Kimkim Trip Reviews for South Africa

I highly recommend staying at this hotel. The hospitality is some of the best I've ever received. The staff is very warm and welcoming.

Located on a secluded very beautiful beach.

Convenient for visiting Cape Town but in a quiet location.

This lodge is a bit pricey but well worth it. Beautiful site. Very friendly and helpful staff. Great food. The best part is the safari guides.

Pricey but well managed review . Your visit help game conservation.

Gugs Eco Lodge offered a meaningful eco lodge experience rooted in nature community and adventure. The accommodations were simple and functional, consistent with the eco focused nature of the lodge. While the rooms themselves were just okay in terms of comfort and amenities, they served their purpose for a rustic and intentional stay. The food at Gugs was a true highlight. Meals were consistently delicious fresh and nourishing, and our group genuinely looked forward to every meal. The quality and care put into the food stood out and added a lot to the overall experience. Our guide MP was excellent and played a big role in making this portion of the trip memorable. He was knowledgeable engaging and attentive, and the group really enjoyed learning from him throughout our excursions. The lodge manager was also very communicative and responsive, helping ensure things ran smoothly and that we felt supported during our stay. The excursions were a major highlight for our group. We were able to witness turtles laying eggs on the beach at night, which was an incredibly special and moving experience. We also enjoyed snorkeling and a boat ride, both of which were well organized and very well received by the group. These experiences brought the destination to life and were among the most talked about moments of this leg of the trip. Overall, Gugs delivered a strong eco lodge experience with outstanding food, meaningful excursions, and solid on the ground support. It is a great option for travelers who value nature based experiences and unique moments over luxury accommodations.

aha Kopanong Hotel was a comfortable and reliable starting point for our South Africa journey. The location worked well for our Johannesburg itinerary and transfers, and the check in process was smooth and efficient for a group arrival. Rooms were clean spacious and well appointed, providing a restful place to land after international travel. The staff were welcoming and professional, especially helpful with group coordination and early departures. Breakfast service was consistent and convenient, offering a solid variety to start the day. Overall this hotel served as a dependable base that supported the flow of the trip without stress, which is exactly what is needed at the beginning of a multi stop itinerary.

Our first day with Gugs Experiences was a highlight for the group. The excursions were well organized engaging and deeply connected to the local environment. Seeing turtles laying eggs on the beach at night was an unforgettable and moving experience that many travelers described as a once in a lifetime moment. Our guide MP was excellent. He was knowledgeable engaging and attentive, helping bring the experience to life while ensuring everyone felt safe and informed. The combination of nature education and hands on experience made the day both meaningful and memorable. The second day with Gugs Experiences continued to impress. Activities like snorkeling and the boat ride were very well received by the group and offered a fun relaxed way to experience the area. Everything was thoughtfully paced and coordinated, allowing travelers to enjoy the day without feeling rushed. Again, MP’s guidance stood out. His familiarity with the region and ability to engage the group added value to each activity. These experiences complemented our stay beautifully and gave our group a deeper appreciation for the local landscape and culture.

The Apartheid Museum was a profoundly impactful experience and an essential part of our time in South Africa. The exhibits are immersive thoughtful and emotionally resonant, guiding visitors through the country’s history with honesty and care. Our group appreciated the way the museum balances education reflection and storytelling. It prompted deep conversations and offered important context that enriched everything we experienced afterward. While intense at times, it was incredibly well curated and meaningful. A must visit experience that leaves a lasting impression.

Our visit to Sanctuary Mandela was primarily a dinner experience. It was nice to be in the space, and the food and service were both good. The atmosphere was pleasant and the staff were attentive, making for an enjoyable evening meal. That said, the experience felt more like a solid dinner stop than a must do activity. While we appreciated having gone and enjoyed the meal, it is not something I would necessarily repeat on a future itinerary. It worked well as a gentle introduction to Johannesburg, but did not stand out as a highlight compared to other experiences on the trip.

It depends what you want! It's far frm museum and Soweto, but it is just by the airport. If you are looking for a safe place to spend the night prior to travelling, this is a great location. It's perfect for a one night thing.

Cute cute cute! Comfy, staff was great. We felt safe walking around. Safe to park our vehicle in the inside courtyard. Staff at the restaurant were very attentive and great breakfast!

