Paradise River Lodge

Location: Ndlovumzi nature reserve, Hoedspruit, za

Star Rating: 9.1 Stars

Property Type: Lodges

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 02:00 PM - 07:00 PM

Check-out: 10:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Parking
• Non-smoking rooms
• Swimming pool
• Terrace
• Family rooms
• BBQ facilities
• Ironing service
• Private check-in/check-out
• Board games/puzzles
• Shuttle service (additional charge)
• Concierge service
• Shared kitchen
• Outdoor furniture
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Guest rooms disinfected between stays
• Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
• Physical distancing rules followed
• Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
• Fire extinguishers
• First aid kit available
• Invoice provided
• Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
• Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
• Physical distancing in dining areas
• Face masks for guests available
• Free wired internet
• Self parking (surcharge)
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Airport transportation - drop-off (surcharge)
• Beach umbrellas
• Pool sun loungers
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Game drive nearby
• Internet access
• Housekeeping on request
• Private picnics
• Wine release events
• Exercise/lap pool
• Japanese garden
• Secured parking
• Swimming nearby
• Charcoal grill
• Accessible shuttle
• No accessible shuttle
• Accessible train station shuttle
• No accessible train station shuttle

Rooms Available

• Family Room with Bath

  The family room offers a private entrance, a tea and coffee maker, a terrace with garden views as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath. The unit has 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 6 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Private entrance
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Toilet paper
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Sofa bed
  • Pool towels
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Socket near the bed
  • Hearing accessible

• Classic Double Room

  The spacious double room provides a private entrance, a tea and coffee maker, a terrace with garden views as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower. The unit offers 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Private entrance
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Toilet paper
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Sofa bed
  • Pool towels
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Socket near the bed
  • Hearing accessible

• Comfort Double Room

  The spacious double room features a private entrance, a tea and coffee maker, a terrace with garden views as well as a private bathroom boasting a shower. The unit has 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Private entrance
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Toilet paper
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Sofa bed
  • Pool towels
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Socket near the bed
  • Hearing accessible

• Family triple room

  The spacious triple room features a private entrance, a tea and coffee maker, a terrace with garden views as well as a private bathroom boasting a shower. The unit has 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Private entrance
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Toilet paper
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Pool towels
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Socket near the bed
  • Hearing accessible

• Economy Triple Room

  The triple room offers a private entrance, a tea and coffee maker, a terrace with garden views as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower. The unit offers 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Private entrance
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Toilet paper
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Pool towels
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Socket near the bed
  • Hearing accessible

