Blyde River Wilderness Lodge

Blyde River Wilderness Lodge descritpion

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, elephant rides and hot air ballooning. God's Window is about 37.3 miles away

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Facilities of Blyde River Wilderness Lodge

Outdoors ：BBQ Facilities | Outdoor Pool (all year) | Grounds | Terrace | Sun Deck

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Activities ：Hiking | Massage

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Special Diet Meals (upon request)

Internet ：WiFi is available in public areas and charges apply.

Parking ：Free!Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

General ：Paid WiFi | Non-smoking Rooms | Heating

Reviews for Blyde River Wilderness Lodge

Review 1：The Service staff was not very well trained and flexible. Especially on wine recommendations and on the dinner procedure some room for improvement is still there. Distance to the main road is a little far (15min), but ok once you get used to it.

Review 2：Very nice facilities, well maintained and exiting souroundings. In general everything fine.

Review 3：Nothing

Review 4：Everything was perfect. A weekend getaway to remember. The fact that there was no network coverage and no TV was super, good for quality time.Definitely Coming back.

Review 5：NO bad experience, but the gravel road to the lodge is a bit of a challenge

Review 6：Beautiful well maintained lodge and room, two swimming pools, perfect food and very nice staff...The nicest lodge during our 4 week stay in South Africa!

Review 7：W-lan you have to pay for

Review 8：Great place to stay.Rooms are big and the area around the lodges are that big that you feel like you are the only one there, you can sit on the terrace and listen to the sounds of the jungle. Around the place is a small park with Girafes and zebras. Inside the area you also find other animals like horses etc. Very deep in the wilderness:) Which is great- but try to reach it during daytime when you first travel to it:) Dinner was absolutely delicious.

Review 9：The location is a good starting point for the panorama route (if you drive down from there in the direction of Graskop) but a bit of a drive from the main road so you should calculate it into the planning of your drive because you lose some time getting in and out. But the dirt road is in good condition, no 4x4 required.

Review 10：The lodge is set beautifully next to the river in a well-kept garden. The swimming pools looked nice but we stayed too short to actually enjoy them, so we recommend this place for longer stays.

Review 11：If you plan to use one of the self catering units, bring everything you will need for your entire stay as any shop or supermarket is a considerable drive away and don't expect to be able to do much more than braai.

Review 12：Totally out of the way tranquil haven, lovely grounds, friendly staff, good food, though a little expensive.

Review 13：The track to the lodge is very rough and the last km (inside the gates)has a lot of road bumps which nearly removed our car exhaust. Otherwiseit is great.

Review 14：This is a great place to stay. The staff were very amenable and happy toconsider our meal requests (for a vegetarian and a vegan). The huts areunusual and very homely. We loved the fact that hot water bottles wereput into our beds while we were at supper. It's a great place toview the Blyde River canyon from. The staff told us about PotluckBoskombuis as a place to have lunch and it is fantastic, everyone shouldgo! And on our last day they took us in search of giraffes and we wereable to get very close! Excellent!

Review 15：The guides were very persistent and tracked down giraffes and zebras for us to see before we left in the morning. The setting for breakfast on the patio overlooking the water was beautiful. The breakfast itself was fresh and delicious too.

Review 16：The gravel road to the lodge was longer than we expected, but in good condition.

Review 17：We had a lovely stay, in beautiful surroundings. The service was excellent!

Review 18：Not too easy to get to, WiFi not free

Review 19：Actually we were a bit surprised to meet our first giraffe in South Africa already on our way to this lodge - but it was great and was a good fit to the "wilderness" in the lodge name. Location is great if you want to feel "away from everything" as there´s litterally nothing around for a 30 min drive - so perfect conditions for relaxing vacations. Food (breakfast and dinner) was nice, too.

