Vuyani Safari Lodge

“Great Place and a Great Experience!”

This was are first experience of a safari and we had very little idea of what to expect. We flew into Hoedspruit from Cape Town and were met by Peace who took us to the reserve, friendly and chatty from the start and made us feel very welcome. The welcome continued at the lodge as we were given a r… more

This was are first experience of a safari and we had very little idea of what to expect. We flew into Hoedspruit from Cape Town and were met by Peace who took us to the reserve, friendly and chatty from the start and made us feel very welcome. The welcome continued at the lodge as we were given a refreshing drink and our bags were whisked away to our room. Our room was separate to the main lodge (there are several different rooms/suites and some rooms are within the main building). They are all linked by gravel paving which also links to the dining area. Large and very comfortable, a good sized bathroom with an outside shower (it was interesting to try!). There are no fences to the lodge area and so animals can pass the rooms at any time! In fact you are advised not to wander around by yourself at night (you get escorted to and from dinner). We had a seating area with two sunbeds and a plunge pool/jacuzzi (unheated) Sleep was no problem due to the early starts, it was quiet apart from the odd animal noise! There is plenty of storage space and hanging space for clothes. They do have a laundry service as well. There is a swimming pool and seating area at the from of the lodge, it has a spectacular view over the reserve. Drinks are served wherever you wish. and the room fridge is stocked for you (free). There is also a safe for valuables. Lunch was a buffet which was lovely, all the food was lovely. The staff are very friendly and make you feel at home. Be aware monkeys are very interested in the food and we had one who tried to grab and run! The staff know how to put them off. Our safari drives were with Peace as tracker and Jannie as the driver (apologies for the spelling if wrong!). They were a great combination of knowledge and entertainment, kept us laughing and had no problem with endless questions! We only stayed three nights, but saw cheetah, lions, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, zebra, impalas, warthogs, rhinos and others which I have forgotten the names of! The drives start early (6 a,m.) and the afternoon drive is at 4 p.m. Lasting three hours with a welcome break midway through, where we were served drinks and nibbles in the evening and coffee and hot chocolate in the morning. We enjoyed a fully cooked breakfast each morning after the drive and a delicious meal in the evening. There is time for napping in the morning and bedtime is not late due to the the early start!! All food and drink was included in our package and there is a great choice with a very good menu for the evening meal. We also enjoyed a barbecue on one of the evenings, very special. We all ate in a communal dining area, this may not suit everyone, but we met some lovely people from all parts of the world. We soon made friends and as you are in the same jeep with the same people each day you soon build a great camaraderie. Excursions are available at an extra cost, we went to Elephant Whispers to meet Tembo, a huge elephant who is used to educate the beauty and intelligence of these lovely creatures. It is available between drives so you do not miss anything. We really enjoyed our safari experience. As we have not tried this before we may, in future, try a different area of SA, but I know there are many people who make return trips to Vuyani lodge. A discount is offered for returners, but that is not the main reason people go back.. * One important thing to note is that hats and scarfs and warm layers are advised for the early drives as until the sun rises it can be very cold. It was winter when we were there and we learned the hard way! There is a small shop on site where you can buy hats and souvenirs.

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“Amazing experience”

Superb from start to finish. Booking was easy and kept us informed all the way through. On arrival, Webster made us feel at home and showed us around the site. The room was delightful and the housekeepers left messages as we arrived and as we left. The game drives were amazing, with Godsave and B… more

Superb from start to finish. Booking was easy and kept us informed all the way through. On arrival, Webster made us feel at home and showed us around the site. The room was delightful and the housekeepers left messages as we arrived and as we left. The game drives were amazing, with Godsave and Bennett taking us up close to see lions and elephants. One or two issues with the truck but it just added to the whole experience. Holiday of a lifetime!!!

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“You have stolen our hearts Vuyani.”

My husband and I have just spent seven amazing nights at Vuyani Safari Lodge. This place has been on my bucket list since I first heard about it from a friend nine years ago. We flew into Johannesburg airport on an overnight flight, catching an internal flight to Hoedspruit. As we descended for la… more

My husband and I have just spent seven amazing nights at Vuyani Safari Lodge. This place has been on my bucket list since I first heard about it from a friend nine years ago. We flew into Johannesburg airport on an overnight flight, catching an internal flight to Hoedspruit. As we descended for landing I caught our first glimpse of a giraffe - I was soooo excited 😀. There we were met and driven to Vuyani Safari Lodge, passing more giraffe, a buffalo and vultures circling over the reserve on our left. On arrival at the lodge we were greeted with a refreshing drink before being seated by Webster for our introduction to the lodge and its facilities. From the moment we arrived to the moment we reluctantly left, we had an absolute blast! Each guest is generally allocated one tracker and driver for the duration of their stay. We had the pleasure of Godsave as tracker and Bernard as driver, in the trusty Land Rover. My goodness these two are fantastic at their job, as is everybody there. Godsave spotted a twitching elephant ear in the bush when all the rest of us could see was a load of leaves. Bernard then manoeuvred the Land Rover carefully through to reach this majestic beast. During our stay we saw so many amazing sights. If you love giraffes you won’t be disappointed here 😀. To see the lions gathered around their overnight kill of a wildebeast, blinking at us in the morning sunlight, but apparently unconcerned by our presence, was breathtaking, as was meeting one on the road in front of us after dark one night, roaring into the night sky. We were originally booked for five nights in the main lodge, but extended our stay for a couple more days to celebrate my birthday, moving into one of the Honeymoon Suites. Both rooms were wonderful. The housekeeping team decorated our bed on arrival and departure, but also on my birthday, such a thoughful gesture. The catering team meanwhile made me a birthday cake, which I had opted to share with the other guests. With a maximum occupancy of 20 people in 10 rooms, you really connect with the other guests, swapping tales of the animals we had spotted that day. While at Vuyani we took part in three trips, one to Elephant Whispers to learn about the African elephant, one to Blythe River Canyon on a boat trip, and finally, a full day safari in the Kruger National Park. Our guides for the Kruger trip were Albert and Gift, and boy did they deliver! We were lucky enough to spot the big five, along with many more besides. Thank you to ALL the staff at Vuyani, both front of house and behind the scenes, for the most magical experience we will remember for ever. A final mention for Witness, the security guard keeping us safe at night with his trusty torch to walk us to and from our rooms in the dark. Just as well, as a leopard entered the grounds one night! Amazing!

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“Perfect”

Our stay at Vuyani was nothing short of incredible. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel so welcome and looked after us perfectly throughout our stay. Everyone was warm, friendly, and attentive without ever being intrusive, and nothing was ever too much trouble. The lodge itself was i… more

Our stay at Vuyani was nothing short of incredible. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel so welcome and looked after us perfectly throughout our stay. Everyone was warm, friendly, and attentive without ever being intrusive, and nothing was ever too much trouble. The lodge itself was immaculate — beautifully maintained and extremely clean at all times. The food was outstanding, with plenty of variety, and they catered for my nut allergy exceptionally well, which made dining completely stress-free. As this was both our first safari and our honeymoon, we were hoping for a special experience, and they exceeded every expectation. The safari drives were absolutely unforgettable. Our guide, Jannie, and tracker, Peace, were phenomenal — so knowledgeable, passionate, and skilled. What stood out most was the respect they showed for the animals at all times, never overcrowding them and always prioritising their welfare while still giving us the most amazing sightings. Every detail of our stay felt thoughtful and personal, and the team truly made this the perfect honeymoon experience from start to finish. We left with memories we will treasure forever and would recommend this lodge to anyone considering a safari.

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