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.
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.
THE GORGE PRIVATE GAME LODGE & SPA Hotel is Boutique Lodge & Spa in the Oribi Gorge, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa is nestled in the pristine area of Kwazulu-Natal's South Coast, a mere 35km inland from Port Shepstone. Referred to as the "photographer's and nature lover's paradise," it has been carefully positioned to afford guests access to 5000ha of Oribi Flats prime land in the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve. The opulent, eco-friendly design of the spacious villas boasts double volume glass, offering guests panoramic views of the magnificent Oribi Gorge canyon. Elevated 4 metres off the ground, each villa flows seamlessly from state-of-the-art comfort and luxury into the unique indigenous coastal forest with its abundance of butterfly and birdlife. TV, DVD, DSTV, air-conditioner - hot & cold, digital safe, hairdryer, fully stocked mini-bar, tea/coffee making facilities, room service, laundry service on request. DINING DEFINED: Guests can savour a selection of estate wines in the open-plan restaurant while interacting with the chefs as they creatively prepare first class, fine dining cuisine with its distinct "African Fusion." THE ULTIMATE SPA EXPERIENCE: Experience a moment of complete indulgence, pampering and luxury at our lavish day spa which offers a range of therapies incorporating the exclusive products of Dermalogica, Africology and LCN. Professional therapists and breathtaking views enable guests to immerse themselves in peace and tranquility. EXPLORE & EXPERIENCE: With our owner run establishment's emphasis on attention to detail, personalised service and a sense of "timelessness," our guests are pampered in all areas of their stay at their own leisure. Nature lovers will enjoy our informative guided trails through the indigenous coastal forests with its rich bio-diversity of plant, animal, insect and 250 recorded bird species. Most of Southern Africa's plains animals can be seen on our daily game drives. ON-SITE ACTIVITIES: birding, game viewing, hiking trails, guided trails, visit to our bat cave, visit to our historic bushman paintings, swimming, fresh water fishing. ARRANGED ACTIVITIES: Mountain biking, horse riding, golf, abseiling, white water rafting, kayaking deep-sea diving off the world-renowned Aliwal Shoal, educational Game drives are available daily.
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
Modern
Trendy
Languages Spoken
Afrikaans
Location
Lot 15 Pengaan Farm Oribi Gorge, Paddock 4240 South Africa
What an amazing place this is, truly 5 star! Everything is immaculate and the staff are phenomenal, nothing is too much for them and you don't lift a finger while you are there, their attention to detail is like no other. Our car was even washed to our surprise after we spent the day out and about on dirt roads with a mat at the doors before we got in.
The rooms are stylish and plush and super clean with everything you could need. We were surprised with rose petals on our bath and bed, gowns and slippers put out for us each night.
The views are to die for wherever you are in the hotel.
They arranged high tea for us in the jacuzzi after a day out doing zip lining nearby and it did not dissapoint.
We spent a whole day by the pool soaking in the gorgeous views of the gorge while eating delicious food and sipping tasty cocktails.
Breakfast was included and it was a delight each morning and super filling.
Dinner was lovely, I feel a bit over priced for what you get and food not as great as at Chefs Table in Durban but if you are not used to good food you will love it.
We enjoyed an hour hot stone massage and it was devine leaving us super relaxed.
There are stunning picnic spots all around the resort and you are able to have privacy all the time, the only time we saw people was at dinner or breakfast or late afternoon by the pool.
We will definitely be back, a weekend is too short and we didn't want to leave.
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Date of stay: August 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 Mike Cross, Owner at The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa
Responded 13 Sept 2020
Thank you for your amazing review. We sorry to hear that your dinner was disappointing, we certainly hope that you will visit again so that we can remedy this experience for you. Best Regards Mike & The Gorge Team
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We had an amazing holiday at The Gorge Spa and Lodge. We arrived to a wonderful friendly warm welcome from your staff Tinashe with impressive photography skills making sure we capture the beauty that enveloped us. He and his team ensured we had the most memorable time. Nothing was too much trouble. This warmth and attention to detail continued throughout our stay. The beauty of the Gorge is breathtaking. We could not get enough of it. The food was sublime, gastronomical. Chef was always very accommodating especially during our vegetarian fast days. We were presented with the cutest surprise on our anniversary with the most delicious choc brownies I've ever tasted and when we returned to our room another surprise awaited us with a special Anniversary turndown with rose petals and evening treats.
