Emhosheni River Lodge

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Plot number 22, Parsons Private Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park 1380 South Africa

011 27 72 040 5155

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Hotel direct offer!Emhosheni River Lodge - 5 DAYS SAFARI EXPERIENCE

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About

5.0

Excellent

78 reviews

#9 of 17 Specialty lodging in Balule Nature Reserve

Location

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Value

Owner managed Riverside Lodge located in Kruger National Park (Big 5 area). Each accommodation (traditional South African thatched rondawel) has its own private deck/patio overlooking the Olifants River. Emphasis is on personal service, privacy, serenity & tranquility. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Children over the age of 12 are welcome.

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Property amenities

Free parking

Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)

Pool

Restaurant

Airport transportation

Baggage storage

Non-smoking hotel

Private check-in / check-out

Wifi

Pool / beach towels

Pool with view

Outdoor pool

Special diet menus

Wine / champagne

Sun loungers / beach chairs

Sun terrace

Laundry service

Room features

Air conditioning

Housekeeping

Safe

Minibar

Bath / shower

Hair dryer

Room types

Non-smoking rooms

Good to know

HOTEL STYLE

Great View

Romantic

Languages Spoken

English, French, Afrikaans, Dutch and 1 more

Hotel links

Visit hotel website

Special Offer:Emhosheni River Lodge - 5 DAYS SAFARI EXPERIENCE

Location

Plot number 22, Parsons Private Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park 1380 South Africa

011 27 72 040 5155

E-mail hotel

Getting there

Hoedspruit Airport26 kmSee all flights

Phalaborwa Airport34 kmSee all flights

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78Reviews3Q+A10Room tips

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MargaretHeidiAnn wrote a review Sep 2023

Greenwich, Connecticut32 contributions6 helpful votes

Stay here!!!

Oh, wow!!! Did we ever need to stay at this lodge!! We arrived after a very hectic week of touring the Kruger and Victoria Falls. The road to get to the lodge inside the reserve is a bit rough, but once there, are you ever treated well!!!! Each and every staff member went out of their way to greet us and see that we had everything we needed and wanted. The tables were meticulously set at each meal by Eric, creating the perfect ambiance for relaxing. The chef crafted food into pure luxury. We were so spoiled! And I haven't even begun to talk about the views, the animals (up close and personal), and the conversations... treat yourself and stay here!!!

Date of stay: August 2023

Value

Location

Service

Trip type: Traveled with friends

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Response from Lodge Manager, Owner at Emhosheni River Lodge

Responded 2 weeks ago

Dear Margaret, Thank you for positive review and your appreciation of our team members. You can be sure that we will share this with the rest of the team because words of appreciation never fail to inspire us to be consistent in providing excellent service. It’s our endeavor to give best experience for our valued guests. Looking forward to welcome you again. It was a great pleasure to have you and your friend as guests. Warm regards, Emhosheni River Lodge Team Leandra Hagen

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

nikki43_69 wrote a review Jul 2022

Cape Town Central, South Africa7 contributions3 helpful votes

Property's Favorite Review

Awesome Bush Getaway

We stayed in the family room. Bed was extremely comfortable and the room was cleaned every day. Beautiful view from our rondavel. 3 meals a day, food was healthy and very well balanced. Lucia the chef made my son soo happy as she made him a hollandaise sauce at his request. Ismael was awesome too offering us his signature cocktails every evening. Mareycke service was always friendly and welcoming

Date of stay: July 2022

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Room Tip: all the bungalows have a view of the river

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VonettaRR wrote a review Jul 2023

