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Awake to the sounds of the African bush veld as the sun makes its appearance on the horizon bringing with it the prospect of another perfect day. Eco friendly Pumba, a proud member of the Green Leaf Conservation Initiative, is set in the malaria-free Eastern Cape and provides an intimate African safari experience never to be forgotten. Water Lodge offers waterfront chalets overlooking Lake Cariega while Bush Lodge is set on a floodplain with scenic mountain views offering luxury thatch and glass chalets. All Chalets open onto private game viewing decks boasting plunge pools and outdoor showers. The indulgent bathrooms offer free-standing tubs and double basins, and each room is fitted with an earthenware fireplace. Whether dining indoors or under the starlit sky, meals at Pumba are simply sublime. Pumba has recently been recognised by Somak Holidays as one of the Top 5 Safari Destinations in Africa. So, what are you waiting for? Come and see for yourself.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TGCSA - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans
Location
Highlands (just off N2) 100 Kms From Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown 6140 South Africa
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Pumba Private Game Reserve has garnered high praise for its spotless accommodations and meticulous housekeeping, ensuring a clean and welcoming environment. The hotel's amenities, including private pools and stunning vistas, have been celebrated for enhancing the guest experience, particularly with the added comfort provided during game drives. Nestled in a breathtaking location, the hotel promises scenic lake views and close encounters with wildlife.
Luxurious, spacious rooms with spectacular views complement the serene atmosphere. Reviewers frequently commend the staff's exceptional service, noting their personalized attention and warmth. While the cost is on the higher side, many guests feel the value is justified by the lavish amenities and extraordinary experiences.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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Our time at Pumba Water Lodge was fantastic from the moment we arrived up to the sad time we had to leave. We were welcomed and given a brief tour on arrival and when we got to our room a few minutes later our bags were already there. The room was amazing, it was spacious and fantasticly laid out and with everything you could want. It also had its own balcony with a great view of the lake as well as a plunge pool. Each night whilst at dinner chocolates and a story were left on the bed but even better the fire was lit and a hot water bottle placed in the bed. The food was exceptional. Presentation and flavours would compete in top restaurants anywhere in the world. My wife is a vegetarian but as soon as they k we this they gave her a separate menu each night might which she said was soo delicious and the best veggie food she has had. Service was brilliant with a very efficient and polite staff that never made you felt rushed but there as soon as you needed anything. I cannot give enough praise for the game drives. Our guide, apologies I am not good with names but the manager called him the big gentle giant, was so knowledgeable and was able to find a great variety of wildlife and could answer and questions we had. There are too many highlights to mention here but the white lions and the walking Safari where we were so close to 11 giraffe including 3 young ones are unforgettable. The two and a bit day we spent at Pumba were the best days we have ever had on a holiday and I would return in a heartbeat. Thank you to all the staff and rangers who were amazing.
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
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Service
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from PE Hotel Group Port Elizabeth, Owner at Pumba Private Game Reserve
Responded 08 Aug 2024
Thank you for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; The Team will definitely be happy to read what you wrote. Thank you for your kind words and we look forward to seeing you again!