The views and the staff as well as the food deserves 5 stars. We also enjoyed an amazing spa treatment with Wendy and team.
My only critic would be our accommodation which was the suite8 which had the most magnificent views but was very dated. We felt housekeeping needs attention. Our showers seemed unhygienic or very stained and we were quite uncomfortable with that.
Aside from that we had a fabulous holiday and I think the staff are the real gems of this establishment. Thank you to Tinashe and team.
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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 656MikeC656, Manager at The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa
Responded 17 Mar 2020
Thank you for your review. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. Thank you also for pointing out your concerns with your room and in particular the shower. We do apologize for the inconvenience this may have been whilst staying with us. This will be remedied immediately. I will pass on your comments to Tenashe, the Chef and the other staff :) Best Regards Mike & The Gorge Team
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I can’t find the right words to describe how beautiful the lodge is. Even with the Misty weather, it was absolutely beautiful to watch. The villa is exactly what you see on the website (unfortunately we had to keep requesting reception to help with the ants in the bathroom on the ceiling). No WiFi or network in the rooms is a glitch. On the night of arrival we were informed that the generator is switched off at 10pm, that was disappointing for a 5 star lodge at over 5k a night for a villa I should expect not to experience any power outage. The staff is very friendly and helpful, they do add a bit of a personal touch and finding our car washed upon check out was really a great gesture.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip 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 Mike Cross, Marketing at The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa
Responded 15 Nov 2021
Thank you for your review and we happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We do apologize for no Wi-Fi in the rooms, we are trying to find suppliers that can provide sustainable green solutions. During Load Shedding we run the generator between 6am to 10pm daily, we will consider extending the running time. Thank you for your honest feedback. Best Regards Mike & The Gorge Team
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The Gorge is placed on the edge of the Orbi Gorge , a beautiful place where your state of mind is peaceful, the nights are quiet and serene, its tranquility sets souls to sour. Plentiful bird life and a steep yet rewarding hike to the river bed. As one guest mildly joking said for me it’s once and that’s it’s . We were not impressed with reservations and they handling of guest requests . The rooms are spacious but the decor is dating and this is in general throughout the hotel . The air conditioner leaked and worked erratic. The staff went out of their way to please their guest and when they didn’t understand a request they didn’t hesitate to peruse and find a solution. Save for one lady , we didn’t get her name didn’t greet us on arrival, nor said a word to us on our tour of the property, her “aid assistant” did all the talking and was very friendly. The food was subpar and not with the times in comparison to what we have enjoyed and what is being done on our visits to the restaurants of similar caliber in South Africa. At breakfast they had on the menu certain items that were not served, only when asked were we told “guest need to request this” we noted a similar query from a irate guest at the nearby table. The so called pancakes were pathetic and the omelette burned. The dinner menu for both days were very similar and certain ingredients were crossed used. The rooms did not have Wi-Fi connectivity, nor screen doors on the sliding doors so that one could allow fresh air to circulate in the room , the morning sun peered through the shower windows and if one has all the curtains open nearby rooms could see right into your bathroom shower. We were also bunched up at meal time, and this is at COVID 19 , whereas the weather allowed for eating on the patio etc . We found the pricing of the general hotel it’s accommodations and what it has to offer overpriced compared to what one would get at some of the leading lodges in South Africa that we visited. Apart from this the beautiful scenery and natural environment that surrounded us , we overlooked our critical analysis of the hotel. We would not rate it a 5 star hotel. A day visit would be adequate to enjoy this beautiful place.
