Does Pondoro Game Lodge - Open to Kruger Park have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Pondoro Game Lodge - Open to Kruger Park pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Pondoro Game Lodge - Open to Kruger Park?

Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; Check-in end time: 5:00 PM.

Does Pondoro Game Lodge - Open to Kruger Park provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of ZAR 1395 per person applies.

Are there all-inclusive benefits at Pondoro Game Lodge - Open to Kruger Park?

Yes, the property is all-inclusive.

Where is Pondoro Game Lodge - Open to Kruger Park located?

Situated on a river, this all-inclusive lodge is within 32 mi (52 km) of Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, Kruger National Park, and Phalaborwa Gate.

Pondoro Game Lodge - Open to Kruger Park Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

2025/8/17

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing game drives at luxury lodge

Great lodge and kind staff with fantastic location in private reserve in greater Kruger with highly experienced guides and trackers which are key to having amazing game drives every day, while not being overly disruptive to the animals.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

2024/9/29

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Amazing stay!!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

PALOMA LYNETTE

2025/6/2

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Excelente

Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Sarah

2025/11/10

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities

A beautiful room and location but the experience was disappointing, considering the reputation and the cost. We often felt the staff was not listening to us, and did not feel as taken care of as we would have liked considering the promise of luxury. Food delivered to the room took over an hour and was cold. The re was no hot water for the outdoor tub and shower. The game drives felt repetitive, seeing the same areas again and again. Overall, not worth the enormous cost. On the plus side, we do recognize that the staff came to our aid when our rental car had a flat tire on the way in!

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maryada

2025/4/4

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Beyond Exceptional. All the staff go beyond to make you feel welcome and special. Chef makes gourmet meals every time and she is very good. One of the best experiences we had ever.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

JAMES

2025/9/3

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

We had the most incredible experience at Pondoro Game Lodge. From the moment we arrived, everything was absolutely phenomenal. The staff made us feel so welcome and cared for, going above and beyond to make every detail perfect. Our suite was stunning—luxurious, private, and designed with so much attention to comfort and beauty. The game drives were unforgettable. Our guide (Dewalt) and tracker (Andrès) were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and thanks to them we were able to witness breathtaking wildlife moments that we’ll never forget. The food was exceptional—every meal was a treat, beautifully prepared and served with warmth. What truly stood out was the atmosphere of the lodge: intimate, peaceful, and filled with genuine hospitality. Pondoro exceeded our expectations in every way, and we left with memories we’ll treasure for a lifetime. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

2025/4/16

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

10/10 recommend staying here. My husband’s and I stayed her for our honeymoon and had the most amazing time. The staff was incredible and super accommodating! The food was delicious, the safari guides were so knowledgeable and kept us so safe! I know we both will remember this experience for the rest of our lives. We will definitely be back for many years to come! Thank you Pondoro for the most amazing experience! We appreciate you!

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

2025/7/3

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

First Class!

The Pondoro experience is first class from beginning to end! The location is stunning and we watched hippo, crocs, giraffe, elephants and all sorts from our room. The games drives led by the wonderful Shadlack and Dion were breathtaking, with the big 5 and all manner of wildlife seen on multiple occasions. They also hosted a river walk which showed us how they look for tracks and gave a very different perspective to the hippos and crocs! All the staff at the lodge are fantastic, there is a warm welcome every day and a real personal touch with attention to details that makes each day special. The food is exceptional and would definitely recommend the lunchtime picnic if you get the opportunity.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

BEN

2024/9/17

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

This place is first rate! The lodgings were excellent. The food was the best that we had in 5 stops in Africa. The staff was great, as were the game guides. And along a beautiful view of the Oliphant River, with all sorts of animals seen there!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay

2025/2/18

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

The perfect safari

Absolutely amazing. We stayed at Pondoro in January in the beautiful Tree Suite with the most incredible views of the river. Every member of the staff was so friendly and hospitable. Our daily game drives exceeded all our expectations with the most experienced guides. The vegetation this time of year was so green and gorgeous. From sun up to sun down we were so well fed by the talented team of chefs. It was all such a dream. I hope we have the chance to return again.

