Compare and book 5 Star hotels in Balule Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park

"The Pondoro experience is first class from beginning to end! The location is stunning and we watched hippo, crocs, giraffe, elephants and all sorts from our room. The games drives led by the wonderful Shadlack and Dion were breathtaking, with the big 5 and all manner of wildlife seen on multiple occasions. They also hosted a river walk which showed us how they look for tracks and gave a very different perspective to the hippos and crocs! All the staff at the lodge are fantastic, there is a warm welcome every day and a real personal touch with attention to details that makes each day special. The food is exceptional and would definitely recommend the lunchtime picnic if you get the opportunity."

"The Best Experience Ever! We Felt Like Royalty! AM Lodge totally blew us away. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel incredibly special. The place itself is absolutely gorgeous. The rooms are super comfortable, beautifully designed, and tucked away in nature, which made it feel really peaceful and private. The safari was amazing!! It was personalized just for us, and our guides Sbu and Benjamin were so knowledgeable and fun. We got to see so many animals up close, and experienced some amazing sunrises and incredible sunsets. After the safari, we treated ourselves to a massage at the spa, and wow… it was heavenly. Super relaxing and exactly what we needed. The food deserves a huge shout-out too. Chef Anna is incredible! Every meal was delicious and beautifully presented. Honestly, some of the best food we’ve ever had while traveling. But the real star of the show was the service. Raydene and every single member of the team went above and beyond to make sure we were happy and comfortable. We’ve stayed in some great places before, but this was next level. If you’re thinking about booking a stay here…. do it. It’s worth every penny. We’ll never forget this experience!"

"What a fantastic property right inside the game reserve with daily game drives to catch the big five. The food and service, including impeccable hospitality were the highlight of staying here. It’s a beautiful, luxurious modern property, right across the HDS airport. Highly recommend staying for atleast 2 nights ideally three! "

"My daughter and I had the absolute privilege of staying at Ezulwini in August 2024. I first want to acknowledge the amazing and knowledgeable staff who absolutely made our stay. Ange and Craig make quite the team! Glory was accommodating, caring, and personable. While in the Bush, Craig and Shads combined their seemingly unlimited knowledge to answer all our non-stop questions. Even when the animals were feeling shy, Craig was able to teach us about something else within the ecosystem, and usually by the end of the lesson, Shads was able to use his eagle-eyes to track another animal. What really made this lodge stand out was the fact that their approach was respectful to the land on which they live, never exploitative. Each night before an absolutely delicious dinner, we were able to sit down with Ange and Craig who crafted a lesson about local history, the law of the reserves, or about the country of South Africa. The meaningful conversations absolutely made us feel like welcomed friends, rather than simple guests. Of course, it should go without saying, that the accommodations of the resort itself were stunning. The resort’s small number of guest rooms makes the experience feel personal and uniquely tailored to each guest, and the property, which often welcomes many four-legged guests, feels more like an extension of the bush rather than a separate space. I simply cannot recommend this lodge, this team, and this trip enough!"

"This was one of the most best travel expeirences i ever had. The Kapama Southern lodge is superb . The staff was amazing. the accommodations were perfect. The food options were plentiful. I recommend this property to everyone, and of of course the safari tours were better than expected with informal guides. "