This is a magical place with the most wonderful staff.
The lodge is atmospheric and comfortable overlooking its own watering hole and there is the warmest welcome from the staff on arrival. We felt relaxed and regenerated at the end of our time here and will dream of it for a long time to come. We would go back tomorrow if we could.
Wonderful variety of animals to see on the twice daily game drives and don't miss the night drive for a different view (the night sounds are wonderful). The passion for the animals and their surroundings shone through and great efforts were made to help us see "the big 5" and plenty more beside! We are home with hundreds of marvellous photos - make sure you take a camera with a decent zoom for really good photos.
We fully intend to return in the future.

Overall excellent. Service very good staff, sweet and eager to please great chef and Karina the relatively new guide was very good and will go from strength to strength as will this lovely resort. Karina did her best to ensure we saw as many animals and we achieved the big five.
They have a project on white lions who were amazing to see.

We came by Elandela fortuitously booking a late package to RSA, so had no real expectation.
From arrival Elandela more than impressed.
The setting was breathtaking the rooms well appointed and as described - luxurious.
The service was friendly and impeccable - the classic African smiles met every request.
i'm not sure how Andrew managed to create such gourmet dishes quite so far from 'civilisation' but they kept coming!
If this is 4 star I am not quite sure what the 5th one could be for...
Then there was the reason for going - the game!
5000 Hectares of bush and just one open sided vehicle roaming through it.
We were lucky and saw the White lions, a leopard and a Secretary Bird (twice); but the breathtaking beauty was just being in the bush, especially the walking safari!
I can't imagine how this could be bettered, and I can't wait to go back.

Where do I start, from being picked up by Coleman our guide at the airport in an open jeep. To entering the lodge & driving straight into Zebras, Giraffes,Rhinos,Impalas saying hello to the hippos & crocs in the lake & many other wildlife. We were gob smacked. Greeted by all the staff & owner with drum playing & singing & welcome shooters. The personalized attention we had here was the best by miles to all the other places we stayed in South Africa & Africa on our travels. Our guides Coleman & Corina were fantastic nothing was to much & so knowledgeable on all the animals & wildlife they truly went out of their way to make sure we were safe but had a fantastic & memorable experience. All the staff at the lodge & owners were awesome & very very friendly & accommodating they could not of done more for us. The food was out of this world it was the very best in dinning we ever had on our whole holiday. The one on one attention was great. We were lucky to have the whole lodge to ourselves for 3 out of the 5days we stayed & were always spoiled rotten. They don't have elephants but we had a free half day tour to Kruger Park & was very lucky to see them there, but Kruger we found boring compared to Elandela Lodge. At the lodge you get really close to all the animals so our pictures are like national geographic ones. The baby rhinos are beautiful & the white lions are truly breath taking. Going to sleep & waking up listening to the lions was so-real.Words cant describe how incredible this place is you just have to go. As far as some comments on the drinks being to expensive we found it to be very affordable & we had a family of 5. Getting your laundry done I found a little expensive but with the water being so scares I didn't mind paying the prices it is understandable. On a whole our stay at Elandela was the highlight of our whole trip, our kids will never forget it & neither will we. It is rated as a 4 Star Lodge I think they truley deserve to be rated as 5 Star. Thanking to all the staff & owners of Elandale for making or holiday a memorable experience one we will cherish for ever & if we are lucky enough to come back to South Africa we will definitely stay at Elandela.