Umkumbe Bush Lodge

Eventhough our stay only lasted 2 days, I think we got the absolute most out of it! The staff was super friendly/attentive and Steven guided us. This attitude to share his knowledge and make us feel included and laugh was just the cherry on top! Highly recommend 10/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This place is beautiful and the level of service is infallible. I only stayed one night because it's a bit pricey and I also wanted to see Kruger Park but it would have been really nice to stay another night or two. Sharon greeted me when I arrived and made me feel so welcome and comfortable from the beginning. Pieter was my guide for an evening game drive, morning game drive and the optional (highly recommend) bush walk. He was very knowledgeable about the wildlife, tracking and flora. He was also very calm and patient. I never felt like we were harassing the animals or impeding them in any way while he was guiding. 10/10 all round.

Loved, loved, LOVED this place!!! This was our first time on a safari and we had a fabulous experience! I would insist on friends/family staying here if anyone was looking for a recommendation. We had our two teens, and we rented two superior tents. They were amazing and it felt wonderful to hear all the sounds of nature yet still have the luxuries of a 5-star hotel. Loved the private outdoor shower! There is heat/AC which the heat was definitely needed for the cold mornings in late May. We saw everything we could have asked for and more when it came to animals to include a cheetah and her cubs (and an impala kill), lions, etc. It was truly unbelievable. We adored our guide, Steven! He was wonderful and had an uncanny sense of where he should drive to be at the right spot at the right time. We hope to be back one day! You know it's amazing when the two teenagers said it was the best vacation ever!

Very luxurious tents! The food was fantastic and the made separate vegetarian dishes for us. The lookout from the pool area was a great way to see wildlife between safari excursions. Highly recommend!

The Umkumbe Bush Lodge and safari game drives far exceeded our expectations. We were especially impressed by our guide, Pieter, who had the most incredible knowledge about the animals and the nature of South Africa. He helped us get super close to the most beautiful animals and no doubt, this will be one of our most memorable experiences.

In February 2025, I had planned a large family trip to Umkumbe. Sadly we had to cancel 9 working days in advance of our trip due to a sudden illness that has left a family member in critical condition. As per Umkumbe's cancellation policy, the late notice forfeited our rights to refund. We did reach out to the owners to see if there could be a concession on compassionate grounds and whether they would consider a postponement. We shared a medical note that had helped us to secure refunds and postponements with our other trip bookings. Unfortunately, this was met with a bitter response from Umkumbe Management. We understand the demands of being in business and that compassion is not always the main driving force. I simply write this review to bring attention to other patrons that it is always worth reviewing the cancellation policies and having insurance. Life can come at us fast, and it's not always forgiving. EDIT: The refunded fees that were mentioned in the lodge's response were only afforded to us only after pushing for this - and the amount refunded totalled: ~13K rand - giving us close to 10% compensation. We had originally reserved a few rooms, each with a 2-3 person occupancy. Upon further consideration, we felt it doesn’t feel quite right that the lodge would profit from the late cancellation of multi-occupancy rooms. Given the circumstances, we were hoping to discuss a fairer approach to the refund, such as adjusting the charges to reflect a single-occupancy rate per room. I understand a late cancellation incurs costs for the lodge, but also would have resulted in various savings, such as staff, food, cleaning, and other logistical services. With this in mind, I believe a more equitable solution could be reached. The Management again responded negatively and not in the tone you expect from a 'luxury' brand.

We enjoyed an utterly delightful three day stay with the marvellous team at Umkumbe. The lodge is serene, relaxing and fenced. The tents are spacious, comfortable and well appointed with hot water and air conditioning. The food is varied and plentiful. Our guide, Elzaan, was enthusiastic and knowledgeable, showing us all the exciting wildlife. Situated in the Sabi Sands private game reserve we heard from other guests that the wildlife sightings were better here than the adjacent main Kruger park, and being privately owned they have more control over how they run things as well as better anti poaching security.

WOW! This was my 4th (and most favorite!) safari. Game - So many excellent sightings. Frikke and Lucky are quite the team. We saw the Big 5 on our very first drive and 4 or 5 different leopards (I lost count). Accommodation - The tents are lovely and spacious. Loved the outdoor shower, the veranda and the pool area overlooking the waterhole. Perfect place to spend the hot afternoons between game drives. Food - Insanely tasty and with options to satisfy many palettes. 10/10 recommend.