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Villas are nicer to
Choose
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 Mike Cross, Marketing at The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa
Responded 27 Sept 2021
Thank you for your review, we appreciate the time taken and feedback. All your points have been noted and will be addressed urgently. We proud ourselves with our facility, service and amenities, so will therefore not leave this un-addressed. We do apologize in how this has affected your experience with us. Best Regards Mike & The Gorge team
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We spent 2 nights in the lovely villas. On arrival we were welcomed by a very friendly and enthusiastic Tinashe who even went as far as capturing our precious moments on camera for us! Every single one of the members of staff made sure to make us feel extra special. That evening we enjoyed a few cocktails at the bar & later went on to chill by the romantic fire in the games/reading room! Dinner, lunch & breakfast were spectacular! The following morning we enjoyed a lovely couples treatment at the spa & spent the most part of the trip lounging at the pool or in the villa taking in the exquisite views. A nice touch on checking out is that our vehicle had been washed for us & mats laid out to clean our feet on entry into our car, this we had not expected but really appreciated.
Thank you to everyone at The Gorge on making this an incredibly special stay!
Hope to be back soon
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip 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 Mike Cross, Marketing at The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa
Responded 22 Sept 2021
Wow, thank you for your lovely review. We are very pleased to know that you enjoyed our facilities, service and piece of paradise. We look forward to host your or your friends/family again. Best Regards Mike & The Gorge Team
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If you looking for a place that has an ethereal feel, the best food you will ever have in your life, the best service you will ever find, from arrival and during your stay. Describing the place is hard because I believe no picture can do the views of the Oribi Gorge justice its beauty is seriously breathtaking. The spa is quaint but the masseuses will give you the best most relaxing massage!!! This place is like your house that is surrounded by people who can cater to your every whim without at all being intrusive. A shout out to all the staff that made our stay amazing, Zikho, Babusi, Wisdom,Nhla, Michael, Mlungisi, Tinashe,Linda and the many other Porters, HotelManager, Housekeepers, waitresses that just made out stay as amazing as they possibly could and for singing on my birthday and the morning after!! I say Thank you !!! All I can say is please visit this Lodge that deserves another star to make it a 6-star place just make sure you drive a car that can withstand some wind and the gravel road leading to the Lodge!! I would add though that you please add a more comprehensive tea selection inside the rooms instead of just rooiboss and five roses!!
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Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Â save up for the Luxury Villas
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.
The views are breathtaking. From the receptionist, Zodwa(what a pleasant soul) to the ground personnel. The welcome drinks were just what the hot weather asked ordered. Remy and Tafara showed us the dining room, bar and the legend lounge. Then it was the room of the Villa and its spectacular views. Comfortable bed, large bathtub, inside and outside shower (pity the jealous weather was not permiting to shower outside). The curtains were drawn every night and hot water bottles were inserted between the sheets. That was handy. Load shedding was mitigated with the use of generators. Food was scrupulous, thanks to the Chef Ntombi. Then we got lost on the night of the 11th Sep and Remy came to the rescue with live location and follow up calls on directions. The entire team (Zodwa, Tafara, Remy, Obert, Elias, Mlungisi, Tinashe, Chino and the youngest most enthusiastic Mihle (wishing you all the best for the future)) were exceptional. Lest I forget Esther and Wendy. Well done to the management team for keeping the team spirits high. Then come the last day, the car is washed. What a way to celebrate a big 55 birthday! It was a blast Will definitely recommend and come back.
Areas of Improvement: 1. Place the same type of wine glasses in the room (not 1 glass for white and 1 for red, preferrably 2 white and 2 red) 2. Please ensure water bottles are tight when sealed as we had two leakages 3. It would be advisable to change the fruits in the breakfast platter. 4. Advise guests of an expected TIP over and above the fees paid so that it is not a surprise which can spoil the great experience.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â Car with good ground clearance will be great. Arrive before sunset.
