie, who makes you feel immediately at home. The main lodge and has a colonnial feel with a lovely lounge, library, bar and restaurant. The whole place is full of character and old world charm. I stayed in one of the lodges and it was a wonderful experience. The beds are huge and comfortable, there is a seating area and the ensuite bathroom is huge with a door leading to an outdoor shower which faces onto the wonderful landscape of Addo. Off the lounge area of the lodge the patio doors open onto a nice private patio and at the side is a small pool, lounge chairs and another seating area under a tree. The drives with Solomon are excellent and he is a very knowledgeable ranger who is passionate about his work and the highlight of our drive was seeing the male and female lions on the open land. It was magical! The evening meals in the restaurant are superb cooked by the chef, Sophie, and the dishes are original and inspiring. There are four courses in total! The breakfasts are absolutely fantastic with an amazing choice of foods, fresh fruit, cold meats, cheeses and then cooked breakfasts. In the afternoon you can have a high tea in the lounge area and Sophie makes the most beautiful pastries and cakes. Overall, staying at River Bend Lodge has been one of the most unique travel experiences of my life. The staff at the Lodge make your stay so special and memorable. I would like to thank all the staff we came into contact with along with Debbie who is a wonderful manager and person. This includes Nonnie in the reception, Connie the waitress, Sam, Moses, Shaun, Sophie, Nombie and, of course, Solomon. The nice thing is that all the staff have such wonderful smiles and are so naturally friendly and welcoming. I'll definitely come back to River Bend Lodge

Nothing. I cannot praise River Bend Lodge highly enough.