50 contributions8 helpful votes

I Cried When We Left…

We absolutely loved our time at Emhosheni. We spent 5 nights and it was enough time to see/feel/get absorbed in the culture of the lodge. It is no wonder I cried when it was time to say goodbye. The aesthetic and decor of the main lodge and our Chalet (#2), the landscaping, and the design of the entire place was thoughtfully and beautifully done. Much to be admired because of all the intentional design touches. We loved that while we got the safari package with game drives twice a day, we could still choose to be still, be at peace and soak in the environment and the view. We came for relaxation and wonder and we got both. We experienced so much wildlife just at the lodge (a family of 5 giraffes, a family of 10 elephants - including babies, hippos, herds of impala, Nyala, baboons, monkeys, and in our last day there was a huge warthog (Pumba!!) Not enough of a fuss is made about the cuisine at Emhosheni - we had three meals for 6 days and breakfast was good, but the lunch and dinner meals were divine. We weren’t expecting this level of sophistication and we looked forward to our meals every day. Just delicious. I would highlight this aspect of the experience some more. The care and attention our family received was second to none - we were warmly welcomed and the level of care never waned. Every time we were away from our chalet, Paulina slipped in like a ninja to tidy our space. Very thorough but also very unobtrusive. The beds, linen, pillows were so comfortable - we slept well - and the water pressure and hot water in the shower were excellent. Sonia and Eric took exceptional care of us throughout the day and Leandra and Dave’s oversight about guest comfort was evident. Karlich’s communication leading up to the trip was excellent and the transportation from and to Hoedspruit was reliable. Prince is a very knowledgeable game driver and we learned so much from him each time we went out about both the animals we saw and the birds we encountered. Really a great experience with him. My one suggestion would be to give the guests the option of heading back to the lodge after nightfall on the evening game drive. Once it gets dark, it is not as much of a sightseeing experience with the wildlife, especially if it is on the colder side. Leading up to sunset was magical, but once it was dark, it wasn’t as enjoyable an experience. Truly an incredible experience that was made so because of THE PEOPLE at Emhosheni. They treated us like we mattered. They were so affectionate with our 13 year-old son. I’ve never cried leaving my hosts - this was a first. Thank you for making this leg of our first visit to South Africa unforgettable. Love always, ~The Rivers Family…

Date of stay: July 2023

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Service

Trip type: Traveled with family

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Response from Lodge Manager, Owner at Emhosheni River Lodge

Responded Jul 31, 2023

Dear Vonetta, Cecil and Graham, Thank you for your beautiful feedback, we are thrilled to see you had such a great time and that you have left us with only good memories. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your recent stay with us here at Emhosheni River Lodge. It´s true, Emhosheni is a wonderful place. We are glad you liked the service provided in our house, and we will surely pass on the feedback to our staff! It would be our pleasure to welcome you again. Your review meant very much to us, thanks for sharing your experience with us and other travelers. Warmest regards, Emhosheni Team Leandra Hagen

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

sunnyvalemom wrote a review Jun 2023

California16 contributions15 helpful votes

Amazing place!

My husband and I stayed at Emhosheni in May and I can honestly say that it was the highlight of our trip to South Africa. From Eric, our amazing and incredibly gracious host to Lucia the fantastic and entertaining chef to THE most fantastic guide, Keagan. We were also lucky enough to be there while the previous owners, Leandra and Dave were there, and had such wonderful conversations with them at dinner including hair raising stories about getting the lodge up and running in the early days! We were truly treated like royalty by the entire staff. The lodge itself is just amazing. We stayed in Rondavel 3 and it was just magical. Every day after our morning game drive and breakfast we would relax on our deck or on the lodges viewing deck and watch the elephants, giraffes, warthogs and many other animals parade by. Lastly, Keagan, our game drive guide was just incredible. It was like taking a course in South African biology. We learned about so many things from the smallest animal, like the jumping spider or chameleon to the largest animals. Every drive was a new adventure. I can't recommend this place enough and I hope we can return some day!!…

Date of stay: May 2023

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Response from Lodge Manager, Owner at Emhosheni River Lodge

Responded Jul 11, 2023

Dear Cindy and Greg, Thank you for your beautiful feedback, we are thrilled to see you had such a great time and that you have left us with only good memories. The nice talks with you was for us, Dave and myself also wonderful. It is a big honour that your visit to Emhosheni was the highlight of your Trip, thank you so much. We are pleased to read that you appreciated the game drives with Keagan. Once again, thank you very much for your comments and we look forward to welcome you back in the near future. With the warmest regards, Team Emhosheni River Lodge, Leandra and Dave

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Robin B wrote a review Jun 2023

3 contributions2 helpful votes

Boutique game lodge with friendly staff and informative game tours

My wife, adult son, and I stayed at the Emhosheni Lodge for 4 days. We really liked the personalized boutique feel. Eric and the kitchen staff provided quaility meals with nice touches such as heart shaped desserts for Valentines Day. We went on morning and evening game drives with David and he provided very informative talks on the plants, birds, and animals. On our second day we saw a pride of lions lounging in the road. We also saw many animals such as elephants, impalas, warthogs, zebras, jackals, and baboons. The latter were hanging out in trees right above our hut! Every game drive had a tea break. We were given a shot of Amarula in our morning coffee which was a nice touch. The staff catered to our various desires. For example we asked to go on a hike, and Keegan set up a walk with himself and a guide from another nearby lodge. The staff also picked us up from Hoedspruit airport and they arranged a day tour of Kruger National Park. What caused me to give the lodge a 5 star review though was how they helped resolve a billing issue. The charge for game drives is done on a person basis. On a few game drives our son did not join us, but we were accidentally charged for him. After I was back in Canada, I contacted the lodge. Because they could not refund me through my Canadian credit card, they went to the trouble of sending me a wire transfer to refund me the additional charge. I was very impressed by the lengths they went to make sure I was satisfied.…

Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled with family

Room Tip: Be prepared to get up early. Game drives start around 5:15 am.

