Umkumbe Bush Lodge - Luxury Tented Camp

Location brilliant, generous safari time, guides wonderful, knowledgeable

This is a difficult review because the tent that we booked was cramped and located between the car park and reception. Billed as a luxury venue, some of the tents weren’t luxury. There wasn’t enough room for seating inside as the bed filled the space. The full glass frontage meant that the bed was on view to guests walking past the tent. Guests coming for game drives or visiting reception had to walk by the front of the tent, where two chairs were sited on the veranda. The only option for private relaxation during the 6 hours in between game drives would have been to lay on the bed with the curtains drawn. The first two photos show the economy tent. So as not to spoil our holiday we paid an extra 2,000 rand per night for a luxury tent. The luxury tent was absolutely gorgeous. The third photo is the luxury tent. The game drives were excellent. Charlie was a superb guide and our sightings were some of the best we’ve ever experienced. The staff were helpful, understanding and professional. The food was excellent.

If a location is described as luxurious there should be a minimum requirement for all of the accommodation. Works were being carried out whilst we were staying which closed the seating areas. Only the pool area remained available for one of the days. We were not advised of this beforehand. The fourth photo shows the area closed off for repairs.

Beautiful property and incredible safari. Makes you feel fancy. We got to spend 40 minutes with a leopard while there! Also saw all of the other big 5 except for lions. Also lots of giraffes, zebras, good birds, and other antelopes. We got to be SO close to the animals which was very very cool.

A small thing of personal preference was that it was VERY quiet even during meals. Some light South African music would have set the vibes.

We had an amazing three-night stay at Umkumbe bush Lodge. The staff were so friendly, welcoming and helpful. As there are only a few tents, they get to know your name and preferences and it feels like a home away from home. The accommodation is super clean, comfortable and exactly what you need for your visit. The common area had a wonderful pool and bar, where you can watch the wildlife pass by as you relax and unwind. The game drives start early in the morning, and it can be cold, but you are provided with warm fleece blankets as well as ponchos for when it rains. Both our guides (Pieter and Capps ) are very knowledgeable and good fun - they really look after us and engaged in conversation while on drives sharing their passion for the area. The coffee and drink stops were a highlight as well. We cannot rate this place highly enough and hope to return sometime in the future, l Thank you to everyone at Umkumbe for making this such a memorable experience and making us feel like more than just guests. Your personal touches did not go unnoticed

Amazing people and amazing place! They treat you like family and the food, omg, so good and homemade, best bobotie ever! The bed was very comfy and the facilities in general were great, also having the swimming looking out to wildlife, so nice! Highly recommended, especially staying in Sabi Sands, we got to see so many animals and super close. We will be back for sure. Thank you very much for everything.

What an experience! Arriving at Umkumbe you are greeted with the same friendly faces and feel that lasts throughout your time at the lodge. Nothing is too much trouble and everyone is always happy to see you no matter what their job is on the lodge. Of course the main attraction for this stay is the game drives, and with two drives a day you have a very good chance of ticking off all the animals on your wish list. Special shoutout to our guide, Pieter, and Steven, who ensured we had the best chance of seeing a wide range of animals, insects, views and anything else you could think of. We had 6 game drives across 4 days which we thought was a nice amount. Our tent was luxurious despite your location, and the staff ensure your room is turned down and made up at every opportunity throughout the day. The food is also of a high standard, and we really enjoyed the experience of the traditional boma where all the guests can sit around the fire before dinner is served. We were also treated to some traditional singing from the staff one evening - a real highlight! The pool and bar area is a great relaxation space, particularly after your early morning drive. There is ample space and the view from the pool to the watering hole ensures you see regular wildlife like elephants and zebras simply walking past as you chill during the day. Thank you so much for an amazing stay - it was the highlight of our trip to South Africa and I'm sure we'll be back!

Outside gym area

Breakfast was good, as was the location

Some of the evening meals could have been better