This was an amazing experience. I grew up in the north of the country and have been to bigger game farms with more animals and wildlife however this place was exceptionally well run with excellent accommodation and friendly staff. Food was excellent and game drives were great as you knew what you were going out to see and you saw it. Just to se expectation here - This is a game lodge that is still in its infancy. It is not the biggest and the animals there are mostly rescues and therefore not "wild" in the strictest sense. Seasoned safari folk will find it a bit tame but for UK / US / European visitors who want to get a good, close up view of the big 5 and have some unique up-close experiences (We got to hand feed elephants!) and a 5 star accommodation experience whilst getting a taste for the safari life, you cannot do better!

Accommodation is beautiful. That is it. Drove 5 excited hours to get there only to do a afternoon '2 hour game drive' that included 2 animal stops (2 elephants, a few wildebees, zebras and springboks) that lasted approximately 1 hour (could not have driven more than 5kms into the park). This was followed by stopping for 30 - 40 minutes for awkward drinks instead of viewing animals. We spotted a Rhino from afar (maybe 400meters) but ranger did not want to get close due to its apparent hostility towards humans, yet we saw other ranger vehicles park next to the animal. We then made our way back and spotted 3 cheetahs who seemed domesticated (do they wear collars in the wild as well - it might be for tracking but doesn't seem like an actual wild experience). Very very poor game drive experience. At the accommodation there was no warm water when the water did come out of the shower head; the microwave did not work so we were forced to eat cold supper (no answer from reception) and the 'double bed' was two single beds pushed together so you would slip into the gap during the night. To top it all off, during our first game drive I was separated from my partner in the vehicle so did not feel like a shared experience. Could we not be accommodated to share the experience we paid for.... We still made the best of it and managed to enjoy it but this felt more like a zoo or someone showing us their pets. If you have seen any of these animals in real life before, this is not for you. You will be very disappointed in the game drive. Also, to be fair - the staff were lovely and welcoming.

Great experience. Seeing lots of different animals incl. lios, elephants, rhinos, zebras and many more. The guides are friendly and sharing all their knowledge. Driving through the nature is such fun! The room and food is also good. Overall a great place to do a safari 🦓🐘🦁🐆

Incredible place! I was a bit sick when I arrived and the staff were very caring and accommodating and got me medication for my acid reflux. The food was delicious and service was excellent. Room was spacious and clean. The game drives were magical and we saw many different animals including lions, elephants, cheetah, bulls, giraffe, rhino, hippos, and many more. Definitely recommend this place!

Currently staying here and awful accommodation experience so far! So called luxury rooms are dirty, no one has cleaned the cupboards and drawers in ages (also very outdated and damaged), the mosquito nets around the bed (not in use now but still) are full of old stains, which i can only assume are blood stains from the past, the fridge was not accessible in the room whilst our child is on anti-biotics that has to be kept in a fridge (was only resolved the next day) and for two days in a row no water pressure in bathroom. So after a cold evening and morning game drive, how are you suppose to shower or bath the kids?! Pressure comes and goes but not acceptable for the price you pay. For the restaurant staff and game drivers, great people and service! But accommodation is a complete no go for the future.

When we arrived, the service at the reception was unfortunately very poor. Nothing was explained to us, we still had to wait for our room, which is no problem, but it would have been nice if we had been offered, for example, a drink in the restaurant or lunch because we were there exactly at the time. We weren't asked if we wanted to visit the Spar etc, all not very trying or proactive. We were in a chalet which unfortunately are in need of renovation. Carpeted floors although all people have sandy shoes after safari are not optimal. The air conditioning and internet did not work. We had many insects and spiders in the room, mosquito spray or plug was not available. The food was okay, but still quite a mass handling. The spa treatment was very great! Super massage and beautiful facility. The safari trips are unfortunately also very touristy, you realize you are in a fenced area, but the guide was very knowledgeable and personable. Unfortunately, this was an experience that we can not recommend.