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1 Helpful vote

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Response from Lodge Manager, Owner at Emhosheni River Lodge

Responded Jul 11, 2023

Dear Robin, We are pleased that you had a wonderful stay with us and you felt the service provided by our colleagues at the kitchen, restaurant and game drives was able to make your stay memorable. With pleasure we resolved a billing issue. We hope to see you again in the future. Kind regards, Team Emhosheni River Lodge Leandra

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Matty Mc wrote a review May 2023

58 contributions16 helpful votes

5 star experience with the most knowledgeable and entertaining park ranger in South Africa!

5 star experience with the best park game ranger for safaris in South Africa! Keagan the legend! The staff are welcoming, warm and attend to your every need. My girlfriend and I spent 4 days on Safari for my 40th birthday and it was a bucket list experience that we will never forget. I need to give a massive shout out to Keagan our highly experienced ranger. What an absolute legend! His knowledge and experience of nature and commentary on our morning and afternoon drives was second to none! We saw elephants, lion, warthog, hippos, chased cheetahs, walked with elephants on foot which was insane, whilst tracking a lion. plenty of birds, zebra, buffalo, kudu, my South African girlfriend just said gemsbok, whatever that is and lots more! Make sure Keagan is in house when staying here as he will make your Safari the most memorable and enjoyable experience that will last a lifetime. Thank you Emhosheni and a special shout out to the absolute legendary all time best park ranger Keagan 🙏🏽🧡…

Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple

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Response from Lodge Manager, Inhaber at Emhosheni River Lodge

Responded Jun 7, 2023

Dear Matty, Thank you very much for taking time and posting review on TripAdvisor and for sharing your experience with us and with other travelers. We are glad you liked your stay at Emhosheni River Lodge and special the game drives by Keagan. It was a great pleasure to have you her as guests at our lodge. We hop to see you back at the lodge in the near future. With the warmest regards, Leandra, General Manager

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

CathandStephen wrote a review May 2023

Cornwall54 contributions26 helpful votes

Treated like princesses

We (two ladies) stayed in the newly erected tent. It overlooked the bush so we were able to watch giraffe, impala, waterbuck, birds, bats and insects from our patio. Listening to the hippos, squabbling baboons and waterbuck was a treat. It was beautifully private, luxurious and impeccably clean. Absolutely no "critters" in the tent and neither of us received any mosquito bites (I didn't see or hear any). I liked the little Nespresso machine which provided a great coffee shot before we embarked on our morning safaris. There was, also, a kettle, more coffee, tea etc, cold water and deliciously light homemade cookies. Keagan picked us up from the airport and drove us to Emhosheni. We saw impala and a young bull elephant along the way. The managers, Leandra and David, welcomed us and provided us with necessary information. Two Emhosheni share holders, Andre and Paul, were, also, staying at the lodge - they were great company and we had such a laugh with them. Our waiter, Eric, was kind, gentle, efficient and attentive. Every meal was absolutely delicious and we left nothing. The food was homemade and created by Tempo and Lucia. We, often, ate on the viewing platform, watching and listening to all the fauna. There was a pair of vultures residing in a tree just by the river. A herd of elephants crossed the river towards us and the babies provided such entertainment. Keagan, our incredibly knowledgeable safari guide, was the best; we learnt so much. The life of termites, alone, is so fascinating. I was amazed how observant he was - spotting animals, explaining smells, footprints, behaviour and interactions. This man will go far. We used the sunbeds and pool between game drives as we were up very early each morning and needed a rest. The grounds were beautiful and well maintained. I could continue for hours about this beautiful safari lodge but I must conclude now. This place is paradise - I recommend staying here. Thank you to all the staff at Emhosheni. Cath and Claire…

Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends

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Response from Lodge Manager, Inhaber at Emhosheni River Lodge

Responded May 22, 2023

Dear Cath and Claire, Thank you so much for the great review. We are really pleased that you both had such a great time at Emhosheni River Lodge. We have of course passed on the great praise to our staff, especially Keagan and Eric, and they were very pleased. Andre and Paul also send their warmest regards. They too have fond memories of their time with you. The whole team of Emhosheni would be very happy to welcome you both again at Emhosheni River Lodge. Kind regards Leandra, General Manager