VERY cofortable accomadatioon, bed. Private bathroom better than at my house ! lovely soaking tub and outdoor shower. Staff is amazing, LOTS of food and options included at each meal

Amazing, calm and a new experience in the desert. Only critic, not much vegetarian options. Staff was fantastic

Great area, safe, amazing restaurant with breakfast (open terasse)

This hotel location is great but the rooms were very musty, AC was very loud and the room were very hold and a bit sketchy. We ask for mediocre accomodation, not full luxury. I just didn't like this hotel and would not recommend.

great location and concierge

Room just ok and was next to lobby/ kitchen. Early morning noise from kitchen staff. Location a bit out of the way. Would not recommend this place.

Very nice resort on the Indian Ocean. Spectacular location. Staff were lovely. Very friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately can't remember the name of a few special staff. Food met expectations. We upgraded to all inclusive - were a little confused as the all inclusive had exclusions. Evening entertainment was very good. Room/cabin on the beach was very nice. The food at the Indian restaurant was spectacular.

The lodge was not fenced so wildlife such as monkeys and antelope could wander through which was fun. Location on a river was great. Waiter, Daniel took us under his wing. Service was excellent. Buffet food was good. Jane at the front desk was very helpful. Internet service could be improved. Our driver Sam was great taking us on game drives. Extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife, very experienced guide and it showed. We were very fortunate to have him as our private tour guide for our 5 days in Kenya. We would love to go back to Mara Simba.

Thanks to Sam, our dedicated driver and guide from Nairobi to Maasi Mara, we thoroughly enjoyed our introduction here. A scenic setting with good food and accommodation that Sam made into a great introduction to Kenya safari drives. Thanks to all the helpful staff*****. The lodge seemed older compared to other accommodations?

Good for our brief overnight stay after airport arrival. Good for sleep, shower and breakfast. No time to check out other amenities. Please provide water as necessary in a liberal way - namaste.

How can a lodge in such a remote, difficult access spot get 5 stars?! Well, because of how extraordinarily service-oriented they are! Fabulous people. They cleaned our boots post gorilla-extravaganza when we would have been unable to; they went above and beyond with food, drinks and service for dinner, breakfast and bar, despite being in a rural situation. They saved my (Rosella) life with a post- gorilla trek deep tissue massage in our room - thanks 'Maria', I know that's not quite right - sorry.

We ended up being here for a whole day and night instead of a couple hours as a result of a missed flight to Bwindi and a revision of our itinerary. Scenic location with good amenities - we took advantage of the downtime and sat by the pool after walking around the site, which was under renovation. The room, the balcony, the Lake Victoria view, the restaurant and the bar were perfect. We would go back in a minute - Immaculate*, please be there to help us - you are a treasure! Ronald, you're also a rock star - thanks for your assistance with storing some luggage for us while on restricted transport - that was so helpful and kind.

Once again, we did not expect the magnitude of what we received. Superlative site for luxury stay in a scenic environment with wild animals and unique birds in their natural habitats. Four excursions were included in our two nights - a sunrise and a sunset river bird game cruise, a Falls guided walk, and a land game and bird drive. OMG! We somehow won the lottery to get Jeremiah for all 4 excursions! We benefitted from his vast knowledge, experience and attitude to safari living as well as to life in general. Thank you. The food and staff were extraordinary - so friendly and helpful and interested in their clients. The added breakfast at their associated restaurant on the gorge - wow! Luckily, or maybe not, no elephants drank from our pool while we were in it!!

Camp Shawu in Kruger was our first safari camp ever - how lucky were we to be here for our initiation into game drives and safari camp life!! The people**** wow! Steven, Sifiso, Bellinah, Harold and the fabulous cook were extraordinary beings. Steven the camp manager could not have done more to make our stay amazing - above and beyond! Sifiso was like an animal in another life with how in tune he was with so many animals in the vicinity. He was connected and knowledgeable and understood their behaviour and life - this allowed us some fascinating experiences. Thank you Bellinah:) Thank you Cook for local meats for our inaugural tries. Harold, you also are connected at a deep and spiritual level with your role - wow! We would stay anytime we could.