Guest Reviews

• Gitte (10/5): Navnet passer perfekt til stedets beliggenhed og atmosfære. - Beliggenheden ved floden er fantastisk. Hjælpsomme værter der svarede på mange spørgsmål. God forplejning. Poolen har en perfekt beliggenhed ved floden og dejlig skygge.
• Cecilia (10/5): Paradijs op Aarde - Wat een paradijs op aarde! Het is echt een magische plek waar we genoten hebben van de gastvrijheid van Max & Mariska. De fantastische wandelingen, het uitzicht op de Olifantsrivier en het heerlijke en goed verzorgde eten (echte Afrikaanse gerechten). Na de relatieve drukte van Santa Lucia en Swaziland was dit een plek om weer volledig tot rust te komen.
• Branko (10/5): Natural & relaxing luxury - Hidden gem of non-chalant luxury in a natural setting and inside a nature reserve (we saw Gnus and Zebras on the road). The owners are a friendly , open minded and pleasant couple who made our stay special and also helped us to better organise our incoming days & safaris in the NP Kruger. Dinner (brai) and breakfast where tasty and high quality. Rooms very clean and beautiful.
• Nina (10/5): Comfy, beautiful rooms in a quiet location on the river - Beautiful and comfortable rooms and gardens. Good food and friendly hosts. Very tranquil and relaxing. Nothing. It’s was great.
• Portia (7/5): Accommodation 10/10. Food 3/10 - It’s pure serenity and being around nature is the best We ran out of water, the food had no varieties and the were too salty especially the breakfast.
• Maake (8/5): Very good -
• Arturo (10/5): Exceptional - We absolutely loved the location. Rooms, pool, outdoor dinning area, braai, outdoor shower... all surrounded by nature and the sound of the river. Eventhough it's a bit far from Kruger Park, it's totally worth it. And the drive doesn't feel that far anyway. Max also made us feel at home, inspite of some difficulties he encountered with unexpected shortage of personnel. The game drive with him was also very nice. We learned from him especially about birds. And he even sent us fantastic photos he took during our drive. A plus we didn't expect! Overall, a great experience in Paradise!
• Ms (7/5): Not bad... - The host was amazing. The place was serene. Love the sound of the river when sleeping. The food wasn't that great. The units weren't that clean, the dust in cupboards when one opens. The units look old and the floors were dirty.
• Enock (8/5): Very good -
• Butini (9/5): Superb -
• Els (9/5): Superb - The surroundings, hospitality and food exceeded expectations. Peaceful and a good place to rest. Max and Maris are excellent hosts. Self drive on the lodge, saw lots of wildlife even on night drive. Perfect for small or big groups getaway. 80km from Orpen gate. Curtains can not close.
• Olga (10/5): Exceptional - The Chef went extra mile in meeting our special dietary needs and the braai was excellent, Maris was super welcoming and make our stay comfortable. We felt like we are part of the family The checkout time of 10:00 is early as most of establishment Chek out is 11:00
• Strydom (10/5): Recommended to everone! go and experience Paradise - this is Paradise - exactly what the name said and the host's absolutely did everything to keep us happy, amazing food, welcome glass of wine. Just Paradise!! Nothing!
• Karine (10/5): A magical place, well worth visiting. Max and Maris are lovely and do all they can to make your stay memorable, while be - The location is a bit remote, but worth the 10K of gravel road since it is really amazing by the river The room are awesome, with both an inside and outside shower, and a nice terrasse to chill out. The braii (BBQ) was delicious. So was the breakfast. Both meals were taken by the river… accompanied by the sound of water. Nothing, except the word of caution about snakes/scopions. I hate them and freaked out, even though I didn’t see any (and believe me, I watched everywhere carefully!). This being said, I am grateful to Max for being transparent about things that could ruin your stay.
• Authelia (10/5): They were too friendly and making sure their guests are happy - Cool and quite and accommodative Nothing
• Yann (10/5): Heavenly place and unforgettable stay ! - We were lucky to spend 3 nights in Paradise ! The place is amazingly peaceful and the surrounding nature (the river, the reserve) is breathtaking. Maris and Max are so friendly that you will have the feeling you knew them for a long time. The half board booking is a great formula since the chef's really concerned with various and delightful breakfasts and dinners. We enjoyed a sundowner and a whole day in Kruger with Max who's the man if you want to learn about SA flora and fauna! Warmly recommanded place ! A few minutes of dirt road will be what it takes to get to Paradise !
• Thendo (10/5): Exceptional -
• Ntombhi (6/5): Pleasant - Its location is great, it is quiet, Natura and has calming effects. . It has a nice swimming pool and wifi freely available. The staff ate understanding people the y make you feel warm Because there is no TV in the rooms. You have nothing else to do when u don't feel like swimming
• Khutso (10/5): Exceptional - The scenery, the nature, the hosts Brilliant little getaway spot
• Martin (9/5): Superb - Great stay at the Paradise River Lodge. Perfect start: a girafe was near the Entrance Gate for our arrival! Our host was great, full of advice and knowlegde about wildness! Go there!
