Shumbalala Game Lodge — Hotel in Maruleng Local Municipality

Everything about Shumbalala is wonderful - from Isaac the groundsman, to the front of house staff, with Maddy, Danielle and superstar Joanna, to the kitchen and waitstaff expertly led by Barbara to the guide and tracker team of Emilio and Sam. All absolutely wonderfully friendly and warm and very focused on creating the best possible experience for their guests. ||We arrived from having spent three nights at another lodge (Makumu, which I categorically do not recommend) and were absolutely bowled over by the quality of the welcome. The lodge is small, with only 6 suites in total, hosting a maximum of 12 guests - it is arranged in a arc, facing a watering hole which gets busy with elephants, warthogs, impalas and other animals. ||The suites are superb, with all having good views of the watering hole. We stayed in 202 and 203 and these were great for parents and teenagers alike. All suites are very well-appointed, with all necessary amenities, a well stocked bar, private plunge pool, ample-sized deck, and a fireplace, which was great on the cold winter nights. ||The drives were amazing - the duo of professional guide Emilio, and 31 year tracker veteran Sam made for a perfect way to discover not just the Big Five but far more interestingly a number of unique animal interactions and behaviours, such as leopards mating, rhinos courtships, lions’ kill of a waterbuck or hyenas fighting over food. Besides animals, good focus on the flora of the bush, with some very interesting discussions on specific plants. We also played a game of Bokdrol Spoeg which I’d qualify as an acquired taste. Emilio is an absolute standout in terms of professionalism. ||Worth noting that this lodge had by far the best vehicles, with a 2/2/2 configuration and so a maximum of 6 guests - some cars we passed during drives had 9 or even 10 guests crammed in the same size landcruisers. ||The lodge itself had great food throughout and just enough down time between drives to relax. To provide some balanced feedback, I’d suggest improving the included wines and offering more high/end options in the cellar, which feels a little under-utilised. A formal wine list would also help. Suggest looking at Mullineux/Leu Passant and the likes of Sakkie Mouton for more interesting and higher quality wines, to represent further the excellence of South Africa. ||Overall, a simply superb experience, the amazing staff made all the difference. A really fantastic lodge, thoroughly...

If you are looking for a spectacular safari experience then check out Shumbala. We spent four nights there with our adult children and cannot begin to describe how much we appreciate the attention to detail that begins the moment you set foot on the property. Joana and Donovan are pros at ensuring all needs are met, as well as ones you didn’t know you had. We discovered, upon arrival, that an item of significant value had been left at JHB airport that could have derailed our entire trip. Through know how and perseverance our item was located, and plans were made to have it delivered to us. Amazing! We are forever grateful.|The food was amazing. The menu was varied and presented beautifully. Our children had notified the lodge that they had specific dietary requests. Often restrictions result in food that might be considered less inviting that the regular menu. This was not the case at Shumbalala. Dinner was served in various settings throughout our stay including a beautiful wine cellar. All of this is overlooking a watering hole that attracts an amazing number of animals. The staff is knowledgeable about the surroundings and are there to point out and explain the wildlife on the grounds.|Our room was immaculate. Everything you could want or need was available. It was a wonderful place to relax between game drives. There is plenty of seating both indoors and out. Our private plunge received limited use since it was a favorite watering hole for the elephants. |Our game drives provided sitings of everything we wanted to see. Calvin and Tony are truly pros at making sure you miss nothing. They are relentless in the hunt and it’s obvious they love what they do. Their knowledge of the plant and animal life is remarkable. Birds were identified through their calls and tracks were followed allowing us to experience exactly what a safari should be. |From morning coffee to sundowners the service provided is incredible. We were made to feel like family. At Shumbalala hospitality has been perfected. Thanks to the wonderful staff for making this vacation all we hoped...

Let me give you examples why this was the best safari lodge we've ever been to. Everyone here is passionate about what they do and it shows. Bryce (guide) took extra time to teach us about so many things in the bush from animals, plants, ecosystems, and everything in between. He has an endless amount of knowledge, good humor, great tracker, and good at off-roading. Unlike other guides, he will drive with purpose, actually stop often, get out of the vehicle to show you things. He doesn't just follow the trail, he will drive off road and well beyond to ensure you have the best experience. He can read foot tracks and actually determine where animals might be, rather than aimlessly driving around in the hopes you find something. During our time together, he caught a rabbit and bird with his bare hands and can identify a chameleon in the dark. Need I say more? He is an ELITE guide.

Danielle (host) will ensure everything is taken care of. Approachable, kind, thoughtful. She is always available.

Liam (chef) is world class. Dishes were custom made based on our preferences great tasting gourmet food. The recipes were very unique and accommodating for all types of diets.

General staff had attention to detail. Every night we came home to a lit fire in the fireplace, lights on, mosquito nets set, room cleaned, clothes folded, everything organized. The facility is top notch. I believe they have 6 suites total so it's never crowded, even at max capacity. They try to rotate where you eat dinner so you get a small change in scenery every night (fireplace, deck, poolside, etc.) Impressive service all around, we...