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

2024/5/19

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

We came here for our honeymoon. What an amazing experience we had. We had 2 game drives per day with fantastic guides/spotters. The food was top tier - nearly Michelin star level; I had the eggs benedict every single morning. They arranged the most romantic evening dinner in their wine cellar for us. This is probably the best place I have ever stayed.

10/10 Excellent

James

2023/6/6

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A dream come true

The hospitality was top notch. Armand, Johanna, Lize and the staff were absolutely amazing and attentive. The room (Buffalo Suite) was beautifully decorated and had a perfect view. We saw giraffes, elephants, antelope, babboons from our window. Very romantic setting. We also enjoy the early morning and evening game drives qnd were able to see the Big 5 the first day thanks to Ru and Andrei. We hope to visit again!

Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

ali

2022/12/19

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

I have traveled to many countries in the world. This hotel was the best hotel that I have ever stayed. Everyone was so friendly. They went out of their way to make our trip memorable. I definitely recommend staying in this hotel. I have never written review in past. This is the first review that I am writing. I recommend this hotel to all of my friends.

10/10 Excellent

candace

2023/10/6

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

This was our bucket list dream trip and Pondoro made that happen. Pondoro facilities and staff are amazing. Attention to detail is one of the many things that stand out. We were in the Tree suite. So cool! Game drives we amazing. Sully and Dion, our guide and tracker worked so hard to find us all and the big 5. If you are reading this and contemplating a stay at Pondoro. Just do it.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maddison

2024/1/20

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Just incredible

The most amazing boutique luxury destination in the Balule game reserve (part of Greater Kruger). For an all inclusive hotel I didn’t have high hopes for the food however it surpassed all my expectations and was incredible, including catering for vegetarians. The game drives were incredible and a shout out to Anton and Selby who found us every animal. The small touches like break with coffee/drinks and snacks in the game drives makes it a personalised experience. The rooms have so much space and the beds are incredibly comfortable. The schedule for the days is the same for consistency. We loved meeting other couples and loved that the game drives were with the same driver/spotter and couples for the duration, it really allows you to form great bonds with other people there. Breakfast at the big dining table is also a nice touch. Could not recommend Pondoro more, they truly create the most unique experience and have thought of everything.

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Luc

2025/11/15

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Un petit paradis, tout était parfait! 5* plus. Les petites attentions, le personnel intentionné, les repas et surtout les safaris. Seul petit point négatif , les safaris pourraient être écourtés d’une heure, 3 heures plutôt que 4 mais c’est un petit détail surtout que nous y allons pour cette raison.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jürgen

2020/3/15

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Eine außergewöhnliche Safari Lodge

Das Prädikat "ausgezeichnet" ist fast zu wenig im Vergleich mit anderen Lodges. Lodge-Besitzer und das gesamte Team tun alles, um für den Gast ein außergewöhnliches Urlaubserlebnis zu gestalten. Danke an Liz, die Ranger Ray und Rud mit ihren Trackern, die erlesene Küche und das gesamte Service-Personal. Wir bekamen ein Upgrade und waren im Chalet "Rock" bestens untergebracht. Das Essen war sehr abwechslungsreich und geschmackvoll serviert - für Senioren eher zu viel; Mittags hätte ein Salat gereicht. Bei den Game Drives haben wir unter anderen viele Elefanten gesehen, auch ein Rudel von ca. 20 Löwen streifte um das Safari-Fahrzeug. Ganz zum Schluss klappten auch die intensiven Bemühungen der Tracker und Ranger mit einem freien Blick auf einen im Baum hockenden Leoparden das Big-Five-Erlebnis in 3 Tagen komplett zu machen. Herzlichen Dank dem Pondoro-Team für drei unvergesslich schöne Tage

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Arthur V

2019/11/20

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing Game Lodge

That was my best safari experience. Since the first contact with the Game Lodge, all was extremely professional and friendly. We booked a transfer from Hoedspruit airport that worked perfectly. The room was unforgetable, huge, beaultiful, comfortable, with river view and from the balcony we could see a lot of animals. All the meals were delicious, everything included. The staff is so friendly. I will miss this place forever.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

LARISSA

2019/9/25

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Experiência inesquecível!

