Blyde River Wilderness Lodge

–Great location - show map
+87 photos
Scored 8.6
Rated excellent

Staff

9.4

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About this property

Set in a private reserve, surrounded by Blyde River and the Drakensberg Mountains, this lodge offers self-catering rooms with balconies. It features 2 outdoor pools, massage treatments and barbecue facilities. Blyde River Wilderness Lodge’s elegantly decorated rooms have a mosquito net, a seating area and the self-catering rooms offer a fully equipped kitchen. Each room has a private bathroom with a hairdryer. All rooms lead out onto the tranquil river settings, where crocodiles and hippos cruise by. The reserve is also home to giraffes, zebras and nyalas. Guests can start their day with a rich breakfast buffet, before exploring the surrounding area. Tea garden lunches, patio dinners and packed lunches are also available on request. Refreshments can be be enjoyed at the bar. A variety of activities is offered in the surrounding area, including boat cruises on the Blyde Dam, game drives, quad biking and hot air ballooning. God's Window is about 37 mi away

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 8.0 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Most popular amenities

  • 2 swimming pools
  • Free Wifi
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Restaurant
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Room service
  • Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
  • Bar

Property highlights

  • Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (8.4)

  • Want a great night's sleep? This property was highly rated for its very comfy beds.

Breakfast Info

Continental, Full English/Irish, Gluten-free

Free Private Parking Available On Site

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Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

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Room Type
Number of guests
 
1 queen bed
Bedroom 1
1 queen bed
Bedroom 2
2 twin beds
1 queen bed
2 twin beds
2 twin beds
2 twin beds
and
1 king bed
2 twin beds
1 full bed
2 twin beds
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Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
Facilities
Cleanliness
Comfort
Value for money
Location
Free Wifi

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Guests who stayed here loved

Bigcasino10
United States United States
“Our stay at this property could not have been any better. The accommodations were fantastic. The beds very comfortable, the food was delicious. The location was incredible - but most of all - the staff made our stay exceptional! Our host Cynthia...”
Valerie
Belgium Belgium
“Lovely place to stay, very nice surroundings in a national park. Staff was really nice”
Akani
South Africa South Africa
“The place was clean, the staff were friendly and very helpful. The scenery is exceptional and the fact that they wash your car before departure. I am definitely coming back, the pictures don't do justice to the place”
Jackie
South Africa South Africa
“The breakfast and the location are excellent. The luxurious amenities, exemplary services, and prime location are what grabbed my attention to the Lodge. I loved everything! I highly recommend Blyde River Wilderness Lodge for its cozy rooms,...”
Ramkissoon
South Africa South Africa
“Location is perfect 👌 a nice relaxing and quiet place.”
Paulina
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“The staff were amazing; warm, friendly, helpful and flexible. The only reaosn I don't want to mention names, is that I am sure I would have had the same level and quality of service from all those I met. I loved the exceedingly peaceful...”
Shona
South Africa South Africa
“My stay was extremely comfortable and Cynthia and her team couldn't have been more helpful. It's a beautiful tranquil spot along the river and the chalets are beautifully decorated and private. The staff even cleaned my dusty car and windows...”
Victoria
South Africa South Africa
“The friendliest staff, the Breakfast, the privacy was exceptional”
Kamogelo
South Africa South Africa
“The location was perfect , nice and neat. The staff were welcoming and assisting the call duty”
Nelson
South Africa South Africa
“Breakfast 🍳 was 👌 even the place has a peace,quite”

Managed by John Mittan

Company review score: 9.4Based on 113 reviews from 1 property
1 managed property

Company info

Born in South Africa in 1979, John immigrated to Perth in Western Australia with his family at the age of 5. He had already been introduced to the wonders of the bush however and memories of family camping trips in South Africa's coastal and wildlife reserves, combined with expeditions to Australia's wild areas and return trips to Africa, drove him to register for a Biological Science degree in Sydney, taking subjects such as biology, microbiology, ecology and geology. On finishing university, John decided on the spur of the moment to join a game ranging course run by EcoTraining in the South Africa lowveld and within three weeks he had packed up and returned to South Africa. A month of intensive training in guest relations, birds, plants, animals, insects, geology, ecology, weapons handling and walking followed, with John's performance earning him a position as an instructor on the course after completion. Having gained experience in this position John went on to work as a guide and then head guide at a lodge in the lowveld, where he also worked with a research organization called K.E.R.I. on a study of leopard and cheetah.

