Addo Elephant Safari Lodge - Bellevue Forest Reserve

What a great place.... Great rooms (ask for a refurbished one!), great location, exemplary staff and service, and a more than average chance of animal spotting close up. More personal than the larger Game Reserves, and helpful in every way to please.

Her favorite animals are giraffes, so what could be better than a Giraffe Walk? It was her 30th birthday, which I mentioned when booking, and they made it so special! Since it was such an important day for her, they arranged for just the two of us to be on the tour. On top of that, she received a little muffin with a candle, which was such a thoughtful touch! With our guide, Jona, we were lucky to find the giraffes very quickly. The entire experience was incredible! Thanks to Jona’s knowledge and passion for the animals, we felt completely relaxed and safe throughout. He was an amazing ranger—you could really tell how much he loves his job, and it made the experience even better. The giraffes were so close to us, and they are truly beautiful creatures. We loved every moment of it and couldn’t recommend this experience enough!

I must commend the staff for their exceptional service and helpfulness. The breakfast was average but being served outside on a lovely open deck overlooking the reserve made it special. The accommodation did not meet expectations. The room we were assigned was in need of significant attention. There was a noticeable large defect in the plaster, with an unrepaired crack on the exterior patio. Additionally, the room lacked air conditioning, and although a fan was provided, it was of poor quality, and far more efficient at making noise than providing effective air circulation, especially given that the temperature reached 37°C during the day. The bathroom was also quite dated. The shower featured separate hot and cold taps without a mixer, making it difficult to adjust the water temperature. There was only a small cabinet mirror, with no additional mirror elsewhere. To make matters worse, the toilet had a malfunction and only partially flushed. The front door's lock was ineffective, meaning the door could easily be pulled open even when "locked." Regarding the food, I was disappointed with the evening dinner on both occasions. Considering the price of the dinner, I felt it offered very poor value. There was in addition no beer selection with only one choice of beer - small cans of a local craft lager, which were expensive and not to my taste. Unfortunately, my overall experience was less than satisfactory.

My recent five-day stay in the newly renovated Room 5 aka The Honeymoon Suite was like stepping into a dream of refined elegance with untamed beauty. Let’s get down to the nitty gritties: Room 5: The newly renovated Honeymoon Suite • Spacious Luxury: The Honeymoon Suite exudes understated opulence. The bed is so enormous that you could roll 4 times before falling over on the other side while the room’s modern finishes seamlessly blend with the surrounding natural landscape. • Thoughtful Details: Three different walls are adorned with plug points because even in the heart of the wilderness, we need to charge our phones and cameras for those Instagram-worthy giraffe selfies. The fully stocked fridge caters to both practical needs (such as nuts and water – sparkling and still) and indulgent cravings (think amarula, soft drinks wines, ciders, and local craft beers). The curio shop is also well stocked with souvenirs, art, clothing, plush toys and beverages. • The private Jacuzzi on the deck: Just outside the suite (on the 2nd balcony that faces the spa) lies a private jacuzzi, where you can the dip under the vast African sky, with a glass of beverage – of course! Here, privacy was sacred; no staff or guests can intruded on your privacy as the area is off limits to the rest of the Lodge and that includes the roars of a lion that you are sometimes lucky to hear! • The Spa: The spa is also a stone’s throw away from the rooms. You can select from the various treatments on offer. Client-Centric Staff • The owner, Loodt is so client- centric, his double-check in on us made our stay even more memorable. Brian is a real guest relations guru and orchestrates a seamless guest experiences. Game guides Shaun and Alex are like walking encyclopedias. They’ll tell you about the birds with the same enthusiasm as spotting an elephant! And then there’s Charmaine and Caster who deliver Masterchef three course meals daily! Lindiwe, St Claire and the rest of the kitchen staff all deserve a special mention for their exceptional service (and this includes prepping the bedroom and leaving a surprise cherry while you dine). As I stepped into the dining area I suddenly felt nostalgia when I saw the paraffin lamps which light up the table in the evenings Definitely recommended!

The place was comfortable, and the rooms were delightful. It was homely yet swish I loved that there was a vegetable garden that we could literally pick the freshest ingredients The bar was well stocked and the family run owners were on hand to provide whatever we required

It was a lovely experience to see these gracious animals so close and to learn more about them in the beautiful Bellevue Forest reserve. The ranger was very knowledgeable and was able to spot the giraffes in the bush. We were very lucky to see a baby giraffe with mom. We saw other giraffes and were able to get out of the vehicle to walk a little closer to see them drinking.