O Pondoro e sua equipe me proporcionaram uma das melhores experiências da minha vida. O lodge é incrível e fica localizado à margem de um rio, o que te permite ver animais ao longo do dia, como os Hipopótamos que moram lá e elefantes e girafas que sempre aparecem. São apenas 8 chalés, o que deixa todo atendimento muito íntimo. Foi a equipe de hotelaria mais incrível que eu já vi e uma gastronomia impecável. Sam, nosso ranger e Dion, nosso tracker, fizeram dos nossos safáris uma experiência inesquecível, uma verdadeira aventura em busca dos Big 5. Falando em Big 5, tivemos a sorte de vê-los 2 vezes e uma delas foi no mesmo game Drive. Se você ainda está em dúvida entre ficar ou não no Pondoro, simplesmente vá. Espero voltar um dia para poder ficar pelo menos 3 noites. Fiquei apenas 2 e voltei com um gostinho de quero mais! :)

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Laura

2019/4/28

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

The perfect place for safari

We were highly impressed with Pondoro, both for accommodation and quality of game viewing. Our tracker and guide we’re exceptional. We regularly saw the big 5 (and so many leopards, which we’ve struggled to see else where) and a whole range of additional animals from hippos in the river outside the room to a family of porcupines. Our guide always seemed to manage to get us to the viewing before other cars and positioned us perfectly for photos. It was incredible. The accommodation is fantastic, we were upgraded to Earth, a larger suite with a jacuzzi where we watched hippos from (magical). The room had a lounge area, a huge bed, roll top bath and a indoor and outdoor shower. More than you could possibly need! Service was outstanding, everyone was so friendly and helpful and seemed really happy to talk about the animals you’ve seen (even though they must hear about this everyday!). Their passion was great! Finally I’ll just say that the food and wine was superb - we eat constantly, there is so much tasty food! And they set up beautiful special dinners for you. It’s something I’ll remember for a long time. We were very sad to leave and hope to return. Thanks again to all the wonderful staff that made our stay so special!

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Augusto

2018/8/3

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Experiência extraordinária !

Absolutamente tudo é perfeito neste hotel! Localização super charmosa debruçado sobre um rio onde se vê Hipopotamus, atendimento impecável, acomodações charmosas e confortáveis, serviço all inclusive de primeira e safáris emocisonantes, tendo visto os big 5 duas vezes!! Recomendo e voltaria 😉

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Anonymous, San Francisco

2018/7/5

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing in every good way

This place is pretty special. It's located in a private reserve that is joined to Kruger National Park and it's on a river. Sitting on our balcony we saw hippos, giraffes, warthogs, monkeys, different types of antelope, and crocodiles. They have included morning and evening drives drive each day where we saw pretty much everything. The staff is great, very professional but also very friendly. Do at least 4 nights so that you have time to do several drives, a couple walks, a picnic in the tree hide, and still have some time to relax in the lovely room. The only complaint I have is that they really give you a lot of great food and I think I over ate. I guess that's my fault for not being more disciplined.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Rachel

2018/7/3

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Luxury and adventure

Pondoro Lodge is a place to remember. The rooms are private and romantic, with views over the river. We loved watching the hippos from the deck at breakfast time. The safari drives were outstanding. We saw so many incredible animals, including a chameleon.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Alonir

2018/6/6

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfeição

Foi tudo perfeito. Atendimento dos funcionários, limpeza, pontualidade, comida deliciosa.

Stayed 2 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

Alexander

2018/4/1

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Wunderbarer Aufenthalt, sehr empfehlenswert!

Hatte einen tollen Aufenthalt in der Pondoro Game Lodge. Der Blick vom Zimmer auf den Olifants River ist wunderschön und auf den Safarifahrten hat man sehr gute Chancen den Big Five zu begegnen. Die Mitarbeitenden sind alle sehr freundlich und kümmern sich toll um die Gäste.

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