Mela Luxury Game Lodge — Hotel in Gauteng

Pros Staff are very friendly and vey helpful The lodge setup and gardens are beautiful The breakfast setup is presentable, has cereals, fruits, yoghurts, eggs, sausages, bacon. The rooms are generally clean (shower curtains just need to be replaced)

Cons Long gravel road to the lodge with no directions/signs. Communication is poor - we were only told on arrival that there’s an alternative route that’s much shorter. Were also told by staff that many guests have complained about the long roads and lack of directions and signs, but nothing has been done about this The staff gave us the wrong breakfast times, breakfast ended at 09:30 not 10:00. The cook needs a bit more training on basic things like sunny side up eggs which are prepared hard despite being specific. The toast is always cold and the cutlery has stains, glasses are dirty. No menu nor variety for lunch and dinner The rooms are quite small for the price No air con in the standard rooms and only in selected rooms but their facilities on advertisement indicate air con included in rooms Shower head is old and looks dirty Shower tap indicating hot is cold, and cold is hot No plug for the kettle, kettle must be plugged on the floor The position of the carpet blocks the bar fridge, difficult to open the fridge as a result Quad biking is quite pricey compared to other places we’ve been, minimum R600 per person Not all the activities advertised were available,e.g. bow and arrow, axe throwing, hunting, etc. When we enquired about the activities, they advised that the latter will be available by the date that we check in at the lodge, but was not Overally, the lodge is pleasant but adding ‘luxurious’ to the name of the lodge at this stage, is a bit of a reach. Still needs a lot of...

I had the pleasure of staying at Mela Luxury Game Lodge from the 8th to the 10th of August, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish.

The rooms were impeccably clean, spacious, and incredibly comfortable, offering the perfect balance of luxury and tranquility. Every detail was well thought-out, making it easy to relax and feel at home.

A special mention must go to Chef Sipho, who treated us to sumptuous meals throughout our stay. Each dish was flavorful, beautifully presented, and clearly prepared with passion.

The game drive was an amazing experience, but what really stood out for me was the quad biking—a thrilling and fun way to take in the landscape!

The staff were the true stars of the weekend. Khulu, Maria, Francina, and Javier were all absolutely brilliant—warm, professional, and attentive. Their hospitality made the entire stay feel personalized and genuinely welcoming.

If you’re looking for a luxury escape in the bush with outstanding service, exciting activities, and mouth-watering food, I highly recommend Mela Luxury Game Lodge. I’ll...

Do not visit this place, unless you want spiders the size of a man's hand crawling in your bed sheets under your pillow, or spitting out maggots from your mouth after eating your dessert. The bed was loud and squeaky, the walls in the rooms & bathrooms have mould growing and the bathroom is unsightly with mould on the ceilings. The receptionist Audrey is extremely unhelpful and unprofessional. She was not at her desk the morning of checkout and was extremely unapologetic for the unpleasant experience that my husband and I had. Because of our terrible experience we did not receive a refund, we didn't attempt a Game Drive or stay for Breakfast. What a nightmare! We will never recommend this place to anyone or attempt to book here ever again. If you're planning a trip I suggest that you visit the Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary for a much more enjoyable experience with staff who genuinely care to give you an...