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4.5
#2 of 4 lodges in Addo Elephant National Park
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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.
Situated on a 14,000ha private concession within the Addo Elephant National Park, RiverBend is a mere 45 minute drive from Port Elizabeth. Home to an abundance of wildlife including elephant, lion, hyena, buffalo, black rhino and a variety of antelope and over 300 bird species, RiverBend is an ideal malaria-free safari addition to a Garden Route holiday. Children of all ages welcome. Pampering treatments are available at Plumbago Spa. Personalized game drives are led by enthusiastic and experienced guides, who will ensure you have a truly memorable safari experience.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Park View
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Xhosa
Location
Zuurberg Road, Addo Elephant National Park 6105 South Africa
RiverBend Lodge was a great place to stay. The staff was friendly and the food was so good. Debbie the manager took care of all of our needs and went beyond. Christiaan our guide made all of our game drives fun and exciting. It is great to have a guide that gets as excited as you do to see the birds, lions, and brown Hyena. Thanks everyone for making our stay so great!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2022
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 Debbie Carinus, General Manager at River Bend Lodge
Responded 11 Oct 2022
Dear Carefreebirder, Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a super review. This is truly how we keep a finger on the pulse of the most important aspect of RiverBend Lodge, You our GUEST. Well, as you discovered we are certainly also a birders paradise, over and above the Big 5, and all the other little creatures that matter just as much, which I know Christiaan would have shared with you. I have been here now for 4 years and I have seen the brown hyena twice, you were so very lucky,....(mmmm maybe I can also give Chris 50% credit for being as you say such a wonderful guide.) Do take care and we wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas (just around the corner) and may the New Year be kind to us all. Sincerey Debbie& The RiverBend Lodge Team
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Well if you want an exclusive experience this is the place for you. Hotel is set in its own private range of Addo national park We had our own wonderful guide Christiaan who’s knowledge is outside standing , he can call to the birds and they answer him , a memory I will never forget . Lots of wonderful Elephants which we had two up close experiences with the herd. the hotel is like being transported back to colonial times. Rooms are beautiful individually set chalets. Moses is wonderful host in the bar and restaurant. An part of the Eastern Cape you must visit . Well worth the drive and money .
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Date of stay: February 2023
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 Debbie Carinus, General Manager at River Bend Lodge
Responded 18 Feb 2023
Dear eganlucy1, Thank you so much for your review. We are delighted that you loved your stay with us, and I will definitely pass onto Moses and to Christiaan your special mention. it is aways so rewarding when Guests fall in love with RiverBend Lodge as much as we have. Thank you again for taking the time to write your review, and hopefully we will see you again when you next in South Africa Sincerely Debbe & The RiverBend Lodge Team
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A fabulous lodge in Addo Elephant National Park. Spacious and luxurious accommodation with a large bath, separate shower, even an outdoor shower. We were in cottage 2 but our friends were in 1 which included a private outdoor pool. There is also a good sized communal outdoor pool. The game drives were good, and our driver Ryan was excellent, although quite new to this area was still very knowledgeable of the park and was good at spotting the animals. Saw lots of elephants of course. To food was nice and well presented. Would definitely go back again.
