Ravineside Lodge comprises tranquil thatched wooden lodges on stilts with magnificent views. Each lodge has 3 or 4 luxury en-suite bedrooms with an African ethnic theme. A private open-plan lounge and bar area extends to the open sundecks. From here guests may indulge in bird and game watching and experience the beauty of the ravine with the rippling sound of water far down in the valley.
This Lodge is wonderfully situated some 600 metres atop an escarpment with stunning views and great opportunities to see the 'Big 5'. The welcome was undertaken personally by the Ranger who guides and protects you throughout your stay as it is not safe to wander around the site due to the proximity of the wildlife. The grounds are a delight with well tendered gardens and grounds. We were very lucky with our Ranger as she was not only very knowledgeable but full of energy and keen to seek out every opportunity on each game drive ( one early am one late pm each day). During the pm drive a stop is taken with drinks you have selected beforehand, being served - cold G & T's , wine, soft drinks & snacks etc - brilliant!!!! - but again take warm clothing, as at this time of year, it gets cold quickly once the sun has gone down. Yor are always greeted back at the Lodge at night with a hot mug of milky chocolate! The amount of game at this location is very good and we saw a great variety except cheater, which is always difficult. The horseriding is excellent and very reasonably priced. The accommadation is good ( about 3*+ - 4*) but be aware the bathrooms are looking fairly tired and need updating - however, bear in mind you are on a safari and we thought this added to the experience. They were always clean with plenty of hot water. The bath towels are very small but are changed daily. At this time of year it is winter with cold nights and although there is electric background heating we did have to ask for extra blankets. Rooms are double beds ( huge) or twins and very comfortable. Tea and coffee facilities are in the room. The food is exceptional in quality and quantity with table service if there are less than 10 guests or a very good buffet if very busy but check the order you have given as there were minor misunderstandings ! Wine and spirits all very well priced & good selection. One issue that did cause me concern was the attitude of the waiting staff when we came to leave. I was approached by a staff member and informed that should I wish to leave a gratuity he would be pleased to pass it on and gave me an envelope. I immediately guessed that some sort of 'scam' was being operated here and handed my gratuity to be shared by all the staff into reception about half an hour before we left. I was then challenged ( I use this term advisedly) on three occasions by different members, waiting and bar staff, who indicated I should have given it to them. I am a fairly robust individual used to dealing with people but I was shocked with the attitude shown which boarded on offensive. At this point I went to reception and complained. This is not the behaviour any guest should be subjected to, let alone on three occasions. It left me with a 'very nasty taste in my mouth'. I was told that ' management' would be informed - I was unable to progress the matter as our transport arrived and I had to leave. Leaving this aside, Ravineside Lodge is a great place to experience Africa and view the wildlife and countryside. The majority of staff were very helpful and the Rangers are exceptional. I would have rated this subject review higher had the gratuity issue not have taken place. This is a place to visit for a real taste of Africa.
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Date of stay: June 2006
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I stayed at Ravineside Lodge for the same marathon event as the previous reviewer and had to write this review as I could not disagree with them more! This place is fantastic and the people are wonderful and really make the experience special. We stayed here for seven nights and I was unfortunate enough to be very ill with a nasty virus and throat infection all week. The staff bent over backwards to make sure I was well looked after and offered to deliver food to the room when I wasn't well enough to make it to the dining room.
Like the other reviewer we did have an inital problem with no hot water in our room but the maintenance team were sent out and the problem was quickly resolved. A few people in our group also experienced unexpected wildlife in their room on a couple of occassions but that's not unusual on a safari holiday! If you don't like it then maybe go and find a nice city break instead! We were all warned not to leave doors and windows open unless you wanted the local wildlife to visit!
Yes there was a long queue for the meat at the after-marathon party but it is no easy operation catering for several hundred people at once in such a remote location with limited space. Nobody else seemed too bothered and it certainly didn't spoil our enjoyment of what turned out to be a fantastic night!
The game drives were simply amazing, we saw a huge range of wildlife including rhinos, elephants, wildebeest, lions, hyenas, jackals, kudus, impalas, bushbabys, warthogs, hippos, various birds and an alligator! Our two rangers, Sander and Marco, made the whole experience even more enjoyable with their incredible knowledge of the local wildlife and their great sense of humour! They worked so hard, day and night, to give us all the best experience possible. They even went as far as saving the lives of several members of our group when some elephants unexpectedly charged them on a bush walk! (Don't let this put you off! The elephants were very unsettled by the unusual goings-on for the marathon preparations and were not behaving in their usual manner. Apparently this was a real first for our very experienced ranger Sander!)
I could not recommend this place more. If you are looking for an exciting adventure holiday in a beautiful location with amazing people then stay here and you will not be disappointed!
