JOCK SAFARI LODGE

About

5.0

Excellent

700 reviews

Location

Cleanliness

Service

Value

Certificate of Excellence

Nestled amidst the lush vegetation in the South-Western corner of the majestic beauty that is the Kruger National Park. Jock Safari Lodge emerges at the pinnacle where the Mitomeni and Biyamiti rivers flow as one – a space for breath-taking wildlife sightings. The lodge with 6, 000 hectares of natural landscape offers guests one of the best Big 5 game viewing experiences in South Africa with its exclusive riverbed traversing rights. Traverse through this exceptional landscape on twice daily game drives as well as wilderness walks with highly experienced game rangers and witness an abundance of bird life and a staggering diversity of wildlife, including the endangered wild dog. Enthralling sightings of elephants, prides of lions as well as a sea of buffalo horns rising from the grass as they lie resting in the growing heat, awaits one. Rich in historical heritage, Jock is the first private game lodge within South Africa’s largest national park and was inspired by the well-known tale of Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, a story of courage and loyalty set during South Africa’s first gold rush era. This colonial styled safari lodge offers guests a unique stay, showcasing elements of history, fauna and flora, tranquillity, conservation and fine cuisine in the 12 individual thatched suites at the Main Lodge or 3 luxurious suites at the nearby Fitzpatrick Lodge.

Full view

Property amenities

Free parking

Free internet

Pool

Sauna

Free breakfast

Hiking

Walking tours

Books, DVDs, music for children

Parking

Public wifi

Internet

Pool / beach towels

Outdoor pool

Plunge pool

Shallow end in pool

Bar / lounge

Restaurant

Breakfast buffet

Complimentary instant cofffee

Complimentary tea

Complimentary welcome drink

Kids' meals

Outdoor dining area

Wine / champagne

Poolside bar

Board games / puzzles

Airport transportation

Spa

Couples massage

Facial treatments

Foot massage

Full body massage

Hand massage

Head massage

Manicure

Massage

Neck massage

Pedicure

Concierge

Non-smoking hotel

Outdoor furniture

Sun deck

Sun loungers / beach chairs

Sun umbrellas

First aid kit

Laundry service

Room features

Mountain view

Non-smoking rooms

Suites

Blackout curtains

Air conditioning

Desk

Minibar

Extra long beds

Landmark view

Family rooms

Soundproof rooms

Bathrobes

Housekeeping

Private balcony

Room service

Wardrobe / closet

Bottled water

Clothes rack

Laptop safe

Private bathrooms

Tile / marble floor

Electric kettle

Electric blanket

Walk-in shower

Bath / shower

Complimentary toiletries

Hair dryer

Good to know

HOTEL CLASS

HOTEL STYLE

Great View

Luxury

Languages Spoken

English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu

Location

Full view

Contact

Nearest Town Skukuza Inside Kruger National Park, Kruger National Park 2060 South Africa

Getting there

Skukuza Airport18 mi

Kruger Mpumalanga Intl Airport31 mi

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700Reviews33Q+A100Room tips

+1

Best.Trip.Ever!

There are so many fantastic things to talk about when reviewing Jock Safari Lodge. The people are fantastic from AB (who has amazing spa treatments), Blessing who has a smile that lights up a room, Precious who says “thank you” for just walking in the room (and she’s just that sweet), to our INCREDIBLE GUIDE JACOB!!! You absolutely must request Jacob if you are lucky enough to stay in this boutique lodge that can host 24 people in total. It’s a perfect sanctuary! The food was ridiculously good! It’s 5-star meals the entire time. You are overwhelmed with the special way they do everything from breakfast to BBQ at lunch to a formal sit down dinner. They have special nights with performances, they sang to my twins for their birthday, they laughed as much as we did that the monkeys enjoyed hanging with my son A LOT! There were so many great memories we are so sad to no longer be there and miss it already. I cannot more highly recommend this special place! Jacob: He’s simply amazing. We saw the Big 5 plus almost every single day! He showed us the most remote locations of Kruger National Park - we saw cubs, cheeta, rhinos, leopards multiple times, lions of all shapes and sizes, kudu, impala, a massive amount of elephants everyday! I can’t tell you how great this place is and how Jacob is the very best at making sure you have the trip of a lifetime! Tell him we said hello ;)…

Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Traveled with family

This is a place that defines perfection.

