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How to Choose the Perfect Game Lodge for you


At Rhino Walking Safaris and Rhino Post Safari Lodge in the Kruger Park, we frequently hear, “there are so many stunning lodges on the Internet, how are is a person supposed to choose!”

It’s true, South Africa boasts an array of incredible lodges in stunning settings; but think of choosing a lodge in the same way as choosing a wife/husband. There’s more to life than looks – though they sure do help for that first spark of attraction! There’s personality (ambience), financial status (price), reputation (well… reputation), and, most important of all compatibility. Here’s a breakdown of how to pick the right lodge for you:

Looks: Certain styles will naturally resonate with you, and the Internet is a visual medium. Are you into African prints, Biggie Best, Animal Skins, opulence or simplicity? Beware of photographs depicting arrangements of fresh flowers, few if any lodges use fresh flowers outside of advertising shots. Also, if it’s the rose petals and in the bath and on the floor that draw you, then be sure when booking to ask for these, they are often done either only for publicity shots, or for honeymooners.

Personality: Without actually experiencing a lodge, how do you assess the ambience? Look at the guest reviews on the lodge’s own website. What is it that people praise most about this lodge? The lodge owners/managers are choosing which reviews to post, so you will get an idea of what is important to them. Is it food, friendliness, wine selection, game viewing, pampering, spa-therapies, technology, luxury?

Everyone is different. For me the perfect match is firstly, staff friendliness, then setting, then food and game viewing are about equal (I’m as much a foodie as I am keen on the bush and conservation); the add on’s, like lectures on botany, massages, butler’s, wi-fi and private plunge pools etc. are nice to have, but not essential to my bush experience . I also feel a bit unsettled in an atmosphere that is too stiff or formal. What are your three most important criteria and in what order?

Of course there are two parts to a safari – the lodge and the game viewing. With regard to game viewing, you need to consider the following: are you focussed on seeing the big five and not that concerned about other smaller things; or are you wanting a bush experience with time to absorb everything, but it would be nice to see the bigger animals too? Look at how much emphasis the lodge website puts on ‘big five’, if they’re any good, their guides should be aware of the marketing and working in accordance with it. Also, are you a passionate conservationist? If you are, then consider the conservation policies of the lodge, most will advertise these on their website if they are important to them. Off-road driving is the ultimate game drive for some, and extremely offensive to others. Ask the lodge or your agent, if this is important to you, because it could make or break your safari.

Financial Status: Is value for money important, or do you want the best that money can buy? There are some fabulous lodges for the uber-wealthy, but there are also some that offer almost as much for a fraction of the price. Remember that lodges in remote areas are expensive to run, much of the budget goes to providing basic services which are available for next to nothing in town, so you cannot compare the price and level of luxury between a city hotel and a game lodge.

You can do a self-catering safari fairly cheaply, but for a fully catered safari, if the price is too low you run the risk of meals, quality of vehicles, staff and room amenities being skimped on. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t take advantage of some of the great specials that even the best quality lodges run during the traditionally quiet months, but look at the average (rack) rate of a lodge for comparison to get a general idea of standards. Do a little extra homework if a rack rate is less than R1 500 per person sharing per night.

For those who don’t have an endless budget, the best value for money combined with luxury is to be found in the range from R3 500 to R6 000 per person per night. If drinks are not included (and at anything over R6000 they should be), you should feel comfortable to drop the lodge an email and ask them to forward you a copy of their wine list/ laundry prices or even massage menu.

Reputation: There are many independent sites such as TripAdvisor.com, where travellers give candid reviews. What are people saying, and did the lodge care enough to respond to negative reviews – did they do so politely? Look at the number of Excellent reviews, Good reviews and Poor reviews. Don’t be fooled by the number of reviews, but rather look at the ratio it should be well stacked in favour of ‘excellent’– a lodge may only have a few reviews because it is new.

Compatibility: This is a combination of the items already discussed, but you also need to consider why you are going on safari, and is this lodge going to give you what you want? Are you wanting to impress clients? Then consider famous names, and places frequented by the stars, look at rates of R10 000 per person sharing and upwards. Do you want an authentic bush experience? Then consider a lodge that’s unfenced, and can provide the option of walking safaris as well – or even a camp out night. Do you want a pampered holiday? Consider a lodge with a butler and a spa. Do you want to see the big 5 in the shortest time possible – perhaps you only have one night available for safari? Consider a bigger lodge in a private reserve where guides can call sightings in to each other to get you quickly from one sighting to another.

Please consider marrying your needs with good conservation principles and ethics. If you can, choose a lodge that operates in an environmentally responsible manner. There are a few gems that manage outstanding environmental ethics, great game viewing, style and comfort as well as a reasonable price range.

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SATSA No. 207
 

Hartley’s Safaris is registered with Southern Africa Tourism Association Registration number 207.

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SATSA No. 207

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