Independent hotels in Andover Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga

"This place is absolutely stunning and much larger than I expected it to be. There are 3 large viewing decks so seeing animals at all hours of the day is easy. The staff are so friendly and surprised the guests with a dance and song after a boma dinner. Food also was amazing. "

"This is the kind of place that you need to visit at least once in your life. Everything is designed to make you feel comfortable; the staff always has a friendly face and assists you as much as they can. The game drives are unforgettable. It is apparently expensive, but you will receive more than the money can pay for. Michael is the guy for your game drives; he is absolutely fantastic!"

"Amazing staff and the food was terrific!"

"Super welcoming, friendly and safe. Very attentive to details. "

"All of the rooms were beautifully renovated. The food was incredible, everyone in the staff went out of their way to make sure that guests were happy, and they called everyone by name. The Safari rides were over the top and our guide Stuart and his tracker Colin were very knowledgeable and professional. The jeeps were brand new and very comfortable. We were sad to leave after an incredible 3 night stay at Leopard Hills."

"I cannot express how amazing this place was. I've been all over the world, and every aspect of the AM Lodge is by far the most superior. The unique daily game drives had our Bush Bar (best bar in South Africa, thanks to Benjamin and Penwey) interrupted by a Nyala being chased by a wild dog. Literally chasing Lions led to our fantastic guides helping another group get out of a ditch. Even seeing zebras and wild buffalo ended up being so hilarious, it brought tears to our eyes! For the millennials reading this, imagine the perfect mix between Steve Irwin and Wild Boyz. Shepherd is the definition of what a proper host looks like. We had a strange request of being shuttled to a nearby tattoo shop, and they happily obliged. Our chefs made amazing food, with our only request being to show us the local cuisine. That kota sandwich and African buffet was exactly what we were talking about! Way to deliver! At no point did I ever think I was anything less than royalty thanks to the amazing staff, treatment, and accomodations. I don't know how they managed to do it, but they also made it seem like me and my father were the only ones there! As if the entire safari grounds were just for us (even though, they obviously had other guests). I hope to have the chance to visit again. If any guest is considering a safari, the search ends here. "

"Do you want to see the big five while being treated as a royalty? Book the Elephant Plains Game Lodge. Their facility is excellent, location is great, and the level of service is awesome. They will be waiting for you when you arrive because they know that you’re coming and they will pamper you on every step of the way: from the room personalized for your visit to the dining options tailored to your diet to sundowners and welcome back drinks. They make you feel like a family and you would not want to leave. Ever. "

"The minute we arrived we were greeted by lovely staff and elephants at the pool. What followed was a once in a lifetime experience. The positives - Beds are super comfy with electric blankets for those cold nights and a fan for the warm days. The food was AMAZING. I LOVED being seated with fellow safari mates and getting to know people from across the world even though we are total introverts. Our guide Leighton was brilliant, knowledgeable and an excellent driver. And the wildlife…. Wow. I still can’t believe we saw so many lions, leopards and cheetahs, not to mention everything else. Being birders we were worried that we would be ignored and never get a moment to identify a bird but Leighton balanced the needs of the guests so well and had an excellent knowledge of all animals. The only downsides… when we arrived we were so hungry but because our flight was delayed we missed the afternoon safari and had to wait until everyone returned before we could access any food - a wait of 2 hours was really tough and no one explained what was happening. Highly recommend explaining the daily itinerary to people on arrival and having snacks available for purchase. Loved the Couples shower but unfortunately not enough hot water for 2 people. "

"Staying at simbambili was the best experience of our life. The lodge was stunning, the food was exceptional, the attention to detail was like no other, but above all the team that worked there made you feel like family. I looked at dozens of lodges before choosing for our honeymoon, so when I finally landed on Simbambili, it was due to the amazing reviews and location. When we arrived it was even better than what we could have imagined. Magical is really the word that comes to mind. Our days started with our Ranger Solomon and Tracker Roy, took us out on our drives. They were so passionate and knowledgeable. Then came back to a very cheerful Caroline who welcomed us, and then every meal Rich was there to take care of us. There was a watering hole at the lodge and constantly we were able to see so many animals coming up for a drink. Look no further for your dream safari, it’s at simbambili!"