Kariega Game Reserve Ukhozi Lodge

Words almost fail me trying to write this review because there are just too many good things to say! From the moment we arrived until the moment we left, everything was… well, not just perfect, but more than perfect. The staff were incredible – every single one of them so thoughtful and kind. Our guide Melissa was an absolute star. She went above and beyond to make sure we saw everything we hoped for and that we were comfortable every step of the way. Most of our drives had just four of us, but for our last afternoon and morning we were the only guests in the lodge – and that meant we had Melissa all to ourselves! Honestly, who gets that?! I’d have totally understood if they’d combined us with another group since we were just a couple, but no – we had our very own private drive, which felt unbelievably special. Melissa was fab: knowledgeable, fun, considerate (she even made sure the snacks and drinks suited us), and just an all-round wonderful person. We can’t thank her enough. And it wasn’t just Melissa – everyone else was amazing too. I’ll admit, I was a little worried before going that I might have to ‘make do’ as a vegetarian. How wrong I was! The food was absolutely fantastic – I honestly don’t think I’ve ever eaten so well on a holiday. They even made me a birthday cake, and on our last night, despite us being the only guests, they put on a proper Boma with singing, dancing, and an explanation of the songs. It was magical and we felt so spoiled. They even helped patch up a broken suitcase so we could travel onwards without worry – just another example of how nothing was too much trouble. And of course, the animals! That’s why you go on safari, right? This was our very first one and I knew there was a chance we might not see everything… but wow, were we lucky. Within hours of landing in Port Elizabeth we were already face-to-face with lions. Then came zebras, giraffes, rhinos, elephants, wildebeest , antelope galore, and even wallowing hippos. We ticked off everything we’d hoped to see (okay, except for the lion cubs – but that just gives us the perfect excuse to come back!). Honestly, if you’re hesitating about whether to book this safari – don’t. Just go. It was magical from start to finish, and I couldn’t fault a single thing. Huge thanks to Melissa and the whole team – you gave us memories we’ll treasure forever, and we really hope to see you again.

The best Reserve 4th time and can't wait to go again.Staff friendly and nothing is a problem. Brendon our game ranger was AMAZING, knew his stuff and really went the extra mile.Foix and accommodation highly recommended. Thank you Kariega for a amazing 3 days