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Just returned from 3 nights here at the end of our holiday, Ranger Dean was a font of knowledge and enthusiasm for our 5 drives. We had some brilliant encounters very close up to a male lion, several elephants, a leopard, giraffes and a surprise Rhino approach while we were stopped for our morning coffee! Not to forget a distant hippo sighting and a distant sighting of the lioness and cubs, ranger Dean answered many questions on all animals and also on various insects, reptiles and snakes! My husband even tried a turmite tasting! I really enjoyed our first drive when we stopped to observe the sunset and have a glass of wine and some snacks before heading back! The lodge was just gorgeous, rooms completely private, the msenge lodge with the 360 walls of glass , outdoor shower and plunge pool were incredible, the included minibar and attention to detail was amazing. I loved all the lodge staff and waiting staff, friendly and attentive. I would probably only give the food 4 stars, I think they had 5star intentions but 4star execution, relying on a lot of salt for flavour, some meals were better than others and the inclusive wines were great. The pool deck gave you a very close view of visiting animals, and the whole lodge experience was just lovely. I would definitely recommend a few days to appreciate your stay
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from PE Hotel Group Port Elizabeth, Owner at Pumba Private Game Reserve
Responded 17 Mar 2020
Thank you for leaving us such an amazing review and for highlighting Pumba as a whole and the Pumba team, they will be so happy to read what you wrote. Warm Regards, The Pumba Team
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We spent 2 nights here as part of our honeymoon trip and I’m so pleased we chose it. We arrived at reception at about 3.30pm and the next safari was at 4.30. The drive to our lodge was quite far and we had loads of luggage but the staff were great in transporting us quickly so that we could make the safari in time. Our ranger then was the ranger for the rest of our stay, which is great because you build a rapport and relationship with them - important because you end up spending quite a lot of time with them (2 safaris a day, 2.5 hours each). Sia, our ranger, was great and made loads of effort to find us animals to see. There was a lot of respect shown to the animals as well as trying to allow us to watch natural animal behaviour. We stayed at the Bush lodge and our room was beautiful. On a sunny day, it was such a sight! During your morning safari (6.30am to 9am) your room is refreshed and the blinds are pulled up which means you have a 360 degree view of your surroundings. Basically the walls of your room are window doors so you could even open them up if you wanted and feel like you were sleeping right in the Bush! Mosquito net doors allowed you to do this and there was mosquito netting around the bed which was surprising pretty. It was super private too. One day we were there, the weather was cold and wet but it didn’t ruin my stay at all - we had a fire built in our room and I had a little snooze. Just a nice cosy lodge day by the fire! They provide lovely lavender bath salts - I’m not a bath person BUT I couldn’t resist given the atmosphere and view. Staff were friendly and helpful and although you have to pay for laundry, it was extremely reasonable and done really quickly and effectively. Food was good and they were able to accommodate for me being lactose free. If you like being friendly and having that group feel on holiday with other holiday makers, then Pumba definitely has this in mind too. You spend the safaris with the same people for the duration of your stay (so that was 10 hours for us). This can be a bit tricky if you’ve got people who you find a bit annoying. There is a campfire at the lodge with seats set up in a circle so you kind of have to face each other. I just mention it because I can be quite introvert so it wasn’t really my bag. This had no impact on my enjoyment at all however. I loved the place and wished we had more time there.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from PE Hotel Group Port Elizabeth, Owner at Pumba Private Game Reserve
Responded 25 Feb 2020
Thank you for leaving us such a wonderful review, we are glad that you loved the Pumba experience, our dedicated Team will be pleased to learn of your high praise! Warm Regards, The Pumba Team
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This really is the best place we have ever stayed at. The Bush Lodge rooms were stunning, and every time we left the room, someone had come in and made sure refreshements were topped up, the beds were perfect etc
We did four game drives with our knowledgeable ranger Thomas. We got to see four of the big five which was very exciting!
The food at the lodge is delicious, especially the breakfast.
The staff are so friendly, polite, and always smiling.
Would love to return with my family!
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Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from PEHotelGroup, Public Relations Manager at Pumba Private Game Reserve
Responded 12 Jan 2020
Thank you so much for your review, we are delighted that you had an amazing experience with us. We trust that you will forever cherish the memories you made with us at Pumba. Warm Regards, The Pumba Team
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It is difficult to describe just how fantastic an experience it is to stay at a Pumba Lodge. We recently spent two nights at Msenge in absolute luxury: beautiful rooms at our very private lodge overlooking a watering hole and dinners to die for (have the 'venison' which will be a local herbivore such as delicious kudu or impala) and did 4 drive safaris seeing pretty much everything on our bucket list of animals thanks to our excellent guide, Stem. Extremely attentive and friendly staff everywhere. Just do it.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from PE Hotel Group Port Elizabeth, Owner at Pumba Private Game Reserve
Responded 20 Feb 2020
Thank you for all your feedback, we love to hear from our guests and we are glad that you had an amazing experience. Hoping to welcoming you back! Warm Regards, The Pumba Team
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I can’t recommend Pumba enough! We stayed in the Bush Lodge and absolutely loved it, the rooms are gorgeous and immaculate including so many nice touches. The cleaners come in multiple times a day to clean, tidy your bed, put the blinds down.