Property info

Surrounded by the tranquil Blyde River and the majestic Drakensberg mountains, this thatched lodge is set in a Private reserve, in an area famous for its panoramic scenery, birdlife, fauna and flora. Nestled on the banks of the Blyde River, it offers travelers a unique bush experience whilst soaking up the beauty of the natural surroundings. The lodge is situated along the famous Panoramic Route of Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province near Hoedspruit and is just a 50-minute drive to the Kruger National Park - Orpen Gate. Places of water are places of life. Not only are the water courses of the Blyde River Wilderness Lodge well populated with Hippo and Crocodiles, the reserve is home to Giraffe, Nyala, Impala, Wildebeest, Zebra, Bushbuck, Duiker, Steenbuck, Waterbuck, Bushpig and Warthog.The towering Northern Drakensberg escarpment provides a canvas for nature to capture a masterpiece with each sunrise… This is your opportunity to escape and invest in peace. PLEASE NOTE: We are a private establishment and our main gate is situated 6km from the reception area. We therefore kindly request that guests advise us on an estimated time of arrival to ensure that the gate has been unlcoked upon your arrival. Latest check-in is 18h00 unless prior arrangements have been made. Please contact us to advise on the time of your arrival.

Neighborhood info

The following activities are available in the area: Beautiful Scenery Panorama Route Incorporating: The Three Rondawels Gods Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes Berlin Falls Pinnacle Lisbon Falls Graskop Pilgrims Rest Kruger National Park Moholoholo Wildlife Rehab Centre Boat Cruise On The Blyde Dam Game Drives Elephant Encounters Endangered Species Centre Rafting & Tubing Blyde Dam Khamai Reptile Park The Cotton Club Cafe Quad Biking Hot Air Ballooning Walking with the Wild Hlokomela Hat Tours (Community Project) Jessica the Hippo

Languages Spoken

Afrikaans,English

Area info

Restaurants

1 Restaurant On Site
Restaurant #1
  • Ambience
    Family-friendly • Traditional • Modern • Romantic
  • Dietary options
    Vegan • Gluten-free • Dairy-free

Amenities of Blyde River Wilderness Lodge

Great facilities! Review score, 8.9

Most popular amenities

  • 2 swimming pools
  • Free Wifi
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Restaurant
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Room service
  • Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
  • Bar

House rules

Blyde River Wilderness Lodge takes special requests – add in the next step!
Check-in
From 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card at check-in.
You need to let the property know what time you'll be arriving in advance.
Check-out
From 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Enter your stay dates and check the conditions of your selected option.
Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 12 and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

0 - 11 years
Extra bed upon request
ZAR 470 per child, per night
12+ years
Extra bed upon request
ZAR 940 per person, per night

Prices for extra beds aren't included in the total price. They'll have to be paid for separately during your stay.

The number of extra beds allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

There are no cribs available at this property.

All extra beds are subject to availability.

No age restriction
There's no age requirement for check-in
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Groups
When booking more than 3 rooms, different policies and additional fees may apply.
Cards accepted at this property
American ExpressVisaMastercardMaestro Cash is not accepted
Parties
Parties/events are not allowed
Quiet hours
Guests need be quiet between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM.

The fine print

Must-know information for guests at this property

Our normal check in is between 14H00 and 18H00.

Please note that we are a Private Lodge and we do not have 24 hours check in service.

Our gate is locked on a permanent basis due to the Wildlife on our property, we therefore ask that you please advise on an estimated time of arrival for us to have the gate unlocked upon your arrival.

Latest check in is 19H00, between 19H00 and 20H00, there will be a Surcharge of R 250.00.

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Please inform Blyde River Wilderness Lodge of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Payment before arrival by bank transfer is required. The property will contact you after you book to provide instructions.

This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.

Dear visitor, this region is currently experiencing drought conditions. Please be aware that certain properties are subject to comply with local water usage restrictions.

Quiet hours are between 20:00:00 and 08:00:00.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

In accordance with government guidelines to minimize transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property may request additional documentation from guests to validate identity, travel itinerary, and other relevant info on dates where such guidelines exist.