Such a lovely experience- the service is top notch. If you are expecting a bush Safari like you get in Kruger, then you’ll be disappointed. But we loved our guide Nicole, & really enjoyed all the foreign tourists loving our country. The food is SO good and such generous portions. My only complaint is that I ate far too much 🤣 We stayed in the Lodge and I would suggest staying in the chalets or further away. It is quite busy but lying by the pool (in between winter storms) was very relaxing. You are very close to the highway which is convenient but also not ideal. I’d say this is a great overnight stop for people wanting a taste of Safari. Thanks to all the lovely staff that really made it special.

Great spot to spend a day on the Garden Route. Excellent driver on the Game Drive where she explained us everything in detail. Very nice food. Good variety on wines. Nice luxury family room. If I missed something? I would say few hospitality items and smiles. No baggage porters (specially when it is tough to get to your room due to unpaved paths) and no offers for help at any time. Want to have a great time? then travel light!

The game drive was really lovely and informative. Our guide made us feel safe and allowed plenty of time for photos of the animals and time for questions. Fair amount of animals but would suggest an overnight to enjoy the lodge to the fullest degree. I would like to note that there is not much forgiveness for foreign guests with limited English. As an added suggestion it's probably a good idea to consistently remind guests not to call the animals... Rather than belittle them when an incident arises.

What a fantastic experience! I wanted to treat my fiancé to experience the Garden Route and it’s the second game drive his done but this one was truly special. We arrived Xmas day and the lunch was impeccable along with the service. The food was delicious & well presented. Bush Valley Chalet was the best view, bed was super comfortable, the bedding soft, loved the lay out & bar fridge was handy. The evening & morning game drives by AB was spectacular. We booked a private dinner under the stars Wow the BEST lamb I have ever had and trust me Someone who is a big meat eater this is a big statement! We booked the spa and wow the back neck and shoulder massage with hikers leg and foot massage was off the charts!! We booked the picnic lunch too what an experience amazing.

What an awesome place! The food was outstanding! Honestly the best fish dishes i have had! A variety of dishes to choose from and delicious desserts! My one child is a very picky eater and the staff went out of their way to accommodate him. The game drives were great - we were given hot water bottles for the cool mornings and complimentary sundowner drinks in the evening. Everyone is super friendly and helpful and made us feel really welcome! Really not hard to find animals on the farm and the guide ensured we had the best time. I cannot thank the team at Garden Route enough for making our holiday so so exceptional! We will definitely be returning guests and can’t wait for our next visit!

Fantastic experience with our guide Nicole I think or maybe Nicola. She was amazing Beautiful game lodge, intimate groups. The little touches were amazing, the hot water bottle with warm poncho on a cool morning drive, the drinks stop with the rhinos. Food was amazing too. Amazing experience.

TLDR: I would recommend GRGL to someone who has never experienced a safari before. The staff were great, the food was exceptional, the accommodation was comfortable, and you get to see a lot of animals. Accommodation: We stayed in a Valley View Chalet for three nights. The room was comfortable with good views and had everything we needed (toiletries, safe, etc.). We had an issue with ants but this was quickly resolved by the staff. Also, our room had two twin beds joined together. Otherwise, no major issues. Food: Breakfast and dinner were included along with high tea with scones in the afternoon. The food was exceptional in terms of quality, portions, and variety. The service was also excellent. Drinks weren’t included, but the prices were very reasonable. Lunch also wasn’t included, but you may not need it based on the portion sizes of breakfast and dinner. Game drives: We had two game drives per day (scheduled for 7-9am and 4-6pm). Our guides (Jane and Sune) were fantastic - super personable and knowledgeable. They were happy to take our requests for which animals we wanted to see during each drive. You will be riding in a converted Toyota truck (seating capacity of 10). We had 6 game drives and most of them only had 6 people. The guides also go out of their way to make you comfortable (hot water bottles and ponchos provided). The sunset drinks and snacks were also a great touch (unfortunately, the fire at the Boma was cancelled while we were there due to rain). There are a few things that can be improved: 1. The website says that the drives will be between 2-3 hours. This was not the case. Each day we encountered some kind of delay (waiting for other guests to be picked up, issues with gates opening and closing, issues with the vehicle). Taking all of this into consideration, most drives were between 1.5-1.75hrs. 2. Rusks weren’t available before the morning game drives (as listed in the handouts provided during check-in). Animals: During our 6 game drives, we saw lions, elephants, white rhinos, buffaloes, hippos, zebras, cheetahs, ostriches, antelopes, and much more. We weren’t able to see leopards (very rare apparently), or giraffes because they're in an area that you can't get to if it has rained heavily as the Toyota will get stuck. Atmosphere/setting: We saw quite a few comments calling this place a big zoo. This is partially true as some of the animals are separated so that they don’t kill each other. It’s not big enough yet to let all the animals roam free. The lodge is next to the highway so you will see a lot of electric fences, power lines, and hear trucks driving past at night. The lodge is built on old farmland and has grown over the years by purchasing other farms so you will also see a few farmhouses during your game drives. However, this place is enormous and I imagine it will keep growing in the years to come and hopefully become more “wild.” If you’re looking for a truly wild experience where you’re in the middle of nowhere and lions are walking past your tent at night, this is not the place for you. If you’re looking for an introductory safari experience where you can see some animals while enjoying some modern comforts, then I’d recommend it.

