Wonderful welcome by all the staff. Rangers Lex and Steven are very concerned and show us their passion for Savana. The Guinea fowl lodge is very well exposed to see wild animals drinking and bathing in the basin.
Thank you very much for the unforgettable experience
Marc de La Bretesche
Thanks so much Marc!!!! We really appreciate this!! Warm regards from all of us!
THE BELOW EMAIL WAS SENT ON THE 19TH MARCH 2024 TO THE OWNER ITSELF AND NO RESPONCE OR ANY COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED.
Dear Mirjam,
I trust this message finds you in good spirits. Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude for the magnificent setting of Parsons Hilltop Lodge. The breathtaking views of the mountains and the surrounding area truly made our stay memorable.
However, I would like to provide some constructive feedback based on our recent experience:
1. Lack of Information: We were unaware that access to the reserve required codes at the main gate, which caused confusion and delayed our entry.
2. Lack of Relaxation Time: After dinner, we felt rushed to retire to our rooms as the staff seemed eager to end the evening. This rushed atmosphere prevented us from enjoying leisure time together as a group or even sitting around the bonfire after dinner but were unable to do so as the chairs were removed.
3. Poor Food Quality: The meals provided did not meet our expectations in terms of taste or variety and considering the lodge's rating. It was surprising and disappointing that there were no options or discussions about meal preferences beforehand.
4. Cleanliness Concerns: The cleanliness around the main lodge area left much to be desired, particularly the neglected state of the ice machine, which we ended up cleaning ourselves, with one of the lady’s – showing her how to do so.
5. Other Concerns: The lack of a tea or coffee station in the rooms made early mornings and evening relaxation challenging. Additionally, the absence of a minibar was unexpected for a lodge of this Caliber.
The Toilet in our unit (Guinea fowl) the seat was broken before we arrived, we did see they replaced it the next day but the lids keeps on closing, the lid cant stay upright, think the screws are the wrong way in, the Tap handle in the shower also keeps on falling off.
The Fan in the other unit doesn’t work well at all, this was the unit(Oriole) A Standing fan would work best than a ceiling fan.
Overall, while we had hoped for a memorable experience, the issues we encountered left us feeling underwhelmed, especially given the occasion of celebrating a 50th birthday. While our experience had some shortcomings, I believe with attention to these areas, Parsons Hilltop Lodge can continue to provide unforgettable experiences for its guests, and we look forward to seeing improvements for future visits.
Despite these concerns, I must commend the exceptional service provided by your staff. They were incredibly helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. The game drives with Lex and Stef were particularly spectacular, and their expertise added immense value to our experience. We had several enjoyable moments filled with laughter and learning during these trips.
Warm regards,
Wynand & Other Guests
0798648813
Hello Wynand and other guests!
Thanks for re-sending the personal email to me here but I do not really understand the use for trip advisor users to read your personal message to me with constructive feedback. Unfortunately I never got your email. As far as I can see here there also was no further question or action required but you why did you not resend the mail if you were unhappy with getting no response?
What I got as feedback from our team: you really enjoyed the food (you all complemented the chef on the ostrich (for example), that you really liked. You also loved the cake that I especially ordered for you and collected in town for your celebration. Furthermore, what I understood is that you were not rushed to your tent; you wanted to enjoy the jacuzzi with the 4 of you so Lex chaperoned you and waited in the lodge for bringing two of you to their tent later in the evening, as you know you can not walk alone in the dark.
The coffee stations had to be taken out due to the baboons being around raiding the tents. Coffee is always available in the mornings in the lodge and you could simply have asked the staff to bring it to you. As you mentioned, they are very helpful and friendly.
I appreciate that you mention the small things like the fan and the toilet seat, and the ice machine, we got this immediately repaired/ maintained properly. Thank you for your wonderful comments on the lodge and the staff, this is much appreciated! And thanks for taking the time to pointing out your concerns to us here. All the best and warm regards, Parsons Team
We enjoyed our stay at Parsons a lot! What an adventure to stay at this safari camp with wild animals so close. The lions calling at night, elephants at the water whole and near the tent. Breakfast, lunch and dinner very tasteful and made with love. Highlight was the Braai in the Boma:) A big shout out to Stephan who was our guide. He has so much passion for wild life. We also recommend a bushwalk with Paul. He can read nature. So we definitely recommend to stay at Parsons.
We stayed for 2 nights at Parsons Hilltop and it was a really great experience. It is a very small camp where we slept in ons of there tents. You can hear and see the elephants and other animals walking next to your tent. The rangers took us on several drives and had all the time to explain evertthing you would like to know. At the end of the day we had dinner with the other 6 guests on the camp which made it extra nice. Thanks for the fantastic 3 days!
Thank you soooo much for this great review. We are so happy to read this. Please come back one day! Parsons team.
Great location with beautiful views in a surrounding atmosphere.
You really have the out of Africa/Livingstone feeling here!
Most friendly staff ever. Everything about the lodge was exceptional.
The splashpool overlooking the bush, the common area with all the telescopes, the outstandingly stocked honestybar.
It was clean, stylish, roomy, excellent service. Food was good.
Great value for money.The safari tents are very spacious and decorated with care.
Good beds, well equipped and comfortable.
I was very pleased with my stay.
Head ranger Ras is the man with the plan!!
Absolutely the right guy at the right place!
Thank you Parsons-crew!
Daniel
Our biggest pleasure! We love your review. Thank you so much!