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Colin T wrote a review Apr 2023

Oundle, United Kingdom3 contributions1 helpful vote

A very good and relaxing experience

We normally spend 3-4 days in the Northern Kruger every year and whilst the Kruger cannot be beaten as a wildlife experience, in recent years the infrastructure has suffered from a lack of investment and the food is very unimaginative if you choose to eat at the camp restaurants. We've stayed in lots of private reserves/concessions over the years including Sabi Sands, Makuleke and previously also Balule but I do struggle to come to terms with the justification for some of the prices charged by some of these. Emhosheni is not cheap but neither is it expensive and if you just chose to stay in the lodge without going on the game drives then it offers very good value indeed. Game drives aren't included and they are R600 per person per drive which can add up over a 3 night stay but it isn't a stealth charge and we were aware of it up front. It is in fact one of the reasons we decided to stay there as my partner almost never goes on morning drives and didn't for this trip. The accommodation is luxurious without being over the top and because they weren't very busy they gave my daughter her own luxury tent which she (and we) were very grateful for. The grounds are immaculately kept and provided me with lots of opportunities to photograph birds that were prolific around lodge. The best part of the lodge however is the amazing views of the Olifants River and the wildlife that frequented it all day. Hundreds of elephants, Impala, Waterbuck and Buffalo passed the lodge in an almost endless stream. The food was good although, apart from breakfast, there is no choice (vegetarians are catered for) but it was different every day and dinner was always 3 courses. All the staff were amazing and very helpful but I would pick out Keagan and Dave as being outstanding. They took us on all the game drives (Keagan all and Dave some) and were really good at finding wildlife within the fairly limited 2,500 hectares of traversing. On the subject of wildlife we stayed here expecting to see less variety of wildlife than we normally do in Kruger and that played out although Keagan and Dave were very supportive of our interest in birding and as result we found a number of species that we hadn't recorded previously but were reasonably common here. We did see a herd of elephants passing the lodge that was close to 70 individuals which is bigger than the biggest herd we'd seen previously in Kruger and a couple of sleeping lionesses in a dry riverbed so not too bad overall. All in all a very good alternative to some of the more ridiculously priced lodges as long as you don't expect to see all of the big 5. …

Date of stay: April 2023

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JPo222 wrote a review Feb 2023

Houston, Texas21 contributions16 helpful votes

Exceptional and can’t wait to go back!

We stayed in the family luxury ‘tent’ for 3 nights in early February 2023 and loved it. From the moment Karlich picked us up at the airport to the day David and Keegan helped us navigate the airport to leave, we felt like we were part of their family and enjoyed every second! This was our first experience in the bushveldt and the luxury tent gave us the perfect mix of luxury mixed with authenticity. The twice daily game drives with David as our guide were fabulous! We also had a birder with us and David happened to be very knowledgeable about the animals and the birds, so my hubby added 51 new lifer species to his life list in only 2 days of safaris. In addition, we were celebrating a birthday and the staff went out of their way to make it extra special, singing in the local tribal language, which made a memory that will last a lifetime. When we arrived and each time we came back from a safari, Eric greeted us with warm cloths to freshen up before our meal….and speaking of meals, Lucia is the chef and provided delicious and beautifully prepared food for every meal….they do cater to those who require special diets as well. There is an observation deck overlooking the river where you will also see a variety of animals, we saw hippo, crocodile, an elephant, baboons, and warthogs. We even saw a group of giraffe from the porch of our tent. Then there were the morning and evening safaris, which were amazing. We were a lot closer to the animals than I ever expected and felt safe knowing David was keenly aware of the animals and their behavior. We watched lions, zebra, jackals, dwarf mongoose, vervet monkeys, steinbok, elephants, impala, kudu, bush buck, and giraffes on more than one outing with David and were so impressed by his vast knowledge and enthusiasm. We loved his stories and explanations of the inner workings of the ecosystems and habitats and how each animal was affected by it all. And of course, the variety of birds was astounding. We will definitely plan to stay here again.…

Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled with family

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ackjjoseph wrote a review Feb 2023

Toronto, Canada16 contributions35 helpful votes

Lodge of a Lifetime

What can I say except everything was so perfect. Customer service from the manager Marecyke to the cook Lucia was excellent !! The Lodge was fantastic, room was very comfortable and clean. The view was just amazing as we could just look out at the river and see what animals would come by to visit. We had monkeys , giraffes and hippos for the 2 days we were there for. Our driver Keagan was just amazing with his knowledge of the place and his passion for the wildlife. Would I come back again , Definitely !

Date of stay: November 2022

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