The pool is very cold (we were there in winter) The food was out of this world. Are there opportunities to exercise at Sebatana Elephant Lodge? Own or manage this property? The bar staff were incredible, Patrick, Solly and Gillean were incredible and made the evening at the bar all the more enjoyable. Special thanks must go to our rangers, especially Caitlin and Jacques, who were very knowledgeable and accomodating. They also had a drink package for unlimited drinks for 195 euro a week. We stopped at the Elephant Lodge, this place is amazing & relaxing. Wonderful Time in this beautiful oasis in the bush. There is a souvenir shop on site, however that you can get any memorabilia from. My only regret that I am not still there. A great holiday ! We were so fortunate to see the big five plus numerous other animals day and night. It would have been nice if the guides had a mic handset, as it sometimes was hard to hear at the back of truck what was said. We stayed at Lion lodge. We saw rhinos, hippos, giraffes, elephants, and more. The beds were a bit short for some of the long-legged Norwegians, but very comfortable. The safari trips started early in the morning, and we went early to bed in the evening. The days were full on with no time to sit around, although abit of down time would of been nice. Youve got to do this trip. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. We bought a few drinks and 3 wine bottles and paid more for this for 7 days than the price for the package, so that is a must. and more in matswani so that it can turn to a place of promise land. Asked politely if they could be attended toNo attention was paid to my request. The price, it is simply amazing but hurry as dates are selling out fast.www.tvtravel.shophttps://www.facebook.com/tvtravelshophttps://www.instagram.com/tvtravel.shop I would highly recommend this lodge and have some amazing memories. Saw the big 5, Der Sandra, thank you so much for your review, we are very proud to hear this and I will relay it to the entire staff. Checking in a BA we were astounded not to have seats together after booking as a party of 4 and Newmarket Holidays had previously stated it was not possible to pre book seats as this was a. group booking, so we assumed all guests staying at Sebatana would not seated together. I had one day illness and everyone from kitchen to management were concerned and helpful. The walks around the reserve are so good seeing animals in there own habitat and so close. A very privileged experience to do. 5 star luxury lodge in South Africa sold through travel agents world wide on a group package basis. The food was lovely, although there was little choice for vegetarians, which in todays world feels disappointing. A great holiday ! Is parking available at Sebatana Private Reserve? The food was delicious and nicely presented all of the time, the lodge itself you could not fault very clean and our room was amazing . Our guide Basil was so knowledgable and went above and beyond to make sure we saw as much as possible. There was crazy amounts of food, and it was all amazing. So why did we not get the original flights booked? Feedback from the others was that night Safari was terrible and finished late. This was a problem for most. Our tour was booked through Tripadeal Australia and 12 of the 14 people on the tour was Australian. Loved the giraffes, walking like a long-legged model and looking at us with the eyes with thick and long eyelashes beautiful! biggest surprise of the tour was the optional Tribal night. So thanks to everyone who we spent time with you were all awesome . I won't spoil it by revealing some of the extra activities they arranged, just to say we laughed a great deal! When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. What a wonderful holiday . trip was cut short by the Corona Virus and we missed out on the Cape Town extension. Yes, it offers wheelchair access. more. Had an outstanding trip to Sebatana Private Reserve staying at the Lion Lodge. This allows you to focus on the "big 5" when you travel to the other game parks. We had Josh as our guide and wow he is so passionate about his job not to mention funny and always ready to get the best for you. extremely!!! So it meant uncomfortable nights where a cool breeze or cooler night night air could have made the difference between a perfect stay and a less than fully comfortable stay. OK, i need to say i am an experienced safari traveller to many African countries. I (and our group) would certainly recommend Sebatana Lodge! Despite all this I would recommend this reserve/lodge, esp if you get a good price. I didn't purchase any drinks package as I only drink limited alcohol and am not a fan of sugary drinks (mocktails etc). Guests staying at the reserve are able to enjoy an extensive list of services, ranging from traditional game drives and Big Five safaris to cultural and historic tours. . Sebatana Private reserve is one of the best and most unique wildlife experiences in South Africa. I cannot praise the staff in the lodge enough for their great service, always smiling, helpful and on hand . Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Aidan Rademeyer shared the images with . This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. All three lodges are full service lodges with all amneties included, ensuring a personalized experience for all. After a bumpy ride we arrived in breath-taking surroundings. Hope the leftovers were not thrown away.. We were advised not to opt for the drinks package and regretted that. No large predators so you can take walks on your own on marked trails. Book Sebatana Private Reserve, Vaalwater on Tripadvisor: See traveller reviews, 3 candid photos, and great deals for Sebatana Private Reserve, ranked #30 of 56 Speciality lodging in Vaalwater and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Why did we not have pre-booked seats together? Hermanudorings Road, Vaalwater 0530 South Africa, There were so many amazing things about this holiday but be careful of their advertised additional trips. Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC. If you are interested in becoming a trusted partner please contact our world wide support staff, info@sebatana.com - www.sebatana.com - International sales and support Tel: 0045 7613 4048. I would recommend it highly. There was generous quantities of food with plenty of food left over. The food was amazing every day. There is a souvenir shop on site, however that you can get any memorabilia from. by others who saw it as inauthentic and food was terrible and hard to eat with fingers. There are a lot of animals close to the lodge, we saw so many giraffes and impalas that we did not bother to take a photo after a few days. The week just got better and better - only con I can quote was that booze prices are pretty high, as are the goods in the gift shop. Food is prepared as and when ordered making for a delightful culinary experience. The rooms were great as well, very clean, a bit rustic but still higher end with great showers and water pressure. X, Amazing place, amazing people, amazing animals, The most amazing holiday ever. All the staff were friendly and happy. The reserve is situated in an idyllic location, we have all gotten memories for life. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The managers, guides and all of the staff looked after us so well and after a week there, we were so blown away by how much we saw, and experienced. This holiday was for my 50th Birthday & I will never forget it thank you to Sebatana. We all as a group felt pilenburg was a let down , we saw barley anything there and our guide seemed very uninterested in the whole drive, and seemed to just want to get us back before outer time was up , it takes 3 hrs to get there and 3 hours back but we got just short of 3 hours in the reserve, which wasn't long enough, ,considering it was a full day excursion we were back at 3pm but it was stated 5pm on our itinerary, we felt we were really missold this trip., I know its the luck of the draw what we see but the other game reserve was far better . .There is nothing bad to say about this resort. We stopped at the Elephant Lodge, this place is amazing & relaxing. With more than 40.000ha in size this malaria free paradise offers guests a truly intimate experience. I can honestly say I didnt want to come home and felt very emotional at the airport. I went with a group of 6 and we could not fault one single thing. Antonia was a lovely addition to the team. It would be perfect with a few more days, so there was time to digest all the impressions and enjoy the swimming pool etc. We truly had the best time with you guys and can't recommend you enough. We were led to believe that this was going to be included. Guests staying at the reserve are able to enjoy an extensive list of services, ranging from traditional game drives and Big Five safaris to cultural and historic tours. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm. Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay. This was the story for the whole group. FANTASTIC!! The desserts were out of this world. We stayed at the Lion Lodge which has a small stream running behind it and where antelopes, baboons and vervet . We also drove with Jacques who has incredible eyes, he missed nothing seeing animals we would otherwise have missed. With a total of 14 rooms and panoramic viewpoints this is a true wilderness experience where you will be pampered by our chefs and dedicated staff. We'll worth signing up for the extra tours and the drinks package. Enjoy your plush bungalow comforts . The trip to Pilanesberg is a must! Does Sebatana Private Reserve have airport transportation? If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. Now the trips we plumped for the full package at 349 euro pp . Do your sums carefully. Yes, Sebatana Private Reserve offers an airport shuttle for guests. Asked politely if they could be attended toNo attention was paid to my request. One tip would be to pack all. Room types may vary. Including Things that we would never be able to try elsewhere (Impala, Kudu etc). Sebatana Private Reserve is a wildlife paradise with a unique collection of 3 seperate 5 star lodges, Rhino, Elephant and Lion. Just returned on the 2 nd July after an amazing week at sabanta rhino private reserve. Sebatana Private Reserve is a wildlife paradise with a unique collection of 3 seperate 5 star lodges, Rhino, Elephant and Lion. Tribal night was enjoyed by some and thoroughly disliked. I cannot praise the staff in the lodge enough for their great service, always smiling, helpful and on hand . calm and professional at all times , also on the safaris through all the game reserves was always on the look out and did not give up looking for animals , he was very interesting and a fountain of knowledge. Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay. more. The days were full of early mornings and little time to sit around, although a bit more down-time would have been nice. Our guide Basil was so knowledgable and went above and beyond to make sure we saw as much as possible. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Amneties Restaurant During the winter season the bar package is probably not a good deal. I have been to a lot of "tribal (native)" nights over the years and had quite low expectations. Upon arrival, I noticed the fly screen were damaged throughout the Giraffe chalet. Having booked over twelve months ago for a holiday to the Sebatana game reserve, South Africa I feel completely let down on a once in a life time holiday. Drinks package is 200 Some of the game drives are over some very rough terrain and may not be suitable for anyone with spinal problems. With no public access, and only a limited number of guests having access to the reserve at any time, guests are ensured the best possible wilderness experience, up close and personal. Everybody in our group had nothing but praise for our stay at Sebatana. The reserve is situated in an idyllic location, we have all gotten memories for life. The other guests (17 of us in total) got along great and it really was like a big happy family. ( Shared joy has double the happiness) also in difficult times it is nice to have someone to hold your hand and cry with you.my point of view is i will make shore that i turn my words in action where i realized that knowing is not enough;we must apply. Located within a stone's throw from the entrance to the world famous Udawalawe National Park, Elephant Lodge is a boutique resort built along the spillway of the Udawalawe Reservoir. We stayed at Lion Lodge where the staff were amazing and facilities good. Is parking available at Sebatana Lion Lodge? The staff were amazing and couldn't do enough for us. There is a souvenir shop on site, however that you can get any memorabilia from. Incredible Trip with amazing staff and facilities. Knowledgable beyond what you would expect and attention to detail - superb. The service for the rooms and the bar, nothing bad I can say here either. The Lodge and the staff were fantastic and we have been spoiled with great food (and lots of it). However remember its a bit of pot luck, these parks are huge and animals are not constrained to certain sections. With more than 40.000ha in size this malaria free paradise offers guests a truly intimate experience. Is parking available at Sebatana Elephant Lodge? We will be back and can`t wait!! There are more places to choose from in the, Frequently Asked Questions about Sebatana Elephant Lodge. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. There was generous quantities of food with plenty of food left over. We were also fortunate to see the big five on our first try, plus numerous other animals day and night. Incredible Trip with amazing staff and facilities. We were in the two rooms closest to the pool and they were tired run down and very dark. Pack plenty of warm clothes. The same goes for the staff that fed us and kept our rooms nice and tidy every day. The water is bore water and no one on our group had any sickness. - Holly. I didn't purchase any drinks package as I only drink limited alcohol and am not a fan of sugary drinks (mocktails etc). We recommend calling ahead to confirm details. Sebatana Private Reserve is a wildlife paradise with a unique collection of 3 seperate 5 star lodges, Rhino, Elephant and Lion. Recommended gratuity was 80 euro which I had no issues with paying. Tribal night was enjoyed by some and thoroughly disliked. . . Most of our group purchased the non-alcoholic drink package. Located in the malaria free Waterberg mountains, just a short drive from Johannesburg airport makes it the ideal place for everybody from senior travelers to families with children of all ages. The same goes for the staff that fed us and kept our rooms nice and tidy every day. We were in the two rooms closest to the pool and they were tired run down and very dark. If you are looking for a once in a lifetime experience at a safari, this is the resort to visit. Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay. Are there opportunities to exercise at Sebatana Private Reserve? Ask for a room removed from the restaurant/kitchen/office to avoid noises. Do your sums carefully. The reserve was in idiliic location, with memories that will last a lifetime. Each has kitchen, bar, pool etc. Such a high standard. Yes, Sebatana Private Reserve offers an airport shuttle for guests. The other just removes the meat (!). We were so fortunate to see the big five plus numerous other animals day and night. This is truly a paradise on earth. Staff are friendly and cant do enough for you. Our group was fortunate to have the wonderful Shumba as a guide/driver, we loved him. Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool. Also the staff were genuine and a happy family to spend our time with. Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a refrigerator. Most of our group purchased the non-alcoholic drink package. Our guide was CASPER . Incredible Trip with amazing staff and facilities. The desserts were out of this world. Food was exceptional, but far too much for most of us for one day! Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. This is highly recommended. The kitchen staff regularly sing which is very entertaining. My only regret that I am not still there. With amazing panoramic views, Sebatana Elephant Lodge will be your home away from home. Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. Additionally guests will find more than 300 different species of birds, 270 flowers and more than 100 different trees. Yes, Sebatana Private Reserve offers airport transportation for guests. The manager yan welcomed us on arrival but was not on resort enough to support his staff , he seemed to be there for special events , and payment days, apart from that just flits in and out but was definitely not hands on ,which was disappointing as he doesn't see truly what amazing hard working staff he has. Sebatana Private reserve is one of the best and most unique wildlife experiences in South Africa. All three lodges are full service lodges with all amneties included, ensuring a personalized experience for all. What a wonderful holiday . The kitchen staff run by head chef Natalie were absolutly amazing too , they worked their buts off day and night to provide amazing food for us everyday we had ostrich, wildebeest, impala , kudu to name just a few meals all beautifully presented and full of flavour (lots of spice used in their food ) so if you don't like spicy food please mention this .we absolutly loved kia (our omelette girl ), she was exceptional and we all loved her to bits , bubbly doesnt come close so full of fun . I (and our group) would certainly recommend Sebatana Lodge! We couldn't of wished for better barmen . Own or manage this property? Loved the experiencetrulybut a few things lacking. Sebatana has a three different 5-star lodges with a total of 40 rooms divided between them. From the Hughes party of two from Lincolnshire, England, What can I say, the staff, food, accommodation were all amazing. The "optional tour packages" should really be compulsory and really you should go for the lot. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. The optional tour package was 350 euro. However remember its a bit of pot luck, these parks are huge and animals are not constrained to certain sections. We had an amazing guide, Megan, and formed bonds that will last a lifetime. We have had memories we will never forget, thanks to you all! | An incredible new wildlife week captured on the Ranger Cam & Guest Cam! Excellent 46 reviews #15 of 56 Specialty lodging in Vaalwater Location Cleanliness Service Value 5 star Lodge primarily sold as package tours from scandinavia including flights, transfers, meals and acitivities. The group of people we were with(19 in total) too our guide Carel and Basil were fabulous, including the staff that fed us and kept us in drink and to all the other staff were out of this world. With more than 40.000ha in size this malaria free paradise offers guests a truly intimate experience. Subsequently the same issue occurred on the return journey, not acceptable on a 10+ flight! Some hanging room, for drying clothes, would be a good addition to the rooms, as no laundry service is provided Our guide, Carel, was an absolute positive. On our tour most people took all the optional extra activities. I will be back ! From the Hughes party of two from Lincolnshire, England, What can I say, the staff, food, accommodation were all amazing. I went with a group of 6 and we could not fault one single thing. We truly had the best time with you guys and can't recommend you enough. I will recommend this for couples, family (with or without children) and friends. From the moment we arrived, after a 30 hour journey, we were made to feel welcome by the friendly staff who went out if their way throughout the holdiday to make sure we had the best time. This comical sighting was captured on an Africam trail camera that is placed at Naledi Game Lodge in the Balule Game Reserve. All pricing and payments are in Euros and is paid using credit card. We were collected from Jo'burg airport by shuttle and taken overnight to the Holiday Inn Airport Hotel - 8am next morning we left in the Sebetana bus to tour Pretoria's sights. Seeing the Cheetah, Elephants, Rhino, Zebras, Giraffes, Warthogs and any others was amazing and no fence to be seen. It's a classic East African-style lodge with a rustic thatched roof, elegant wrought iron chandeliers, leather Chesterfield armchairs and ample artworks depicting the wildlife found on the reserve and beyond. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. Management needs to listen to their guests. Sebatana game reserve was fantastic and this review does not reflect on their fantastic service. Sebatana has a three different 5-star lodges with a total of 40 rooms divided between them. See more questions & answers about this hotel from the Tripadvisor community. Thank you to everyone at Elephant Lodge who made us feel welcome and contributed to our amazing experience! Our luggage was delivered directly to our rooms while we were being introduced to staff. We were a group of 21 in total, all coming from Norway. Natalie was in charge of the kitchen during our stay and she did a brilliant job. Set against a rugged backdrop of rolling grasslands and golden plains, this is your chance to witness wildebeest, zebras, giraffes and more at home in their natural habitat. We were also fortunate to see the big five on our first try, plus numerous other animals day and night. Overview. The Lodge LODGE FACILITIES Overlooking the river, Sebatana Lion Lodge is perfectly situated for animal sightings, and the ideal base for all activities offered during your stay at Sebatana. Yes, it offers wheelchair access. We were