1. The staff’s service was exceptional - both the knowledgeable game drive guides & the attentive service staff team 2. The rooms were large and spacious and well appointed

1. Not load shedding proof - Given the price tag and the persistent nature of load shedding, it seems unfathomable that a luxury property wouldn’t have full backups for WiFi, some lights, if not the air con 2. The price for the all inclusive rate is a lot. In hindsight, we would have gone for the Bed & Breakfast rate and purchased everything else a la carte since the game drives weren’t that hard to secure.

The food was all excellent, with a very generous breakfast, and the location is beautiful. The room was large and very comfortable, and outdoor shower is a lovely feature. Although there was no socket suitable for the hairdryer, an adaptor was quickly provided when I asked for one.

Service in the restaurant was very charming, but slow. The hotel is not really promoting the spa because of staff shortages, though I am sure if you pre-book for treatments this is not an issue. Also, it is worth noting that the lodge is not situated within the main Addo park, although it does appear to be so on maps of the area.

The grounds were really beautiful with cottages surrounding artfully landscaped grounds that were filled with birdsong. The chef was truly excellent and we enjoyed our breakfasts and dinners. Our park ranger, Paul MacKenzie, was outstanding. He knew the wildlife really well and had many tales from his interesting life. Rafa, one of the elephants blessed us with his presence at the gate on the day of our game drive and were fortunate to spend a lot of time with one of the lions. The Park concession was very good because it gave us long views. In contrast, during our solo drive from the bottom of Addo to the top, there was large bush obscuring views. I found the staff at River Bend to be really friendly and enjoyed my many conversations with them, particularly time spent talking to Jenna. I also enjoyed talking to Gladys, who worked in the kitchen. She and I share an interest in sewing with Shweshwe. We highly recommend River Bend. It is truly a 5 star experience.

My criticism has to do with a policy that seems to be commonplace in resorts. We never ate all the food offered to us at breakfast such as breads, meats and cheeses as well as many fruits. Uneaten food, no matter what good condition it might be in, is always thrown away. I think this is unconscionable, especially in S Africa. I think the owners of River Bend should feed their staff, but also find a way to fairly distribute food to the needy. River Bend is a rich peoples’ destination. Rich people have an obligation to share. I hope other travelers affirm these expectations.

Uniquely Situated in the Addo Concession (extra fees & charges - but they're well worth it!) We booked Cottage 1 - Private Pool, Outdoor Shower Staff are excellent - from Veronique and Jenna right to the servers and our Game Driver "Micky-Lea" (sp? 🫣) 5 ⭐️ hospitality - they seriously are accommodating and seeking to make the guest experience, the best possible Beautiful place to relax and enjoy the early a.m. sunrises and evening sunsets on the property. The inner garden and courtyard are just beautiful... especially in the golden hours

Just a couple simple observations (not really dislikes) - The facilities are definitely a little "mature", but simple, clean and rustic... just like a traditional farm stay should be in South Africa - If you want to go on multiple game drives per day and into the Main Addo side, and not have to worry about extra for meals and drinks... definitely worth considering the "all-inclusive" option - If you're looking to relax and self drive a little bit while enjoying a full hot breakfast along with a full breakfast buffet available, you can save a little by paying for your options without the all-inclusive

We stayed at Lodge for 3 nights at the end of November, chosing the "All Inclusive" package. It was the best adventure and the best place we stayed during our trip through South Africa. Leo, our tour guide, has showed, explained and I jetted into us the wholesome approach to safari. You could feel like a carefree child that went on adventure to discover. We wish every tour guide could show to its guests such an excepcional respect towards the animals. Leo transforms such kindness, that at the end of the day you feel extremely rewarded by seeing every little living on safari, inuding birds, elephants, monkeys - all living wild and free. In the breaks, we could learn so much by having just a casual conversation with him. We really felt like being invited to magnificent kingdom of the animals, without feeling like some random intruders. A beating heart of this place is Debbie: what an outstanding manger. You "don't see her, don't hear her", but she is there and she keeps and eye on everything, ensuring such a comfortable stay for the guests. Debbie just transmits calmness, kindness, warmth, and professionalism. It was a real pleasure know her. The amazing Crew of the Lodge gives you a total family vibe. They winked an eye at us every time they left us a nice surprise in the form of flower petals or chocolates. Everything from warm towels to wipe our hands, through tasty meals (delicious soups!), was full of kindness and joy of hosting us. From warm welcome to a family-like farewell (followed by messages to check our further progress on the road) - everything was such a beautiful sign of being human that I came back completely refreshed. Enjoy every second of staying at the Lodge. Go out on adventure. Admire the nature with the respect and curiosity of an explorer. Feel fresh air on your face. Eat boldly and healthily. Relax in silence. Enjoy the polite, interesting conversations with wonderful people.

