Hippo's Honk @ Kruger — Hotel in Nkomazi

We had the privilege of staying at Hippo's Honk in Marloth Park during the month of February. Being in high summer with extremely hot days, we were skeptical about the heat and Eskom power cuts, but Hippo's Honk exceeded all our expectations.

Eskom's power outages and the heat didn't bother at all. It has solar power installed and the electric fans and air conditioners in every room were lifesavers. The house was spacious with its 3 bedrooms with bathrooms, open plan kitchen and dining room. The kitchen had everything we needed, including a full-size oven and all the essential equipment neatly organized. Everything was clean, tidy, and nicely laid out with exceptional taste.

The private swimming pool on the deck is beautiful (with colorful lights in the evening that enhances the atmosphere😊), an absolute winner. It overlooks 2 feeding troughs in front of the house that one can use to feed the animals. We spent hours in the pool just relaxing and observing all the different animals and their behavior. Seeing the warthogs with their little ones in the mud baths enjoying themselves was also something special that you don't see every day. While sitting in the swimming pool, some of the animals came so close that we could feed them right from our hands - an experience that we will never forget.

We enjoyed the boma with the firepit. We had our privacy and sitting there in the evening with the fire crackling, animals in the background, bush babies coming to ask for their babanas, listening to the hippos in the Crocodile River and hear Lions roaring creates an atmosphere you won't easily forget or find elsewhere. It is an experience that words cannot accurately describe. You must experience it yourself. One incident to always cherish was when the kudu stretched to its fullest to enjoy the bush baby’s bananas, set out supposedly high enough to be out of reach, before the bush babies could enjoy their treat.

With the house just a few meters away from the fence of the Kruger National Park, we enjoyed early morning walks along the fence and were privileged to see a variety of wildlife in the park that includes zebra, blue wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, impala, warthog, bushbuck, monkeys, baboons, and a lot of different birdlife. One morning while on my stroll alongside the fence, I picked up a little baby bird that fell out of its nest. With the help of Marina (host) we took him to the sanctuary that helped him to survive. We called him "Vasbytertjie"

Additionally, it’s worth to mention that the Wi-Fi was very stable and suitable for remote working as well.

Derick and Marina thank you for making our stay at Hippo's Honk truly unforgettable. It's a little piece of heaven on earth and highly recommend...

An Unforgettable Stay at Hippo's Honk: A Wildlife Lover's Paradise! Our recent week-long stay at Hippo's Honk, the magnificent property owned by our friends Derick and Marina in Marloth Park, exceeded all expectations. This enchanting retreat offered an unparalleled wildlife experience that will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Nestled in the heart of nature, Hippo's Honk provided us with the incredible opportunity to interact with a variety of wild animals. Zebra, kudu, warthogs, giraffes, rooibok, blue wildebeest, and more roamed freely around the property, often venturing so close that we could feed them right from our hands. The house itself, aptly named Hippo's Honk, was a testament to comfort and luxury. Every detail of this five-star retreat was carefully designed to create a tranquil and inviting atmosphere. We were pleasantly surprised that the property seamlessly maintained a stable supply of electricity, sparing us from the inconveniences of load shedding. The favorable weather during our stay allowed us to fully indulge in the delights of the property, including a refreshing swimming pool conveniently located near the animal feeding point - we could cool off in the pool while observing the wildlife. While the Big Five couldn't be seen directly from the house, the property's close proximity to the bordering fence of the Kruger national park allowed us to marvel at the majestic creatures. Elephants and buffalos, and although not part of the five also the hippo and crocodile could be spotted along the fence line by the river, showcasing the untamed beauty of nature. Thank you, Derick and Marina, for sharing your incredible property and making our stay at Hippo's Honk a truly unforgettable journey! Martin and...

We were extremely Lucky to have been able to reserve Hippo’s Honk for Christmas 2024.

When we were originally searching for accommodation, the pictures looked amazing and was exactly what we were looking for. And when we arrived we were blown away! As it felt even bigger than what the pictures perceived. Especially as we were 4 adults and 2 teenagers. Marina and Derick were the perfect hosts and have truly made Hippos Honk home from home.

Every detail has been thought of. All the bedrooms are perfect with super comfy beds and have got such lovely quality bedding. The air cons in every room was bliss on super hot days, and the fans in each room a great asset too!

In the kitchen everything that we needed was there, it was the most stocked kitchen I’ve ever seen. There was no utensil that we felt we needed that wasn’t there. The scullery also had the necessities for cleaning up any accidental spills etc.

The outdoor areas were amazing and where we spent most of our time, and having the balcony was such a treat when we did have rain. The pool is absolutely great and having the animals come and visit while swimming was superb! The outside toilet is great for not having to wet the house straight from the pool.

Marina was always there with extra info and keeping us updated with lite things like the pool being cleaned etc. any questions were answered super quick even during the festive season.

We would 💯💯💯 recommend Hippos Honk! Thank you for making our Christmas a super memorable one with the joy of staying in your beautiful and...