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In the Mpumalanga Highlands a 2.5 hour drive from Johannesburg, Critchley Hackle is a Mecca for stressed execs and tourists. The hotel and its surrounding area is a great destination to just chill and enjoy the tranquil setting. The red tinned roof and sandstone building is typically “Old Transvaal”.A beautiful small lake stocked with Rainbow Trout awaits guests at their front door. We have trout rods and flies for the use of keen fisherman. Please note we do not practice catch and release, so your catch of the day is weighed and sold to the proud fisherman. Our team will be happy to either cook and or package the fish to be taken home.Ideally suited for both business and leisure, we offer luxurious country accommodation and leisure activities.
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
Mid-range
Lake View
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans
Location
Teding Van Berkhout Street, Dullstroom 1110 South Africa
Critchley Hackle
4 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Critchley Hackle Lodge is quaint hotel with its own old-world charm in Dullstroom. We stayed over for a night on our way back from Kruger National Park to Gauteng. Our room was nice, and the bathroom was impressive. There was only a fireplace in the room but no air-conditioning or ceiling fan, which meant that the room was a bit hot during the summer night. The view of the grounds and trout pond was beautiful. The highlight of our stay was the restaurant which is under new ownership - called Clarky's Lakeside Restaurant. The service and food were outstanding - the best that my husband and I had in a very long time. We can really recommend this restaurant for lunches (with the beautiful view of the pond) and dinners. The only negative aspect was perhaps our encounter with reception and any questions or suggestions we had. After experiencing the greatest hospitality and service excellence at the resort we stayed in close to Kruger, it would have been nice to also have a "can do" and welcoming attitude, as opposed to a "take-it or leave-it " attitude.
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Date of stay: March 2025
Value
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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.
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Gorgeous Cottage, one of the most beautiful places I've been! The Cottage was on two floors, with two fireplaces, one in the living room and one in the bedroom, comfy beds even with heated blankets! The Cottage was stocked with everything, there was even cherry in the living room! Beautiful.
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Date of stay: August 2024
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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.
Our plan was to spend two days relaxing at Critchley, taking full advantage of the serenity, the quiet and the views over the lake. The room was great and staff were attentive and accommodating. The breakfast at the restaurant was great notwithstanding the fact that a runner was dispatched to get white bread from the town for toast. The one thing to be aware of though is that the units are individually owned and rented out. And so standards might vary from one unit to the next. The one sour note during our stay was that one of the owners (I managed to find out who this individual was) did detract from the experience with his sense of self importance and his disregard for the guests. He clearly was organizing some work on his unit/s over a weekend by instructing workers right next to our unit and then also having a meeting with some of the staff right in front of our patio on the Saturday afternoon. One would think that as an owner he would be sensitive to the needs of guests renting his unit/s.
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip 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 had a number of excellent meals in the hotel's restaurant.
The fried trout was done to perfection. On another occasion we had the Mezze platter (outstanding value) and so was the chicken nayo sandwich. Portions are liberal.
Staff are friendly and attentive.
My friend had a 90min massage and rated it excellent.
Will be back - this time staying in this hotel.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip 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.
We often stop in Dullstroom on our way to the Kruger for breakfast or lunch on our return. Finding Critchley Hackle for a few nights stay was areal bonus. We had family from the UK and this was an excellent stopover. The rooms are set around a beautiful lake and gardens. They are comfortable, neat and clean. We had a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival which was excellent sitting on the stoop with a glass enjoying the view.
Critchley is in easy walking distance for most of the town and restaurants.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
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Location
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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.
What a disappointment. Booked through Booking.com. accommodation was called Leisure 1. Was right next to the restaurant kitchen. Kitchen windows open, noisy staff, extraction fans , wash line area, noisy staff whole weekend. Needed rest and relaxation only to have such a disappointing experience. When we arrived Friday eve and checked in we could hear the noise. Asked to move, but reception told us that our unit was privately owned and we would not be refunded and that we would have to pay again for another unit. What a disappointing choice. Friday night dinner at restaurant, over cooked, burnt, lamb shank. So very disappointing all round.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
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.
My husband urgently needed a place to stay in Dullstroom due to bad weather (you do not want to be on these roads with poor visibility). I needed to find a place that would also give him dinner and it was a Monday night. Leticia phoned me back, gave directions, asked her kitchen to wait for him, updated me on loadshedding and assured me I’d know when he arrived safely. My husband enjoyed his stay and said it was comfortable and excellent accommodation.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
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 did a overnight at Critchley Hackle Lodge over easter weekend , everything was great until we found that we had no hot water. Reception is indicated at the restaurant building and did what seem to be the normal thing ask for the manager and raised the cold water issue ,only to be met with an equally cold response - " it is not my problem". Apparently all units have different owners. My response was that if the stay-over experience is bad , it influences my attitude to the Critchley entirely INCLUDING the restaurant . This very rude restaurant owner completely disagreed to the extend asking m e to leave. What is very clear the unit owners and the restaurant owner is not aligned in providing the best service. I suggest they need time to sort this out and in the meantime I wont be visiting them again , trying Walkers would be the better option!
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Date of stay: April 2022
Location
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.
From arrival at reception, attention to detail in the unit (flowers etc), beautiful grounds and excellent location makes this the perfect stay. The restaurant offers delicious five star food and ambience. Highly recommended.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
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.
Booked the Lakeside rooms again as these are ideal for a weekend stay as a couple. Views of the lake and the trout rising. Docks squabbling and chasing each other is the only sound that disturbs the tranquillity of this setting.
The staff are always friendly and very helpful if you need anything and will not disturb you if you just some quality time.
Secure parking and usually ample, unless they are fully booked.
Easy walking distance to the main part of Dullstroom so make strolling around the town simple.
Definitely looking forward to our next visit.
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Date of stay: February 2024
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.
There are more places to choose from in the Dullstroom area.
PRICE RANGE
R 1,271 - R 2,051 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaMpumalangaDullstroom
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
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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