Lengau Lodge — Hotel in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality

My sons (age 17 and 14) and I stayed for 7 nights at the beginning of June. From even before we arrived, everything was perfect. Loek and Ilse answered all of my questions very quickly via text before the trip. They put together an itinerary for us with lots of thought about having more restful days between the busy days. Upon arrival, they greeted us as friends. Directions were very clear. I appreciated knowing the schedule ahead of time so we always knew exactly when our next meal or drive would begin, but not so far ahead that I had to remember too much but could just relax without worry. The Family Zebra Room was large, comfortable, and very clean. The table with the built in USB charging and the two sinks in the bathroom were convenient. Room was made up perfectly each day. All meals were top notch, far beyond expectations. Menus were really varied each day and all were incredibly tasty and filling, even for a 17 year old boy. Everything was extremely fresh. Ilse went above and beyond by also giving my 17 year old a day of cooking classes. He was able to help prepare lunch and help with the preparation of the evening dessert. He has taken cooking classes in several countries and was so happy that Ilse took the time to work with him to learn about cooking in South Africa. That was such a special experience for him. Loek did an incredible job with the safari drives. He was very informative and did a fantastic job finding animals and giving lots of additional information. The location was remote enough that it was very quiet and there were very few other vehicles, making for ideal animal viewing conditions. Loek checked in with the reserve each drive to find updates on any animal sightings which was very helpful. He is an excellent driver and we always felt safe. Loek is excellent at photography and took photos of rarer animals that we saw along the drives. He then shared those photos with us. It was a relief to be able to enjoy just viewing the animals instead of trying to take good pictures myself, knowing that he would send ones far better than I could ever take. This way we had the experience without the pressure of trying to get a good picture as a memory. Loek and Ilse gave us an amazing vacation, seeing so many animals every day and keeping it absolutely stress free and relaxing. I would not hesitate to recommend...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lengau Lodge is absolutely amazing — truly THE place to enjoy wildlife with a very personal and unforgettable safari experience!

The main reason for this is the wonderful owners, Ilse and Loek, who created this lodge and its unique concept from scratch. On the daily safari game drives, Loek shared an incredible amount of knowledge and explanations about the wildlife and nature around us — not just limited to the Big Five. He turned every game drive into an exciting and joyful adventure, stopping at scenic spots in the bush for coffee or tea in the morning and sundowners with snacks in the evening. Thanks to his patience and deep understanding of animal behavior, we were able to get remarkably close to the wildlife, like elephants and lions just a few meters from the vehicle (and we always felt completely safe).

After each game drive, another highlight was waiting for us back at the lodge: the wonderful, delicious food lovingly prepared by Ilse, the chef of the kitchen. During our 7-night stay, we enjoyed different meals every single day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From traditional South African dishes like Bobotie, ostrich fillet from the braai, and milktart, to international favorites like risotto, beef fillet, and even eggs Benedict with smoked salmon — every meal was a delight.

Beyond the regular game drives, Loek and Ilse also organized an incredible full-day trip to Kruger National Park and an unforgettable balloon flight nearby the Drakensberg mountains. Both were absolute highlights and allowed us to explore even more of this stunning region.

The lodge and rooms (including an outdoor shower!) are spotlessly clean, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Game drives and meals are shared as a group (in our case, 4–8 people), which we loved — it gave us the chance to exchange stories and experiences with fellow guests. Special greetings to Pane, Deb, Tommasino and G&T :) In our free time at the lodge, we relaxed by the pool (massages are available too!) or simply enjoyed watching the surroundings — we even spotted about 20 elephants on the hills nearby, as well as zebras and impalas at the waterhole. Another amazing feature is the waterhole camera: thanks to it, we were able to spot a leopard during the night!

P.S. We can’t wait to follow the waterhole camera once we’re...

If you are looking for an unforgettable Safari experience around Kruger, this is where to go! Loek and Ilse went above and beyond to make our stay as enjoyable and memorable as possible. The rooms, facilities and food are of the highest standard. The lodge is beautifully situated in a private game reserve with animals roaming around the lodge. They can be seen from the infinity pool at the lodge, the viewing deck, your private hut or via a webcam filming the watering hole near the lodge, which is something we continue to do after returning home. Communication with our hosts was always easy and all our requests were met. We stayed for 4 nights, including a day at the lodge with two game drives, a full day tour to Kruger with an excellent guide and a full day trip on the panorama route. I would definitely recommend spending at least one full day at the lodge to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere. Everything was taken care of by Loek & Ilse and we had to do was relax and spot animals. Once we even spontaneously jumped in the car when lions were spotted near the lodge! Ilse's cooking and presentation of the meals was amazing and really made us feel special. Overall the atmosphere at the lodge is a perfect balance between fancy & homely. Thank you Loek & Ilse for this amazing experience and we hope to...