Rio Dos Elefantes River Camp

Location: No 18 Parsons, Balule Nature Reserve, Hoedspruit, za

Star Rating: 8.4 Stars

Property Type: Holiday homes

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Check-out: 10:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
• Parking
• Non-smoking rooms
• Air conditioning
• Swimming pool
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Family rooms
• BBQ facilities
• Tour desk
• Ironing service
• Packed lunches
• Private check-in/check-out
• Shared lounge/TV area
• Board games/puzzles
• Shuttle service (additional charge)
• Shared kitchen
• Outdoor furniture
• Fruits
• Shallow end
• 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
• Cashless payment available
• Fire extinguishers
• First aid kit available
• Sanitized tableware & silverware
• Contactless check-in/check-out
• Invoice provided
• Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
• Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
• Physical distancing in dining areas
• Process in place to check health of guests
• Face masks for guests available
• 24-hour security
• Broadcast Live sport events
• Free wired internet
• Self parking (surcharge)
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Airport transportation - drop-off (surcharge)
• Pool sun loungers
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Game drive nearby
• Internet access
• Games
• Housekeeping on request
• Private picnics
• Wine release events
• Reception hall
• Exercise/lap pool
• Japanese garden
• Secured parking
• Swimming nearby
• Charcoal grill
• Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
• Vegetarian menu options available
• Pool toys
• Accessible shuttle
• No accessible shuttle
• Accessible train station shuttle
• No accessible train station shuttle

Rooms Available

• Family Room with River View

  Meals can be prepared in the well-fitted kitchenette, which comes with a refrigerator, kitchenware and an electric kettle. The spacious family room provides air conditioning, a private entrance, a terrace with pool views as well as a private bathroom featuring a walk-in shower. The unit offers 4 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 5 (5 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchenette
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Private entrance
  • Electric kettle
  • Mosquito net
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Entire unit located on ground floor
  • Semi-detached
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Shallow end
  • Trash cans
  • Socket near the bed
  • Window
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Triple Room with Garden View

  Guests can make meals in the fully equipped kitchen that features a refrigerator, kitchenware and an electric kettle. The spacious triple room offers air conditioning, a private entrance, a terrace with garden views as well as a private bathroom featuring a walk-in shower. The unit offers 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Air conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Private entrance
  • Dining area
  • Electric kettle
  • Mosquito net
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Entire unit located on ground floor
  • Semi-detached
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Shallow end
  • Trash cans
  • Socket near the bed
  • Window
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Quadruple Room with River View

  The quadruple room's kitchenette, which has a refrigerator and kitchenware, is available for cooking and storing food. The spacious quadruple room features air conditioning, a private entrance, a terrace with pool views as well as a private bathroom boasting a walk-in shower. The unit has 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchenette
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Private entrance
  • Electric kettle
  • Mosquito net
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Entire unit located on ground floor
  • Semi-detached
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Shallow end
  • Trash cans
  • Socket near the bed
  • Window
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Honeymoon Cottage

  A kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, kitchenware and an electric kettle is available for cooking and storing food. The spacious double room provides air conditioning, a private entrance, a terrace with pool views as well as a private bathroom featuring a walk-in shower. The unit offers 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Air conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Private entrance
  • Dining area
  • Electric kettle
  • Mosquito net
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Entire unit located on ground floor
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Shallow end
  • Trash cans
  • Socket near the bed
  • Window
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Double Room with River View

  The well-fitted kitchenette has a refrigerator, kitchenware and an electric kettle. The spacious double room offers air conditioning, a private entrance, a terrace with pool views as well as a private bathroom boasting a walk-in shower. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 5 (5 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchenette
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Private entrance
  • Electric kettle
  • Mosquito net
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Entire unit located on ground floor
  • Semi-detached
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Shallow end
  • Trash cans
  • Socket near the bed
  • Window
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Cottage wiith River View