Sadly, it was short and sweet. The building, site, room, and furnishings were world class. Wine tasting was outstanding; recommended restaurant was superlative. Thanks to the owners for going above and beyond.

Perfect although short at one night. We would definitely go for longer. Gorgeous scenery and walks. Good welcome wine:)

Good location, helpful friendly staff, good facilities, great breakfasts. We wanted to live there!

Perfect location, fabulous room and outstanding staff, Loved this place and hated to leave

Hreat location, great room, even greater staff

This hotel has everything you want for a visit to Cape Town. Stunning views of Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles, gorgeous modern rooms, delicious breakfast and lunch and amazing staff who go out of their way to help you. We will stay here again, we can't wait to go back to see more of the area! We arrived late in the evening on a Sunday and there weren’t many food options available. We ordered on Uber Eats but had some challenges getting our food. Kinearr, the night guard, was incredibly supportive and understanding. He stood in the street with me looking for the driver and helped me give instructions. When the driver never showed, he rounded up some food for us from the kitchen, peanut butter and bread. We are so grateful for his kindness. One note: there are other locations with the same address (33 Victoria Road) when looking up in Google Maps or within Uber. It would be great if that could be cleared up <3

This was a lovely place for a short visit to relax and recharge before our next adventure. The staff made us feel so welcome, the food and decor are a wonderful mix of modern and traditional elements. We loved the spa treatments, full day Panorama Tour with the incomparable David, outdoor dining and morning game walk with Jeramia. Highly recommended!

The highlight of our trip was 4 days on safari at Sabi Sands Game reserve, staying at the incredible Umkumbe Safari Lodge (Riverside) and celebrating my birthday. Our guide Michaela and tracker Moses were the best we could have hoped for. We were privileged to see lions and leopards every day, along with so many other animals up close. We have some amazing photos to share with our friends and family. On my birthday, we saw a pangolin, the best gift I have ever received! I cried happy tears. Back at the lodge, my room was beautifully decorated, the staff made me a birthday cake and sang happy birthday to me in two languages at dinner. BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!

The HYDE hotel is stunning in it's design, food at the Proud Mary restaurant and service by an excellent staff! When we arrived, Tamara and her staff had a birthday surprise for me waiting in our room: champagne, red velvet cake and balloons. They went out of their way to make the first part of our trip special. The interior design of this hotel and restaurant are just gorgeous and the rooms are spacious with all the amenities. The location is perfection. The only reason we're giving it 4 stars is because when we were checking out, the staff member asked us if we had taken a towel. Apparently they tag all their towels and we walked through the security gate with a group of people so they couldn't tell who had removed a towel. Instead of looking for the guy who went to the gym or the other people, they implied that we had stolen a towel and had it in our suitcase. This was extremely insulting and coming at the very end of our stay, it soured the entire experience. Why would we take a $10 towel when we were on vacation and was it worth it to end our otherwise great experience on a sour note?

We loved the concept of this activity, the staff was excellent and knowledgeable. However, the time of the activity was moved to earlier and we had to drive a long way in the dark to get there from Camps Bay in Cape Town. We're from Oregon and have a wonderful coastline with whales and such. We didn't see much that was any different on this tour except a small copper shark. In hindsight I would have preferred to do something else.

Beautiful place, stunning garden, views and excellent food! Don't miss it.

The highlight of our trip was 4 days on safari at Sabi Sands Game reserve, staying at the incredible Umkumbe Lodge Riverside and celebrating my birthday. Our guide Michaela and tracker Moses were the best we could have hoped for. We were privileged to see lions and leopards every day, along with so many other animals up close, we have some amazing photos to share with our friends and family. On my birthday, we saw a pangolin, the best gift I have ever received! I cried happy tears. Back at the lodge, my room was beautifully decorated, the staff made me a birthday cake and sang happy birthday to me in two languages at dinner. BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!

Our guide David was one of the best private guides we have ever had, so knowledgeable and open-minded. We had some wonderful conversations and shared information about our home as well. We visited the stunning Blyde River Canyon, Lisbon Falls, Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window, the Three Rondavels and had a fun lunch at the Chubby Pig. 6 stars!