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Date of stay: October 2023
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 Debbie Carinus, General Manager at River Bend Lodge
Responded 15 Nov 2023
Dear Choward62, Thank you for your great review, and for taking the time to put pen to paper. Ryan is proving to be a great part of our team and I will definitely pass on your feedback to him, as I know it will mean so much. We are delighted that you loved your stay with us , and look forward to the time when we will be able to Welcome you back. Sincerely Debbie & The RiverBend Lodge Team
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I have been lucky enough to do over twenty safari holidays in South Africa, Kenya and Namibia and without doubt the food at River Bend is among the best I have had anywhere. The service from all the team and quality of accommodation also ranks amongst the best I have ever had. However game viewing left a lot to be desired. On the Lodge’s website it states “River Bend Lodge is one of the few game reserves in the Eastern Cape where you can view the Big 5 all in one wilderness area.” I have to question this as Micky, our guide, made it clear that there are no leopards on the property. Another point to note is that although the Lodge is in the Addo National Park it is separated from the main Addo Elephant Reserve by a road and railway track. Within the area covered by the game drives from the Lodge there are, according Micky who did know her stuff, two hundred elephants as opposed to four hundred in the Main Reserve. Even those two hundred elephants were elusive enough although we did have a couple of good sightings of a couple of elephant families. There are only three lions which we did not see, the fact that off road driving is not permitted means that even though the lions are fitted with GPS trackers they are going to be very hard to get close to. There are no cheetahs, or giraffes. We did see rhino, zebra, kudo, mongooses, meerkats, warthogs, vervet monkeys, baboons, leopard tortoises and hartebeest.
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Date of stay: March 2024
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 Debbie Carinus, General Manager at River Bend Lodge
Responded 29 Mar 2024
Dear 4417UNjohna, Thank you for your time in writing your review. We are delighted that our food rated as some of the best you have had and that our accommodation and service also was amongst the best. Yaay this really means the world to us as we are really passionate about what we offer at RiverBend Lodge. However, we are devastated by such an awful score. And I feel I need to give clarity to a few of your incorrect comments, and please I do this respectfully. As a regular safari person, you know that animals in the wild are NEVER a guaranteed sighting and upon chatting to Mikky there seems to have been a bit of confusion to which I need to give 'clarity'. 1.We definitely do have Leopard on the property and in fact it was a previous Guide of RiverBend, that spotted the previously seen Leopard with Guests on his vehicle. Since then, SANParks has placed trails cameras at that site and have happily reported that there are frequent photos on the cameras for the Leopards on that trail and that they have even had photos with cubs at their side. So apologies for that confusion. 2. Also being a SANPark Addo is held to very ethical standards. Nature is a balance, and the land must provide for the animals on the property hence there is no 'feeding' of prey species to habituate them for the benefit of humans and as such our Leopard will continue to be shy and when spotted and absolute moment to treasure. 3. Yes, we do have fewer elephant on our concession area, but then our area is smaller than main camp. We are 14 000ha, they are 24 000ha. With our terrain covering 5 biomes, which main camp doesn't, there are times that animals will go into unreachable valleys. With this point in mind, I do stress that this is why we have the best of both worlds at RiverrBend Lodge, the exclusivity of our 14 000ha as well as access to the other 24 000ha, which other Addo Guests not staying at RiverBend Lodge don't have. The saddest thing is, for all these negative comments, in the last week we have had the lion at the lodge, and the full breeding herd of over 200 elephants, with the cutest of tiny brand-new babies. But that is the luck of the bush and the Guests have been just delighted. 4. No, we don't have cheetah and we don't have giraffe as SANParks is incredibly ethical and will only introduce wild animals which are endemic to the specific area and have never said we do have. Having said all this, I am still so happy that you were well looked after and managed to some of our beautiful reserve. Sincerely Debbie
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True five star experience. We jammed packed game drives and a hike in one day, but the environment is so relaxed and the individual attention made us feel as if we were in the bush for a week. Can be recommended for families with teenagers. My two had a great time.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2021
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 Debbie Carinus, General Manager at River Bend Lodge
Responded 06 Oct 2021
Dear mbronn, Thank you so very much for your most wonderful review and for taking the time to put pen to paper. It means the world to us when our GUESTS love RiverBend Lodge as much as we do. For us its all about your 'luxury of choice' and as busy as you all were, (and that hike was a truly good one, some very real ups and downs ) that you even made and found the time, to also just experience the Lodge, and its beauty is wonderful. As they say 'attitude determines altitude', and if I may be so bold as to say you all were just wonderful and delightful to host, and I am so glad we could rise to meet you positive attitudes, and deliver. Your 'girls' were a delight, and so SO nice to see such well mannered, kind young ladies of that age group. Well done Mom. Looking forward to welcoming you back home to RiverBend Lodge soon. Sincerely, Debbie and the RiverBend Lodge Team.
