Sibuya Game Reserve and Lodge

If you're only interested in wildlife and scenery, Sibuya delivers. But if you're expecting a well-rounded 4-star experience—including food, hospitality, and comfort—you may want to look elsewhere. I'm originally from South Africa and planned a 4-star safari as the highlight of our trip to visit family. After comparing multiple game reserves, we chose Sibuya based on glowing reviews and recommendations. The bush lodge was 'booked' (later discovered it was under renovation), so we opted for the forest camp, trusting that the price would reflect the quality. Unfortunately, while our ranger and game drives exceeded expectations, nearly every other aspect of our stay was a disappointment—and ultimately led us to leave a day early. What Went Well Our ranger, CJ, was phenomenal. Knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging, he made each drive memorable. We saw four of the Big Five in their natural habitat. Game drives were intimate and personal, especially on the first day and a half when we were the only guests. Forest camp cabins were cozy and bug-free during the winter season. What Undermined the Entire Experience Food & Beverage Failures The “complimentary” bar was never staffed. Getting a drink often felt like an intrusion rather than an amenity. Morning coffee was a self-service station with dirty pots, old grounds, and missing essentials like sugar. Staff were absent, so we cleaned it ourselves. Our request to take a wine bottle to the table was denied for unclear reasons—yet no quantity limit was enforced. Meals were abundant but uninspired: burnt meats, repetitive dishes, and a bizarre absence of local staples like mielie pap. Even the milktart felt like a failed imitation. To our disgust, the same salad that was swarmed by flies on Day 1 appeared again on Day 2. Substandard Service The staff—especially our host—were often missing or glued to their phones. Reasonable requests (like lighting the cabin fireplace in winter) felt like too much to ask. Our room was superficially cleaned (the bed was made) but lacked fresh drinking water and a clean bathroom. When we reported a leaky kayak to management, it was met with a chuckle instead of concern. Ambience Undermined Sibuya marketed itself as an immersive wilderness escape, but the illusion was shattered by the sound of chainsaws, hammering, and loud chatter from ongoing construction. Piles of renovation debris surrounded the lodge. One stack of wire fencing sat exactly where guests disembarked from game trucks—unsafe and unsightly. Departure & Aftermath The contrast was jarring when new guests arrived: suddenly, the coffee station was clean and stocked, cereal appeared before the game drive, and a new host was introduced. It was clear standards could be met—but we were already too fatigued, hungry, and frustrated to continue. When we voiced our concerns to the manager (Chris), he offered no resolution beyond saying he’d speak to the team. We were refunded for our shortened stay, but t

Our stay at Sibuya Game Reserve River Camp was truly out of this world — an experience like no other! From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel so welcome and special. Our guides, Matt and Jay, took us on game drives that were nothing short of extraordinary. Their knowledge, passion, and sense of humor made every moment memorable. Matt’s incredible insight into the wildlife and environment taught us so much, while the rapport between the two of them brought endless laughter and fun to every outing. We were lucky enough to see a variety of animals including bf most of the big 5— all so close it took our breath away. Watching the sun set with delicious snacks and drinks each evening was simply magical. The food and service at River Camp were exceptional. Chris, Hannah, and the team went above and beyond — every meal was a delight, and every detail was handled with such care and warmth. As honeymooners, we were touched beyond words when they surprised us with an intimate three-course dinner set up beautifully in our lodge. It was such a thoughtful and romantic gesture that we’ll never forget. Sibuya River Camp truly exceeded every expectation — a perfect mix of adventure, luxury, and heart. We left with full hearts, big smiles, and memories that will last a lifetime.

This was by far the highlight of our trip and near perfection! Everything was taken care of and people were friendly, proactive and interested. After a game drive you would be greated by the hostes with a drink. During game drives they would bring drinks and snacks. Diners were abundant and good, lodges would be warmed for you upon arrival. Defenitly worth every penny.

We spent 2 nights in the tented forest area, and it was absolutely wonderful. All the staff were lovely friendly and knowledgeable. We had Brian and JP on our drives and they went above and beyond to ensure we saw as much as possible and we did see the big 5. The team in the lodge does a great job of ensuring we are all fed and watered The tents are very comfortable with very good showers and decent beds. Overall I would very much recommend it and would love to go back someday

Just finished our 2 night stay at Sibuya, could have stayed a lot longer. Amazing break from start to finish, beautiful place,fantastic food and lodge. We were very lucky to have Bryan as our Ranger who gave us an education throughout our time with his extensive knowledge of Animals, birds and the environment we were in and also a big shout to the rest of the team who made it a truly memorable experience for us. We passed a few game reserves on our way to Sibuya, but count ourselves extremely lucky to have booked here. This was truly a trip of a lifetime as we seen so much wildlife and game that we could never see at home….once again thanks to all who made our stay truly memorable