The last 3,5km from the entrance gate to the lodge are pretty adventurous, but once you are there, you will enjoy stunning views of the dam and green hills. We enjoyed the tranquility - a perfect place, if you just want to relax. You can order food, which they bring to your place. But we decided for self catering, as the kitchen is fully equipped (from stove to microwave and fridge). WiFi was good and we loved the terrace for the views! Driving to the gate in the mornings we saw some antilopes, many warthogs and a herd of buffalos.

Actually no complaints. The only thing was, that the chairs at the dining table on the terrace are too low to be able to eat comfortably 😅

Have you ever heard the sound of silence. It's priceless! It happened this past Saturday when I was left alone in the main lodge reading my John Grisham novel. I put it down for a bit and heard... nothing. That's my most cherished memory of our stat at African Safari, especially coming from the bustle of this busy lifestyle that we lead The staff were AMAZING! Dean, our host, was always close by to assist when needed. We had a braai Saturday evening. Dean arranged for our meat, spices, plates, and cutlery to be arranged neatly for us. He even started the fire for us!!! Abongile ( I think) our waiter for the other meals always a smile and served us impeccably. Don't get me started about the views. What a wow! The river and greenery just calmed me whenever I was on the verandah (which was a lot). The giraffes greeted us whenever we drove in. Warthog were a regular feature as well. Oh, and the river views! I definitely have to give them another mention. Thanks again, Dean and your staff, for an amazing time at your lodge. We're definitely going back!

The main lodge dies not have a parking place nearby, like the other lodges. We had to park our car a short distance from the lodge and going out at night to fetch something from the car was daunting.

The African Safari Lodge surpassed all of our expectations and truly rounded off a memorable South African holiday. The rooms were superb and our view was spectacular, with only the wildlife to fall asleep to at night. They have plenty of activities to boot, I would recommend the game drive, even as a small reserve there was plenty to see and Mike shared a wealth of knowledge on the animals and plants around the reserve. Gift, the resident chef, served superbly tasty dishes up throughout the day and was always happy to help with any special needs. We did two fishing trips, again with Mike and found it so relaxing. The car ports are all undercover. A special mention to Dean who did all he could to ensure our stay was memorable, a larger than life character but always so happy, as were all the staff.

To get to the lodge there is roughly a 5km track. Wide enough for cars, however low clearance cars may struggle just a little. That said Deans Mercedes Coupe made it up there so it is entirely possible.

I loved everything about this place. Firstly it exceeded my expectations in soo many ways. The actual place is even nicer than the photos. Dean and Gift greeted us as we arrived and honestly treated us as royalty! They were absolutely amazing. They made us feel comfortable and at home from the word go. We literally felt like we were staying with family. They totally went out for us in every way possible. Gift the chef cooked us up a delicious breakfast and I can honestly say that the steak at supper was one of the best I've ever had.( oh and let's not forget those veggies......mouthwatering) Something came up and we came back late the one night and they stayed up waiting for us to prepare our meal as we arrived .....which of course we by no means expected that from them, and yet they insisted. The lodge is about 25 min from Grahamstown so we were concerned if we went out to a party that we wouldn't be able to drive back if we had a drink or two. "No problem" Dean said I will take you, call me when you ready and I will come fetch you.....honestly who does that? Family only does that. Oh and then Dean took us for a boat ride down the river, cocktails, sunsets and a quick explanation about the dam and the animals and plants around it. Was soo interesting. We saw buck, warthogs, eagles and there's zebras, rhinos and giraffes and lots more animals.What an experience. I went for a swim in the dam everyday, the water was soo clean not only could I see the fish clearly, I could see the colours and patterns on them . Well all I have left to say is that I never expected to find this hidden gem in the middle of Grahamstown. At the end of the day we were just there for a school polo tournament, but now that I have discovered this lodge which was soo reasonably priced , I will definitely be back.....I kept saying upon waking up to the most beautiful view from our bedroom......my heart is full.

