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What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
#1 of 2 lodges in Mid Illovo
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Travellers' Choice
Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway weekend, a family adventure or an indulgent spa day, Gwahumbe Game & Spa is the ideal KZN game reserve destination where you can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the bushveld. Stay the day, stay the weekend, stay the whole week; you’ll feel right at home at our close-enough — yet away-from-it-all — bush escape. Gwahumbe is a private game reserve situated just an hour’s drive from Durban and a 45-minute drive from Pietermaritzburg. Our relatively small reserve is easy to navigate, with a network of 4×4 roads to enjoy. This means a weekend day trip or a safari getaway is possible in equal measure. The reserve has diverse and sometimes dramatic views to inspire awe in any nature-lover.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Sauna
Bar / lounge
Hiking
Darts
Children's playground
Secured parking
Internet
Hot bath
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Private pool
Plunge pool
Shallow end in pool
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Fishing
Patio
Table tennis
Walking tours
Board games / puzzles
Indoor play area for children
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids' outdoor play equipment
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Body wrap
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot bath
Foot massage
Full body massage
Hand massage
Head massage
Manicure
Massage
Neck massage
Open-air bath
Pedicure
Steam room
BBQ facilities
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
First aid kit
Umbrella
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Clothes rack
Coffee / tea maker
Kitchenette
Extra long beds
Walk-in shower
Private bathrooms
Refrigerator
Electric kettle
Electric blanket
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Mountain view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Zulu
Hotel links
Location
D368 Road, Mid Illovo 3750 South Africa
E-mail hotel
Getting there
Car HireSee all Mid Illovo car hire
602Reviews1Q+A86Room tips
Reviews
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We had a super time for or company Christmas Getaway - with an overnight stay at Eagles nest for 6 of us form the office, including meals, spa treatments and a gamer drive, The service and staff were fantastic, with amazing spa treatments and a great game drive. What a wonderful getaway to relax and enjoy nature so close to Durban but you feel you are miles away
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
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Sleep Quality
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.
Helpful
Response from Shanon MacKenzie, Owner at Gwahumbe Game & Spa
Responded yesterday
Thank you for your great review. We are thrilled that you created happy Gwahumbe memories. We hope to see you soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Property's Favourite Review
A most delightful spot to visit - a lovely oasis in the middle of sugar cane territory. It's less than 100km and an hour from Durban - great for a getaway or even a day's outing. The staff are awesome, so friendly and helpful, and Graeme the reserve manager goes out of his way to make things fun and comfortable. Beautiful scenery, challenging walks and stunning sunsets. The food is delicious and substantial. Note that the main lodge, replacing the original that burnt down in a bush fire, is still under construction for the next couple of months. We heartily recommend Gwahumbe.
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Date of stay: August 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Eagles Nest if in a group
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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.
Helpful
Response from Shanon MacKenzie, Owner at Gwahumbe Game & Spa
Responded 21 Aug 2022
Thank you Clive for your great review. We cant wait for our new lodge to be complete and look forward to showcasing it to you on your next visit.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The service was perfect. From the food to the accommodation. However my partner and I feel like there should have been bicycles for hire not for one to bring along their own. All in all everything was amazing.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Helpful
Response from Shanon MacKenzie, Owner at Gwahumbe Game & Spa
Responded 4 days ago
Thank you for your review and for coming all the way from Lesotho to visit us. We enjoyed meeting you both. We have previously had bicycles for hire but mountain bikes are very personalised pieces of equipment and our terrian although ideally suited for mountain bikes is difficult for beginners so the bikes spent more time in the workshop than on the trails. It really wasnt worth our while to continue hiring out the bikes hence we ask people to bring their own. We trust you understand our predicament
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
On arrival we were welcomed well, filled in where it was necessary, we started with a massage the targeted areas weren't focused on and the massage only went as far to the shoulders. Unless that's how it's done we thought a full body includes the neck and head. The game drive was epic big ups to John. The food I'd give it a 6/10 on both my meal and my partners.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2023
Value
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.