  The well-equipped kitchenette features a refrigerator, kitchenware and an electric kettle. The spacious triple room offers air conditioning, a private entrance, a terrace with river views as well as a private bathroom featuring a walk-in shower. The unit offers 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchenette
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Private entrance
  • Electric kettle
  • Mosquito net
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Entire unit located on ground floor
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Shallow end
  • Trash cans
  • Socket near the bed
  • Window
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

Guest Reviews

• Sandrine (9/5): Expérience inoubliable - Accueil formidable, chambre spatieuse, guide safari au top! Une aventure inoubliable ! Rien tout était très bien
• Rahul (9/5): Absolutely amazing with kind staff and gorgeous facilities - The staf was very kind and welcoming. The location is well situated and you truly feel at ease. You feel at home and the lodge itself is amazing😍 There are lights that the facility has to spot wildlife from the balcony The lodge didn’t have a lock. Everything went well, but it would still have been nice to lock your valuables away. Also no wash soap and handsoap in the lodge and supermarkets are quite far away.
• Axel (10/5): -
• Evah (7/5): - The host and the stuff was awesome. Great service. Very attentive. The breakfast, was not what I expected. Very disappointed.
• rees (7/5): -
• Aude (9/5): - Hôtel au bord de la rivière Olifantes avec pleins de singes dans les arbres. Grand jardin avec piscine. Bonne literie. Très bon repas. Agnès nous a super bien accueilli. Mention spéciale pour Sippo. Les safaris et surtout l'expérience du bushwalk avec Adèle De Beer. Une fois dans la Balule reserve, un peu difficile d'accéder seul à l'hôtel, heureusement Sippo nous a guidé.
• fluglehrer (10/5): - Die Unterkunft liegt direkt am Fluss. Bereits bei der Ankunft begrüßte uns ein Elephant am Ufer. Die Besitzerin Agner kümmerte sich ganz lieb um uns und gab uns viele Tipps. Jeden Tag fuhr sie uns zum Gate, da wir keinen 4x4 Antrieb am Mietwagen hatten und durch das Wetter die Straße daher für uns nicht befahrbar war. Ganz lieben Dank für den schönen Aufenthalt. Wir werden Dich gerne weiter empfehlen. Das Wetter - leider. Alle Eingänge zum Kruger-Nationalpark waren daher geschlossen. Trotzdem gab es von Agnes gute Tipps, was wir trotzdem unternehmen konnten.
• Berangere (9/5): -
• Coertzen (9/5): - The people was amazing and helpfull.. the animals but most of all, nature.. so peacefull.. The self accommodation did not have a fridge, would have loved that to keep our drink cold.
• Audrey (7/5): - Beautiful setting and friendly staff
• Franciscus (4/5): Accomodation is old; Beware that host will add VAT to your bill (=+15%) on everything incl stay. - Breakfast was simple, location is great with riverview & wildlife passing by. There are no signs to get from the gate to the lodge, which is a 45 min. drive with lots of ways to get lost (which we did). There should be a better way to handle this and communicate this to guests (e.g. send a map with indications how to reach the lodge). The accomodation is old and worn and needs a touch up. Pool needed a clean up; we didn't use this; bathroom = so-so; Staff friendliness (ranger & host): OK-ish. Note that the host adds 15% VAT (tax) onto your bill on everything, including the cost of stay. This is nowhere mentioned and the price as advertised on Booking.com therefore is NOT correct (it will come out at least 15% higher). This looks (very) incorrect to me. On the day of leave we asked to open the electrical fence for us at 0600 as we were leaving early to go the Kruger park. They unfortunately they forgot this (can happen but is very sloppy as it IS an electrical fence), so we almost drove into it and had to open it ourselves (how safe it that?). Game drives were OK: expensive, but this is to be expected. Saw some good wildlife, so quite happy about that.
• Sanne (10/5): Avontuur en rust - Precies wat je zou verwachten in de Bush ; het heeft karakter, het voelt als avontuur en de staff is er echt voor je. De geluiden, de dieren om je heen is echt een ervaring die je nooit vergeet Nothing
• Kelly (9/5): -
• Elize (9/5): - They even have a private Ranger to accompany you.