Review 20：Very long unpathed road with not enough indications to the lodge,not enough nearby activities possible, no activities organised by the lodge itself

Review 21：Comfortable Rondawels, lot of animals directly on the property, giraffes and zebras in the surounding bush, very friendly and helpfull staff

Review 22：The mattress is terrible... Me and my wife were awake at 4am, just because we could not be laying on the bed anymore.

Review 23：- The area where the lodge is located is fantastic. By the river, animals around the house. Really nice. - We had a good dinner. Not fantastic, but pretty good.

Review 24：Driving to the lodge in a small Nissan Micra is not such a good idea - road to lodge very rough in places. One of the waitresses could be a bit more friendly and enthusiastic As an Australian film crew had booked the whole Blyde River dam area (no fault of the lodge and nothing to do with them!!!) it was not possible to go there

Review 25：Manageress was very friendly and helpful, Wifi in public area was free, good location very close to the river, very quiet (out of season), very nice property, and accommodation was excellent

Review 26：The only thing I can critique involved our dinner - the meat was overcooked for three out of the four of us - but otherwise the meal was terrific, and everything else about our stay was exceptional!

Review 27：The entire property, including both our lodging (Owl House) and the common areas, was absolutely beautifully designed, decorated and maintained. The service from everyone was friendly and helpful. Be aware that the location is quite isolated (long and sometimes bumpy dirt road access), but trust me that the extra travel is very much worth it! This property is a real gem, and our stay here was an unexpected highlight of our trip.

Review 28：The beautiful, peaceful setting. Perfect retreat from both city life AND the crazyness of the holiday season. Add to that friendly staff, superb service - nothing left to be desired!

Review 29：In the business sense,cellphone reception and wi fi not up to scratch.Believe this may have been a temporary thing?

Review 30：Apart from the obvious stunning location and accommodation the manager Cynthia is worthy of mention.Super person and on top of her game .Well done.Also loved the fact there is no TV

Review 31：We were staying in the Kingfisher Cottage and enjoyed the beautiful surrounding and setting of the lodge very much. Dinner was very good on the outside veranda. We would go there again.

Review 32：Excellent spot to feel "lost in a jungle" next to hidden crocos and hippos! Excellent facilities, food and security. Unpaved access road was a bit long for our car after rain (4 wheel recommended) but while staying in the lodge one feels well looked after by the staff. Wifi was limited in the reception area which is the only weakness of this place.

Review 33：I enjoyed looking at the surroundings only to find that is well taken care of. The trees and the grass layout was the true source of my attraction and i fell in love with the place when i saw the Nyala antelope grazing just outside my Room. It was an amazing experience to see such an animal at a close proximity and able to take beautiful pictures very close. And my wife said this "this a place that worth to be visited again" and i stood by her words without doubt. It is a perfect place indeed. wish to be a visitor again and have a stay for at least three days.

Review 34：Having to use a mosquito net is difficult to get used to, but they are large and hung above the bed. There were quite a few bugs to get used to and the road in is quite a long dirt road but regularly maintained. Nothing major, however when you see what a lovely place this is!

Review 35：The beautiful, peaceful setting is perfect with veranda immediately overlooking over the river and early morning hippo wake up calls! Very helpful manager and staff, excellent food, lovely swimming pools. Consistently good from arrival to departure.

Review 36：Having to leave!

Review 37：Blyde River Wilderness Lodge has a somewhat out-of-the-way location that enabled me to recharge my batteries during a business trip. Beautiful scenery, lovely room, delightful dinner.

Review 38：Swimming pool was not inviting

Review 39：Rooms well set up Food was fabulous Staff very friendly and helpful Private yet common areas if wanted Location on river Wild animals everywhere Albert helped us sight hippos

Review 40：The track from the main road is manageable, but pretty long. I wouldn't use Blyde W L as a touring base; just come a rest here a night or two (we stayed a night and a morning).

Review 41：We had a lovely welcome, and the food was fabulous. Beautiful room in a 'rondavel'. Staff led me along the riverside to see about 10 hippo, and the riverside was quite magical. This is a relaxing and beautiful place.

