About
Location :
Added by Jopie, at 14 January 2014
Gallery
Add missing information
11 Reviews
-
07 March 2018
Absolutely beautiful setting, great place for your love one
report this review -
01 March 2018
Simply amazing! Cannot describe how good the experience of Pondoro was
report this review -
07 February 2018
There are no words to describe how AMAZING this place is. The service is impeccable! We will definitely return in the future.
report this review -
29 October 2017
Everyday was an unexpected and refreshing experience.
A close-knit team in Pondoro reflects the efficiency of how things are being run at the lodge.
Customer service staff Licia and Raymond’s attentiveness and service to every individual guest is heartwarming. They would welcome us back to the lodge after every game drive and see that all our needs are attended to throughout our 5 days stay.
Dining experience was truly tip-top. Every meal was well planned out by Lize’s team and how they managed to deliver endless surprises from the menu, transporting us to different dining locations and ambience each day. We were fed to the brim every meal both in our stomach and mind.
With every game drive, we depart with excitement not knowing what we would encounter as one can never predict what Mother Nature would present you.
Our guide, Julius, and tracker, Ramson, however, worked with what Mother Nature gave - and very well at that.
With their wealth of knowledge and experience of the bush, apart from tracking the animals, they entertained us with their stories, trivias, safari humour and our trove of questions that we rained on them regarding the safari.
We were lucky to encounter the Big 5 at least twice throughout our 8 game drives. Our advise is to stay more than 2 days to increase your chances to encounter them as the wild is always on the move. With Julius expert handling and manoeuvre of the jeep, we often get within metres of the animal presenting many incredible photo opportunities.
We even got to experience a heart racing chase of a mother leopard; going off the dirt track into the bush, listening to Julius and Ramson coordinating amongst themselves, other jeeps around the vacinity and over the radio regarding the whereabouts of the mother leopard.
During the bush walk, Ramson shared with us essential tracking knowledge. He educated us on types of animals’ footprints and waste left behind and narrated what the animal was last doing or direction it was heading to. Needless to say, he always quizzed us at the later part of the walk to make sure we did learn something!
Overall, we had a more-than-wonderful stay at Pondoro Game Lodge, and left with mixed feelings. Sad that we had to leave the adventure we had, but happy that we got to experience the wildlife like never before. This was truly a trip of a lifetime, and memories to keep.
Thank you, Pondoro!report this review -
13 September 2017
We had a fantastic 3 night stay in Pondoro Ldoge! The lodge and the rooms are really beautiful, right on the rivers edge. We had views of elephants, giraffes, warthogs, antelope, baboons, hippos etc, all from the balcony of our room. The lodge picked us up from Hoedspruit airport which was really convenient, about an hours drive, half of which is through the game reserve. On the drive to and from the lodge we saw giraffes and sable antelopes. There are practically more staff than guests, and they make you feel like royalty. The service is amazing and the food was exceptional. So impressed. The game drives were excellent, the ranger and the spotter we had were amazing, Sam and Eric. They tracked lions, cheetahs and leopards, and found them for us! We saw the Big 5 (twice) so they gave us champagne in the evening drive drinks. They also gave us all champagne to toast a fellow guest's birthday which was super cute. Sam the ranger always positioned the car in the best spots for photos and views, and they understood the behaviours of the animals and so where best to go next to get the best view. They drove off the track into the bush, and they got out the car to track on foot. We also had a bush walk with the tracker which was amazing, right to the waters edge to see the hippos.
report this review -
07 July 2017
The place and the people. Exceptional hospitality, atmosphere and gameviewing. Would give more than five stars if I could!
report this review -
20 May 2017
Esse hotel é demais! Os quartos sao otimos, o staff é muito atencioso tanto no hotel quanto no safari. Ah, as refeições são incríveis!
report this review -
05 February 2017
Fantastic staff, great kitchen and better facilities!!! Your safari experience will never be the same! Rul and Andries, the best guides ever!!
report this review -
03 January 2017
Can't fault Pondoro in any way. The location is great. The staff are all great. The food is fabulous. And, most importantly, the game drives were some of the best I've ever been on
report this review -
01 July 2015
Fabulous suites - we had the Rock Suite, wonderful decor and so private, yet it felt open too, great views over the river.
Staff were always friendly and helpful. Food was delicious, good varied menu each day for each of our meals. For breakfast you just need to mind the Vervet Monkeys though - they steal your muffins and toast in the blink of an eye! Tip is - eat your muffin as soon as it's presented to you. They are delicious and each day they are a different flavour. It would be as shame to lose it because of a monkey!
Game viewing was excellent too, in open top vehicles. Our driver and tracker worked hard to find us the Big Five - and we were well rewarded with seeing them all. I was especially impressed with our Leopard sighting, I know how elusive these cats can be, and we were lucky to have a good number of minutes watching her. Sadly the light was too dim to get good photos, but I'll never forget it! And you really can't go past the lions too, really wonderful close experience with them so near the vehicle. Same for the elephants! Well actually all of them really.
If you have the chance - do take the option to have a picnic lunch at the hide. It is a gamble as to what animals you will see, but it was worth it for us! They leave you there for a couple of hours, watching over a waterhole. On our visit we watched an elephant come to drink and have a mudbath. Then a troupe of elands arrived with their warthog friends. And finally a herd of Kudu. Tip - be super quiet, we think the click of our camera spooked the Kudu as they ended up leaving after their barking warning calls were made.
report this review -
21 January 2014
Loved the friendly, professional hospitality!
Would love to go back again!!!report this review
