5 things to keep in mind when looking for the perfect lodge

Byline: Unathi Nkanjeni

It is no secret, Mpumalanga in South Africa boast a number of lodges in stunning settings. However, choosing which one to visit can be stressful.

Think of choosing a lodge in the same way you would choose someone to be your friend or partner. There's more to it than just looks – though they sure do help for that first spark of attraction. There’s appearance, personality, financial status, reputation, and, most important of all compatibility.

Here’s a breakdown of how to pick the right lodge for you:

1. How it looks:

Certain styles will naturally resonate with you, and the Internet is a visual medium - this depending on whether or not the lodge is being honest and truthful.

Are you into prints, animal skins, opulence or simplicity?  Beware of photographs depicting arrangements of fresh flowers, few if any lodges use fresh flowers outside of advertising shots.  Also, if it’s the extra things that they have showed on their site that draws you, then be sure when booking to ask whether these will be available, they are often done either only for publicity shots or for honeymooners.

2. Does it have personality:

Look at the guest reviews on the lodge’s own website or social media platforms. What is it that people praise most about this lodge? The lodge owners/managers are choosing which reviews to post, so you will get an idea of what is important to them.

Is it food, friendliness, pampering or luxury?  What are your three most important criteria and in what order?  Would you prefer self-catering or a lodge where you get served a 4-star cuisine?

The lodge isn’t everything, the other important factor to consider is the activities and excursion.  Are you focusing on seeing the activities and attraction sites and not that concerned about other smaller things; or wanting a bush experience with time to absorb everything, but it would be nice to see the bigger animals too?  Look at how much emphasis the lodge website puts on ‘big five’, if they’re any good, their guides should be aware of the marketing and working in accordance with it.

3. Check for their price:

Is value for money important, or do you want the best that money can buy?  There are some beautiful lodges that cater to everyone and their budget. However, remember that lodges in remote areas are expensive to run, much of the budget goes to providing basic services which are available for next to nothing in town, so you cannot compare the price and level of luxury between a city hotel and a game lodge.

You can do a self-catering fairly cheaply, but for a fully catered lodge, if the price is too low you run the risk of meals, quality of vehicles, staff and room amenities being skimped on.  That’s not to say that you shouldn’t take advantage of some of the great specials that even the best quality lodges run during the traditionally quiet months but look at the average rate of a lodge for comparison to get a general idea of standards.  Do a little extra homework if the average rate is less than R 500 per person sharing per night.

4. Check for lodge’s reputation:

There are many independent sites such as TripAdvisor and other rating/reviewing website where travelers and holiday seekers give candid reviews. What are people saying, and did the lodge care enough to respond to negative reviews – did they do so politely?

Look at the number of Excellent reviews, Good reviews and Poor reviews.  Don’t be fooled by the number of reviews, but rather look at the ratio it should be well stacked in favour of ‘excellent’– a lodge may only have a few reviews because it is new.

5. Check for compatibility:

You need to consider why you are going to the lodge, and whether this lodge is going to give you what you want.  Are you wanting to impress clients or someone special? Then consider famous names, and places frequented by the stars, look at rates per person sharing and upwards.  Do you want an authentic bush experience? Then consider a smaller unfenced lodge which can provide options.

Do you want to see the big 5 in the shortest time possible – perhaps you only have one night available for safari?  Consider a bigger lodge in a private reserve where many vehicles traverse a limited area and guides can call sightings into each other to get you quickly from one sighting to another.

With all of the above in mind, consider marrying your needs with good principles and ethics.  There are a few gems that manage outstanding environmental ethics, great game viewing, style and comfort as well as a reasonable price range.