Review 42：The evening meal was very plain with little choice for the price paid, and the wine list was not great, but it was quite satisfactory.

Review 43：The setting, accommodation and ambiance were excellent, and the staff were very pleasant and helpful. Breakfast was served out on the verandah overlooking the hippo pool and in the early evening hippos were heard down at the chalets. The chalets were attractively furnished and extremely comfortable.

Review 44：A little far off, but it is worth it :)

Review 45：Friendly and helpful staff, delicious food, spacious and nicely furniched chalets, in the near by river we could see hippos and deer was grassing next to our chalets.

Review 46：The place is very private and the sight of wild animals next to you makes it amazing. The food was excellent and the staff very friendly.

Review 47：Everything is amazing. Exceptional value for money.

Review 48：Manager very arrogant and unhelpful.catering for international and not south Africans. Way over priced food.

Review 49：Great rooms and houses. Good setting.

Review 50：It's quite far from the main road

Review 51：The staff was truly kind and helpful

Review 52：no Wi-Fi other than at the main lodge, and no phone reception/signal. no TV

Review 53：everything

Review 54：We had a very warm welcome and were surprised about the lodge, in short words we had a nice stay.

Review 55：None

Review 56：Our stay was memorable indeed.

Review 57：Everything, but particularly the comfort, cleanliness and overall lodge facilities and staff

Review 58：Very little cellphone reception. Lack of game drive facilities

Review 59：Very secluded, limited cellphone and no TV. The perfect place to escape

Review 60：quietness

Review 61：- WiFi isn't free of charge - the road to the lodge could be a bit better

Review 62：- pretty much everything, especially: - great breakfast - great staff

Review 63：Insufficient lighting Insufficient storage space for clothes Poor mosquito net

Review 64：Animals around the lodge Excellent food Staff

Review 65：A Lovely lodge in a very relaxing and Tranquil location, just what we needed after the 5 and a half hour drive from Jo'burg. The evening meal was good value, Daisy, Cynthia and all the staff made us feel very welcome.

Review 66：The road access was difficult, though this added to the adventure, otherwise very good

Review 67：It was very relaxed, great staff, and peaceful location , the road access was interesting!

Review 68：Very difficult access along a 10Km very bumpy dirt track. In fact I damaged my hire car travelling to the lodge. there were lots of ants in the kitchen area

Review 69：once we had arrived, the views were outstanding. the lodge was very spacious and well equipped

Review 70：The place is managed by a couple of back packers and that really shows in the way they mishandle conflict. The food is really really average and unfortunately you are so far away for any other restaurants you get stuck with their food.

Review 71：The lady at reception was very friendly and tried hard to make sure you are happy.

Review 72：After rains the access road was a bit interesting in a small hire car .... but heh, what's wrong with a bit of an adventure!

Review 73：Room was beautiful, nice touch with the frangipani flowers on the bed etc.Location lovely. The fillet steak in the evening was the best I've ever had. The directions could have said "turn left at the huge giraffe"!

Review 74：Car parking was at a distance from kingfisher cottage, but not a major problem.

Review 75：excellent layout once inside the lodge, the pool & bar/appi were brilliant!

Review 76：Amazing location in the middle of a game reserve. Beautiful, spacious room with a big balcony overlooking the river were hippo's and crocs live. We had dinner in the restaurant: a set 3-course dinner. Really delicious food and great wine. Staff is very friendly. We'll absolutely come back!

Review 77：The lodge is far from the main road (accessible by track for 7k)

Review 78：- The amazing decoration of the room and the restaurant/bar. - The authenticity of this lodge, included in a private game reserve

Review 79：It is so hard to get there, also internet should be provided for free when u pay that much for a room. Insects nets should be replaced since we had ants and other animals in our room!

Review 80：Great personel, good food, nice animals

Review 81：The spitting cobra upon our arrival, and opening and closing the gate.