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Date of stay: June 2012
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Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
This lodge is set within spectacular scenery, approx 3 1/2 hour transfer from jo'burg. On our visit we were the only guests at the lodge which made the place seem very empty but nice at the same time. On our arrival we drove past some rhinos which were always located by the front of the lodge. There are 5 lodges on the game reserve, the ravineside lodge is on the upper escarpment which is 30min drive from the lower escarpment (which is where the lions are) so this eats into quite a large chunk of your daily game drives. I would recommend to stay at one of the other lodges on the lower escarpement to increase the amount of time that you get to see the big cats, especially if you are only spending 2 days there. At our lodge the pool was empty during our stay, not that this really bothered us but could some people. They did off to drive us to another lodge if we wanted to go swimming. The food was ok but just lacked a bit of inspiration and quality. There was nothing to complain about but you was not blown away eithe. The choice was a limited and did not wet your lips. On our last night the manager booked us into the kingfisher lodge (5*) for dinner but again the food was fairly similar. The staff were all extremely helpful and warm and made your feel very welcome. Your ranger takes you everywhere and looks after all your needs during your stay. The rooms are set overlooking on the edge of a ravine which is a lovely setting although we did not really see much wildlife from the room (not that we were there much). All you can see is rocks and bushes into the distance. The bed was extremely comfortable but the bathroom was a bit dissapointing. during our 3 days we see 4 of the big 5 which was great. The buffalo are rare on the reserve though we managed to see them but this was the first time our ranger had seen them for 10 weeks. the reserve is massive so this is not surprising but do not expect to see wildlife every minute of the day. On occasions we did spend a couple of hours driving around and not seeing very much. i dont think this is because there is many animals, it is just wildlife with free roam over a very large area. Enjoyed our stay but not sure whether i was given any real reasons to go back
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Date of stay: September 2011
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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We went in November 2009 for four nights with Virgin Holidays. Its about a three hour drive from JBurg on great roads for most of the journey. The scenery is spectacular as the reserve is on two levels, on top and below a massive escarpment and even with two three hour drives a day I doubt we covered the same ground on more than one occasion. The food and accomodation were excellent and the staff were very efficient and friendly. The Ranger we had for the four days was superb and made the whole experience something never to forget. The lodges are perched on the side of a ravine and are very comfortable, great place to sit in the sun and look over the plain on the other side. Beer, wine etc. were the only thing we had to pay for and were very reasonable considering you are a captive audience. There was more than enough to see for four days as the reserve is vast and the variety of animals fantastic. We had a couple of twitchers on our outings for two of the days which added to the experience as the variety of bird life is amazing. I could not recommend Ravenside highly enough and for value for money hard to beat in my opinion. One piece of advice, having flown to SA before when we went up to Kruger, it makes the trip less tiring if you stay beside JBurg airport for a night to catch up on your sleep/allow for late flight arrival and then pick up a hire car early the next morning from the airport. We stayed in the Emperors Palace which is only 5 mins from airport, and enjoyed the spa facitities which was a fanastic way to recover from an overnight flight, and it makes sure you get up to Entabeni in time for lunch and your first game drive in the late afternoon.
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Date of stay: November 2009
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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This place was fantastic. A good 3 hours drive north of Jo'burg airport and no where near Kruger as had been previously advertised on the virgin website - but a truly amazing place all the same.
We stayed in the Ravineside lodges, overlooking the huge ravine - the otherside of which is usually where the giraffes roam (still in view from your room).
The accommodation is great (albeit very cold at night in the south african winter - although the heated blankets keep you warm in bed!). Lovely rooms, set in traditional African decor. Not massive, but big enough for what you need.
The restaurants were fantastic (you rotate each night eating at different parts of the reserve and in one case outdoors by the fire). Food is lovely, varied and plentiful. Your game ranger eats with you too which is fun - although, they probably get bored of all the questions!
The game drives, 2 a day and included in the price, are brilliant. The team of trackers 9 time out of 10 help you find what you are looking for so we got to see giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras etc which were fantastic. They even stop after an hour or so, so you can get out, stretch your legs and have a hot chocolate/beer/whatever you want.
I can't recommend this place highly enough - it was a total joy to stay there and one of the best experiences I've ever had. If this is only a 3 and a half star (virgin rating), the others must be something out of this world because I couldn't have asked for more from this resort. You'll love it.
A little tip, if you go in their winter (english summertime) be prepared for it to get VERY very cold. You must take some big big jumpers and coats, because before sun rise and after sun set it is freezing. The party before us brought every single fleece jacket and jumper from the small gift shop, so we had to resort to wearing 6 or 7 t-shirts every time we went out! Be prepared to wrap up!! (Nb - it's still baking hot in the day - sunbathing in shorts weather!)
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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.
