Buffelsfontein
R27 West Coast Road, Darling 7345 South Africa
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#1 of 1 campsite in Darling
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Free parking
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Non-smoking hotel
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Non-smoking rooms
Location
65Somewhat walkable
Grade: 65 out of 100
7Restaurantswithin 10 km
8Attractionswithin 10 km
R27 West Coast Road, Darling 7345 South Africa
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55Reviews2Q+A9Room tips
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+1
Had a wonderful time on the full safari. Saw many animals, mostly herbivores our guide was knowledgeable , very pleasant and positive. Our driver, carol de Lange , caroldelange215 @gmail.com was extremely accomodating, very safe driver, and personable. She even swung by airport after the safari to help us access our lost luggage. I highly recommend her as well!
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip 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.
Helpful
Have been to a lot of game reserves and while this is one of the smaller sites it has a real family feel, and we were treated with great warmth by the staff and guide in particular. We did two game drives and on the first saw virtually all of the main animals including the pair of Rhino very close up. The following morning showed how lucky this was when rain had driven most of them deep into the bushes...the cats on offer are rescued or hand reared and not part of the main reserve, so if you want roaming lions this isn't for you, but then nor are any of the reserves within a drive of Cape Town....and what you get from the closer encounters is a real sense of their sheer power. (In passing I would say they were in the best condition of any Lions we have ever seen in any form of enclosure!) - It was interesting talking about the economics and practicalities of running a big five reserve with our guide too. The waterhole full of weaver birds in front of our room with a kestrel perched on our tree above them was a very memorable sundowner moment. …
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Date of stay: July 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.
Helpful
+1
This was a great way to show our USA daughter in law some game. We had the full board which took care of meals . Fridge was well stocked with wine and sodas. As it is near enough for a drive to Paternoster, we could even have some great seafood too! Very friendly restaurant staff.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip 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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
+1
We were made very welcome, we were collected from Cape Town Airport by Paul (son of the owners). The accommodation was very comfortable, Bungalow 4. the food was all cooked to order and tasted devine. We had 2 Game drives, the morning we shared with 3 day visitors, when we came across the Giraffes the ranger/driver invited us out of the vehicle to get closer to them. Everyone at the park was very friendly.
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Date of stay: October 2019
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Cottages1-5 overlook a waterhole.
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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
We booked an afternoon game drive as a day visitor. We arrived at the gate which gives a good impression and were directed to the reception. The reception building and restaurant are at the end of a gravel drive and in the middle of the maintenance area which gives an overall impression of untidiness and neglect which is not the case with the main buildings which all seemed new. We had arrived in plenty of time for the drive so we had lunch in the restaurant which was very nice, well cooked and fresh. There was little to do for day visitors whilst waiting. We did wander around some new looking accommodation that looks over a waterhole that was almost dried up and looked uninviting. We got on the game drive vehicles, old 4x4 trucks which gave a good high view and drove onto the reserve to see the Giraffes and various antelopes and wildebeests. We went past the lions which are in a separate enclosure, so are not free roaming with the other animals. We then further onto the reserve and saw the Rhinos, eland and large group of Buffalo's along with numerous antelopes on the large open ground. They have to put feed out in the summer so know where most of the grazing animals will be in the afternoon. They are building a new lodge in the middle of the plain which would be a nice place to stop overnight to be in the middle of the animals. The guide we had, an older gentleman was well informed and knew the animals well. We watched them feed the cheetah and lions whilst we were there as well which brought more activity from them. We enjoyed the game drive in seeing the animals out in the fields, it's a pity the big cats are not out but that was never expected. We didn't stay overnight so cannot comment on the overnight facilities. The reserve has the potential to be much better than it was, clearing up around reception area would give a better overall first impression which can count massively in your favour. I could recommend the drive to see the animals but if the animals are not seen then would be hugely disappointed in presentation of the package, you would have to ignore the caged cats as being there are they can't be anywhere else nor released in the wild.…
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Date of stay: February 2019Trip 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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
+1
Stayed here for a few nights during the height of Summer tourist season and it was just one disappointment after another. The access gate is manually operated by a staff member wearing worn-out casual clothing. The main entrance has no signage leaving us to guess where the chalets were and how to get there. There is heavy machinery surrounding the main entrance and the surrounding bush is littered with builders rubble. Eventually we figured out how to get to our accommodation and more disappointments ensued. Our chalet's exterior was infested with pigeons and their droppings were piled up in every outside corner and were all over our cars upon departure while we had to listen to their constant calls. Inside our chalet, we found that there was a smell of something dead around the bed/bathroom entrance while the DSTV didn't work at all. The receptionist said she'd send someone over, but eventually she came herself. She agreed with the bad smell and said she'd send someone over the next day to fix the DSTV but she was sure to tell me how much we'd hate the particular DSTV package and that we really weren't missing anything. That person never came the next day and for the duration of our stay the TV didn't work. The cleaning staff who arrived soon after to investigate the smell, were unable to find the source and that's where it was left - we were just left to deal with this terrible odour! Access out of our chalet sliding door was via two cinderblock bricks loosely placed next to it, and outside was a rough and unfinished concrete/gravel surface. All throughout the property are signs of neglect, lack of maintenance and generally one gets the feeling that nobody actually cares. There is clearly zero management and everyone is more or less left to do their own thing. The staff don't have uniforms and the cleaning staff in particular generally appeared untrained and unequipped to do a proper job. The area around our chalet was littered with cigarette butts, builders rubble and pigeon droppings all of which are ignored by the cleaners. Large pieces of builder's rubble dotted the bush around the chalets - see my pictures for proof. The pool area, which could have been a real highlight, was totally neglected. There were old pool tables scattered here and there and rows of decrepit tables and dart boards. There was no proper seating and no real plan for that area. The available seating appeared to have come from an office environment and was entirely inappropriate for the purpose. The one highlight of all of this depressing scenery was the restaurant. The food was hearty and delicious and served with the smile. I'd say this was perhaps the only functional aspect of the whole property. Outside the bar area was a sad looking pair of pens, one containing a mongoose and one containing two meerkats. If I could have rescued them from that depressing existence, I'd have done so in a heartbeat. Shame on you Buffelsfontein. Overall an incredibly disappointing and depressing experience. It was all so bad that I have even considered volunteering my time to try to fix this place as it has so much potential but the reality is nobody there seems to care. A staff member told us that the place is run by two brothers who can't agree on anything and I believed that - the lack of proper management and decision-making really shows. What a depressing place. We'll never be back and I'll tell everyone else to avoid it.…
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Date of stay: December 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
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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
We visited CapeTown this Christmas. Wanted to see some wildlife. A few years ago we went to Phinda, nothing really can top that, we knew this would not be the same kind of expeience. The trip from Capetown to Buffelsfontein was surprisingly beautiful!! By arrival we had a welcomming drink and a lovely buffet. The safari guide was great and enthousiastic. We saw a lot of animals but there were hardly trees, so they were not in their natural habitat. We feld a bit said, but we knew that when we booked the trip. And when we look back it was a lovely day, no regrets!