The staff are SO polite and go above and beyond to make your experience memorable. They really do add to the experience. The food was GREAT, the Chef changes up the menu and it is presented so nicely. I specifically requested Tiramisu and the Chef kindly gathered all the ingredients and added it to the menu - so generous!
We had ranger Dean who was AMAZING! He was incredibly knowledgeable, smart with a great sense of humour. His intelligence on the Game reserve was beyond - he knew so much about not only the animals but insects, birds, flowers etc - we learnt so much. He also made us feel super calm and relaxed around the animals which can be daunting at times. He stays close to his radio and you feel totally safe!
We saw 4 of the big 5 and some other cool animals.
I would 100% return to Pumba and highly recommend.
Thank you for having us!
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from PE Hotel Group P, Public Relations Manager at Pumba Private Game Reserve
Responded 18 Feb 2020
Thank you for leaving us such an amazing review and highlighting the Pumba team, they will be so happy to read what you wrote. Warm Regards, The Pumba Team
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We had a lovely time at Pumba. What we loved the most: The games drives are exceptional. Thomas was our driver and he is definitely the best spotter in SA. We saw so much in the two nights we spent in the resort and it was great fun. Also the propoerty (waterlodge) as such is beauitful and so are the rooms. Also, the food is excellent, very tasty. Two minor remark: I would advise to improve the quality of the SPA treatments. Also, we wanted to spontaneouly have lunch in the bush lodge after the SPA treatment which was denied. I believe a reserve of this quality should be more flexible here. Nonetheless we had a fantastic stay with you. Thank you very much.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from PE Hotel Group P, Public Relations Manager at Pumba Private Game Reserve
Responded 22 Jan 2020
Thank you for your review and for choosing Pumba, we are happy that you enjoyed your stay.Thank you for giving us insight as to how we can improve the Pumba experience, we looking forward to having you again! Warm Regards, The Pumba Team
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My wife and I had been to Pumba before to celebrate her birthday and stayed at the Msenge Bush Lodge. As we had such an incredible time, we again decided to celebrate my wife’s birthday at Pumba and this time decided to stay at the Water Lodge. The Water Lodge chalets are right next to Lake Cariega and each have their own private game viewing deck with a plunge pool and outdoor shower. On arrival at our chalet, we were greeted with a fantastic sight, as two large elephants were drinking from the lake, really close to our deck. The deck is a great place to chill and relax and besides watching elephants coming to the lake for a drink, it was fascinating observing the hippos close by next to the lake. Our room was extremely spacious, clean and comfortable with a king-size bed, lounge area, free standing bath, separate shower, double basins and a convenient minibar fridge. As we visited in winter, the fireplace was very useful, providing welcome warmth and creating a lovely ambiance. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is all inclusive and the food was absolutely superb, particularly the deserts. The all-inclusive drinks are good and there is a varied selection. The morning and afternoon game drives were awesome and we saw plenty of wildlife, including lion, elephant, rhino, giraffe, hippo, wildebeest, zebra and many antelope. Brendan our game ranger was very knowledgeable and informative. All the staff were extremely polite, friendly, attentive and efficient. For my wife’s birthday, the staff arranged a bottle of sparkling wine and some treats in the room, which was greatly appreciated. Overall, we once again had a fantastic stay at Pumba and definitely hope to be back.