It is hard to write a review of a place that is close to perfect. From the moment our guide, Lazarus, picked us up at Skukuza Airport in the middle of Kruger National Park, we knew we were in for the experience of a lifetime. On the 45 minute drive to the lodge, we saw four of the five big animals we came to see in Africa. At the arrival, Blessing welcomed us to the lodge and took us to a beautiful lunch. The thatched rooms were terrific, each with extremely comfortable beds, terraces overlooking the river, a small pool and outside lounges. At night hot water bottles awaited us in bed. At 4 p.m after tea, our first safari started, and Lazarus was the best driver and guide. He was an expert tracker, knowledgeable, and fun. Each dinner at Jock's lodge was an event. The first night we had an excellent South African BBQ. The second dinner, we had a buffet with local specialties, and the third night was a sit-down dinner. I highly recommend this lodge. As a private concession within Kruger, guides at Jock Safari Lodge can drive off-road within the borders of the concession, and also can go into the park itself, giving you more animal viewing opportunities. As I said, perfection!!!…

Date of stay: July 2019

Rooms

Location

Service

Thank you for taking the time to review your stay with us at Jock Safari Lodge. We couldn't ask for a more perfect comment than "perfection"! We hope to welcome you back to your home in the Kruger National Park.

Summary - Every aspect of this lodge was a step-up (correction – BIG step-up) from all the others we have stayed in in Sth Africa, on this trip. For these last 2 nights (of an 8 night Kruger NP visit), we decided to trade-up and treat ourselves. Previous night was at Satara Rest Camp (SANParks), so not close at all, but we were determined to make it to Jock’s by 15.00, so we could join the afternoon Game Drive – made it. The Lion pride kill would not deter us from our goal, but heaven knows how many other Creatures joined-in and conspired to thwart us. Note to Jock’s – a few extra signs on the way in would be helpful & provide re-assurance that one is headed in the right way. We came South on S.114 and then H.3. Seems, especially from the reaction of others, that we were a bit of a rarity self-driving to Jock’s – most seem to fly-in to Skukuza. Completed orientation, signed the obligatory indemnity form, and are shown to our Room – Room 9. Awesome doesn’t do it justice – huge bedroom/bed, beautifully decorated (tasteful too & very apt of the Safari/Bush setting), wardrobes, cupboards, fridge (stocked too), Tea/Coffee machine, Mosquito-netting hanging from ceiling, AC & fan, huge double shower & twin-sink bathroom, with soft towels/amenities, then outside on your own secure verandah - day bed (zip-up canvas covered), al-fresco free-standing bath, plunge pool. Your Room is walled to the rest of the Lodge, with access for anyone via a latched Door. From the verandah, we looked straight-out over a dry river-bed and the bush, but with the added security of being in a quite elevated position and Electric Fencing to deter any marauding Baboons or Monkeys. Whether all of the Rooms are as luxurious and spacious – I really don’t know. To have peaked seemed entirely uncalled for and inappropriate. I have been here less than 1 Hour and already I am gutted - I have ONLY booked 2 nights Rest of the Lodge was, in our opinion, of an extremely high standard - Breakfast/Dining/Tea Room, Bar & Cocktail Lounge (upstairs), Pool with sundeck. Sundowners and Firepit, Wildlife Spotting Chairs, TV Lounge, Library and so it went on ………… Curio shop Everything about Jock’s was proving a good notch up – Food (quality, quantity, variety and presentation), Waiting Staff, Bar Staff, Beverage Choices/presentation, Courtesy, Sheets, Comfort, Furnishings, Professionalism and with apparent and genuine warmth & friendliness – they couldn’t do enough for you - it was delightful. Thank you all. Anyone reading this and wondering what relationship I have with Jock’s, since this is euphoric, needs to know – None whatsoever, but writing a Review when the experience has been this good is a joy. I also know that there are others who's opinions were different - their perception was their reality. This was ours. I said everything – well actually, I lied – the Game drives along their dry river beds were very bumpy, uncomfortable and required a firm grasp to hang-on. I cannot understate this - folks with back aches/issues should avoid this completely. All other aspects were super, except we did not see a kill or a Black Rhino. Birding was good too. Most pleasing aspect was his willingness “ …. to start as early as we wanted …. whenever you want”. Excellent. That’s the kind of interest and enthusiasm I like. WiFi worked but not well - ie slowly. Their Own Concession Fee is payable (I forget how much), but you escape the Kruger NP Fee, whilst staying here – relevant to foreigners/aliens). We WILL Return.…

Date of stay: September 2018

Cleanliness

Service

Sleep Quality

Trip type: Traveled as a couple

Room Tip: I do not believe there is much difference between any

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Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed and wonderful review of your stay at Jock Safari Lodge. We assure you, had you peeked, you would found the other rooms just as awesome as yours! We are delighted that you had a wonderful stay and we look forward to welcoming you back home to the Kruger National Park and Jock Safari Lodge.

