All the staff were friendly and happy. Sebatana Private reserve is one of the best and most unique wildlife experiences in South Africa. Sebatana Private reserve is one of the best and most unique wildlife experiences in South Africa. Sebatana game reserve was fantastic and this review does not reflect on their fantastic service. This is a MUST see and the best I have ever attended.Most of our group purchased the non-alcoholic drink package. Sebatana Private Reserve, Hermanusdoringsroad, 0530 Vaalwater, South Africa info . It is still in relatively good condition and the service with a smile is unparalleled from all the friendly staff. Yes, Sebatana Private Reserve offers an airport shuttle for guests. This allows you to focus on the "big 5" when you travel to the other game parks. The location only 270 kilometres north of Johannesburg allows for smooth travel arrangements and easy access to the Reserve. Which room amenities are available at Sebatana Private Reserve? A lioness relaxing at a waterhole was unexpectedly chased off in a rather funny lioness and elephant encounter. We were divided into 3 groups to explore the area with our own truck with guide/driver. Value 4.9 Sebatana Private Reserve is a wildlife paradise with a unique collection of 3 seperate 5 star lodges, Rhino, Elephant and Lion. Including Things that we would never be able to try elsewhere (Impala, Kudu etc). Yes, guests have access to a business centre and conference facilities during their stay. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. We stayed at Lion Lodge where the staff were amazing and facilities good. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm. This is a MUST see and the best I have ever attended. There are plenty of non "big 5" wildlife at Sebatana which are relatively easy to find. an excellent standard and very clean. Some flexibility is needed to truely accomplish guests needs and wishes. Is parking available at Sebatana Elephant Lodge? The days were full of early mornings and little time to sit around, although a bit more down-time would have been nice. Josh was our tour guide and he made our holiday, he has a great knowledge of the animals and wildlife. Including Things that we would never be able to try elsewhere (Impala, Kudu etc). Are there opportunities to exercise at Sebatana Lion Lodge? The other just removes the meat (!). What a wonderful holiday . The optional tour package was 350 euro. Sebatana has a three different 5-star lodges with a total of 34 rooms divided between them. A great time away from modern distractions. Staff were amazing Sully the barman was 2nd to none. If you hadn't thought to go on a safari, GO, you wont be disappointed and if you go to this resort, they cant do enough for you. Recommended gratuity was 80 euro which I had no issues with paying. The beds were a bit short for some of the long-legged Norwegians, but very comfortable. 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 . Initially booked to fly as advertised with my preferred airline Virgin, this was later changed to BA with no explanation. OK, i need to say i am an experienced safari traveller to many African countries. 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. Great thanks to our guides Shumba, Carel and Megan, they were all fabulous. We were apprehensive about doing a group organised holiday as we like our own space and we are both not great social butterflies. Also the staff were genuine and a happy family to spend our time with. There are three lodges on this game reserve, Lion (photo), Elephant (hunting) and Rhino (under restoration) located separately in the reserve. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Sebatana has been welcoming guests for the past 20 years and our experience and expertise in South Africa ensures our guests the best possible nature and safari experience. Elephants Lodge is located within the malaria-free Bellevue Forest Reserve, home to wildlife such as lion and buffalo. No TV, nor Radio but generous wifi, and the baboons are great fun to watch as is star gazing. Special thanks must go to our rangers, especially Caitlin and Jacques, who were very knowledgeable and accomodating. With more than 40.000ha in size this malaria free paradise offers guests a truly intimate experience. Yes, Sebatana Private Reserve offers airport transportation for guests. Sebatana Private Reserve operates four lodges: Rhino, Elephant, Lion and the newly-opened Leopard Lodge, which is our home base for the trip. This is truly a paradise on earth. We were a group of 21 in total, all coming from Norway. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details. Our guide Basil was so knowledgable and went above and beyond to make sure we saw as much as possible. They were informative and made everything fun. Rooms are clean and the water is hot; the menu is simple and the food . I (and our group) would certainly recommend Sebatana Lodge! Yes, Sebatana Private Reserve offers airport transportation for guests. We were unable to upgrade these rooms booking through TripaDeal. All we wished for and more. Amneties Restaurant There was generous quantities of food with plenty of food left over. Massive variation in rooms. Was the change of flight and random seating Newmarket's way of saving a few pennies ??? 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. The food was wonderful, plentiful and piping hot. All pricing and payments are in Euros and is paid using credit card. The reserve is home to one of the richest populations of wildlife in South Africa with more than 75 different mammals, including the Big Five. I cannot praise the staff in the lodge enough for their great service, always smiling, helpful and on hand . Airport pick up and drop off is available for guests. He was with us day in day out and always eremained. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Sebatana Private Reserve is a wildlife paradise with a unique collection of 3 seperate 5 star lodges, Rhino, Elephant and Lion. A fleece/jacket was needed for the early mornings and night safari. Too bad Tripadeal will probably lose this venue - it was spectacular in its lack of care for the group, leaving us all to get ourselves home at our own expense with no help or advice from them. 