Simbambili Game Lodge

From the moment we arrived at the lodge we were well cared for. Being our first time on Safari we had no idea what to expect. Our guide Doctor and tracker Service were so knowledgeable and friendly. They clearly went above and beyond at all times. We saw nearly every animal on our lists. The food was outstanding! I am gluten free and was worried about my meals while here. They made every meal gluten free and I was able to eat the same as the other guests. Glory was amazing at looking out for me! They made special dietary adjustments for all guests. We stayed in the water hole room. It has a great view of anything passing by. The room was so clean and updated with great AC. I honestly have nothing but great things to say about this resort and its staff!

Our stay at Simbabili Game Lodge was nothing short of extraordinary. Nestled within the pristine Sabi Sands Private Reserve and connected to Kruger, Simbabili offers the ideal location for a premier safari experience. Every element—from the incredible wildlife encounters to the gourmet dining and first-class amenities—went above and beyond our expectations. The staff’s warmth and expertise truly made our visit unforgettable. Our guide, Mike, and tracker, Chris, gifted us with an unmatched safari experience. Mike's knowledge of the bush and his captivating storytelling brought every sighting to life. We encountered an incredible array of animals, from lions and buffalo to hippos, rhinos, wild dogs, elephants, giraffes, and leopards—oh, the leopards! Seeing so many in their natural habitat was a dream come true. At the lodge, Andrew made sure our drinks were exactly as we liked, memorizing our orders within minutes and adding a personal touch to every interaction. His attention to detail made our time at Simbabili feel like home. We can’t wait to return and will be recommending Simbabili Game Lodge to everyone we know. If you’re looking for a luxurious safari adventure, this is the place to be!

I recently returned from a 4 day stay at Simbambili Game Lodge and can’t say enough good things about the lodge and its staff. It was a truly wonderful experience. It was my first safari and Simbambili did not disappoint, in fact it exceeded expectations. Always warm and welcoming, it was evident that staff cared about you and wanted you to have the best experience possible. Lodge staff was always there to help with whatever you needed. The game drives were exceptional with Solomon, as guide and driver extraordinaire and Roy as tracker from whom the animals could not hide! We saw all of the big five and then much, much more. Solomon’s extensive knowledge of the area, the wildlife, and birds, made game drives both exciting and educational. Solomon’s great driving skills got us up close, safely, for extraordinary viewing opportunities. We were fortunate to have great weather, so the sunrises and sunsets on game drives were spectacular. The lodge is beautiful, open with bush vistas and a view of a watering hole that was visited daily by the elephants. The lodge layout with the main lodge, individual thatched roof cottages as suites, and separate pool, gym and spa facilities ensured privacy with a quiet elegance. The suites were beautifully and bush-appropriate appointed. Housekeeping staff was excellent, although we never saw them! Simbambili Game Lodge dining deserves its own recognition and accolades. Whether the setting was the lodge, the bush, or the spa, it was perfect! There were menu options which made it hard to choose, but no matter the choice each dish was beautifully presented and delicious! It was the best dining of our trip which included stays in Cape Town and the Winelands. I was sad to leave Simbambili Game Lodge given the warmth of the place and its staff, but happy to have selected Simbambili Game Lodge for my safari experience.

Our experience at Simbambili was truly magical. The rooms and grounds far exceeded expectations. We received exceptional service from the staff from beginning to end, and the game drives led by Trevor (Guide) and Willis (Tracker) were simply amazing. Some of the animals we saw on our game drives include the entire big 5, a cheetah with kill (which is extremely rare), a honey badger, an entire lion pride with kill, multiple leopards and cubs, hyenas, wilderbeast, hippos, giraffes, zebra, impala, kudu, crocodiles and much more. I would recommend requesting Trevor and Willis as they are extremely knowledgeable and really make the game drives fun and exciting. Thank you for an incredible experience.

Best experience! Attention to detail and personal attention made this 4 night stay amazing. Best game viewing ever. Only negative - the 1,5 hour drive from Hoedspruit airport to the lodge was awful. Comfortable air conditioned vehicle helped.

This was our second trip for a South African safari, and we absolutely loved our stay at Simbambili! First off, our villa was more like a small house - it was huge. The bed was firm and supportive, and the AC worked just well enough to keep the room just cool enough. I particularly loved having extra space with sofas to lounge around on during down time. Solomon was my ranger and Roy was my tracker. Both were exceptional. The breadth of their knowledge was absolutely superb, and I really appreciated how detail oriented they were. They were true educators! During the many drives we went on, we got to view a ton of wildlife. The F&B program was excellent at Simbambili. I have celiac and really need to avoid gluten as much as possible. The chef and staff were so thoughtful with their offerings, and everything I had was of excellent quality and delicious. The blueberry muffins were some of the best I've ever had. What made Simbambili so special were the staff. Everybody was just so genuine and kind. It made it really hard to leave because they all felt like family by the end of the trip. A big thanks to Stan and Caroline for making our stay so memorable. We cannot wait to return in the future! A big plus with Simbambili is that it's an adult only property. So if you're looking for a lodge with less commotion, this is your place. You'll leave much more relaxed! .

We had an amazing trip to Simambili Game Lodge with our 3 children. Warmly welcomed upon arrival by Mike, Tania and Caroline as well as the rest of the staff who all will go above and beyond to make the stay unforgettable. The suites are beautifully decorated, and situated along the property overlooking the reserve. The food was outstanding- from breakfast to dinner everything was fresh and delicious. We had 8 game drives- Mike was an amazing guide and our tracker was fantastic - we saw the big 5 on the first evening we arrived and continued to see everything you could imagine. We truly had an unforgettable trip and hope to return to Simambili in the near future.

luxury in the bush. wonderful staff and fantastic animal tours. the owners, Tania and Mike, make you feel at home while Caroline, Solomon, Roy and the rest of the team took care that we had a wonderful experience. i would highly recommend for a first class safari experience.

From the second you arrive at Simbambili, you are greeted like an old friend, with welcoming smiles, a hot towel and a refreshing drink. We were absolutely bowled over by the thoughtfulness of the staff: from hot water bottles and blankets on the early safari drives, African fables on our pillows each night, our scrumptious sun rise / sun downer drinks and snacks, to a surprise candlelit meal in the bush. The exemplary service and top notch quality of the delicious food, gloriously comfy bedding and cleanliness of the accommodation was perfection. However, it was Mike (our fantastic guide) that truly made our experience so special. We bashed about the bush, rushing to catch up with wild dogs, visited a pride of 13 lions, sat enthralled at the herds of elephants and watched a leopard eat an impala (up a tree), as a hopeful hyena waited at the bottom for scraps and so much more. Every day was magical. Mike was an absolute font of knowledge and quickly became our pal. We truly had front row seats to the best show on earth. We got closer to the wildlife than we had dared to imagine and all the while we felt very safe. If you are lucky enough to get the chance to stay at Simbambili, grab it with both hands. You are guaranteed an amazing trip of a lifetime.