Super cozy and beautiful place. It's a perfect place for a 2 nights stay, since they dont have that many animals so after 4 safaris you pretty much have seen they have! The staff is super nice

Myself and 5 others attended this back in June. What an incredible place and experience. The scenery is majestic and both our drivers / game workers were amazing, knowledgeable and attentive to our needs (including hot water bottles on cold mornings). They went above and beyond to ensure we saw everything we wanted to and the succeeded. Thomas was particularly attentive and deserving of high recommendation. The great element that I didn’t expect from our 3 night stay was the food. It was really incredible, by far our best meals across our 12 day SA trip. Our service was again exceptional in particular Jaydeen who ensured we were fed and watered whilst laughing throughout. I couldn’t fault this experience. I would recommend to families, friendship groups and honeymoon or couples - I can’t see any better place to visit luxury whilst experiencing the big 5.

We left early after being incredibly disappointed by what we saw. Their website is incredibly misleading. It’s definitely not anywhere near a safari, it’s more a retirement home of very few animals on old bare farmland. We travelled a long way (nearly 24 hours from Australia) plus the nearly 4 hour drive from Capetown to see less “Africa” than we could’ve seen in Australia. The 6 of us that travelled so far to come here to enjoy our friends 40th left feeling very ripped off. The rooms and accommodation is nice, but that’s it. That being said the beds are the hardest most uncomfortable beds I’ve ever slept on in any hotel or resort! They’re also two singles pushed together and split in the middle. I’m just under 6ft tall and my feet had to hang off the edge. It’s definitely a tourist trap. Many of the rest of our group have been to Africa including South Africa multiple times before, and definitely recommend not booking here. We spoke to the manager as we really didn’t want to leave a 1 star review, however, there was no attempt other than saying we could leave early to try make us feel any better about our bad decision to stay here. We advised their website was misleading and they basically just agreed. Hence why we’re now leaving this review, as they seem to profit from misleading advertising. This is worse than a zoo. I really hope they look after their animals, rather than exploit them like their customers.

A weekend of Adventure at the Garden Route Game Lodge !🦁🌳 Our stay at the Garden Route Game Lodge was an unforgettable adventure. From thrilling safaris with close encounters with wildlife to luxurious accommodations, this lodge had it all. The staff were not only friendly but also incredibly knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna. The dining experience was exceptional, with delicious, fresh meals and an atmosphere that made every mealtime a memorable occasion during our stay. If you're looking for an exhilarating and luxurious safari getaway, The Garden Route Lodge is definitely the place to be!