I had a massage and a facial, both were excellent! Highly recommended as a relaxing treat in the middle of a long vacation.

Andrees from Drifters was so fun and knowledgeable! He took us to all the places we wanted to see, provided a lot of information and context. We visited The Apartheid Museum, Constitutional Hill and the Maboneg neighborhood. I had been reading Nelson Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk to Freedom so I was able to connect more closely with the history of South Africa. I think it is important to learn about the countries we travel to and I felt that we got a good understanding.

Our driver Isaac and guide Luguile of Lebdo’s Backpackers shared their experiences of life in the township with us. They gifted us with a real experience and connection with the history of Johannesburg and the ongoing impact of the Apartheid system. We enjoyed the delicious food and hospitality of the backpacker lodge after the journey. 6 stars!

Greeted warmly at the airport by Nokuthala and driven to our hotel by driver Roy.

Wonderful experience and we loved how customized it was. The kids felt very welcome and really enjoyed the game drives as well as the food. Beautiful lodge, we can't wait to return.

Very attentive staff ensured a most enjoyable stay and our excellent game guide gave us an unforgettable wildlife experience. Highly recommend Mjejane River Lodge.

Amazing wildlife experience!

We loved Pioneers and we know if we ever get to go back to Zimbabwe, we would absolutely stay here again and bring the kids. The room was great, the grounds are gorgeous and well cared for, the food was delicious and the staff were really friendly and helpful (especially with a luggage issue we had to deal with). I would definitely stay here again and recommend it to everyone.

This hotel was fine for our one night stay. The food was ok but the room was lovely and the staff were very kind.

The absolute best. We absolutely loved this hotel and everything about it. The private deck and pool were perfect places to wind down in between drives. The hotel staff were amazing and we can't say enough positive things about our guide and tracker Tristan and Chris. They were so funny and smart and really got to know us to make the game drives as meaningful and memorable as possible. I would absolutely recommend this hotel to anyone and everyone. We wish we could have stayed longer!

We only stayed here for a night but the room service food was fantastic and the staff were so kind and helpful in getting us to the airport the next morning.

We absolutely loved this experience. The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel at home and cared for. The ride was smooth and staff made sure that our room was as comfortable for us as it could be. We also loved the excursions that Rovos offered and loved the opportunity to learn about the people and culture around us. Once we learned about Rovos, it became a non-negotiable part of the itinerary and we are so happy we did it!

Perfect for us as a couple! The room was spacious, everything was clean and the staff was very friendly!

We loved our driver from the airport! Then, we showed up at the lodge after brunch was served and dinner wasn't scheduled for a few hours. The chef very kindly made us delicious sandwiches which was so necessary after a morning of travel. We were so grateful.

I can't say enough about our experience with Tristan and Chris. They were truly the best. They were both so smart and so engaging and happy to answer any and all of our questions about their work, the game drives and the animals.

We are SO glad we did this! It's a long day but we felt like we really got to see so much of the beauty of South Africa.

This was lovely! The sunset was even better than advertised and we got a chance to see even more wildlife that we hadn't seen yet on the trip. The staff was lovely and the food was so delicious.

An absolute must do! It was the perfect way to end our trip. I couldn't recommend this enough. The food was outstanding and we got to try so many new flavors.

We chose the game drive at Spionkop and we were so glad we did! It was our first game drive so helped give us a head's up as what to expect. Friends we made on the rail who did the history tour said they learned more on that trip than they did in years of school so I don't think you can go wrong either way. We loved our guide at Nambiti and by the time we finished those two game drives, we saw 4 out of 5 of the big 5!

This place is definitely meant for tourists but if you can embrace that, you will have a great time. We were exposed to lots of new and delicious foods, traditional dance and song and the drum lesson in the beginning was so fun.

Zaki is the best and it felt so important to us to do this tour with someone from the community. There is such important work happening all the time and we loved learning about the history and vision for the future. We would recommend this to everyone.

This is a must do! The food was incredible and we loved taking a mid meal break to walk around the garden.

Andrew was the best! He taught us so much and brought us to some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. We really enjoyed his company and we felt like this was a great day to help us see and experience so much of the Cape.

Beautiful and amazing staff taking care of your every need.

Beautiful place, every and everything was great.