What‘s Included

Meeting and Pickup

What To Expect

Reviews

• Unique Safari experience

  Tyle A,

  May 16, 2025

  - Viator

  4.00

  My husband and I had a great experience in Kruger. Our driver was excellent in spotting the big fives. On our last tour day, it was raining so hard but the jeef didn’t have good cover so we were soaking wet. The driver had worst experience, he were driving in an uncover windshield, rain and wind were hitting at him but he just kept driving. It wasn’t safe for him as well as for the customers. We had a chance to chat with the manager about our horrible rain experience and was told that the car situation would be taken care of. We appreciated his caring if his employee. Overall, we were glad we reserved 2 nights and thoroughly enjoyed the stay. Would recommend to friends and family for this tour.

• Accommodation was stuffed...

  John C,

  Apr 19, 2025

  - Viator

  2.00

  Accommodation was stuffed up which made the experience quite unpleasant. Went to Swaziland for a day in a over crowded mini van which was hell as i was squashed for over 8 hours.

• Those smilles

  RENATO S,

  Jan 21, 2025

  - Viator

  5.00

  It was a safer and exceptional encounter with the wildlife, just as I was expected. The very kindly way Kholiwe staff took care of us touched on us deeply. The room they offered to us after a needed-emergency rearrangement was great. At the end, more than the extraordinary animal diversity, there will still be Esther, Linda, Jabule, Dylon and Pindha’s smilles with us.

• Traveler beware

  Angela M,

  Jan 8, 2025

  - Viator

  2.00

  Booked this earlier in 2024 for three day trip in January 2025. Got too busy to do more detailed research and find alternatives and as time came near and I saw more reviews, I wished it wasn’t so late and could have switched bookings with another group. Kruger itself is nice. You’ll get to see some though not all of the big five if your safari guide is good. But the Balanta group that this booking was under leaves a lot to be desired. And I mean a lot. They book you into Kholiwe lodge which could not possibly be more mediocre. The overall cost is close to $1000 per person for three days, but totally not worth it. Way overpriced for the kind of accommodations and service they provide. First, a few good aspects. The staff at Kholiwe itself were very nice, friendly, helpful and tried their best with what they were provided. The driver was on time picking us up from our Jo’burg hotel and was a careful driver. The cook was really good and made very tasty meals. And the air conditioning in the rooms was excellent and really helped in that 90-100oF weather. Our safari guide got better over the second and third drives. The first one did not go great. He spent too much time stopping to explain stuff, then we never got to where some lionesses had been sighted. But at least he self-corrected and we got to see them the following drive as well as some cheetahs later. As for the negative aspects, where to start. Very poor communication from the main office. They ask us before we arrive what we want for lunch on the first day, then don’t communicate with those on the ground and we’re given different meals. No communication to the driver for our return hotel at end of tour, despite them asking us prior to trip. Having to keep asking for info ourselves cause they are not reaching out. Then because we’d booked early, we actually got penalized for that. And there’s no other way to describe it. They said our early booking did not included Kruger entry fee and they only added it in October. So we ended up having to pay at the gate each day and that came to over $100 more than if they’d done it. Now a proper tour company would have reached out to those who booked early and offered them the new and indeed better deal, but that would be expecting too much of Balanta. Kholiwe has only six rooms, but no proper lounge area or place to relax. And those provided are completely outdoor and with no air conditioner. Remember that 100oF weather? Unbearable. So you just have to stay in your basic room, which has nothing but beds and a desk and chair. But at least it’s cool. Otherwise, go on a game drive. Which also made us feel very sorry for the staff. The management, which is likely far away in the cities, is not experiencing those conditions and they’re pricing as if it’s luxury accommodations, but their staff is seriously shortchanged and not treated well. Not that any complained at all. But they are working in poor and extremely hot conditions with no air conditioning in kitchen, dining room, lounge areas. Only guest rooms had it. While the meals were good, there was limited variety. They had only one type of concentrated juice. No soft drinks! None. Not a single Coke to be found anywhere. And they didn’t even have regular coffee. Only decaf and one with chickory. Now who runs a lodge for tourists without standard coffee or alternative soft drinks? Basic sodas? We’re not even talking cocktails. After seeing the premises, we didn’t even dare go there. We’ve done several safaris, mostly in the Eastern African region, and this one was so substandard, that we cannot recommend to anyone. Yes, I’ll grant that in Kenya and Tanzania, they’ve mastered the safari experience in the premium parks, but this one was so poor, that I’d advise anyone to look for alternatives. And Kruger is no novice for safaris. It’s an international destination. If Balanta want to use Kholiwe, then either get those accommodations and services upgraded ASAP, or price it appropriately. The experience wouldn’t even be worth half of what they charged. Traveler beware.

• I won’t recommend it.

  Fahan A,

  Aug 11, 2024

  - Viator

  1.00

  I liked the tour guides. I don’t think this tour is truly what’s advertised. I don’t recommend staying at Kholiwe On Kruger Lodge.