Review 82：The warmth of the staff and how you constantly show concern and compassion. The serenity!

Review 83：However the location is too remote and very far formt he nearest gate to Kruger ( 89 kms). It doesnt make sense to stay at this property if Kruger visits are to be made frequently. Morever the rooms do not have AC nor proper fans. Thus uncaomfortable spending the night. Would nto reccomend this property to anyone I know.

Review 84：The service was good and the property per se is well appointed.

Review 85：Unfortunately we had a car problem, and we were really stressful for this, and the staff was really nice and helpful to find us the solution ..thank you...

Review 86：A really nice place to stay for a few days to explore the blyde river area. Great food, nice location, great staff. A special thanks to Cynthia for the additional information on our last day. That really made a difference! And to John and Daisy for being great hosts! We'll come back :-)

Review 87：Road to the property a bit challenging after rain (but normal cars can still do it)

Review 88：Friendly staff, beautiful setting with lots of privacy.. A place you should stay a couple nights to relax a bit

Review 89：The gravel road to the lodge takes a while to drive, but it is well marked.

Review 90：The lodge is well situated in exotic setting by the Blyde River. We spend a whole day looking birds and animals just around the lodge and nearby wild area had Nyala, Zebra and Giraffe. Rooms are nicely decorated and spacious with veranda. Breakfast and dinner were ok.

Review 91：Staff was either not trained or had no clue about the services offered (e.g. breakfast booking). Worst service during our stay in ZA.

Review 92：Located close to the river, very nice lodges. Nature reserve close by. Not the best alternative to go to KNP afterwards, but that's not negative.

Review 93：The location in the wilderness is stunning! You wake up and have breakfast next to the river. There are only a few lodges, so you share this beautiful place with only a couple of people. It's very peaceful and personal. The staff is lovely and very helpful. Breakfast and dinner was amazing! It was one of the best places we have been to when we were in South Africa plus great value for money! Just ask the team for a detailed description how to get there as you can't see the sign from the road when you arrive from the tunnel.

Review 94：The precise location of the lodge is not indicated by the GPS coordinates. We had to spend a half-hour (in the dark) to find the directions(coming back from Hoedspruit).

Review 95：The location near the Blyde River (crocodiles & hippos live in it but we did'nt see any). Food was OK.

Review 96：The place was beautiful situated. Great and friendly staff and beautiful accommodation. Nice and value for money cuisine. Stayed 2 nights and it surely was worth it. Great place to travel day trips to surrounding areas and tourist places. Thumbs up!

Review 97：It would have been helpful to know that the resort was 6kms(of dirt road) off the main road!

Review 98：Lovely touches with flowers etc. in the accommodation. Perfect location on the banks of the Blyde River. Excellent Breakfast!

Review 99：perhaps the 6km to arrive at the lodge but once you did it one time, it is ok but a bit long(30 min)

Review 100：the situation quiet and in the "wilderness" but without any danger. Rooms comfortable, the staff is friendly and helpfull. We saw zebras, koudous, girafes, impalas around the lodge and there are also 2 horses, very friendly too

Review 101：Dinner was expensive Location is a very long way along a poor quality dirt track road The restaurant and bar closes at 8.30pm

Review 102：Rondavels we stayed in were excellent The noise of hippos over breakfast Area is stunning

Review 103：There was nowhere to hang your clothes or fold them and put them away. There was no cupboard or shelf to put out various items that you would be using daily. The knob came off the bathroom cabinet when you tried to open it. The bedside cabinets had no cupboard or drawers, they were just wooden blocks. They forgot to put our geyser on so we had no hot water before we went to bed and none the following morning when we went to shower. No hair dryer in the room. To approach the property when you turn off the main road, you have to travel down a corrugated dirt road for over 6 kms. The total journey from main road to property takes approx 25 mins. We were not advised of this. We were also unaware that the lodge was over 1 hour from the Blyde River Canyon itself. Other guests were also suprised to find this.