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. The game drives were good although rain made sightings difficult as animals seek shelter in the bush and are more difficult to spot. Sebatana Private Reserve: Sebatana Rhino Lodge - An Incredible Experience - See 61 traveller reviews, 277 candid photos, and great deals for Sebatana Private Reserve at Tripadvisor. Are there opportunities to exercise at Sebatana Private Reserve? Yes, Sebatana Private Reserve offers an airport shuttle for guests. The kitchen staff regularly sing which is very entertaining. Now the trips we plumped for the full package at 349 euro pp . biggest surprise of the tour was the optional Tribal night. light your world and see matswani for the last time things change now and then and welcome again we give away a smile on your face. Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool. The food was lovely, although there was little choice for vegetarians, which in todays world feels disappointing. Yes, free parking is available to guests. A great holiday ! Simultaneously, Pilanesberg offers "the Big Five" - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard - in addition to giraffes, hippopotami, cheetahs, 300 species of birds and so much more. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our. Very fishy behaviour and totally deceptive. On a final note, Matswani was a nice experience and I do recommend it, but note that the marketing as a very luxury experience is not quite matched by reality. Contacting Newmarket upon arrival to resolve the issue on the return journey i was informed the issue would be looked into within 28 days, 18 after our return! The only critical comment of the food was that there was too much and it was so delicious it was difficult to resist ! There was crazy amounts of food, and it was all amazing. I will be back ! See more questions & answers about this hotel from the Tripadvisor community. The guides did everything they could to make your stay unique and eventful. After a bumpy ride we arrived in breath-taking surroundings. Thank you to everyone at Elephant Lodge who made us feel welcome and contributed to our amazing experience! Incredible Trip with amazing staff and facilities. Especially upstairs where there was no air conditioning and the fan had but one speed. Sebatana Private Reserve is a wildlife paradise with a unique collection of 3 seperate 5 star lodges, Rhino, Elephant and Lion. I also want to mention the guides that are with you all of the time . Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay. What food & drink options are available at Sebatana Private Reserve? Loved the experiencetrulybut a few things lacking. The accommodation (individual chalets) are beautifully styled and spacious. Set amongst the malaria-free UNESCO-listed Waterberg Biosphere, the Sebatana Private Reserve covers almost 100,000 acres and is home to over 75 mammals, 300 species of bird and hundreds of different flowers and trees the perfect place to connect with South Africas wildlife! The trip to Pilanesberg is a must! This comical sighting was captured on an Africam trail camera that is placed at Naledi Game Lodge in the Balule Game Reserve. Food was exceptional, and we opted for the drinks package which is a must as there was some confusion at the end of the stay with others, that didnt take the package. My only regret that I am not still there. Savour South Africas magnificent wildlife on this once-in-a-lifetime, full-board holiday, based in the four-star Elephant Lodge, with its own sweeping private game reserve. Overall experience was amazing, but did think we would have seen more animals. Incredible Trip with amazing staff and facilities. Improve this listing Property amenities Free parking Pool Hot bath Free breakfast Loved the giraffes, walking like a long-legged model and looking at us with the eyes with thick and long eyelashes beautiful! However remember its a bit of pot luck, these parks are huge and animals are not constrained to certain sections.The biggest surprise of the tour was the optional Tribal night. We had an amazing guide, Megan, and formed bonds that will last a lifetime. WOW what a fabulous experience. We were a group of 21 in total, all coming from Norway. The days were full of early mornings and little time to sit around, although a bit more down-time would have been nice. The water is bore water and no one on our group had any sickness.The food was fantastic! The service for the rooms and the bar, nothing bad I can say here either. Quiet, relaxing, exciting. There was impalas and sables just off the deck every morning and all throughout the day, it was just beautiful everywhere you looked. Loved the experiencetrulybut a few things lacking. If you don't manage to do it before you arrive then definitely do it whilst you are there . Thank you for one of the best weeks EVER!! One tip would be to pack all. Initially booked to fly as advertised with my preferred airline Virgin, this was later changed to BA with no explanation. We were led to believe that this was going to be included. We were unable to upgrade these rooms booking through TripaDeal. Yes, free parking is available to guests. Our luggage was delivered directly to our rooms while we were being introduced to staff. Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Holiday of a lifetime that didn't disappoint, What a wonderful experience! more. Especially upstairs where there was no air conditioning and the fan had but one speed. WOW what a fabulous experience. TOP TIPS The early morning drives were very cold so pack a hat and scarf especially in winter months. I will be back ! I won't spoil it by revealing some of the extra activities they arranged, just to say we laughed a great deal! I have been to a lot of "tribal (native)" nights over the years and had quite low expectations. FANTASTIC!! I didn't purchase any drinks package as I only drink limited alcohol and am not a fan of sugary drinks (mocktails etc). Whether you are a nature lover, a safari enthusiast or simply looking for getaway from the city, Elephant Lodge is the ideal choice for . Read more Suggest edits to improve what we show. My only regret that I am not still there. . Why did we not have pre-booked seats together? The walks around the reserve are so good seeing animals in there own habitat and so close. Is parking available at Sebatana Private Reserve? The "optional tour packages" should really be compulsory and really you should go for the lot. The desserts were out of this world. Sebatana Private reserve is one of the best and most unique wildlife experiences in South Africa. Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. We were also fortunate to see the big five on our first try, plus numerous other animals day and night. The program changes from day to day on a weekly cyclus enriching guests with the true African diversity. Upon arrival, I noticed the fly screen were damaged throughout the Giraffe chalet. The resort doesn't offer the Big 5 as advertised which has been fed back, however there is ample opportunity to see them in a mixture of included or optional excursions. All three lodges are full service lodges with all amneties included, ensuring a personalized experience for all. Sebatana Private Reserve is a wildlife paradise with a unique collection of 3 seperate 5 star lodges, Rhino, Elephant and Lion. Sebatana Private reserve is one of the best and most unique wildlife experiences in South Africa. 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. Does Sebatana Private Reserve offer any business services? Louis was our main guide he was so knowledgeable and was always telling us about the animals, landscapes and shrubbery. 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. Room types may vary. Does Sebatana Private Reserve have airport transportation? We certainly would not have attended if we had known this The animal life is amazing as are the staff. The. 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! - Holly. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. We had the best time on her lucky truck ,We spent our holiday with the most amazing group of people who made the holiday fun , exciting and memorable, we ccouldn'of asked for a better group of people we made so many fabulous memories to last a lifetime. 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. Be careful to clarify what you are getting with your extra options. Some flexibility is needed to truely accomplish guests needs and wishes. thanks for taking your time reading this welcome, welcome. Thank you to everyone at Elephant Lodge who made us feel welcome and contributed to our amazing experience!! Each room at Elephants Lodge has a patio, tea-and-coffee-making facilities and a private bathroom. Just returned on the 2 nd July after an amazing week at sabanta rhino private reserve. Do your sums carefully. 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. Food excellent. The kitchen staff regularly sing which is very entertaining. Which languages are spoken by the staff at Sebatana Private Reserve? All three lodges are full service lodges with all amneties included, ensuring a personalized experience for all. 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 . Feedback from the others was that night Safari was terrible and finished late. 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. The program changes from day to day on a weekly cyclus enriching guests with the true African diversity. Yes, it offers wheelchair access. The food is good for omnivores, but vegetarians/vegans are in for a more mixed experience. The bar staff were incredible, Patrick, Solly and Gillean were incredible and made the evening at the bar all the more enjoyable. Knowledgable beyond what you would expect and attention to detail - superb. 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. Is parking available at Sebatana Private Reserve? They also had a drink package for unlimited drinks for 195 euro a week. And the best thing for us as a group was, if you don't ask, they definitely cant help. We were a group of 21 in total, all coming from Norway. We all swapped photos in a WhatsApp group and had belly laughs daily. Wonderful Time in this beautiful oasis in the bush. The location only 270 kilometres north of Johannesburg allows for smooth travel arrangements and easy access to the Reserve. . I will be back ! Very well maintained, very well catered, sometimes too much food. Sebatana has been welcoming guests for the past 20 years and our experience and expertise in South Africa ensures our guests the best possible nature and safari experience. Our guide was CASPER . I also want to mention the guides that are with you all of the time . We stopped half way for champagne and sandwiches, again cared for by a few other guides from the Lodge. We also drove with Jacques who has incredible eyes, he missed nothing seeing animals we would otherwise have missed. Amazing safari lodge. Was the change of flight and random seating Newmarket's way of saving a few pennies ??? We were in the two rooms closest to the pool and they were tired run down and very dark. Everybody in our group had nothing but praise for our stay at Sebatana.The "optional tour packages" should really be compulsory and really you should go for the lot.There are plenty of non "big 5" wildlife at Sebatana which are relatively easy to find. Do your sums carefully. We stayed at Lion lodge. We didn't take out the drinks packages as we don't drink alcohol, so just having soft drinks each day and paying for them worked out far cheaper than the. Most of our group purchased the non-alcoholic drink package. Due to the size of the group they split us into two groups to go to Wolvenhargen and stated that the afternoon group would have the opportunity to go in the morning on the second exhibition. The effort the staff go to with table and food presentation is commendable. With more than 40.000ha in size this malaria free paradise offers guests a truly intimate experience. Yes, it offers wheelchair access. Wonderful Time in this beautiful oasis in the bush, My sister and I have not long returned from our amazing holiday in Elephant Lodge. "It's a solitary bull," notes our local guide, Carel Brown, as he pulls the vehicle to a gentle stop. The bar staff, the kitchen staff , the gardener, and all the back house or not public facing work tirelessly to ensure everyone had a great stay. On our tour most people took all the optional extra activities. Yes, free parking is available to guests. Very fishy behaviour and totally deceptive. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. However remember its a bit of pot luck, these parks are huge and animals are not constrained to certain sections. We were fortunate to see them plus a cheetah! We ended up on her cruiser throughout the holiday with 3 other fab couples and we have all.said we will keep in touch, which is lovely. 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. All rooms are equipped with a fridge and this is refilled every day by housekeeping. when paying over 9K for this holiday I expected a better service. The tour programme is quite busy as it involves a lot of transportation. John L. said this would be a trip of a lifetime and he was correct. Please see our partners for more details. Aidan Rademeyer shared the images with . If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. Malaria free five star Safari at Sebatana Rhino Lodge. A great holiday ! Be careful to clarify what you are getting with your extra options. This was such an incredible trip and we will be taking in laws and others to this resort, in the near future. The. The cleaners kept our rooms so clean and turned beds back each day , and were always chirpy and friendly thanks guys . Our. 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. We met 22 other amazing people who we shared the lodge with and the memories we made will stay with us for life. The reserve is situated in an idyllic location, we have all gotten memories for life. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details. Food was exceptional, but far too much for most of us for one day! However remember its a bit of pot luck, these parks are huge and animals are not constrained to certain sections. We were divided into 3 groups to explore the area with our own truck with guide/driver. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. This is a MUST see and the best I have ever attended. If you don't manage to do it before you arrive then definitely do it whilst you are there . I reccomend to upgrade to an all inclusive bar package whilst you are there. Arriving at Waterside at Royal Malewane a fabulous safari lodge that's recently opened in Thornybush Private Game Reserve bordering South Africa's famous Kruger National Park we were delighted to see several spiral-horned nyala antelopes wandering through camp, many with babies in tow, making themselves at home as they browsed on the indigenous flower beds and took sips from the . We will be back and can`t wait!! Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. A lone elephant blocks the road in Welgevonden Reserve, around 30 minutes from Sebatana. We had an amazing time at Elephant Lodge from start to finish. extremely!!! It may be during the summer. Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. The staff permanently smile and are happy all the time! I didn't purchase any drinks package as I only drink limited alcohol and am not a fan of sugary drinks (mocktails etc). From start to finish it was amazing and the staff go above and beyond to make sure you are happy and comfortable. See more questions & answers about this hotel from the Tripadvisor community. We stopped at the Elephant Lodge, this place is amazing & relaxing. 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. The food was outstanding and we had more than we could ever have eaten. The location, rooms, set up. I have been to a lot of "tribal (native)" nights over the years and had quite low expectations. Also the staff were genuine and a happy family to spend our time with. 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. Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant. One tip would be to pack all. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. He was excellent and very professional, and helped a great deal when needed something sorted out in the lodge. My sister and I have not long returned from our amazing holiday in Elephant Lodge. The water is bore water and no one on our group had any sickness. Own or manage this property? Sebatana Private reserve is one of the best and most unique wildlife experiences in South Africa. Food was exceptional, and we opted for the drinks package which is a must as there was some confusion at the end of the stay with others, that didnt take the package. We stopped at the Elephant Lodge, this place is amazing & relaxing. 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. All pricing and payments are in Euros and is paid using credit card. Hermanudorings Road, Vaalwater 0530 South Africa, There were so many amazing things about this holiday but be careful of their advertised additional trips. So why did we not get the original flights booked? Asked politely if they could be attended toNo attention was paid to my request. Had the wow factor. Despite all this I would recommend this reserve/lodge, esp if you get a good price. It's hard to pick out highlights but possibly the mother rhino coming out of the bush right in front of us with her little baby trotting behind. There are more places to choose from in the, Frequently Asked Questions about Sebatana Private Reserve. A very privileged experience to do. The rooms were great as well, very clean, a bit rustic but still higher end with great showers and water pressure. I went with a group of 6 and we could not fault one single thing. and more in matswani so that it can turn to a place of promise land. 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. Best Regards Matswani guest relations, Everything about this visit was excellent from the attentive staff, the comfort of the rooms and the management. Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay. Recommended gratuity was 80 euro which I had no issues with paying.I (and our group) would certainly recommend Sebatana Lodge! Warthog is more secluded with a great view of a watering hole to see animals from your veranda. The three trips to other game parks were all great and a necessity if you want to see the "big 5".