Zulu Nyala Safari Game Lodge

Spectacular treated like royalty. The chef, waitresses, gardeners, cleaning people, front desk so so welcoming. Sanguine GM fantastic. Food was plentiful and delicious. Lots varieties. The landscaping beautiful. Pool, tennis courts, laundry service, the drives with guide great. Knowledgeable about animals, trees, birds, flowers and our guy TK tracker.

We had the pleasure of visiting Zulu Nyala in March 2023 (after first booking for May 2020). We thoroughly enjoyed our experience. The staff was very friendly and helpful, the food was far too good (I gained 5 lbs in our week there), and the photo safari experience was a bucket list item checked off. We had Brett as our guide and he was incredibly patient, had a great sense of humour, was very professional, and is a testament to South Africa tourism. We saw the elephants on most game drives and it was amazing how their behaviour was different on each encounter. We got to see many animals that you don't see on the nature shows from the Serengeti. It was also nice to go when things were lush and green as it was -10C when we left home. We went on a few of the optional excursions and they added good variety to our trip, allowing us to see more species of animals and scenery. This was a trip of a lifetime and it spawned a desire to go back to RSA.

We had an unforgettable stay at Zulu Nyala - the daily drives were fantastic and our ranger David was amazing - friendly and so knowledgeable about the animals (of which we saw many) - we learnt a lot. Whilst there aren’t lions at Zulu Nyala we did a half day trip to another reserve where we saw lionesses and cubs which was so special. We also took the opportunity to do the elephant interaction - incredible to be so close to them - highly recommend. You are put with a group for the drives / your meals but we didn’t mind that - we got to know people well and make friends which is always part of a holiday for us. The only reason to not give 5 stars is that we had 3 nights in the tented accommodation - which was very atmospheric - apart from the train (goods train I think it is) that is very loud about 4am and also if it’s windy the sides of the tent do flap quite a lot. But other than that the accommodation was fine and our final 3 nights were in the lodges behind reception which were lovely. The meals were good - buffet style but good quality and the wines were lovely too. A great first taste of a safari holiday.

We had an unfortunate encounter at Zulu Nyala. On arrival we had the need of the laundry services and sent some closes out. I had inadvertently placed my travel pants in the laundry with over $1,000 US cash in the pocket. I informed the staff the next day and was told there was nothing in the pockets. Clearly someone in the laundry hit the jackpot on that day at my expense. The hotels response was nothing. I simply asked for a credit of some kind and got nothing. Taking no responsibility for your employees criminal acts is not ok and that is why I am writing this review. As far as the lodge the tents were nice and clean but if you are over 6’2 you will not fit in the bed as it has a footboard. As I am 6’3 I was very uncomfortable. As for the preserve there just are not many animals on it. You drive for much of the time and don’t see much. We were in the Chobe National preserve in Botswana before this trip and it was spectacular. Zulu Nya has 3 elephants, 3 rhinos and No lions. If you want to see lions you have to pay to go to another reserve. The elephant interaction was definitely worth it but was at an extra cost. In regards to the food it is buffet style for every meal. The food is about a 6 on a scale of 10. It is also very similar every day so gets quite boring. Drinks are very reasonable. As far as other things to do there are not a lot. Frequently we were asking each other what do we can do next. We ended up leaving our stay 2 days earlier as I was tired of this place.

We had an excellent time at Zulu Nyala Heritage Safari Lodge. The hospitality was topnotch, and the safari drives were amazing. It was a great way to experience Africa for the first time. May was a great time to be there, the temperature was Fall like and there weren’t any mosquitos. The crowds were also minimal traveling around the area and in Cape Town.

I LOVED this experience! The grounds were beautiful, the food was great, the staff went above and beyond my wildest dreams, and the accommodations were fabulous! You will not regret booking this trip of a lifetime! Chris, our safari guide, was hands down the best ever and made all of our drives unforgettable! I will definitely be back!

Where do I start? The grounds and our very large bedroom suite were magnificent. The maintenance of the grounds were excellent ( one small complaint was the pools were not cleaned regularly/ but they are surrounded by trees). The service was very good. Our meals, especially dinners, were good with adequate variety on the buffet. I would have given a 5 star if the food was better. Our safari guide Chris went above and beyond ensuring we had the best experience every day! He made our trip!

Where to begin?! From the accommodations to the service to the impeccable grounds, this resort is the vacation that dreams are made of. Every staff member we encountered was warm, friendly, and helpful. They upgraded our rooms to the most stunning, clean, and well-maintained suites, with super comfortable beds and air conditioning. Within the first few hours, we encountered monkeys, a crocodile, gigantic snails, and wild Nyala right outside our doors. The safari drives were life-changing though. Our guide, Welcome, is the BEST OF THE BEST, and he treated us like family every day. On the very first drive, we encountered Zebras, Giraffes, Wildebeests, Cape Buffalos, hippos, warthogs, and ELEPHANTS!!!! Absolutely breathtaking. He also arranged all of the excursions we wanted to do and always kept us safe and entertained. We love you, Welcome!! I cannot say enough about how wonderful this past week has been, and we're heartbroken to leave. Thank you, ZN, for everything!

We spent 6 nights here and we loved every moment. The staff, the grounds and our safaris were amazing. We did many outside excursions as well and they too were out of this world. Our suite was absolutely huge and very comfortable. Bathrooms are extremely large as well. Air conditioning works super. The grounds are meticulously groomed and very beautiful. Adam was our ranger and he showed us a wonderful time. Our last night we went on Safari and ended it with a sunset from the top of a mountain with the elephants grazing below us. We saw a ton of animals. We did the lion safari and saw lions and cheetahs and lots more. We did the elephant interaction which was an amazing experience. We enjoyed plenty of good food and drink. I would highly recommend that if you have the opportunity to come here … just do it. You will love it. Our table of 10 are now life time friends. We were all very compatible and enjoyed many activities together. We also did our own side trip and they provided our driver. Check out the home of “ The Elephant Whisperer “. Airport pick up and return we’re done in beautiful new vans with courteous and friendly drivers. Sad to leave !!