• Robbie (10/5): -
• Cobus (10/5): - Beautiful, Relaxing, Friendly Leaving
• Rut (10/5): - What a surrounding, near the olifantsrivier. Agnes was the perfect host. The rooms were very big and nice and clean. Andthe food was delicious. Fresh, homecooked. I higly recommend Nothing
• Richard (9/5): Geweldig - Ligging aan de rivier. Op de veranda zittend lopen de giraffen en impala’s voorbij en soms ook olifanten. Geweldige host en spannende game drives. Je zit midden tussen de big 5.
• Rick (9/5): Prachtige dagen gehad op een prachtige locatie. - Prachtige ligging aan de rivier, zicht op de dieren die langs de rivier lopen. Zeer vriendelijk en attent personeel, uitstekend eten. Om in het Krugerpark te komen ligt het wat ver van de doorgaande weg af.
• Yoann (8/5): Agréable et endroit très agréable et reposant - L’emplacement est idéal pour les amoureux des animaux. Nous avons pu observer hippopotames et éléphants… Le logement est jolie est agréable. Le seul petit bémol est la douche est un peu capricieuse pour garder l’eau chaude.
• Niels (9/5): Unieke beleving in het greater Krüger! - Unieke beleving midden in de natuur. Wij hebben vanuit onze lodge o.a. nijlpaarden en krokodillen gezien 😁 De kamer was top, wij hebben heerlijk geslapen en fijn kunnen douchen (die iedere keer voor ons warm gestookt werd). Heerlijk ontbijt en diner en Agnes is een zeer vriendelijke gastvrouw! Wij deden een bush walk en game drive, beide zeer bijzondere ervaringen. De weg ernaartoe is uitdagend, hier moet je wel op voorbereid zijn. Wij hadden een SUV als huurauto, dit was zeker te doen maar je moet wel kunnen rijden. Zeker niet doen met een lage auto! In het Krügerpark adviseren ze voor een dergelijke weg een 4x4.
• Dennis (1/5): The first bad stay experience of our life time. - The distance to the location is not what is expressed on booking.com, breakfast was not pleasing, area next to the river with a beautiful morning breeze, owners dog entering kitchen and disturbing customers. The owner shouting at customers, poor customer orientation, pricing do not match what is shown on booking.com, room was cold, air conditioners not functioning, no privacy on the rooms with kids along sleeping with parents
• Cornél (8/5): Lovely catered bush brake-away - The location and hospitality Expected it to be more self catering and private braai area
• Steyn (9/5): Nice wild atmosphere - Location goog swell as food
• Troos (9/5): Superb -
• Palesa (5/5): Hoedspruit Friendcation - I liked that elephants, game and giraffe roamed around freely. We were initially placed in a room called Nkadla and it looked like something from a horror movie. Fortunately the owner moved us to a better room with views of the river at no additional cost. We had the same breakfast for 3 consecutive days. The rooms were also not properly cleaned during our trip.
• Roidah (10/5): Every think is good - Every think is perfect Nothing all was good
• Pamela (4/5): Disappointing - Good location Furnishings are old & extremely shabby. Linen wellworn. Breakfast offering meager- no bacon available, no cereals or yogurt offered. Toast is chewy & cold. Orange juice watered down. Dinner expensive by local standards - I received a discounted meal, but even then the price I paid for a reheated leftover unnoteworthy beef stew was exerbitant high. No desert included in the price. Toilet in need of proper cleaning. Overall impression of staff was their expectations of being tipped for just doing their jobs. Despite the beautiful location, I will certainly not be returning there.
• Schoeman (10/5): Exceptional -
• Pieter (9/5): Superb - Everything
• 123reddog (7/5): Good - Piece and quite Easier way to travel to main building
• Rashayi (10/5): Rio Dos Elefantes- Excellent - Great location if you want to connect with nature and have some peace & quiet. The ambience of the facilities blended well with nature There is not a thing to take away from this gem
• Fritz (9/5): Superb -
• Charlotte (10/5): Verblijf dat je niet mag missen! - Agnes is an amazing woman. She's ona of a kind. We have had an amazing experience during our stay.. were welcomed most hospital by Gotchi. Diner was excellent and exact what we needed with fresh homemade food. We did a game reserve with Elias which was more than special. We actually wouldn't leave this place. Thanks for making our stay so special I cheers to you Agnes and staff and hope one Day we May Come back, perhaps just to see the leopard😉😘 Only the fact that not all animals passed our room 😂