All good

The lodge is situated in a private concession of Addo national park and is the only one that conducts game drives in the area. The staff, including the guides, will do anything they can to make your stay unforgettable. This means you get to enjoy spectacular nature (no less than five biomes!) in peace and quiet on your own terms. The garden is a haven for many birdspecies and a dream for any birder or bird photographer. The waterhole right next to the garden attrackts all kinds of wildlife, including huge herds of elephants, which also creates great opportunities for wildlife photographers. I took many of the best shots I ever made right from the grounds of the lodge! And does it get any better than eating a delicious meal in the company of elephants? I felt right at home from my first stay here.

The location of the breakfast tables with a direct view of the waterhole is excellent, while the service, variety, quantity and standard of all meals were exceptional. The game drives were varied and well conducted. The game viewing opportunities were numerous. The staff were very attentive, the facilities are fantastic and the location perfect. It is easily accessible from the main road system.

There was nothing about River Bend Lodge we did not like!

We booked all inclusive in the villa for 6 people. It was amazing. We had a private chef and wait staff and 2 game drives per day. The chef prepared us breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. The food was delicious. On the game drives we also had homemade snacks and drinks. The villa had a large fenced garden and private pool. We came in winter so never had a chance to use the pool but it looked amazing and I’m sure a real treat in summer. After our afternoon game drives, we came home to a camp fire in the garden and were served hot drinks and aperitif. It was such a lovely experience. Our game driver - Leo - was excellent. Really passionate about the animals and super engaging. We travelled with 2 young kids - 9 and 12 - and he went out of his way to keep them included, showed them how to track animals and let them out the vehicle when it was safe to put their tracking to use. The resort also has a back up generator so load shedding isn’t really noticed. We were lucky enough to see lots of elephants, plus the buffalo and a black rhino. Plus lots of other animals like zebra, warthog, plenty of different type of antelopes, baboons, emus, velvet monkeys, meerkats, jackals and more.

The park says it has the big 5 but it only has 3 lions so we never saw any on our trip. To get from one end of the park to the other it would take 6 hours so like finding a needle in a haystack.

Great game drives, and our guide Leo was incredible!! So knowledgable and passionate. The location of the lodge and views were fantastic, with it being on the park - we saw monkeys and zebras from our room!!! Breakfast was lovely as was the regular cleaning of our room/turndown service

Didn’t feel ‘all inclusive’, with mini bar not being restocked at any point (apart from water), premium wines being the full price instead of a supplement, and it not feeling like you could get a drink at any point i.e no bar staff at the bar and unclear if there were opening times for this.

Everything! River Bend Lodge is a truly wonderful experience from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave. We were warmly greeted by the Manager, Debbie, who makes you feel immediately at home. The main lodge and has a colonnial feel with a lovely lounge, library, bar and restaurant. The whole place is full of character and old world charm. I stayed in one of the lodges and it was a wonderful experience. The beds are huge and comfortable, there is a seating area and the ensuite bathroom is huge with a door leading to an outdoor shower which faces onto the wonderful landscape of Addo. Off the lounge area of the lodge the patio doors open onto a nice private patio and at the side is a small pool, lounge chairs and another seating area under a tree. The drives with Solomon are excellent and he is a very knowledgeable ranger who is passionate about his work and the highlight of our drive was seeing the male and female lions on the open land. It was magical! The evening meals in the restaurant are superb cooked by the chef, Sophie, and the dishes are original and inspiring. There are four courses in total! The breakfasts are absolutely fantastic with an amazing choice of foods, fresh fruit, cold meats, cheeses and then cooked breakfasts. In the afternoon you can have a high tea in the lounge area and Sophie makes the most beautiful pastries and cakes. Overall, staying at River Bend Lodge has been one of the most unique travel experiences of my life. The staff at the Lodge make your stay so special and memorable. I would like to thank all the staff we came into contact with along with Debbie who is a wonderful manager and person. This includes Nonnie in the reception, Connie the waitress, Sam, Moses, Shaun, Sophie, Nombie and, of course, Solomon. The nice thing is that all the staff have such wonderful smiles and are so naturally friendly and welcoming. I'll definitely come back to River Bend Lodge

Nothing. I cannot praise River Bend Lodge highly enough.