Helpful
Response from Shanon MacKenzie, Owner at Gwahumbe Game & Spa
Responded 5 days ago
Thank you for your review. Our massages generally do not include the head as many ladies are precious about their hairstyles. It would be nice to know why you have scored your meal so poorly . I am delighted you enjoyed your game drive
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed for 2 nights in the amazing Riversbend accommodation. We couldn't have asked for anything more. Fixtures, fittings and features were top class and had been thought out with care and attention. You wont get a better view from a bath in all the rooms being ensuite. The weather was not great whilst there so unfortunately, so couldn't take advantage of the outside area which was a huge shame as it was wonderful with an infinity plunge pool, overlooking majestic views of the valley, wood fired hot tub, hammock style platform perfect to watch weaver birds in action or star gazing as well as a boma to sit around a fire. Although the weather prevented us using outdoor facilities, we were cozy and warm with the indoor fire. Cannot recommend this highly enough. We all had a massage in the spa, meals and drinks in restaurant and went on a game drive. A big shout out to all the staff who were so accommodating changing times and order of our activities to suit our needs. I wish you all the success with this wonderful venue and thank you for making our stay so special. …
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Helpful
Response from Shanon MacKenzie, Owner at Gwahumbe Game & Spa
Responded 3 weeks ago
Thank you for your great review! We are thrilled that had such a happy time at Gwahumbe.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Visited Gwahumbe for the second time and found it better than the last.The new restaurant serves meals that are world class and the friendly staff are amazing.Accommadation is everything you could wish for and a self drive around the resort was simple and lots of fun even in the rain.The staff stop at nothing to make your stay enjoyable.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Helpful
Response from Shanon MacKenzie, Owner at Gwahumbe Game & Spa
Responded 3 weeks ago
Thank you for your review. We are thrilled that you created happy Gwahumbe memories. We hope to see you soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The overall experience was good. The staff are friendly. The views are impeccable and tranquil. The best experience of the luxury package was the game drive. John was an exceptional guide, very informative and passionate about the wildlife. The spa was nice, the massage was good - they need to invest in spa robes/gowns. In terms of food, the mains were good just very disappointed by dessert after asking the staff if the waffle was freshly made and she confirmed, we received unfresh and stale waffles. Lastly, very disappointed in the unmaintained pool, they need to do better and have a clean and maintained pool safe to swim. Overall a good experience, I would recommend!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
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.
Helpful
Response from Shanon MacKenzie, Owner at Gwahumbe Game & Spa
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you for taking the time to review Gwahumbe. We dont use spa gowns for single massages. We utilise them when people have more than one treatment. We apologise about the waffles. They are normally made daily to order. We have adressed with the kitchen. We were having issues with our pool pump at the time of your visit and do apologise for this. The pump has been replaced and the pool is back in operation. Thanks once again for advising us of these issues.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had an amazing stay. Its pricey but if you want luxury you'll certainly find it. The lady at the desk was incredible. She was always willing to help even to the point of coming to the cottage during the storm to see why the generator hadn't kicked in. She was helpful and super accommodating. My only complaint (just to be fair) is that our towels smelled damp so that could be improved. Nevertheless i wish we could have extended our stay. We loved it.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Helpful
Response from Shanon MacKenzie, Owner at Gwahumbe Game & Spa
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you for taking the time to review Gwahumbe. We are thrilled that you had a good time. Thank you for bringing the towels to our attention. This has been addressed with both the laundry and the housekeeping teams.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The main lodge was recently reopened following a fire in 2020. Everything is beautiful with lovely soft furnishings and interiors of natural wood and glass. The room was a bit older but very spacious and comfortable with peaceful balcony. We had dinner which was very nice and a great breakfast the next day. Service was good too, We are 2 females and wanted 2 single beds so the king bed was very quickly changed for us. We saw some buck, zebra and ostrich on the game drive but no giraffe unfortunately. Lodge is in a beautiful location though so scenery was nice. Buck coming past our room was great to see. If you are looking for a game lodge experience at a reasonable price and not too worried about seeing big 5 then this location is for you. I was wishing we had one extra night to try the Spa. Some kms on a gravel road but I had a sedan and was ok. …
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Helpful
Response from Shanon MacKenzie, Owner at Gwahumbe Game & Spa
Responded 12 Oct 2023
Thank you for your great review. We are thrilled that you created happy Gwahumbe memories. We hope to see you soon.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Everything was pleasant, the food and was very nice. The staff was very friendly and loving. We really enjoyed the massage and the game drive experience. I would strongly recommend Gwahumbe to anyone.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: August 2023Trip 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.
Helpful
Response from Shanon MacKenzie, Owner at Gwahumbe Game & Spa
Responded 02 Oct 2023
Thank you for your great review. We are thrilled that you created happy Gwahumbe memories. We hope to see you soon.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
US$179 - US$272 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalMid Illovo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
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Claim Your ListingGWAHUMBE GAME & SPA - Now R 3 333 (Was R̶ ̶5̶ ̶4̶5̶4̶) - UPDATED 2023 Lodge Reviews & Price Comparison (Mid Illovo, South Africa) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Gwahumbe Game & Spa
What are some of the property amenities at Gwahumbe Game & Spa?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Gwahumbe Game & Spa?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, a refrigerator, and extra long beds.
What food & drink options are available at Gwahumbe Game & Spa?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Gwahumbe Game & Spa?
Yes, free parking, a parking garage, and secured parking are available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Gwahumbe Game & Spa?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a sauna during their stay.
Does Gwahumbe Game & Spa offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Gwahumbe Game & Spa?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Afrikaans, and Zulu.