Black Rhino Game Lodge — Hotel in Moses Kotane Local Municipality

🌿 4 day - Weekend Stay – 25th October ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Our recent stay at Black Rhino Game Lodge was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived — greeted by a herd of elephants drinking at the pool — we knew we were in for something truly special. The lodge’s unique setting around a natural watering hole creates an atmosphere that is both tranquil and exhilarating, offering a magical space shared by guests and wildlife alike. 🍽️ Culinary Excellence Breakfasts were perfectly curated, with a variety of fresh, hot options that catered to both local and international palates. The à la carte dinners were exceptional — a heartfelt thank you to Chef Raymond and his talented team for consistently delivering refined, memorable meals. South African cuisine is already world-class, but here it’s elevated to something truly unforgettable. You’re not just feeding your guests — you’re offering them a taste of the country’s soul. The BOMA evening was a distinctive highlight — a wonderful showcase of not only our rich culinary heritage but also the chefs themselves, who humbly accepted our compliments and genuinely elevated the night. It was a real treat, blending atmosphere, authenticity, and warmth in a way that made the evening feel both intimate and celebratory. A special mention must go to the procurement team behind the scenes — the quality of the ingredients used throughout our stay was exceptional. From the freshness of the produce to the thoughtful sourcing of local specialties, it’s clear that great care is taken to ensure only the best reaches the plate. This attention to detail truly enhances the entire dining experience. 🐘 Unforgettable Game Drives The game drives were a standout highlight. We were treated to incredible sightings — hippos, rhinos, lions, giraffes, wildebeest, various antelope, owls, birds, elephants, and more. Our ranger, Dolfie, was phenomenal. His passion, deep knowledge of the region’s wildlife, history, and conservation efforts, and his ability to bring the park’s daily rhythms to life captivated our 9-year-old son. Learning about the anti-poaching initiatives was especially meaningful and sparked a genuine interest in conservation that left a lasting impression on our family. 🏡 Hospitality & Heart Beyond the breathtaking setting, luxurious rooms, and top-tier amenities, what truly elevated our experience was the genuine warmth and pride of the staff. Often an understated element, the team’s positive energy and sincere care made us feel completely at home. Their enthusiasm for the lodge and its guests shone through in every interaction. Kudos to the management for assembling such a remarkable team — they are the heart of the lodge and the reason the experience feels so personal and unforgettable. 🌍 A Celebration of South Africa The lodge’s décor and ambiance beautifully reflect South Africa’s rich natural heritage, reigniting our appreciation for the country’s hidden gems and world-class wildlife experiences. One of my favorite magical touches was the shimmering dust along the walkways and forest paths — a small detail that didn’t go unnoticed and added to the enchantment.

We left feeling inspired, relaxed, and deeply grateful. It’s no wonder international travelers consider Black Rhino Game Lodge a must-visit. This is a place we’ll return to again and again — and one we recommend wholeheartedly to anyone seeking a luxurious, educational, and...

Reflecting on my stay at this lodge, it would be unfair to write only a few lines about this place.

I made a quick trip here on my way back to Australia (travelling solo)

The accommodation was comfortable and spacious, clean and well maintained. (keep in mind you may get a wandering Impala resting outside your window or door which I had). My cabin had an internal shower and bath plus the option to shower outside. Cabins were air-conditioned, with ample lighting, a fan, TV, mini fridge and a safe, the bed (appears to be two singles to make a king) had one soft and one firmer side, which was nice as my missus prefers the softer side.

The food was well above what I would have expected for a lodge. Breakfast was either an Omelette or a Breakfast Buffet with multiple options of the usual Bacon, Eggs, Sausages, Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Hashbrowns, Fruit, Cereal, Yoghurt, Cold Cuts of Meat Plus Toast and Pastries (Fresh juice, tea and coffee was always available). The lunch Buffet was a choice to two style of meats (could be Fish or Lasagne or Pork), plus three to four warm sides, two salads plus a soup. Afternoon Tea (Pre-afternoon game drive), was a mix of sweet and savoury pastries plus warm drinks). The dinner buffet was a choice of two meats, a number of warm sides, a soup, two salads plus a small selection of dessert. The drinks menu wasn't extensive but didn't need to be as the wine and craft beer selections were well priced and well matched with the food options.

The activities (Game drives) were wonderful, we were lucky enough to have Rassie (an older head) who knew the park well and each game drive would explain the bird calls, some of the plants and knew the roads well to get to some great advantage points well before other lodges or private cars could get there. Each game drive will have a break for Morning Coffee or Tea and Afternoon beverages (wine, beer, spirits) they will take your order at the lodge pre-game drive. A key point here is that each of the rangers who work at the Lodge all talk to each other and let each other know where the Big 5 have been spotted to ensure you get a good chance at seeing them all.

Other Facilities: The lodge itself has its own watering hole and its not unusual to see Kudu, Impala or the Elephants come up and have an afternoon drink (Best to get there after a few days rain and the watering hole has some water in it), have a sit down in the Hide (about 20m walk from the main lodge) and you'll be able to observe any creatures coming to the watering hole.

Wifi is in the main lodge, and not within the cabins. Do bring a pair of binoculars and you will need a 70-300mm camera lenses if you would like some decent photos. Do bring a pair of warm clothes (even in spring) as it can be chilly with the morning game drives They do provide insect spray within the room (there were some small insects, as expected in the bush) Drinks were all added at the end and settled on TAB, Credit Card and cash were accepted.

I would definitely recommend coming here, as I will be again (as it's only 1.5 hours drive from Jburg)

Big thank you to the team, chef, waiters, lodge staff and the rangers, I thoroughly...

We stayed at Black Rhino Lodge for 3 nights recently and overall had a truly wonderful time.

We booked a luxury suite which definitely lived up to the name (other than super firm mattresses which aren't to everyone's tastes I know).

The communal lodge areas are decorated beautifully and looked after really well by the team. The outdoor lounge area is especially lovely when it's sunny and warm outside, and the fireplace inside is perfect for cold weather.

Our game driver, Dolfie, was a lot of fun and super knowledgeable, sharing lots of interesting information with us every time we drove out with him. We all saw the animals we wanted to see most and had a great time on every drive.

I do have to warn people that the morning drive can be up to 5-6 hours long which is double the length of the game drives I've been on at other reserves / lodges. Some people might love this but I did find it to be a bit too much, especially on very cold winter mornings!

The sunset drives are amazing, never longer than 3-4 hours and include lovely sundowner drinks and snacks.

The food at the lodge was very good for the most part - breakfast / brunch and dinner were consistently really excellent and I cannot fault anything I was served (and I'm a chef by profession).

Sadly the afternoon tea (which is served between 2-4pm instead of lunch) was consistently of quite poor quality. It was all very unhealthy and 'beige' - no fresh vegetables, protein options or salad at all, just sweet and savoury pastries, deep fried foods and cakes. Many of the iced buns / sweetened bread products were also stale sadly.

It seems a real shame that the overall amazing food offer is let down by this afternoon tea but it would be quite a simple thing to fix if they gave an option of a few salads with a grilled chicken breast for example alongside the less healthy and heavy options.

On one night we ate outdoors in the 'boma' area which was a really unique and lovely experience. The fire kept us warm and the food was absolutely delicious - traditional South African braai (BBQ) meats, curries and all sorts of side dishes. Plus a few delicious dessert options.

Finally, everyone who works at this lodge is absolutely delightful. So warm and friendly and willing to do whatever they can to help you and make your stay enjoyable!

I'd definitely return if they changed the afternoon meal setup and will still recommend this lodge to others regardless. Really a very...