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Although we probably experienced the worst weather in 6 years, our experience of Riverbend Lodge was amazing. Leo, John, Moses, Debbie, Micky, Mike and many others made our stay very special and we were lucky enough to have seen very close up 4 of the big 5 - This was only because there are not a giraffes at the reserve. We look forward to seeing you again!
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Date of stay: April 2024
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 Debbie Carinus, General Manager at River Bend Lodge
Responded 24 Apr 2024
DearmeS6616IL, Thank you so much for your review and can I just say that the weather, which was just about non-stop rain did not put a dampener on your positive approach to each day. I am so delighted that you had a great time and Thank you for your mention of Team, I will be sure to pass on your comments as it does mean the world to them. We look forward to seeing you again in the future and until then take care. Sincerely Debbie & The RiverBend Team
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We have just moved on from a four night stay at River Bend Lodge. Very friendly and helpful staff and extremely well run by Debbie who puts her hand to everything. The property is like an English Country House Hotel in a private game reserve. The rooms are lovely and comfortable and very well furnished. Breakfast is nice although I would have liked to have seen a few more cold options on the buffet. Lunch and dinner are both very good with friendly service and the inclusive wine list was excellent. Game viewing is perhaps not the best you can experience but the star of the show for us was our Ranger Leo Herbst who was exceptional and possibly the best we have had in many years of safari. Highly informative with a lovely way and his interest in birds was a great benefit for us. He deserves to have a great career This is very much a luxury Lodge and we spent New Year there. Certainly one to return to sometime.
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Date of stay: January 2024
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 Debbie Carinus, General Manager at River Bend Lodge
Responded 06 Jan 2024
Dear mfranks911, Thank you for your absolutely awesome review, and for choosing RiverBend for your holiday. We are so delighted that you loved RiverBend as much as we do, and that your holiday was one that you enjoyed. The wildlife were definitely playing 'Hide n Seek' with us over a good portion of the holiday, especially over the rainy colder days. Do take care and all the very, very best for 2024. Sincerely Debbie & The RiverBend Lodge Tram
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We stayed at Riverbend Lodge for 2 nights and what an experience. The scenery was incredible, feeling really at one with nature. We took every opportunity to enjoy the game drives and Leo our guide was so knowledgable. The staff at the lodge were so friendly and made us feel so welcome. My dreams came true when we got engaged at the lodge- a wonderful celebration, with the team going above and beyond to make it so special for us. We can’t thank them enough. We’d highly recommend staying in this gorgeous lodge, and we’ll definitely be back.
Thanks to all the team
Grace & Dylan x
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Date of stay: February 2022
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 Debbie Carinus, General Manager at River Bend Lodge
Responded 27 Mar 2022
Dear Grace & Dylan, It was only a pleasure to have you share this special occasion with us, and Thank you for choosing RiverBend Lodge as the place where your official life together started. We wish you both nothing but the very best that being a couple offers. We were beyond thrilled to be a part of the arrangements that Dylan had in mind, and we were honored to be a small part of it all, and delighted that it worked so well. We look forward to seeing you again one day, and to share in your journey as you move forward, and hopefully one day introducing your family to RiverBend Lodge as well. Do take care, and Thank you for your wonderful review. Sincerely Debbie & The RiverBend Lodge team
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What a truly wonderful 2 night stay we had at River bend lodge, Addo Elephant park! Welcomed with refreshments in the reception by the staff, followed by a delicious high tea on the veranda.
We were very fortunate with the game we saw, a black rhino, a male elephant in must, a lion kill and a variety of other animals. Our game guide Leo was exceptionally knowledgable and informative and we thouroughly enjoyed our drives out with him.