• Tumelo (9/5): The perfect getaway. - What I loved the most was the outside shower, Wow the property offers a perfect opportunity for one to experience the wild life and just be at peace with no other sound but the sound of the beautiful Mother Nature. The only thing that I can raise is that the rooms do get bit cold so if only they could offer more blankets or a heating system.
• Paul (10/5): What a gem! Paradise River Lodge's friendly hosts, Max and Maris, made us feel at home right away! - - Fantastic location on the river - Lots of activities , wildlife to see in the reserve - Relaxing atmosphere
• Arend (10/5): Great location on the river, wonderful room, all with charming and knowledgable hosts with great activities - The oasis of green on the banks of the river was awesome. The room, with outdoor shower, and view of the river, was beautifully styled, clean and welcoming. Max and Maris were gracious hosts, organizing a wonderful sundowner drive with breathtaking views and great wildlife spotting. Max clearly knows his stuff. The activity was rounded of with an authentic braai as the water rushed by. Nothing to note.
• Leon (10/5): Margreet en Léon - We had an amazing time. Max is an experienced tour guide with exceptional birding skills. Max and Mariska did everything to make our stay at their lodge unforgettable. We will definitely come back. No comments.
• Nomthandazo (10/5): Just beautiful! - This lodge was indeed a little paradise with a very calming environment. I loved the room with the outdoor shower and the experience of being around the animals. The sound of the river was very calming at night. My partner and I were very impressed with how amazing it looked and really enjoyed our stay. The place even looked better than the pictures displayed.The couple that hosted us was friendly and very welcoming. I am definitely planning to come back again and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to spend quite time around nature on a beautiful, comfortable lodge.
• Karin (10/5): Pure relaxation in nature. - Our second stay at Paradise River Lodge. Accommodation is provided in spacious suites. The suites boast stunning views over the Olifants River which can be enjoyed via the privat deck. Wunderful place to stay and see you next time 😁 Everything was oké 👍
• Motsiri (10/5): Exceptional - The location is amazing, the sound of the river flowing was cherry on top. It was paradise indeed. The place was great for shutting down and focusing on the nature.The owners are lovely and friendly people.
• Shanna (10/5): Paradise!! - The pictures don't do justice to the actual beauty of the place, it's a true paradise! The hosts are very friendly and will do anything to make you feel comfortable and at home. From the rooms to the outdoor kitchen and outdoor facilities, every detail was in place. A perfect place to stay for a couple of days or even weeks and just relax and enjoy nature.
• Lashley (10/5): Just the perfect little oasis for people like myself who need an escape to the bush - Paradise river lodge was exactly the experience I was looking for. I stayed here in order to escape the busyness and hassle of the city and found myself truly in the heart of the African bush surrounded by nature and the sound of the flowing olifants river. Max was a fantastic host who quickly catered to my requests and made me feel at home and looked after while also giving me the privacy I needed to connect with nature and enjoy my stay. The braai area was a massive hit for me; the braai is placed with an undisturbed view of the river and so I managed to see a hippo plodding along the opposing bank while cooking myself a meal as the sun was going down! Truly a memory I will cherish. I also took the opportunity to do some walking around the property where I was lucky enough to encounter giraffes, wildebeest, waterbuck and other animals while on foot. I was honestly happy with my entire experience
• Catharina (10/5): Great stay on the river, wunderful location!!!!! - Had a great stay at this lovely riverside lodge. We were welcomed by the friendly owner Max and then drank a glass of wine by the Olifants River. A perfect place to relax after our journey through the Kruger Park, a pure relaxation! They offer game drives, walks and day trips to the Kruger Park, Mariepskop and Panoramaroute. The owner knows a lot about birds and is an enthusiastic bird guide. That made the game drive a valuable experience. After the game drive, the owner provided a tasty braai and a beer. LOVE it. The swimming pool is centrally in the lodge and there are sun loungers and chairs for relaxing. The bungalows are nice to stay. Everything you need is available. You will see us again in June. Then we come for a week with our family. Thanks for your hospitality and see you again. Nothing, we have completely relaxed ;-)
