Vuyani River Lodge

Firstly, a MASSIVE thank you to all the staff at the Vuyani River Lodge, who each made our stay as special as possible. We will try and come back as soon as possible! We visited the lodge in the middle of February, as a special trip for my wife's 40th birthday, and special was exactly what it was. After 2 long flights we were provided transfers, arranged by lodge, from Jo'burg airport. An incredibly friendly chap named Danie gave us some wonderful insight into his beautiful country during a 5 hour drive to the lodge. Airport transfers are a reasonable cheap option but with a driver like Danie, the drive was a pleasure and much more rewarding and informative than more airport time. Upon arrival to the lodge we were given a refreshing drink and shown to our beautiful 'skylodge' (basically a tree house with power and running water). The bed, as can be seen in many pictures, was large and comfortable, the room has plenty of storage, the aircon works fantastically well and the outdoor spaces were great (shower and balcony). The daily routine during our stay was fairly consistent and could be broken up by a variety of excursions (we only chose the boat ride, due mostly to the weather), and goes something like the following: Wake up call and (30 mins later) Collection from the room (an escort with torch was required/provided during the dark). Following a brief opportunity for coffee (could have been 5 mins longer) we left for the first game drive of the day. This is a wonderful experience in a LWB open top Landrover with an incredibly informative driver (Philip - Thank you!) and an equally knowledgeable tracker (Mpilo - Thank you!). Both of these guys were incredible both in spotting the vast variety of animals on offer and also in giving a running commentary of what they were looking for and other titbits of information about the wildlife (who knew we could have such an interesting 10 mins watching a beetle roll dung!). During this morning drive, there was also an opportunity to stop for coffee (weather permitting) and have a short leg stretch after a long stint sat in the car. Breakfast! The first of three unbelievable meal times. Beginning with a table spread with cereals, fruits, yoghurts and treats, hot drinks and top ups are provided regularly and there is a full hot menu to choose from, which is cooked to order. Any type of eggs, accompanied with all the hot side dishes you could want (bacon, sausage etc). A fantastic meal to set you up for the day and, for us, to send us to sleep happily for a quick mid morning nap after the early rise! After an opportunity to spend some time in the room, in the pool under the sun or on one of the excursions, lunch was served. Every day this was delicious and presented warmly by the chef of the day. Again, more than enough food, and the drinks (and top ups! ) flow regularly.. this time, usually of the colder variety! The food at this place really was a highlight and I can't remember ever feeling so

Vuyani is so incredibly good at what it does that you cannot fail to have an amazing time. It is such good value for what you are getting I really am not sure how they manage it! The accommodation is so lovely and comfortable, each with its own private deck for sitting on and with outdoor showers so you can watch for wildlife whilst you wash. The pool/bar/dining area is beautiful and the food is plentiful and delicious (you certainly won’t be going home any lighter than when you arrived - quite the opposite) and the drinks flow nicely. Both the game viewing and the staff are beyond awesome. I’ve been a few times now and it gets harder to say goodbye each time. Everybody works so hard to make sure you have the best holiday. The number of repeat guests they have speaks volumes. And as for the game drives - it seems impossible to be disappointed. And the reserve is such a beautiful place to be driving around - there’s always something to be looking at. Special shout out to Jarrod and Direct our guide and tracker. You will not be disappointed.

I visited Vuyani River Lodge for 7 nights to celebrate my mum's birthday. Pre arrival information was clear, and staff were so helpful in setting up a birthday surprise for my mum. It's a long drive from Johannesburg airport, so we decided to fly back which I'd definitely recommend. The lodge was clean and comfortable. Food was delicious and vegetarians were well catered for. Huge range of drinks to choose from and all very good quality. The house keeping team worked incredibly hard, and were in the rooms at least 2-3 times daily. The 2x daily safari drives were amazing. This was my fourth safari and this is the closest I've ever been to the animals, and the first time I've witnessed a kill. We saw everything we could have hoped for plus more. Huge shout out to our spotter Creist and driver Thomas who made this a really special experience for us. It did feel a bit odd driving around electric fences and felt a bit like a zoo in comparison to previous safaris in larger national parks but can understand the need for the fences to protect the animals. It was lovely sitting by the pool and watching the animals walk by, or listening to a bull elephant pulling down trees in the camp! All of the staff we met were very friendly and attentive, it was a very personalised service and this really made our trip. Things I wish I'd known before I travelled: - Bring warm / waterproof clothes. When we travelled it was forecast to be 40 degrees and sunshine every day. We took layers just in case, but unfortunately ended up being less than 20 degrees with rain 5 out of the 7 days, and when in an open top jeep it was really wet and chilly (although they do have ponchos). - There isn't really any time to get dressed up for dinner. Some days we'd return back from the evening game drive, and would only have 15 minutes in the room before being collected by the night guard. Although I didn't take anything overly dressy, most days two of us didn't have time to shower or change before dinner. It's pretty casual. We booked our trip through Secret Escapes and everything was perfect, but I would definitely opt to book direct with the lodge in the future.

This was my bucket list holiday for a big birthday. Wanted to do this for many years and finally took the plunge. What an absolutely amazing experience, staff and lodge were great but did take a bit getting used to the outside shower when the chilly wind blew. Would highly recommend this for anyone doing a safari for the first time.

The most magical trip of my life! I came here with my family for my mum's 60th birthday and it absolutely blew me away. From the impeccably clean and cosy lodges nestled in the bush, to the delicious home cooked food, being at Vuyani felt like home away from home, just with a few giraffes, monkeys and impala thrown in. The staff were attentive and warm and the communal aspects of the trip meant we made some lovely friends. Special shout out to our driver/guide Jarrod and tracker Direct who made the trip unforgettable with their in depth knowledge of the bush. They were always willing to go the the extra mile to find what we were looking for and were such good fun to be around. The adventure of a lifetime. I can't wait to go back.

There are so many amazing things to write here and truly not enough space! this was one special stay from the moment we arrived. From the moment we arrived, this lodge exceeded all expectations. The entire team, from management to housekeepers and chefs, made our stay unforgettable with their warmth, attentiveness, and charm. We were truly pampered—the staff’s dedication to meeting every need was matched only by the exceptional quality of the food, freshly prepared each day. Every meal was a masterpiece, adding to an experience that was simply beyond words. Our rangers Kutsi and Impelo (not sure that spelling is correct) were our game drivers and they were outstanding, showcasing deep knowledge and passion that made each drive thrilling and insightful. The sundowners were a real treat with some incredibly special moments. I have been lucky to have been on safari lots and this one will remain up there as one of my favourites. A real treat i couldn't recommend this enough and i will most certainly be going back! Thankyou so much to everyone at the river lodge you truly are a fantastic crew and make the stay extra special - Thankyou from the bottom of our hearts! Brett & Jenni Riley