All of the staff were amazing, we felt very well looked after and spoilt and enjoyed a superb 4 course dinner each night - exceptionally well done.
Would highly recommend, can't wait to go again.
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Date of stay: August 2022
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 Debbie Carinus, General Manager at River Bend Lodge
Responded 11 Oct 2022
Dear Clive, Belinda, Connor & Charlie, Wow, Thank you so much for your most wonderful review, it means the world to us when our GUESTS have the most amazing holidays with us and see us as a 'home from home'. Thank you I will pass on your compliments to the team and to Lep and I know it will mean so much to them as well. Do take care and have the most special Christmas (just around the corner now) and we look forward to sharing RiverBend with you again in the near future. Sincerely Debbie & The RiverBend Lodge team
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We spend two days at River bend lodge. Absolutely amazing lodge. Our game ranger was Chris and he was amazing. He gave us so much information throughout our game drives, and truly went the extra mile. Saw lions, buffalo's and so much more. Once in a lifetime experience when lion roared right next to us. The staff was wonderful, from Debbie to the chef and cleaning staff. The rooms are 5 star, meals was fine dining with the best food prepared for us. Best 2 days ever! Would really recommend this absolutely gem ..you will not regret it.
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Date of stay: May 2021
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 Debbie Carinus, General Manager at River Bend Lodge
Responded 13 May 2021
Dear 7255carinev, Wow what an absolutely stunning review on River Bend Lodge, I am so thrilled that you loved it as much as we do. Chris, is an absolute gem, as are all my other staff (fondly referred to as my A team), they take such a personal pride in River Bend and its wonderful when its noted. Travel safely and take care Sincerely, Debbie & the A Team
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Yes, as others have mentioned, you can. We did this over 2-3 days and saw some game in the Park itself, though not an enormous amount. Often we saw more game on the road from our accommodation to the entrance of River Bend (a dirt road of a few kilometres if I remember correctly, and one which you take to get to and from the Park), so if you do self drive do look out on this stretch. If you do one of the guided tours from River Bend you leave the accommodation in a different direction, but this is not permitted for self-drive.
Make sure to bring the hats and sunscreen as I am sure we will be blessed with a beautiful sunny summer day. The elephants came and paid us a visit for our Christmas lunch last year, so let's hope that we are part of their plans again this year! We are looking forward to hosting you this Christmas! See you soon
Good day Sheena,
The Long Hope Villa is a beautifully restored farmhouse set in a private location nestled between the Zuurberg Mountains and is situated on our 14 000ha private concession of the Addo Elephant National Park. The Villa offers a high standard of accommodation throughout and provides a peaceful retreat for families such as yours. When staying at the Villa, one enjoys the luxury and exclusivity of the ultimate African experience as a private chef and personal guide are provided. The Villa can accommodate up to six guests in three en-suite bedrooms with walk-in dressing rooms. The activities provided are tailored to your personal needs and wants; these include morning and sunset game drives, birding, wine tasting, photographic support and pampering spa treatments. The Villa has a private pool and sunset viewing deck with a daybed and is the perfect location for some down-time.
The temperatures in August are mild and range from 5°C to 25°C with the evenings and mornings being fairly chilly. In the Eastern Cape we enjoy summer rains thus August is relatively dry as it falls within our winter bracket.
I know that we will be able to provide you and your family with the most memorable African safari experience.
If you have any further questions/queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards,
Anthony Lovell and the River Bend Team
Hi Juls,
River Bend has two options, you can either book Bed and Breakfast or an All inclusive option. The All inclusive option will include two game drives per day.
You can contact their reservations department to make arrangements for you.
There are more places to choose from in the Addo Elephant National Park area.
PRICE RANGE
R 8,022 - R 10,383 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
river bend hotel addo elephant national park
LOCATION
South AfricaEastern CapeGreater AddoAddo Elephant National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
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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