• Emson (8/5): Very good -
• Michael (5/5): Passable - Tranquil, But no cooking facilities in the unit The road to the lodge is Very bad
• Ahmed (8/5): The place is amazing, but not the dirt road to reach there - The room and virw The dirt road is far and not good to drive with small car, there were additional fees at the private park gate
• Agnelli (10/5): Exceptional - Great site. Warming welcome. Plaesant stay. Deliciious food .
• Alice (10/5): Exceptional - Superb area. Excellent service. Remember to take ALL the food and coffee you need, Hoedspruit is quite a distance away. Fortunately Judith helped as out in our hour of need! Lots of elephants and other animals walking around...absolute bliss! Not an area for those who want to go on walks...
• Kevin (7/5): Good - Food was adequate, hosts left you alone. Room was basic and clean.
• Sina (8/5): Very good -
• Silvistorm (10/5): Exceptional - It was totally beautiful in its entirety, so peaceful and watching the Elephant community was just amazing. Agnes who runs this beautiful Lodge couldn't do enough for us. The accommodation was so spacious and clean. We can't wait to return. Nothing at all
• Raquel (8/5): Very good -
• Bafana (6/5): Mr - The place is nice and quiet The price where increased from original price and our rooms where charged without us. They advise wrong rooms
• Cordier (4/5): Disappointing -
• Ruan (6/5): Not bad at all, the Owner is friendly and i think her food made up it was absolutely perfect!!! - Te view over the river was nice. Liked the inside of the place The photos shown and the actual view of the place was like day and night difference, the road to the lodge is terrible like in poor condition well very poor conditions.
• Inez (9/5): A bit run down, but with amazing view and a really sympathetic host - The amazing view over the river and a lot of wildlife on the property such as baboons, impala’s, vervet monkeys. The host Agnes made us feel really welcome. We also very much liked the game drive with Gert, who really knows his job! The property is a bit worn out and could do with an upgrade, renewing cushions on the seats and loungers by the pool… is an improvement one could make without great costs. No possibility to make coffee in the room. Pretty basic stay, but more than good enough for a stay in the middle of the bush
• Jolanta (10/5): Most impressive experience - Rio Dos Elefantes River Camp was and is beyond expectations. Everything was outstanding. Firstly, the location where you can see herds of elephants in the river or close to your accommodation, enjoy its remoteness, genuine nature and all its sounds. The drive from the main road to the camp is equal to a safari (especially if you get lost :) ). Each day we saw many different animals around. The camp also offered excellent and stylish accommodation, delicious and plentiful food. And most importantly, our gratitude to Agnes, the owner of this property. You are the spirit of Rio Dos Elefantes and your presence was much appreciated. Rio Dos Elefantes River Camp overall was the most impressive out of three areas/lodges in SA our group stayed during this 2-week trip. It was a never to forget experience in itself. -
• Kgaugelo (7/5): I really enjoyed unwinding in the bushes and relaxing in nature. - The staff is super friendly and helpful. Vincent went above to ensure our stay was wonderful. The hostess Agnes as well went above to help us when needed. The food was horrible. No variety in the breakfast menu, same food for 2 days.
• Meyer (10/5): Exceptional - Living close by animals. Peace and quite Nothing. Everything was excellent!
• Micheal (10/5): Exceptional -
• Kevin (8/5): Value for the money paid - Great location Restaurant area could do with a good dusting. Not sure about the TV in the Restaurant, although it was showing wildlife programs at least.
• Klapwijk (3/5): As much as we enjoyed the state - Location is absolutely beautiful and the potential for this lodge is fantastic,sadly the maintenance is lacking and is starting to show. Attention to detail,room had no side lamps, no waste bins in room, no facility to make tea,no small fridge,tatty curtains and very dusty !
