Kapama Southern Camp — Hotel in Maruleng Local Municipality

Wow was it disappointing 🥺🙈 I was so excited to try Kapama after a few I know have been to River lodge and rave about it, I decided to choose Southern camp as it had the villa option and seemed better from the advertising. If you are a serious bush person, this lodge is not the place to be at. Ranger and tracker we got were by far the worst we’ve ever had from 5 years of wonderful safari visits around SA.

Guide & tracker : It was more a checklist for our Ranger to show us big 5 for 5 minutes each and then drive aimlessly for the rest of the drives, as soon as a big sighting was done the rest of a drive seemed to have been wasted and we drove around aimlessly following no fresh tracks and listening to no leads from the radio while the rest of the guests were out seeing incredible sightings the exact same time. Seeing the big 5 isn’t a checklist for us, as we’ve seen them already. It is more the adrenaline and excitement of chasing fresh tracks and animal movements and seeing quality sightings. Even if I didn’t see the big 5 I would’ve been so much happier if I just had an exhilarating guide and tracker that shared their knowledge. I also asked him questions about the certain prides and packs and he could not respond. While we are well aware this is a bush experience and much of it is luck, we know multiple other guests we spoke to had great sightings that were communicated to them via radio and they were predominantly in parts of the park that had fresh tracks and movements of animals which we didn’t have. Our driver was driving in an area of the park that had no fresh tracks for 3 hours and when we asked the tracker what we were looking for he agreed there was nothing on that side of the park.

Service : On the second day I requested an iron and ironing board, and over 40 minutes later and 4 phone calls to reception we finally got an iron, that was just shocking service for a 5 star place?! 😂 Room service is also not an option at this place despite it being a 5 star lodge so that was also interesting?

Birthday dinner : My boyfriend tried to organize a birthday dinner which the manager spoilt on the day of arrival. Later that day we were told that actually we can’t request any special menu and will be served the same food everyone else will be eating. We were quoted R1750 over and above the R40 000 To be served the same food as everyone else. Every other lodge we have visited go over and beyond and out of their way to make occasions special, including setting up lunch or dinner with no extra charge. Let me not forget to mention that they still tried to charge us for this R1750 at checkout and receptionist told me that it was drinks we had at the bar (drinks were included in our package).

Overall view : Sadly these last few points along with other small issues in addition to this which I won’t mention all takeaway every extra effort that could have been made considering this is supposedly a 5 star lodge and the experiences we know family members have had at River lodge. Regardless of this experience we still made sure that we tipped our waiter, Ranger and tracker despite the dismal efforts we received. A very disappointing experience for me considering I chose this place out of many lodges to spend my birthday at, we gave Kapama the feedback and really weren’t expecting much and alas all we received was a “Sorry” 😂 so while you all ask me about this reserve. I think it’s an incredible reserve but don’t go to Southern camp. I know many people who have had a better experience...

Staying at the Southern Kapama Camp is an experience you will never forget - it was by far the most amazing place I have ever been. My girlfriend and I stayed for 5 nights/6 days in one of the stunning villas. Everything about Kapama is perfect:

Every staff member from the grounds crew to your Safari guides is welcoming and genuinely kind. Our guide was Joseph, tracker was Sandile, and our food attendant was Preciant. You will not have a bad experience with anyone at Kapama but I do highly recommend the three. Joseph and Sandile’s expert tracking and overall ability to find animals is astounding. They spotted a chameleon at night in a tree while the vehicle was moving! Preciant is one of the sweetest people we have met - she truly took great care of us at each meal and had many wonderful surprises up her sleeve! You will see some amazing animals! It took our full time to see all the big five (the leopard is elusive) but we saw literally everything in between and some which are very rare to find. Far exceeded our expectations. Kapama is not a zoo so it may take some time. I do recommend staying as long as you can. You will simply have more opportunities to see cool things (like lions eating)! You can really relax at Kapama - the Southern Camp is quiet and peaceful. We visited the spa 3 times while there and it’s world class. We also did a bush walk and went to a cheetah sanctuary nearby. Both were great! There is also an elephant sanctuary but we decided not to go since it overlaps with the scheduled morning safari drives. Yes, you will wake up at 5AM everyday for the morning safari but it’s well worth. Mid day is the perfect time to get some rest in between! You will never be hungry! The food is always very fresh and delicious. Your only problem is maybe eating too much. Wait until you try their bread!

Tips: Get to know the people working at Kapama! Bring warm clothes if coming in the winter. Warmer than you think. It can get a little chilly since the trucks are open top. Your guide will provide blankets and heating pads while it’s cooler. Also, bring some rain clothes as safaris happen rain or shine. You will be provided ponchos also. Put down the camera and enjoy the views Binoculars are a good to have but not necessary - you will get up close with many of the animals Bring cash with you for tipping, etc. There is no ATM onsite at Southern Camp. Be mindful of others in your vehicle!

It was very difficult to say bye to Kapama - can’t wait to...

We recently spent 4 nights at Kapama for our honeymoon (29th May – 2nd June), and honestly, it was everything we could have hoped for — and then some.||From the second we arrived, we were made to feel right at home. The hospitality was genuinely warm and effortless, with every single person we met going above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and memorable.||Our room was stunning — beautifully set up, incredibly comfortable, and with views that made it hard to leave. You could tell a lot of care had gone into the design and detail.||One thing we didn’t expect was just how much incredible food there would be! Every meal was a treat — tasty, plentiful, and served with a smile. We definitely didn’t go hungry, and the variety meant every meal felt like a new experience.||Throughout our stay, there were little surprises that made everything even more special. It’s clear the team puts a lot of heart into making each guest feel looked after in their own way.||The game drives were out of this world. We were lucky enough to spot all of the Big Five (which was a bucket list dream), but even if we hadn’t, the experience would still have been just as powerful. Every drive brought something new — the scenery, the wildlife, the atmosphere. It’s something we’ll never forget.||We also want to give a special thanks to Adolf and Manuel — two brilliant guys who were not only easy to chat with but also incredibly knowledgeable. They made the whole experience even better with their insights and humour.||To sum it up, Kapama blew us away. Whether you’re planning a special trip or just looking to experience something truly unique, this place delivers on every level.||Thank you to the amazing team — you made our honeymoon something we’ll treasure forever.||— Sam & Lara|(Honeymoon: 29 May – 2...