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 Mike Cross, Marketing at The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa
Responded 19 Sept 2023
Thank you for your review and your honest feedback. We happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us, and that you will be back soon - we also noted your suggestions, thank you for those. Best Regards Mike
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We decided to book at the last minute for a night at The Gorge after a friend recommended it very highly. We were fortunate enough to secure a booking for two rooms for my family. The villas were not available but two suites were offered. From the time of my initial phone call, the reservation process was so efficient and pleasant. I even booked my spa treatments before my arrival. We were really blown away when we arrived… the views are truly breathtaking, and the lodge is beautifully positioned to maximise the stunning surroundings. The suites are tastefully decorated, and very comfortable, with all the amenities you would expect from a hotel of this calibre. We enjoyed the spa treatments, the therapists are professional and excellent. The food was amazing … the quality and presentation of the meals were sublime, our menus were curated to our specific food preferences. What really blew us away, though, was the impeccable service throughout our stay … the attentive yet respectfully discreet meal service, and the friendly smiles and general cheerfulness of all the staff members. Management is to be commended for staff who obviously love what they do, and are in a happy environment. A previous poster mentioned the little details, and we appreciated them all, not least our car being cleaned before our departure, with mats placed next to the doors. We spent a most relaxing weekend, being pampered in very unique and beautiful surroundings. I would highly recommend a stay at this lodge, and look forward to returning to stay in the amazing villas.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip 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 Mike Cross, Marketing at The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa
Responded 04 Jan 2022
Wow, thank you for your amazing review - we please to know that you enjoyed your stay and our service, feedback like this make it all the more worth it. We hope to see you soon, this time in a villa :) Best Regards Mike & The Gorge Team
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We decided on The Gorge for our 10th wedding anniversary & were received very warmly. Their service is remarkable & the main restaurant does really well at maintaining that standard. The views are breathtaking from every conceivable angle, not least of which was that infinity pool.
My only gripe would’ve been that for an area with little network reception, there ought to be WiFi in each room. On that topic, if the villa is the highest offering, it should also come with a smart tv instead of the current DSTV option.
There could also be a little more attention paid to small details like finishes in the villa, as well as minor repairs to fittings etc.
Otherwise it’s a getaway that we won’t forget in a hurry.
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Date of stay: April 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.
Response from Mike Cross, Marketing at The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa
Responded 04 May 2022
Thank you for your review and honest feedback. We do apologize for the Wi-Fi, it has been a huge challenge to find a supplier with a solution as the villas are situated on the edge, with no line of sight. We will definitely look into the smart TV option. The maintenance has been addressed already. Thank you once again for your positive feedback. Best Regards Mike & The Gorge Team
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The reception or how we were received was exceptional. The attention to detail with regards to capturing all the moments for us in terms of photos/videos was on point. The views from our villa was spectacular, it was private, it was something to behold. The set up for our anniversary in our villa, was phenominal and special. It left an indelible mark on us. The breakfast setting and the food was on point. We also enjoyed a walk/hike in the lodge and saw some game, close up. Although the picnic was spectacular and memorable in terms of the views and space - the picnic can do with a proper picnic basket. The food was not up to standard (not the correct food for the picnic, not the correct portions, home made juice is a no no) and using old lunch boxes to pack the food nearly spoiled the moment. The lunch menu can do with some improvement - we tried it on our first day and it nearly spoiled the whole experience. However, I believe this was addressed with the chef. The massage experience could do with some improvement or a total overall. The location and ambiance, personnel training, digilisation of the systems, towels, etc.
Overall the personnel was warm and proffessional.
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Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â I think one has to do their planning at least 3 months in advance and clarify/articulate your needs.
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 Mike Cross, Marketing at The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa
Responded 05 May 2022
Thank you for your review and we appreciate your honest feedback. The points listed will be addressed and rectified. Best Regards Mike & The Gorge Team
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Johannesburg, South Africa138 contributions114 helpful votes
Not sure they have connecting rooms but that would entail two rooms that we connected by a common door, usually used for families with kids , whilst an accessible room would be for people who use a wheelchair and or require bathroom rails etc
Best to ask the hotel if they have any of what your requirements are.
There are more places to choose from in the Paddock area.
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalPaddock
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
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