Family hotels and homes in Balule Game Reserve

The Staff is amazing, they do what they can to make this the perfect holiday for you. We had the apartment with a private pool viewing towards the park, it was huge, well equipped and very clean. The day starts at 5 AM with waking up, first Game drive roughly from 5:30 til 8:30, breakfast at 9:00. Then you can have a bush walk or go to a hide&view place or just relax. At 14:30 lunch is served. 16:30 the evening game drive starts and you are back for dinner at 21:00. (This was in March, schedule changes based on sunrise/set) The food was excellent and plenty to eat. The game drives were the absolute highlight, we saw the big 5 and many more animals in just two days. The price is definitely great for what you are getting and also fair compared to other Lodges. We 100% staying at Naledi!

Chacma is the perfect place from which to explore the big 5 and the broader SA safari experience. The setting is natural and beautiful with meals eaten outside to make the most of the waterhole and potential for wildlife spotting. Between safari rides comfortable rooms, shady spots across the camp and the pool provide the perfect setting for reading and relaxation. With just three rooms at Chacma, you’re guaranteed a much more intimate experience than staying at a bigger location. As a solo traveller the real highlight was the friendly and fun team behind Chacma: Matt, Josh and Charlie are fantastic, passionate guides who guaranteed that each trip out provided memorable, safe experiences while Karen, Lynx and the wider team at Chacma ensured a comfortable stay. You’ll learn so much from this team and they are only too happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. A special place I can’t wait to return to.

What a great stay! We were really satisfied by our stay. Absolutely highlights were the amazing location and the super friendly staff. The Lodge is located next to the river, which gives the opportunity to see a lot of animals. We saw for example some; crocodiles, hippos, babboons and elephants next to the river. Regarding the staff: super friendly, good organized and you feel directly welcome! Not unimportant, the lodge is clean and all needed facilities are there! We would definitely recommend to go here and will go back when we are in the surrounding.

Beautiful safari lodge with excellent staff and stunning game drives. Thomas (our main game driver) was excellent and made the drives so much fun. Whilst we unfortunately didn’t see a leopard (due to the numerous lions and elephants pushing them out), we were lucky to see all of the other big 5 on numerous occasions, including lion cubs! The accommodation was the ultimate glamping - comfy beds, in an air conditioned tent with an en-suite power shower. There was also a veranda overlooking the bush and watering hole to spot the animals. The food exceeded all expectations - as a vegetarian I was also looked after for every meal with thoughtful and delicious dishes. The sundowners at the viewpoint overlooking the African sunset cannot be beaten. I wholeheartedly recommend this lodge for any type of traveller looking for a South African safari.

Exceptional hospitality and delicious meals. The game drives are amazing, thank you to Hardus & Niel for being so passionate and helpful.

The property was very good, had great facilities such as a nice pool area and the honesty bar. The staff were amazing and really made us feel like family. We even went out for a meal with them on our final evening. Bianca the chef was amazing, all her meals were so good and diverse. Selby our game driver was the best we could’ve asked for, he was amazing at spotting all the animals and taught us so much, was a genuinely nice guy aswell. We already want to come back and will miss all of the staff. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to do a safari. We had a perfect experience. The hospitality was amazing aswell, they really do all the little details that made our trip so good.

it was great and balanced, we enjoyed it.

Gorgeous! Clean beautiful house, delicious food. Very friendly host and staff, who tried to create a warm, homely atmosphere. The place is located in a natural park and is very good for wildlife lovers. We walked around the park and saw a lot of pumbs, antelopes and giraffes, which we even managed to get quite close to. It was a very amazing adventure!

Nyati Lodge is a stunning oasis of tranquility set in 10,000 hectares of game filled reserve. We stayed in a beautiful riverside bungalow, spacious and well equipped. It was a short walk to the main buildings with the restaurant and pool. Staff were attentive and friendly across the board. There are two game drives a day, and we were lucky enough to see all Big Five animals during our two day stay, a testament to the guides’ expertise. When not on drive there was a gym, driving range and pétanque pitch for those who fancied an activity, and hammocks, comfortable chairs and a pool for those who would rather relax. The food was of a high quality both in taste and presentation. We had an absolutely fantastic few days and would highly recommend to anyone looking to go on safari in the Kruger!

A Truly Unforgettable Stay in Hoedspruit! We had the most incredible 4-night stay at Wild dog guest lodge, a villa inside a wildlife estate in Hoedspruit. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the host-Vicky and Henro’s genuine kindness, attention to detail, and heartfelt hospitality. Every interaction felt sincere, thoughtful, and welcoming. The villa itself is spacious, clean, beautifully designed, and equipped with everything you could possibly need. The bedrooms are comfortable, the layout is well thought out, and every function of the home—from the kitchen to the outdoor areas—made our stay very convenient. The peaceful, natural surroundings made this a perfect place to relax and unwind. During our stay, we spotted various wild animals just walking pass the villa—Nyala, Duiker, Warthogs—which made the experience feel even more magical and connected to nature. The breakfasts were fresh, delicious, and beautifully prepared with the animals, coming to the waterhole. On the morning we had an early game drive, the host even packed a gorgeous breakfast for us to take along. Really lovely breakfast during dame drive. We also booked all our game drive activities to Kruger and in Big 5 Game drive, through the host, and every experience exceeded our expectations and we met all big 5 and other more. From start to finish, everything was arranged perfectly, and we felt completely taken care of—even though we didn’t rent a car, everything was smooth and easy throughout our stay. This is a place we would return to in a heartbeat. If you’re looking for a serene, nature-filled, and wonderfully hosted stay in Hoedspruit, this Wilddog guest lodge is the perfect choice.