• Geramie (10/5): Like the name says, this place is truly Paradise! - Everything! We had one of our best stays in South Africa at the Paradise River Lodge. The location right beside the river is truly special, and being able to see hippos and other wildlife while drinking and eating was spectacular! It actually feels like Paradise here - the name is soooo suiting. Our room was really nice and the bed was super comfy - it was also super private with the way everything is set up here. Regina the housekeeper was also really nice during the stay and made sure everything was perfect. The new owner Max was also amazing! He cooked us a beautiful Potjie Pot for dinner, as well as took us out for a safari in his Game viewer where we saw Giraffes, sable, many interesting birds and lots of other cool wildlife up close. Max is a trained field guide and his knowledge definitely shows in his safari trips. The coolest thing though was Max's insane birding skills - I'm definitely not a birder, but I might be now after spending some time with Max and hearing his passion about birds! He was able to identify and explain all of the birds we saw during our stay, plus tell us about other places in SA and the world to see amazing bird life. I will definitely will be coming back to Paradise River Lodge whenever I am in Hoedspruit, it's a hidden gem. Thank you Max fo There wasn't really anything we didn't like at Paradise River Lodge, keep doing what you're doing guys!
• Lúcio (1/5): The Owner with what seems to be little to no knowledge of the hospitality industry. -
• Jaco (10/5): truly a paradise! - After booking I received a personal message from Max with the route description. What a beautiful location on the river! the rooms were clean. Did a nice game drive where I saw a lot. I'll definitely return. None
• Sandra (9/5): Fantastic venue, full self catering facilities available , awesome sightings & great Host . - The lodge is situated next to a beautiful river, all the facilities were there for the self catering experience. The host Max was really amazing and extremely knowledgeable on the game drives , fantastic sightings, Sable, Giraffe , various bucks, and more. if you are a bird fanatic this is the place to be and Max has over 650 birds claimed already with his knowledge. This is a remote place away from the city and exactly the place to experience the calmness of the bush. highly recommend this to anyone and everyone, we had a beautiful stay. its extremely safe, I was even able to go have a 5 km run as a lady and no issues at all. The lodge was even prepared for load shedding with a bed side portable flashlights too, all the details were there . We arranged to have breakfast made by the host before hand, which was a full English breakfast to full standard. The host Max even recommended good outings and tours around the area for us. this is a place we will definitely go back too again and again. Perfect getaway . We had no complaints, however there was a couple there that complained about things that are not true, firstly complained about the gravel road, however arrived in a low suspension car that cant drive off a tar road ? this is a game lodge after all .. 2ndly they did not arrange for breakfast to be made before hand (as its a self catering stay ) and when the host tried to accommodate with things he had ( which weren't frozen) given 20 min to prepare , they still complained . they also were upset that the host wouldn't take them out to town to buy alcohol ( as again they had not brought stuff for the self catering and couldn't drive their own car) yet complained . Very unfair and unnecessary the way they spoke to the host ( and we were there in hearing distance to witness) . in the end I read the review now, which are not true and the statement to hide behind color is something which is unacceptable considering South African has grown past this factor and everyone is treated equally . these guest left liquor packets and empty bottles around the fire as well as put all the dirty dishes in a communal place that we then washed as we felt embarrassed for them . Perhaps a bush game lodge holiday is not for them, however to use this tactic and to negatively score the lodge is of poor taste and not a true reflection of what Paradise River Lodge is. I really would urge Bookings.com to please verify statements like these before allowing the false negative score .
• Mapula (1/5): IT WAS JUST A DISASTER - Tge river View There is no disclaimer here regarding the gravel and huge humps to the lodge. After booking, the lodge responded after an hour or so m There is no house keeping staff. There was no towels and toilet paper we had to ask for towels and we brought in our own toilet paper. The lodge seemed so unprepared for guests. The hospitality was very bad for us on the second day. Max Van Waasdijk had an attitude and spent most of his time with other guests not sure if it’s because of our skin Color. He advised English breakfast will be served at R150 , in the morning he didn’t even have bacon . He made a burnt toast with egg and sausage no tomatoes nothing . I took pictures of same. On the 31st he told us later that he is leaving we will be left alone.. with no security or anyone in the lodge . Linen was not changed , the kitchen has no microwave we had to ask other guests to warm food for us in their room. We asked for a Braaipack however they only had pork and wors pack so we ended up going out to buy meat upon our checkout Max demanded the R150 for the braaipack that we didn’t use . He said the fact that it went out of the freezer to a normal refrigerator we must pay for that. The previous night we asked for firelighters in case it rains and we must start the fire again. We sat on the fire from 19:00 to 20:50. Upon the checkout Max demanded we pay for firelighters because he had to take them out of the room although they were not used.We just had to make the most out of it but we were so unhappy.

Photos