We only spent two days here, but it seemed like a lifetime. Superlatives are the only adjectives for the place and the friendly accommodations provided us. The "lodge" is a complex of the main building with restaurant, bar (where one can find wi-fi connections) and office, and the huts that hang along the ravine about 500 meters distant. Our picturesque hut was clean, spacious, and provided a fine view from its windows. For relaxation was the common room and deck, which offered a spectacular view. The only drawback was that these huts are not built for "cold season", and it dropped into the 40F-degree range overnight. There is one "heater" on the wall that was not particularly effective. The good news is the cozy bed with the electric blanket. There is also tea and (instant) coffee in the room, with an electric pot to heat the water. The bath was large, and the shower hot and with good spray. (Toiletries were provided.) While these may be huts, you are not roughing it by any means. They were kept clean and tidy. Meals were simple and tasty. Breakfast featured custom made omelettes. There were plenty of other options served buffet style. Lunch and dinner were also simple, beef, lamb, chicken and vegs, plus salads, dessert and all one could expect. Although simple, the staff did a fine job making them tasty and filling. The evening also offered an impromptu African music and dance "show" in which all are welcome to participate. The entire staff was just wonderful. They couldn't have been more kind and friendly. The game drives were the star of the show, and we couldn't have been happier or more thrilled by our experience in the bush. It wasn't just a drive around a zoo without cages. The scenery was breathtaking. The animals were being themselves, essentially ignoring the vehicles and humans. Our ranger guide Marcus was truly expert in spotting and tracking animals, and discerning their moods. His ability to pick up on the minutiae and explain it was a huge part of the journey - he not only showed us things, he explained them thus making sense of what we witnessed, including such events as a cheetah attack on a herd of wildebeest. This is one of the places we instantly "missed" once departed. Superlatives are the only description.
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Date of stay: May 2017
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Trip type: Travelled with family
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 Bridget V, Client Liason at Ravineside Lodge
Responded 01 Jun 2017
Good Day Rocketman53 We were thrilled to read your wonderful comments about your stay at Ravineside Lodge. We are heartened to read that you had a legendary stay and enjoyed the food, friendly staff, rooms and game drives. We look forward to welcoming you back in the not too distant future.
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Words are inadequate to describe the awesomeness of this place! The accommodations are so attractive and unique, the staff so friendly and attentive, and the game drives out of this world! Saw more animals than I ever expected--up close with elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, and many more. Marcus is an incredible guide and knows where to look for all the different species. The setting is spectacular and overall an unbelievable experience.
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Date of stay: May 2017
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 Bridget V, Client Liason at Ravineside Lodge
Responded 01 Jun 2017
Good Day Sees50 Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your stay at Ravineside Lodge. We are heartened to read that you had a legendary stay and that you enjoyed the accommodation, staff and game drives. We look forward to welcoming you back in the not too distant future.
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For oversease visitors in particular, please be assured that this is not indicative of what South Africa has to offer - it is over priced and over valued - and can hardly be termed a bush lodge when compared to other, less pricey venues. The management staff do not go close to making it an experience to remember. A suggestion is to research a few other nearby lodges to compare, before you make a choice of accomodation - the Waterberg setting is magnificent... and offers much, it is sad that visitors will rate their stay based on this.
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Date of stay: November 2006
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Check-in / front desk
Service
Business service (e.g., internet access)
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.
We have been several times to Entabeni and visited several lodges like Lakeside, Kingfisher and Ravineside. Ravineside is by far our favorite since you have the best feeling of being in the bush. Its a very relaxed lodge with good food and nice rooms. The game drives are fantastic, you see a lot and get a lot of information. You can't compare it with Botswana in amount of game, it's a smaller park of course, but a beautiful environment.
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Date of stay: June 2017
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Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Any room is good with great view over the ravine.
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 Bridget V, Cleint Liason at Ravineside Lodge
Responded 29 Jun 2017
Good Day Hannelore B Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your stay at Ravineside Lodge. We are heartened to read you had a legendary stay and enjoyed the food and rooms. We look forward to welcoming you back in the not too distant future
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this really was a great experience and the location of the rooms on the ravine was absolutely amazing! The staff was extremely accommodating, friendly and genuine. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't fantastic either so if I had to make one sub-par comment, that would be it. I recommend this resort!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: April 2017
Value
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Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
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 MichelleBouic, Client Liason at Ravineside Lodge at Ravineside Lodge
Responded 04 May 2017
Morning jillbX2414CC Thank you for the feedback on your stay at Ravineside Lodge. We are heartened to read that your overall stay was a legendary one. Your comments about the food have been passed onto management. We look forward to welcoming you back in the not too distant future.
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Good day,
Thank you for the inquiry. Yes we do offer vegetarian dishes and fish dishes, this just needs to be mentioned upon booking. make sure to let our reservations department aware of the preference. You may call 012 443 6700 for more information.
Good Day,
During March you can expect cooler temperatures, especially at night. The temperature averages 21 Degrees during the day and roughly 16 degrees during the evenings
There are more places to choose from in the Entabeni Game Reserve area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
ravineside hotel entabeni game reserve
LOCATION
South AfricaLimpopo ProvinceWaterbergEntabeni Game Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
22
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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