4.9 /5
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Based on over 1000 Verified Reviews.

Overview

Those who enjoy the social side of safari – joining fellow travellers at the bar for a drink or making new friends around the boma fire – will be in their element at Kapama River Lodge near the Kruger National Park in South Africa. With 64 rooms in total, it is perfect for larger groups of safari lovers travelling together and provides contemporary accommodation on 16 000 hectares near the Blyde River Valley. The centre of the lodge is no doubt the rim-flow swimming pool, the cocktail bar and the Siyadla lounge, where guests gather to chat about sightings, while away the afternoon between game drives or share a nightcap after dinner in the Rhino Boma. Diners have access to 600 superb South African wines and Jewish guests can select from a varied kosher menu. Romantics can arrange to take supper out on a nearby dry riverbed, enjoying the night sounds of Africa before making their way to an equally romantic sleep-out. In addition to game drives to see the Big 5, you can also make arrangements to visit the Kapama anti-poaching dog unit, tour the Hoedspruit Centre for Endangered Species and undertake sensitive elephant interactions. The Kapama series of lodges has been owner-managed since 1989 and sets a very high standard for lodge accommodation.

Highlights

  • Large, convivial camp with 64 rooms
  • Kosher menu and hundreds of South African wines to choose from
  • Big 5, 40 mammal species and 350 birding tick list
  • Spa, Wi-Fi and rim-flow swimming pool
  • Kapama Air private flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town

Activities

  • Elephant interactive experience
  • Game drives
  • Guided walks
  • Hot air ballooning
  • Specialist guides
  • Day tours
  • High tea on offer
  • Picnics
  • Star gazing
Perfectly located within a private Big 5 game reserve in the Kruger’s northern sector, this lodge offers something for everyone: affordable rooms to luxurious suites and a wonderful safari experience.
Mariam Ngoyi

Mariam Ngoyi

Africa Safari Expert

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Rooms

Spa Suite

The 16 Spa Suites are sheltered by bush willow trees and have floor-to-ceiling windows and doors. The patio is perfect for a private yoga or meditation session.

Family Suites

The four Family Suites have triple balconies, allowing you to really enjoy the great South African outdoors.

Royal Suites

There are two Royal Suites, each with dual showers in the en suite bathrooms.

Facilities

The Siyadla Lounge offers a friendly place to pass the time – in winter, snuggle down next to two fireplaces after getting a tipple from the cocktail bar. In summer, the rim-flow swimming pool is the place to the be. The spa offers a vast array of treatments using South African ingredients like the marula fruit and Pinotage wine, a local varietal engineered in 1925.

Kapama Air is a private airline that carries guests between Cape Town and Johannesburg to Eastgate Airport, where a courtesy vehicle transports them to Kapama River Lodge.

Dining

All meals at enjoyed at the lodge and, if the weather is clement, buffet dinners are enjoyed outdoors in the Rhino Boma or privately out on the dry riverbed. Select wine from one of 600 bottles in the cellar to accompany your meals. Jewish guests are fully catered for with a kosher menu.

General facilities

  • Boma
  • Curio or Gift shop
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
  • Bar
  • Beauty or wellness therapist
  • Children's Club
  • Wi-fi available
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Traveller Reviews

Kapama River Lodge
AA

Adriano Alessandrini

"'The Kapama River Lodge is an incredibly well-thought-out and cared-for structure which gives you pure luxury while perfectly respecting nature.'"
AM

Ann Musser

We had a wonderful trip. Everything about it was great. This was my sixth African safari and the best of all overall. That says a lot because each has been a fantastic experience. Both lodges were quite nice. Starting with the Kapama River Lodge was a good suggestion as it was a great start for the kids (ages 10 and 12) to get their first game drive experience, as well as go to the Hoesdspruit Center for Endangered Species and do the elephant back safari. The staff at both lodges were friendly and very accommodating to the girls food preferences. The rangers and trackers at both lodges were excellent and resulted in our viewing some less seen animals. In addition to seeing the big five at both lodges, at Kapama, we saw a Caracal which neither ranger had ever seen in the wild. We just can't say enough how great the trip was. It will provide a lifetime of memories.
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JM

