Nyala Safari Lodge

We stayed at Nyala Safari Lodge for 3 days and we had a wonderful experience. We arrived and were welcomed with open arms. The owners and staff were amazing, super friendly and made our stay super comfortable. The food was amazing. When we came back from our safari ride in the early morning, there was an amazing breakfast which was freshly made by the chef. The lunch and dinner were also perfect. The houses in which we stayed were super cozy. With an outside shower where you could shower under the breathtaking starry night. The beds were nice and everything was super clean and well taken care of. We went on safari twice a day with our ranger Christelle. She lived here for 36 years and has been a ranger for 10 years. She spotted all the animals for us and read tracks as if it was a piece of cake. She learned us a lot about the animals and it was really interesting. All with all our expectations were highly exceeded!

This was our first safari and first time in Africa, following the Comrades Marathon in Durban. We truly hit the jackpot with this lodge. If you're looking for a boutique luxury safari experience—with what might be the best guides in the park, delicious and healthy meals from a phenomenal chef (all included!), and family-run hospitality that genuinely cares—look no further. We found this gem through our friends at BHS Safari Company, and now we understand why they were so insistent. But fair warning: once you've stayed here, it may ruin all future safaris. I often tell people not to visit Japan first if they're new to Asia—because it sets the bar too high. This lodge is the "Japan" of Kruger National Park: simply the best. From the moment we arrived, the experience felt like something out of White Lotus—but in the best way possible. We were welcomed with drinks and cool towels by the entire staff, and after every game drive, we were greeted the same way. With only five lodges on the property, everyone quickly becomes familiar. By the end, we truly felt like one big family. Dave and Nikkie, the owners, are a wonderful couple who treat their guests and staff with warmth and respect—and it shows in every detail. Shylet and Kutso, the powerhouse chefs, served up hit after hit. Not a single bad meal in our entire 4-night stay. But the real star? Our guide, Christelle. Words can’t capture our gratitude. Her deep connection with the animals and reverence for the park was immediately apparent. She struck a perfect balance between delivering an unforgettable guest experience and respecting the wildlife. She was so good, we spotted all of the Big Five on our first day. I could tell you how comfy the beds were or how beautifully designed the lodges are—but the truth is, we hardly stayed in our rooms. We spent every moment we could connecting with the incredible staff and fellow guests. That kind of magic? It can’t be bought. We came for the animals. We left with lifelong memories—and friends. —Allen & Kaiser

Sorry, this review is a few months overdue, but, hope it still offers potential new guests some pointers. We visited Nyala Safari Lodge in early April 2025. This was our 2nd visit to the lodge following a previous visit in 2022. Some friends accompanied us this time and for them this was their first ever safari trip to South Africa. We kept Nyala until the last stop on our safari adventure, as based on our last visit we knew our friends would love the 'feel and ambience' this place had to offer - and it did not disappoint. Dave and Nikkie are very attentive towards their guests and run this lodge really well. You can tell because there is a happy atmosphere in the camp which translates into excellent service served up by staff with genuine smiles. We find the standard of food in South Africa to be generally very good anyway. However, the quality of dishes served up by Shylet (Head Chef) and Kutso were once again, truly exceptional. So much so that all four of us really looked forward to what was on the menu each day. The standard of accomodation at Nyala is excellent and there is no attention to detail spared in terms of decoration, including towels folded up in the shape of a smily elephant's head on your arrival. The rondavels are beautifully appointed and the bathrooms, including an additional outside shower facility, really make for a truly wonderful bush experience. You visit Nyala though for the safari experience and in this respect we had some wonderful sightings this time. Christelle was once again our guide and she really knows her stuff - and is incredibly funny and interesting too. Knowing that we were (slightly) disappointed last time not to see Ezulwini ( a big elephant tusker that sometimes visits the property) she went out of her way to make sure we saw him this time. So, thanks Christelle and we hope your trip to Norway went well. Finally, a big thanks to the Nyala team. We really enjoyed our stay and needless to say our friends got back home with some wonderful memories of their last stopover in South Africa.