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Date of stay: December 2018
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
We booked in here after being recommended by a friend and were really excited to have this lovely getaway on our doorstep. Upon arrival, one is greeted by way too much alien vegetation and junk lying all over the place. Old drums and pipes which appear to have been lying around a long time are amongst the general litter. Our first thought was that we might have missed the road to reception. We hadn't. This is actually the first thing visitors see and no-one seems to care. The cabins (although the numbers were not easily visible) were lovely at first sight and we were quite happy to overlook the initial shock. Upon closer inspection - glass door to 2nd bathroom cracked, ALL the seats to counter area in kitchen were loose. The steps out the sliding doors were just old building bricks. The area outside the sliding doors were gravel (no problem with that) but littered with thousands of cigarette butts. Made us wonder - do the cleaners just tip the ashtrays out onto the ground, or do the guests grind cigarettes out on the ground rather than use ashtrays provided? I ended up asking the cleaners to please clean cobwebs under coffee tables and pick up the cigarette butts. How does management not see this? One of the chalets smelt really bad. When our son asked if someone could come find what had died (they couldn't find it), he was told that someone would come in the morning!! I popped around to their chalet and suggested it might be the drain pipes which had dried out. We ran some water in the shower and bath - and the problem was solved. Our game drive was enjoyable but showed up the sad neglect of the property. We saw a half built dam and just left. Building materials littering the area - windblown and filthy. We saw a dead bird on a grassy area, which remained there for the two days we were there. In fact there was even a skeleton of some little bird or mouse lying outside one of the chalets. It had also never been cleaned up. The kiddies swings were behind the pool area in a overgrown patch. Nothing else in sight of the swings. Why were they not brought into the pool lounging area? The pool is HUGE with no steps, only ladders. There is nothing for kiddies to splash in. I cannot fault the restaurant and food which, although nothing to rave about, was wholesome, enjoyable and sufficient. Staff went out of their way to ensure the experience was great. However, none of the staff had uniforms. The cleaners arrived in their everyday clothes, which did not set them apart. Same with waiters. The rangers all seemed to be wearing safari clothes and looked decent. We felt there was a general lack of attention to detail, neglect and desperation for care wherever one looked. We had to go find someone to tell us why the animals around the bar area were in cages. His response was that the visitors destroyed the signs as soon as they were erected. Seriously? Had the cages had lovely information boards with perhaps a box for donations, I would've been happy to part with a couple of hundred rand notes towards their care. Gosh, this place has so much potential I was almost ready to offer my services free of charge to help clean it up. Sad to say, we won't be back. …
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Date of stay: December 2018
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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This was a great day out. We saw the lions and cheetahs being fed. The lynx were awesome and the rhinos were so cool. Also the pool was brilliant after we had been out on the drive and the guide was really nice.
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Date of stay: February 2018Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
4 Helpful votes
Helpful
My daughter’s wedding was catered for by Buffelsfontein and our guests, international and national had a great time when, between the delectable lunch buffet and the evening’s dancing events, they were treated to a safari and experienced something similar to Serengeti and woke up the following morning to buffalo coming to drink water at the waterhole just below the luxury chalets. The Van der Merwe-Lambert family just want to thank the team, Frikkie, Willie, Marilee and Riaan, for making it a truly magical experience.
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Date of stay: December 2017Trip type: Travelled with friends
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
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapeDarling
NUMBER OF ROOMS
50
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Frequently Asked Questions about Buffelsfontein
Which popular attractions are close to Buffelsfontein?
Nearby attractions include Darling Olives (2.2 km), Darling Sweet (0.1 km), and Darling Museum (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Buffelsfontein?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Buffelsfontein?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Buffelsfontein?
Conveniently located restaurants include Marmalade Cat, 1910 The Old Forge - Darling, and Evita se Perron.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Buffelsfontein?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Is Buffelsfontein located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.09 km away from the centre of Darling.