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Date of stay: July 2019
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from PE Hotel Group Port Elizabeth, Owner at Pumba Private Game Reserve
Responded 01 Jun 2020
Customer experience and satisfaction is our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. Thank you for your beautiful feedback! Warm Regards, The Pumba Team
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Pumba really was 'truly awesome' in every way. This was our first safari, nestled in the middle of a 3 week holiday in SA. We absolutely loved every minute of our 4 night stay, including 7 safari drives, from the minute we arrived and were transferred to our lodge by one of the many excellent staff members. The Water Lodge was amazing - very spacious, incredibly clean, extremely comfortable, excellent facilities and service included. It was very private with our own decked area and plunge pool overlooking the water where we were delighted to see the family of Hippo's including the new baby addition. Dean was our ranger. He was extremely passionate and enthusiastic in sharing his vast knowledge of all the animals, birds, reptiles, insects and spiders, flora, the reserve and conservation activities. He was incredibly inspiring. The stops for morning coffee and evening drinks and snacks simply added to a wonderful experience. We were so lucky to see so many of the animals including lots of white and tawny lions including old Themba, his son, the lioness and her grand-daughter; the elusive leopards; cheetahs; elephants so close we could touch them; giraffe; white rhino including a mum and baby; zebra; wildebeest and impala etc; jackals in abundance. The lounges, dining and public areas were stylish and beautifully decorated in keeping with the reserve. The food was faultless, there was an excellent choice of drinks included and last but not least the staff were all super friendly, hospitable and conscientious. There was just one hiccough, when our taxi driver back to Port Elizabeth airport inadvertently left one of our pieces of luggage in the Pumba car park! But fear not, the manager himself hurtled the 100km drive to the airport with our case allowing us to catch our flight, in the nick of time. What a service!! A fantastic experience, we loved every minute of our stay at Pumba, would definitely recommend it and will hopefully return one day. Thank you very much from a happy and very grateful couple
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from PE Hotel Group Port Elizabeth, Owner at Pumba Private Game Reserve
Responded 18 Mar 2020
Customer experience and satisfaction is our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. Thank you for your beautiful feedback as well as your recommendation. Warm Regards, The Pumba Team
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Such an amazing experience. Right from our drive from the main gate in to the Bush Lodge we saw so much and the ranger driving us in (Dean) stopped to give us some quick views and explained some of the animal behaviours.
The bush lodge was stunning, looks out over a big plain and we were lucky enough to see so much right next to our room from our private plunge pool. We woke to sights of Lions 3 out of 4 mornings and had lots of Giraffe the first afternoon so close to our pool. I spoke to people staying at the water lodge that loved it too, great views of Hippos from there.
We went on 8 drives with Brendin who was brilliant, so passionate and knowledgable. We were very lucky with our sightings but even when we weren’t seeing big animals he kept the drives so interesting, explaining things like termites, weavers nests and middens. There was no question he couldn’t answer, we were really taken aback by his level of knowledge. He gave us a really interesting star gazing session at the lodge one night and he even knows his astrophysics!
All of the meals were fantastic and the snacks and drinks on each game drive were a really nice touch. The staff at the lodge were great, friendly and great service. This was our first safari experience but we spoke to quite a few people who had been to lots of other places but rated Pumba above them. All of them spoke so highly of their rangers too so whilst we feel we really lucked out with Brendin I’m sure whoever you get you’ll love!
I’d recommend the Bush Walk, which we did with Brendin and Cameron and loved, the star gazing and the fishing (especially if you’re at the Bush Lodge because it gives you a look at the Water Lodge). The spa was fantastic too if you get time, we had a massage together and it was great, very reasonably priced too.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from PE Hotel Group Port Elizabeth, Owner at Pumba Private Game Reserve
Responded 17 Mar 2020
Wow, thank you so much, we are so pleased knowing that Pumba is right on top of the leader boarder! The Pumba team will be so excited to hear this, thank you for your your kind comments! Warm Regards, The Pumba Team
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There are more places to choose from in the Grahamstown area.
PRICE RANGE
RÂ 12,981 - RÂ 18,184 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
pumba private game reserve hotel port elizabeth
LOCATION
South AfricaEastern CapeGrahamstown
NUMBER OF ROOMS
23
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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