Baluleni Safari Lodge

How amazing this place is cannot be overstated. I’ve been to many natural places of the world and Im not even exaggerating when I say this was the best 5 days of my life. I was worried the amazing reviews gave me unrealistically high expectations but Baluleni somehow surpassed my wildest dreams. The room was amazing with a stunning view of the bush and river from my veranda. Every morning I watched the baboons and monkeys come into camp while I drank my coffee on the veranda. From the first game drive out guide Tejan (sorry if I’ve spelled it wrong) was incredibly knowledgeable and told us so much about the bush as well as finding so many amazing animals. We saw a leopard, lions eating and fighting over a giraffe carcass, elephants, buffalo, loads of birds, giraffes, many species of antelope, hyenas, African wild dogs hunting a baby impala, hippo on land, crocodiles, and so much more. The food was amazing, I’d be impressed with the quality of this food in a fine dining restaurant in London, to get it in the bush was a treat. The chefs were also really personable, presenting us the menu each night. All staff in fact were amazing, Heike managed to organise a fairly last minute day trip to Kruger Park for us (I’d recommend booking this in advance as I think we got lucky) and it was incredible. The cleaning staff helped us with all of our laundry. I could go on and on about my love for this place. I already treasure these memories so much and I only left a day ago. Thank you so much to everyone at Baluleni who helped fulfil a trip I’ve dreamed of since I was 8.

What a special place. Their motto is “come as guests, leave as friends” and that was certainly our experience. The accommodations, the food, the guides, and the setting were all exceptional. The warmth of the staff and the attention to detail make you feel right at home. Our guides, Klaas and Tian, were very knowledgeable not only about the wildlife but also about the flora and the history of the area. In our open jeep, we were able to experience the animals up close but also safely. Our guides with their tracking knowledge and keen eye enabled us to see a wide variety of animals: elephants, giraffes, impalas, wildebeests, water buffalo, lions, wild dogs, hyenas, greater kudus, hippos, and more. Some of our favorite sightings were of mothers and babies, specifically the mother and baby elephants and a pride of lions (although my favorite animals overall were the Greater Kudus--what an incredible animal!). Our stay at the lodge was also enhanced by the wonderful meals and special eco-friendly toiletries available. Everyone was so kind and welcoming that we hope to able to return again one day. Please take this review as your “follow me” sign to Baluleni Lodge.

There isn’t much more we can say about Baluleni other than “we wish we did not have to leave”! We stayed for 5 days while we were travelling in South Africa and it was the highlight of our entire trip. The lodge was fantastic and our chalet was clean, beautifully decorated and felt like our little home in the bush for the week. What made the stay even better was how amazingly the lodge was run. The staff and guides went above and beyond for us, and made the experience incredible. The food was also top notch throughout the week! Heike and Andreas have built a lovely place and I highly recommend it anyone lucky enough travelling to the Kruger.

This was one of the best and most wonderful experiences of our lives. We are well seasoned travelers. The staff went way beyond expectations. The game drivers are exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable. The cooks and service staff are terrific! Even the on-site owner managers are fabulous. The villa we had was beyond even our wildest expectations. Everyone engaged actively with our curious and talkative 10-year-old. I could not possibly be more happy with this stay, the staff, the food, or experience overall!

We decided to come back to Baluleni Safari Lodge, since in 2018 we loved it. Even with a change of administration, we have rediscovered the South African atmosphere, comfort and high quality. The welcome, the cuisine, the friendliness of the staff make it once again our favorite lodge. In addition, this year, with Skye, our guide, we had incredible lions sightings and a awesome bush walk with Eugene.To top it all at the last dinner at Boma, we were treated to the singing and dancing of Momo and her friends...

Wow! My 3 friends and I had an amazing experience at Baluleni. The location is amazing for seeing animals. Good food and comfortable beds. We saw a leopard on our first day and then every animal we wanted to see. We loved all the staff, but we especially appreciated Skye for answering all of the many questions we had on the wildlife, trees, biodiversity and astronomy. He’s such an amazing guide! Highly recommend.

The experience and the treatment that my family and I received at the lodge was nothing short of amazing. The food, the rooms and the whole experience was exceptional. I would highly recommend for some time away from the city. You will get royalty treatment.

The management and staff made our stay an unforgettable experience. The game rangers went out of their way to ensure we had great animal sightings; the field game ranger who took us for a bush walk was outstandingly knowledgeable; the staff were exceptionally friendly and kind - making me feel very special n my birthday - they put their heart and soul into preparing wonderful food; the management were remarkable in making our stay fantastic. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Baluleni and congratulate Heike Stock on ensuring everything runs smoothly and happily.