Kariega Game Reserve - River Lodge

Exceptional game guide, Damon,. All the other staff were really helpful went out of their way to help.

Awesome experience thanks to our guide Damon!

The food is good , however the focus of the Kariega Riverlodge is not on food and luxury. The game drives and the location at the river are special and a highlight. Kariega plans to enlarge its territory and that is very good for game drives as well as for conservation. Some fences may be taken away and that is a further improvement. The game drives are actually in the same territory as those organized from Kariega main lodge. Our lodge war a bit far away from the restaurant and we used electric caddies to drive there- was fun. The staff is very friendly and I still remember the good service at the last dinner with a sip of Warwick wines. Our ranger, Trust, has been very knowledgeable and we enjoyed driving with him. Max six people on board of one vehicle

The interior of the river lodge is not very cosy and at springtime a bit chilly. But overall we enjoyed , so not too much to complain about

Good cases taken directly to our lodge which we got to by golf cart. (This broke down the following day and replacements lights did not work so was given a torch!)(Really!) Barbeque one evening but difficult to actually see what I was eating as the light wasn't good. Face clothes disappeared, asked for 2 replacements, 1 given, likewise mini bar wasn't stocked properly. We were told that our group had to all do the same thing during the free time between drives, yet when we went to the beach, we had people from other groups joining us. Likewise when we asked about doing a bush walk, we went with another 2 people and it was only from the main lodge, not what we'd been given to expect, which was why my mother decided not to come. There was never any canoe session which we'd also requested and was the reason we'd chosen the river lodge for the other activities between drives. There was an issue with the pool malfunctioning and making a noise on our last night which was reported but nothing done. The phone to the lodge didn't work! The only way to contact reception was by going outside, getting in the golf cart and driving up to the main lodge. Not good enough as it was horrible being so cut off. No wifi in lodges which would be better. Towels from the pool were not removed but just left after day 1, so never checked. Query Big5 as the leopard hasn't been seen for 6 months we were told.

from start to the end it was just the best time I have had on a adventure holiday every thing was 100% Thanks to all the crew at River Lodge.

A wonderful game reserve, staff extremely friendly and helpful,the game rangers knowledgable and friendly.Food excellent, room excellent. It would be hard to find a better game reserve. Saw many wonderful animals at close range.