Hitgeheim Country Lodge

We had a fantastic time at Hitgeheim, most incredible food and the hosts took great care of us. Can't wait to go back to soak up the sunshine in the private pool with the wildest view in Addo.

Very friendly staff, perfect service and beautiful rooms with an unforgettable view. The arrival was also easy and uncomplicated. Important warning for future guests: If you want to book the Schotia Safari (which is an amazing experience and you see far more animals than in Addo Park), book it directly with the safari provider or arrange their transfer. We were told by the accommodation that we had to book the safari through them, that we should cancel our direct booking, that it is not possible to drive there ourselves, and that we could get stuck inside the park after 7 pm if we did not book through them. This information turned out to be incorrect. The accommodation then changed our direct booking into a booking through them without further asking us, which resulted in significantly higher costs. You can drive there yourself (it just takes about 45–60 minutes longer via the outside road) or book a transfer directly with the safari company. The transfer offered by the safari provider is only about half the price of the one arranged through the accommodation. Booking through the accommodation costs 1375 Rand more per person, which is extremely expensive considering they only add the transfer (about €70 extra per person). Our advice: book directly with the safari provider and don’t let yourself be misinformed.

The location of the property is truly excellent, offering beautiful views and clean, comfortable lodge accommodation. Unfortunately, the overall experience does not justify the price, and the value for money is extremely poor. One of the main concerns is the restrictive policy imposed by the property. Guests are not allowed to choose their own external safari tour providers. Instead, the lodge limits guests to a single designated guide for tours to Addo Safari or Schotia. These tours are priced at least 50% higher than booking directly with the official operators, which makes the policy feel more like a forced upsell rather than a service for guests. As for the room itself, it was generally good and comfortable. However, it was surprising that there were no garbage bins in the room or even on the balcony. Because of this, we had to walk to the bathroom every time we needed to throw away trash. For such a basic and obvious amenity, this oversight was quite strange and inconvenient. Now, regarding the food: if it were possible to give zero stars, I would gladly do so. The food quality was extremely poor — comparable to prison or hospital food. On top of that, the prices were extremely high, making the experience even more disappointing. Finally, the rules of the property are unnecessarily restrictive. Guests are not allowed to leave the lodge after 7:00 PM. The management claims this is for safety reasons, but that explanation is questionable. If safety were truly the concern, guests could simply sign a disclaimer and take responsibility for leaving after that time. Instead, the gates are locked, which strongly suggests that the rule exists to force guests into purchasing the lodge’s overpriced safari packages and to ensure they dine at the hotel restaurant — which, again, is very expensive. Overall, while the location is beautiful, the restrictive policies, overpriced services, and poor food quality make this place very difficult to recommend.

An unforgettable stay! Our time at the lodge was absolutely amazing — from start to finish. The food was delicious, beautifully prepared, and full of local flavor. The safari experience was incredible, but what truly made our stay unforgettable was Johann. His knowledge, passion, and genuine enthusiasm brought everything to life and made every moment special. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide or a better experience. Highly recommended!

Best 5 star treatment! They show u how valuable you are They even washed our car when we checked out Staff was great The facilities were awesome clean and beautiful

An amazing place. A paradise oasis in a paradise country. Friendly attentive staff made our stay memorable and enjoyable. Would highly recommend.

There are no words to describe the enjoyable stay we had at Hitgeheim, but I'll try. Spacious, comfortable rooms with en-suite bathroom. Fantastic out door shower overlooking the Sundays River Valley. Delicious food. Staff assistance and service of the best. A very fond memory was taken home. 👍👊😃 compliments to all staff at Hitgeheim.

We had a two night stay in Hitgeheim lodge. I can fully recommend this place. Very nice and polite service, lovely clean rooms with a stunning view over the beautiful countryside.