• Lize (9/5): Extraordinary setting with beautiful nature surroundings. - Location, surroundings, bush, naturs No signal and at the time the wifi was stolen by monkeys 🙃
• Geir (10/5): Exceptional - The location was perfect and wild. Spectacular view of the river. So full of wildlife. Agnes and here crew was a great host.
• Jaco (10/5): We are definitely returning here. - We enjoyed several sightings from the deck of the room.
• Noah (7/5): Good -
• Anne (8/5): A wonderful place to relax and enjoy nature - Agnes is a wonderful host and very helpful and friendly staff. It felt like home away from home.
• Camilla (6/5): Wonderful location but financial transparency could be improved - The location is stunning. There were unexplained charges and when I requested an explanation and breakdown/tax invoice, this was refused. (I fully expect an abusive reply from the owner as every criticism seems to result in this.)
• Gerla (10/5): Exceptional - Greetings by Agnes, Scarlett and two elephants passing by the river. Great meals. What a heavenly place!
• Aluwani (6/5): Pleasant -
• Dylan (5/5): Passable -
• Stefanie (10/5): Absolute gem in Greater Kruger - What an absolute gem in Greater Kruger. Thoroughly enjoyed the piece and quiet. Agnes was super welcoming and made sure I had the best stay. I will definitely be back!
• Hanze (8/5): We stayed at Rio Dos for two nights and felt like we are at home. Thank you one more time! This place is directly locate -
• Gill (10/5): Exceptional - Very Comfortable and its like home from home with excellent service and stunning location on the river.... There was nothing not to like...
• De (10/5): Good value. Excellent venue - Everything .
• Essa (7/5): Good -
• Vorster (8/5): Very good -
• Anonymous (10/5): I loved it, I will be back for a longer stay - the elephants, views and hospitality n/a
• Meyer (6/5): Pleasant - The bushcamp feel that the place has. The aircon in the unit wasn't very effective. I didn't feel safe that they couldn't give me a key to lock my chalet door at night.. I think they definately should have stated on the website that the treacherous roads need a 4x4 vehicle. But most of all I felt deceived that they didn't state clearly on the website that there would be 2 extra charges: a gate fee of R300 that MUST be paid in CASH. And then at the camp they charged me an extra R264 that they claimed I still owed. I have no idea why. I feel treated unfairly and I don't think I'll be returning.
• Manoko (8/5): We really enjoyed the place everything was in order the breakfast was also good - I like everything about the Rio dos Elephant.rooms were clean we really enjoyed the breakfast Nothin everything was good
• Ingmer (9/5): best place for safari-minded people! on the river across there is so much game, we heard lions and hippos at night and s - the host Agnes and personnel are so lovely, caring and fun people. they know a lot about the animals around the place and are telling you all about it! very welcome and warm people, instant living room vibes. The food is very nice!
• Vorster (8/5): Very enjoyable and friendly host. - Good balanced breakfast.Beautiful place on the banks of the river . Swimming pools was covered with leaves but mainly because of wind blowing nice place will go again.
• Eugene (10/5): Very nice and relaxing place, the service was excellent, we were treated like we were the only guest - Exceptional N/a
• Felix (10/5): Heartwarming stay! 😊 - Agnes provided a cozy yet full of fun and energy atmosphere during our stay and made us feel like we were visiting family. The rooms are spacious, food is delicious and you can spot animals at the river or go for a game drive during the day. In the evening, we sat together at the bonfire, enjoyed a bottle of wine and had dinner together. Would fully recommend! lots of love anne & felix
• Jaco (9/5): We had a super stay in a beautiful setting with a very warm and welcoming host -
• Stavros (6/5): nice place could become much better - the location next to the river and the size of room and restaurant the quality and variety of breakfast and the lack of animals at the game drive, although priced the same with other big five game reserves.
• Ingrid (7/5): Good - That booking.com debitted R1605 instead of the R1380 that was on their website. How do you reach time to sort this out???

Photos