Kukummi Lodge — Hotel in Okhahlamba Local Municipality

· A very secluded lodge with fantastic views over the valley and the Drakensberg mountains. We picked Mackaya Bella based on its location and private atmosphere, as well as great past reviews - and we indeed can conclude that it was an amazing decision to stay here (it's a pity we only did 2 nights, having stayed here, I think the reasonable minimum is 3 nights to be able to enjoy the trails to the fullest - but we were really short on time).||There are currently only 3 guest accommodations at the property, and we did enjoy very personalised service.||Ryan reached out in advance to offer free transfer should we not felt that our car was able to pass on the countryside road (which is currently under upgrade to cater for cars with low ground clearance. However, we were perfectly able to make it with Toyota Corolla), as well as some details on the dinner menu (the food was really fantastic, we totally recommend picking up package with dinner included).||The room was spacious, with enough space for several large suitcases, it featured fully stocked bathroom with shower and a separate toilet, as well as tea/coffee amenities and a fan (which we didn't need, as open windows provided enough ventilation).||There were 2 WiFi networks (incl. one via Starlink), which worked rather well - compared to many other hotels we've stayed in South Africa (well, given the location, we were surprised that the internet was available at all....).||The breakfast was great with numerous options to order as well as buffet - and we were able to make use of tea/coffee/water facilities in the shared lounge. Another good thing - there were plenty of table games available, which was a good opportunity to spend time after a hike.||Finally, the folks running this lodge - Ryan and Danny - were absolutely friendly and forthcoming, Danny organised a private guided hike for us, and we did enjoy a bit of a discussion during the breakfast time.||To wrap it up, it was a 5* experience.||Not a criticism to the lodge per se, rather that we picked a shoulder season for the visit - and got caught by a storm at night, which made driving back a little more challenging (we had Toyota Corolla with low ground clearance).||However, Ryan and Danny did offer to drive us back with their car, while Ryan would drive our car without luggage (thus maximising ground clearance) to the gate. It worked out perfectly - separate huge thanks for the guys for going an...

There was an unbearably strong smell in our room - smelled like room had been fumigated/painted and then strong citronella was burnt. After check-in we immediately left to buy dinner and spent evening in guest lounge. We only briefly visited our room during evening, then we noted the smell, which we initially thought was strong room fragrance/citronella. Around 7pm we removed room fragrances, opened all windows and put high-velocity fan on full blast. We returned to our room around midnight but smell was unbearable after 30mins in the room. I thought I was going to have an asthma attack, even though my asthma is well controlled & not overly sensitive to smells. My husband (not asthmatic) also found the smell intolerable. We thought it rude to wake owners after midnight given that there were no other rooms available & smell persisted, so we slept (very uncomfortably) on the guest lounge sofa. Next morning we politely expressed our dissatisfaction & details of events to owners. They acknowledged the smell & suggested it may be eucalyptus oil used to clean the room. They agreed to refund us for remaining nights once they received the money from booking platform and asked for my bank details. They later withheld the refund without even the decency to notify us – they emailed their reasons to Booking.com, denying the severity of smell and said we didn’t give them a chance to fix the problem - no other rooms were available and the fact that the smell had not aired out after 5+ hours with fan on and windows open was a clear indication that the problem COULD NOT be fixed. IT’S CLEAR THEY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR GUESTS FOR VARIOUS REASONS: Lynn blocked my number (my whatsapp messages & calls failed), they didn’t respond to messages via booking.com, stated in email to booking.com that we made up the smell as excuse to leave early (this is not true!) And complained about shuttling foreigners who were scared to drive river crossing with rental vehicles. DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED with how they handled this. I don't like leaving bad reviews and I have never checked out early from any accommodation, but I feel people need to know what kind of treatment to expect if there...

A Home Away from Home at Mackaya||We had an amazing time at Mackaya; it truly felt like a home away from home. Ryan and Danny are exceptional hosts, always ready to assist with any needs we had. They even catered to my vegan dietary requirements, and I still remember the delicious pasta and apple pie Danny made for us—absolutely yum! They made us feel like long-time friends, showing us around and ensuring we felt both at home and special.||We went on a hike with Danny, who is incredibly knowledgeable. I’m eagerly waiting for some footage from the Bush cam! Ryan also took us on a stroll around the area, where we learned so many new and interesting things about the ecosystem. Both of them are informative and knowledgeable.||Upon arrival, it was already dark, and we were quite anxious since there were no street lamps around. However, Ryan stepped in, waited for us at the main entrance, and led us all the way to the villa. The property itself is well-maintained and beautifully designed, but what made our stay truly special were these two amazing hosts. The property is quite big and we got a chance to explore some including cow cave paintings, trails ,dam,moonies pool,etc.||Amina, who works remotely, was also very responsive and willing to help in any way she could. Talent, another team member, was friendly and excellent at her job.||Overall, it was a wholesome experience, and we will definitely visit again. Leaving the property felt like leaving old friends behind. We even received bonus lemons upon departure! My husband, daughter, and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay and look forward to returning soon.||I highly recommend Mackaya for a relaxing getaway, with good company, amazing and friendly hosts, and comfortable, beautiful rooms....