The Illovo is on the GIBS campus. It's a small, green, clean campus - safe, secure and reasonably charming (if small)

The problem is that it's the ONLY thing on the GIBS campus. The cafeteria is housed in a temporary space, serving an 'under construction' menu to staff who will tell you that it's been a year so far and that there are only so many pizzas you can wait to come out one at a time.

The rooms are tiny. So small my cat looked at me and shook his head ruefully. They're air-conditioned, but the small unit is so noisy that you'll awake looking as tired as the decor itself.

Everything you might want is located in a mall 10 minutes drive away. Food, drink, cool air, company, interest... but it's always a drive.

The staff are doing all that they can to make the best of a bad job, but it is a bad job. Perfect perhaps for an agoraphobic anorexic professor in town for a day to give a lecture, sadly lacking for everyone else.

We like to say that it is all about the people you meet. Well the Ilovo Lodge is merely a fair facility with outstanding staff. If you are new to Johannesburg and are a little timid then this spotlessly clean little hotel in a nice neighborhood (part of a college campus) iis for you. Thank you Jane and thank you Yolonda.