Joan Merzbach

"The safari was beyond anything we ever could have imagined!"
GM

Gina Moore

I stayed at the Kapama River Lodge for several days in October 2013. The resort was a very cozy and comfortable place. The large lobby area has beautiful wooden furnishings, a fire place, a bar and comfortable couches and chairs to sit, relax and rea d. The rooms were also very comfortable and clean with nice wood furnishings. The rooms have both air conditioning and heat. I needed to use both - air conditioning during the day and heat at night. The rooms do not have television and the free Wi-Fi is not accessible in the rooms. However, I had good internet connections in the beautiful lobby area. Although, I prefer to have a television in the room, I actually didn't have time to watch TV. Every night after dinner, I would socialize briefly with new acquaintances and then I went to bed early every night in order to get decent sleep before my early morning rise for the morning Game ride. The food at the hotel was very good and the restaurant staff were extremely professional and friendly. I certainly enjoyed every meal. The evening meals were special events. The Safari and other hotel staff were also very friendly and professional. I was able to see all of the Big Five by my second day. The safari guides were very knowledgeable and knew where to find the animals. I was satisfied with my overall experience. The hotel has a decent gift shop and I bought all of my presents there. My stay at the Kapama River Lodge was very relaxing and peaceful. I would definitely stay there again.
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UP

Usha Patel

"We really enjoyed the safari, Kapama staff were very helpful, and we managed to see the big five!! - the kids loved it."
RM

Rayan Mattar

"Hi Tanya, Everything was great for my stay in Kapama river hotel."
Ans

Ant nio santos

Until now everything is perfect. Kapama River is really very comfortable and everyone is very professional and nice. The safaris have been exciting and we have seen lots of animals, including the big five (well the leopard was the most difficult).We made wonderful fotos and videos. Tomorrow,after the morning safari we will go again to Maputo. The journey was alright and we expect the same our way back. We'll keep in touch or I will e mail you again when arriving home. Thank you for having helped to programme our journey. Kind regards Also: At Kapama it was really great as I already told you before, it was a good choice for our first time and we would like to repeat a safari experience some other time in a different place.
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DH

Doug Howardell

Anza, thank you so much for putting together such a wonderful trip for us. Our stay at the Kapama River Lodge was incredible. I would recommend it to anyone, and I would recommend that they book through you as well. It was so nice to have everythi ng taken care of for us. We just had to show up at the airport and enjoy ourselves. Thanks again for everything!
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DB

Danielle Boneberg

Hi Anza! We are not quite home yet! We are in Joburg -- just raced last night and then we will be going home tomorrow! We had the most WONDERFUL time on the safari. The Kapama river lodge was fabulous. We loved our ranger, Frikkie, and all of the staff. It was the greatest experience EVER and we will never forget it. We we get back home, we will send you a picture of us :) Thank you so much!!!
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MG

Mark Garrick

"Hi Anza, South Africa was excellent, our ranger (joe) was brilliant and we got to see the big 4 (we couldn't find the leopard). Many thanks. Mark"
AM

Abbie McManus

Kapama was unbelievable! Thank you so so much for your recommendation there, it exceeded our expectations! We didn't want to leave! When we got there we were introduced to our game driver and tracker and they went out of their way to ensure we saw a s much of the wildlife as possible. We actually saw two lionesses stalk and kill a warthog and that was on our first morning there! On our last day we took a hot air balloon ride over the nearby farms and game parks, it was brilliant. The food, the people, the facilities, EVERYTHING was great, so thank you again for helping us with the holiday plans.
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bj

brent jaye

"Lianne, the trip was incredible. I was super impressed with the resort and the wild life experience. You were very flexible with your planning and I appreciate it! Thanks again."
LO

Lorna O'Connor

The trip was fabulous! Everything went as planned without a single problem every step of the way. The lodge choices were great. I'm glad you saved the Sabi Sand area for last. The game viewing was great at Kapama River Lodge but it went to a new leve l when we got to Arathusa. We not only saw the big 5 in one night but we also saw a lot of action with the animals (hunting and meals). As far as the actual lodge was concerned, I felt that Kapama River Lodge, as a whole, felt to be more upscale in terms of the quality of the overall facility. The spa was an added luxury too! I also preferred the buffet for the meals at Kapama since it gave more variety if you didn't care for the entree choices. The food at both lodges was spectacular and surpassed my expectations.
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FE

Fernando Estala

The safari was good. The Kapama river lodge was amazing, the service was impeccable, great food. As you know, we did the over night experience and loved it. I was disappointed with dinner while we were on the overnight. The surprise worked out g reat, and we got engaged! :) The flights worked out great (small problem on the flight there as we did have some mechanical problems, but all worked out) and saved us by not having to go through Joburg.
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ro

ross overby

The lodge was very nice, the service was excellent and the drivers and spotters were excellent. I was very disappointed at the number of animals. The lodge is actually in a private reserve and not in Kruger. We would drive almost an hour and see not hing and when we did come across an animal we would see one zebra or a lone buffalo. Again, a wonderful lodge but sparse wildlife.
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SK

Sridhar Krishnan

"The food was fantastic and River Lodge accommodation was also great. We actually had bush right behind our room, seen from the patio - saw a few Nyalas and Kudus at the doorstep. It was very cool."

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