Everything you hoped for and more

This place is perfect! From the first welcome from AB to the goodbye from Jacob we could not have wished for more, except to stay longer. This lodge is just beautiful. The room (room 1) was so spacious with indoor double shower, separate loo, seating area, huge bed, outdoor shower, outdoor bath tub, plunge pool, day bed and outdoor seating area. The rooms are cleaned so well and because they know when you are out on safari or at a meal then they get your room perfect for your return each time. Including the turn down service with a chocolate and an extract from the Jock story on your bed and a hot water bottle warming the bottom of the bed each night. The bar, restaurant and welcome areas all were immaculate too. The pool at the bar is great for a quick dip when it gets warmer. The food was great quality and there was plenty of it – pre safari muffin, breakfast, lunch, high tea, evening safari snacks, dinner. Biscuits and hot drinks whenever you feel and a wide range of alcoholic drinks included (only the high end spirits were charged as extra). On arrival you get a hiking style water bottle to use and then take home and there are two water stations to refill it with water from a large bottle. This is to reduce the use of small plastic water bottles to reduce the environmental impact. Sadly I still saw some guests using small single use water bottles so I wish the lodge would take all small single use water bottles out of the in room fridges and the fridge in the restaurant so people have to use the refillable bottles. We had possibly the best massage ever from AB. If we’d been there longer we definitely would have booked another! All of that is impressive enough before we even get to the safari and the animals. Our field guide was Jacob and he was brilliant. A very funny man and a great driver (despite what he tells you). All the field guides work together and communicate whilst on the game drives to make sure they know what animals have been spotted. The vehicles seat 9 guests but there were only 6 in ours on each drive. We saw everything on this trip apart from black rhino and cheetah. We saw a variety of birds, eagles and owls, hyena, wild dog, buffalo, wildebeest, warthog, leopard, rhino, zebra, giraffe, crocodile, hippo, elephant and lion. Not forgetting the rare kudu, waterbuck and the even rarer impala ;) We saw a leopard, some zebra, a giraffe, various antelope and an elephant from the lodge itself. There are the monkeys who live at the lodge as well who are so cute but you do need to keep an eye on them! The sunrises and sunsets are a sight to behold too. Also the minimal light pollution makes for some great star gazing. The lodge put on two special dinner surprises just in the three nights we stayed which were spectacular. As a grown adult this is honestly the place I’ve not wanted to leave the most. We left here for the next part of our holiday, a 5 day luxury beach stay, and we were gutted to be leaving and actually wished we had another 5 days at Jock instead. As much as the early morning are not relaxing, the down time between the safaris is and we definitely could have stayed here for two weeks, I think, and not been bored or stressed or tired once. I’ve tried to describe how perfect this place is but I’m not sue words can convey it…

Date of stay: July 2019

Value

Service

Sleep Quality

Trip type: Traveled as a couple

Room Tip: Room 1 - we saw elephants from our room

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We are delighted that you had such a wonderful experience at Jock Safari Lodge. Thank you for taking the time to review your stay with us. We do hope to welcome you back for a longer stay in the future!

Thank you for a delightful time

Jock recently underwent a remodel and now seems like the perfect lodge in the middle of Kruger. It felt like the appropriate mix of luxury and authentic wilderness. The rooms are very comfortable and each unit is secluded. Our personal favorite was the outdoor space - personal pools and daybeds for lounging. The staff helped convert our daybed to a proper bed to sleep in at night - a very unique experience to sleep outside - you could wake up hearing lions roaring! Drinks and food were great. Of our three nights, one was fine dining in the lodge, one night the entire staff arranged for a special boma/bbq in the riverbed, and one night the staff arranged for us to have a personal dinner in our room with candles - very romantic! If you get a chance to get a massage from AB, you will not be disappointed - she's excellent. Our ranger was Jan. He was extremely thoughtful and experienced. We enjoyed having him for 6 game drives over our 3 days. Game drives were about 3 hours long with a break in the middle - coffee in the morning and drinks in the afternoon. He helped us find elephants, hyenas, giraffes, rhinos, buffalo, zebras, unique birds, wild dogs, and even a leopard. We saw a chase and a kill. We saw 4/5 big five - unfortunately missed out on seeing Lions but that wasn't anyone's fault. We came within steps of their tracks repeatedly but guess they didn't want to be seen this time around! Thank you Jock and Jan for a great time!…

Date of stay: July 2019

Value

Rooms

Service

Trip type: Traveled as a couple

Thank you for taking the time to review your stay at Jock Safari Lodge. We are loving our new renovations too and are delighted you appreciated the changes. We hope to welcome you home to Jock Safari Lodge again!

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PRICE RANGE

$1,035 - $2,475 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)

ALSO KNOWN AS

jock safari hotel kruger national park

LOCATION

South AfricaKruger National Park

NUMBER OF ROOMS

15

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Jock Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park

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