apprehensive about doing a group organised holiday as we like our own space and we are both not great social butterflies. With amazing panoramic views, Sebatana Elephant Lodge will be your home away from home. If you want a budget or starter safari experience, i would recommend this Lodge. We had ostrich, warthog, impala, kudu, and wildebeest in some of the meals and it was all outstanding. Drinks at the bar were on the higher end of South African price standards but not horribly bad. Food excellent. I also want to mention the guides that are with you all of the time . We had Caitlen, who was absolutely fantastic and a credit to the lodge. The food was delicious and nicely presented all of the time, the lodge itself you could not fault very clean and our room was amazing . . He was excellent and very professional, and helped a great deal when needed something sorted out in the lodge. Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant. She also answered every question with care and passionately. This was my early birthday present from my brother and I can't say enough about it. The effort the staff go to with table and food presentation is commendable. Luke and Jurie were our safari guides and they went out of their way for the best trips we could have had even finding us a cheetah! Natalie the chef couldnt do enough for you and catered for any dietary requirements. Yes, free parking is available to guests. We only took the Pilansberg national Park one. Which room amenities are available at Sebatana Private Reserve? This was thought to be due to the issues with the airline industry, however the original Virgin flights were still scheduled and indeed flew within an hour of the BA flights. The whole experience from being met at the airport and a smooth transfer to Elephant Lodge, where we were greeted with smiles and cold flannels. We were divided into 3 groups to explore the area with our own truck with guide/driver. They were informative and made everything fun. Also please don't expect to see the big 5 at elephant lodge as they only have an illusive leopard, none of the other big five,so you really do need to pay for the additional trips to see them . Our tour was booked through Tripadeal Australia and 12 of the 14 people on the tour was Australian. Sebatana Private reserve is one of the best and most unique wildlife experiences in South Africa. This was thought to be due to the issues with the airline industry, however the original Virgin flights were still scheduled and indeed flew within an hour of the BA flights. With more than 40.000ha in size this malaria free paradise offers guests a truly intimate experience. Some flexibility is needed to truely accomplish guests needs and wishes. With more than 40.000ha in size this malaria free paradise offers guests a truly intimate experience. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. All pricing and payments are in Euros and is paid using credit card. Very fishy behaviour and totally deceptive. The location only 270 kilometres north of Johannesburg allows for smooth travel arrangements and easy access to the Reserve. Casper was our ranger/tour guide and he was professional, friendly and very knowledgeable. Up until our last drive we hadn't seen any lions but our rangers made every effort to locate them and we were very fortunate to see the western pride out in the open range. that we did not bother to take a photo after a few days. The kitchen staff regularly sing which is very entertaining. We had an amazing time at Elephant Lodge from start to finish. Nothing was too much trouble for him. He was with us day in day out and always eremained calm and professional at all times , also on the safaris through all the game reserves was always on the look out and did not give up looking for animals , he was very interesting and a fountain of knowledge. The location only 270 kilometres north of Johannesburg allows for smooth travel arrangements and easy access to the Reserve. Sebatana Private reserve is one of the best and most unique wildlife experiences in South Africa. This allows you to focus on the "big 5" when you travel to the other game parks. Hermanudorings Road, Vaalwater 0530 South Africa, There were so many amazing things about this holiday but be careful of their advertised additional trips. We had an amazing guide, Megan, and formed bonds that will last a lifetime. With a total of 14 rooms and panoramic viewpoints this is a true wilderness experience where you will be pampered by our chefs and dedicated staff. Each room at Elephants Lodge has a patio, tea-and-coffee-making facilities and a private bathroom. I also want to mention the guides that are with you all of the time . Game drives were brilliant and we were very lucky enough to see four of the big five, although we saw leopard tracks the animal was very elusive. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. Why did we not have pre-booked seats together? She endeavoured to take us to see as many animals as possible and when she saw something new to us would take the time to describe what it was etc. We went out on all the excursions missing nothing and we got to see the big 6 as the cheetah was an added bonus. Recommended gratuity was 80 euro which I had no issues with paying. Massive variation in rooms. With more than 40.000ha in size this malaria free paradise offers guests a truly intimate experience. Including Things that we would never be able to try elsewhere (Impala, Kudu etc).