We really enjoyed our staying for the two nights! The drives with our guider “Jane” were an amazing, also the dinner options of vegetarian were so good! Our waiter for the last dinner “Jaydeen” made the night a memorable! Highly recommended 👍🏼✅

This was an absolute highlight of our time in South Africa. You must visit a game lodge while here to see the animals. We loved Garden Route. They explained everything including the ethics behind which animals they had and why. And their history with the animals. We had close encounters with all the animals we wanted to see including an exciting experience with lions! The breakfast was amazing and the lunch options (though not included in our stay) we're delicious. Dinner was less enticing to me as a vegetarian but I still enjoyed it! And they knew ahead of time that I was vegetarian. The service was fabulous and the guides were so great. Loved loved loved this place. The huts were so luxurious, too! Tiny but had everything you need.

We can highly recommend the Garden Route Game Lodge for Safari beginners that want something great close to Cape Town! We had a luxury suite for 4 with a plunge pool which was very nice, modern, clean, and super quiet with a view of the reserve. Jane „of the jungle“ did an awesome job as our very knowledgeable safari guide and went above and beyond to give us the best Safari experience!!! The food is really great and the service staff also goes above and beyond when challenged with special orders!!! It was great!!!

Excellent small game reserve with friendly and knowledgeable guides. Excellent food. Exceptional value for money. Very comfortable accommodation. You can get ready close to the animals on the safari.

Great experience . Very attentive staff . Martel was an amazing guide- very informative , funny and engaging . It’s an enormous property and all animals were wondering free and seemed very well . We were also ensured that many of them have actually been rescued from captivity. Great dinner - with a separate vegan menu with several options - unfortunately it wasn’t the case during breakfast. Rooms aren’t big but in a good state and ok enough for an overnight stay .

That was the coolest experience ever. The lodges were super nice, we slept well, enjoyed the nature and the flair. The gamedrives were exciting and fun. We saw all the animals we wanted to see (4 drives in 2 days). I can definitely recommend to stay 2 nights, it's worth it! The food is very good and varied. The coolest thing though was our guide Robyn. Best regards to you! So funny and experienced.

Beautiful resort with all of the animals you could want to see! Very knowledgeable and ethical guides. The food was great with lots of options on the menu. The pool was a great place to hang out with the kids in the afternoon. We loved being able to do 4 safaris on our 2 night stay!

This place in wonderful!!! Starting from the staff they are very friendly and welcoming! Steve drove us through the safari - he was very informative and lovely person! Definitely i would recommend anyone to give this place a visit and enjoy, for me personally i might be coming here every year. @GardenRouteSafariTeam,Thanks for the great and lovely experience!

Amazing place and experience! The game drive was amazing and our game driver is nice, she explained every thing, answer every question, and stop wherever we want to take photos. We have 2 game drives one in the morning at 7am and the second one at 4pm, she split it, half of the animals in the morning drive and the second half in the evening drive so that we can have enough time to take photos and ask questions about everything.

Visited the lodge in December 2019, it was an absolutely amazing experience. The wildlife tour was so insightful and such an iconic experience. The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable. The food at the restaurant was superb. The staff were very friendly. The Dom Pedro's are out of this world.

Just wow. Recently had a 2 night stay with my daughter and we loved it. Very pleasant staff, incredible variety of animals, great facilities, beautiful rooms, stunning views, fantastic food and awesome guides. The best and lowest stress way to do a safari and see South Africa’s wildlife. Only downside was a 10.30 check out :) So good, we have to go back again. Thank you so much for making the experience for my daughter something that she will never forget!

This place deserves a 5 star rating, it’s absolutely amazing! My family and I stayed here in May and from start to finish we had the perfect experience! The staff in the restaurant went the extra mile at every meal. The ladies in the spa were very friendly and welcoming. Our game driver was very informative and kept the excitement going. The sunset ridge lodges are probably one of the best hotel rooms I have every stayed in, well equipped and maintained.

Absolutely stunning 3 night stay! We were blessed with fabulous weather, a gem of a guide- Frans- who went out of his way to make sure each game drive was incredible. Food was outstanding too! All staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. The bed was a little firm though. Will we go back? Definitely!!!!