Review 104：Beautiful surroundings and location. Staff were friendly and helpful . The dinner which was extra, was excellent albeit there was too much food. Rondavel was comfortable and nicely furnished except for the problems mentioned opposite.

Review 105：The area is a true break away from city life. The river that runs through this resort adds tranquility to one's stay. Will most definitely stay here again. We were taken care of in the most hospitable manner by staff.

Review 106：Beautiful place, although you have have to drive a while before you reach it. But it gives you the opportunity to see zebras and giraffes in the meantime, because the guesthouse is located in à wildlife park. The guesthouse itself is amazing, with romantic rooms (with cooking stuff and kitchen).

Review 107：Everything was absolutely fantastic, it was a welcome treat to relax after working so hard and after my disaster at the Khoroni Hotel in Venda the night before

Review 108：- The lodge is situated about 10 km from the main road. It is nearly not reachable with rainfall because of a very bad, unpaved road leading there. This fact should be mentioned when you book.- A cold evening, at dinner, instead of activating the fireplace they gave us blankets.

Review 109：We liked the very stylish interior of the lodge and the perfectlyserved meals.

Review 110：I really needed a pedicure and this was not on offer. However I did get an excellent massage!! So I can't complain...

Review 111：staff wonderful setting wonderful rock pool amazing! Rooms super, food excellent! Brilliant massage!!

Review 112：A good B&B at a nice location not to far from Blyde River Canyon. Very good dining. Room need to be upgraded to meet good standards within coming year(s).

Review 113：Waiters are a bit slow, but seeing as the Lodge and the staff have sucha relaxed atmosphere...all is forgiven.

Review 114：Setting is fantastic. Very quiet, good for the soul. Very friendly andhas everything you need.

Review 115：it is A 6km gravel road to get to the lodge - although I was able to drive with my car, I expect some travellers would like to have advance warning that there is A gravel road. also, the first night was A set menu - travellers should make sure that they check what is on the set menu and inform the lodge if there is anything that they don'T eat to allow them time to prepare an alternative.

Review 116：lovely setting with comfortable, stylish accommodation. quiet with deer walking amongst the rondavels. breakfast was first class and the staff was friendly and competent. all-in-all, great stay on our way to the kruger.

Review 117：No shower, just a bath....not a big deal anyway!

Review 118：Friendly and helpfull owner, was perfect spot for us to go see Godswindow and Blyde canyon before going to Kruger Park. Fast wifi and goodcoffee as well

Review 119：The staff was not very friendly nor helpful when we had questions. Both pools were so dirty we could not take a swim.

Review 120：The location was breathtaking, as well as the accomodations.

Review 121：The only downside is the aforementioned dirt track which can take 35 minutes to negotiate in a small economy car and which in really wet weather should only be tackled in a 4x4.

Review 122：If you value peace - excluding the noise of birds, animals and the blyde river!! - then this lodge should be on your itinerary. Tucked away in the bush down an 8-10km dirt track the lodge offers seclusion in delightful reserve grounds. Accomodation is good and varied with suites, rooms and self-catering cottages and the lodge manageress Cynthia and staff couldn't be more helpful. The dirt track apart the lodge represents an excellent choice in which to relax and commune with nature.

Review 123：Great lodge, conveniently located for the Blyde River Canyon panoramic toor. Lovely decorated, tidy rooms, warm welcome, excellent breakfast and a very attentive service by the manager. Absolute recommendation !

Review 124：The rain, the road there was bad but only due to flooding, I expect it's fine in normal weather conditions.

Review 125：It was very friendly, nothing was too much trouble. The food was good wholsome fare.

Review 126：The drive to Kruger Orpen gate was longer than expected.

Review 127：Staff were so helpful, and worked very hard to accommodate last minuterequests from our group for meals, extra beds, etc. Surroundings areabsolutely beautiful, overlooking a river. Impala stroll through thegrounds and we even met a giraffe on the drive to the lodge!