The only thing i missed was a ceiling fan ontop of the bed, in my room which they said they had already bought and were installing soon . And there was however a portable fan in the room.

Excellent location overlooking the River. We stayed in the Kudu Room and it had such amazing views. We did the River Cruise with Dean and it was really awesome to see Water Buffalo in the river and walking through the forest. Gift also made some really fantastic meals for us and Lungi accommodated myself and my partner for massages, despite it being really late. The views from the veranda were also really amazing and my only regret was not to spend more time there. I'm actually at another place in Port Alfred right now wishing I was still at the African Safari Lodge!

Aircon would be really great in the room but the weather was also a lot hotter than usual.

We loved everything about our stay – the peaceful atmosphere, the beautiful views right from the bed, the private terrace, and the option to go canoeing. The lodge was spotless, well-maintained, and felt like the perfect mix of comfort and nature.

There was honestly nothing I didn’t like. The staff were absolutely wonderful – so friendly, welcoming, and always going out of their way to make sure we had the best experience. Their warmth made the whole stay even more special.

The River suite was absolutely beautiful with a little fire place for braais or just relaxing, a nice spacious and very clean room as well as a decently equipped kitchen. The lodge also has a nice garden area and terrace. The lodge is fairly remote and very quiet with just the sounds of the birds and wildlife moving through. The breakfast was delicious and served either at the main lodge or at the suite. The dinner was also delicious and both meals lovingly prepared. The view of the stars at night was also unbelievable.

It would have been nice to have gone on a game drive but this was not possible as, understandably, the vehicle had been lost to heavy rains. This did not impair the experience as the hosts communicated their apologies and did their best. We still saw loads of game just driving up to the lodge!

The location was superb! We had magnificent views of the large Settler dam, with plenty of wildlife around. We even had a small duiker buck outside our unit, on my birthday. Fay even baked a cake for the occasion. Very special! It is a very secure property and is well managed by Dean Meintjies, Gift(chef) and Fay along with her husband. They were all exceptionally friendly and considerate and were very hands on at all times. They offer a variety of things to do, such as 2 hour game drives and boat cruises etc. If you are looking for a quite getaway and some "me time", then i highly recommend this lodge for your next trip. We are looking forward to our next visit to African Safari Lodge.

No issues at all.

Our stay at African Safari Lodge was an absolute delight! Dean Gift and Lungi, the fantastic staff, made our experience truly memorable with their friendly and helpful nature. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Faye, who went above and beyond to make our stay even more special. Her assistance in changing our booking from a room to self-catering at no additional cost showcased the exceptional customer service that sets African Safari Lodge apart. The lodge's serene location, surrounded by the soothing sounds of birds and overlooking Settlers Dam, provided the perfect backdrop for relaxation. The highlight was witnessing the African Fish eagle up-close, a photographer's dream come true! The accommodations were comfortable and well-equipped, ensuring a cozy and enjoyable stay. Dean Gift and Lungi's warm hospitality added a personal touch, making us feel like cherished guests. In summary, African Safari Lodge is a haven for nature lovers, offering a perfect blend of tranquility, wildlife encounters, and exceptional hospitality. Our stay was nothing short of perfection, and we're already looking forward to returning to this hidden gem. Thank you, African Safari Lodge, for an unforgettable experience!

Our experience at this lodge was hands down wonderful. The room was spacious&clean and had an amazing view to the river. The nature around was beautiful. The whole experience felt really private. We booked a guided tour and a game drive which was also very private. The ranger who ran the activities was simply wonderful. He shared his deep knowledge in flora & fauna, we really enjoyed our time with him. We saw a variety of animals, not only on the guided tours but as well as just walking around property. The value for money is just insanely good. +The food was delicious! Best wishes to Dean & Fay who really cared to make our time at the lodge memorable. Would love to come back. Thank you!