Hotels near Karongwe Private Game Reserve

"If we could give 6 stars for our 3 day stay at Naledi we would! We were incredibly well taken care of by Marise, Matthew, Lilian, Decide and Chef Dudu throughout our stay. The food was delicious, our room in the Paperbark suite and the entire property is meticulously maintained, and they made incredible efforts to make our trip as enjoyable as possible. They succeeded! The game drives with Oupa and Excellent exceeded every expectation. They are true experts at guiding and tracking the majestic animals in the Balule reserve, and just incredibly lovely gentlemen to spend time with. We saw so much - yes, the Big 5, but also warthogs and hyenas and giraffes and hippos and zebras and impala herds and beautiful birds; sunset and sunrise and a rainbow one morning took our breath away. On our final sundowners, Oupa and Excellent took us by the Olifant River where we enjoyed the sunset and drinks surrounded by hippos and a grazing rhino. Each day felt like a treasure hunt - we gave very little input, allowing Oupa and Excellent to do their thing, and loved every minute. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip for my wife and I, as we were visiting South Africa from the US for a friend's wedding. I went back and forth between the more well-known reserves (Sabi Sands, Timbavati) and was unsure what we'd be able to see in the summer season (our visit was in late January) - I'm so glad we chose Naledi and if there's ever an opportunity to visit South Africa again, we will be back!"

"Absolute trip of a lifetime. Everything from the pickup from the airport to the drop off was wonderful. Staff were amazing, property was beautiful and the reserve was incredible - we saw all of the Big 5 and more in 24 hours. Can’t recommend highly enough."

"Karongwe River Lodge is simply PERFECT! We couldn’t recommend it more. The rooms are very spacious, beautifully decorated and comfortable. We had a incredible view of the river, where we often saw various types of animals (crocodiles, giraffes, impalas, inhalas, hipos, and more). The staff is very welcoming and thoughtful to our every need. Very kind people indeed. We incredibly well received and treated by every single person who assisted us in the lodge. Really remarkable! The meals were also very good! Fresh, made with care, very well cooked and plent. I think we even put in a few pounds in three days lol Nevertheless the greatness of everything, the game drives were the high point in our stay. Truly amazing! Bethuel (our designated ranger) and Ludwick (tracker) were the best! Very competent at their work and incredibly nice and kind people. We enjoyed every minute in Karongwe! And we certainly are coming back soon! "