Botlierskop Private Game Reserve

9.6

Exceptional

115 Guest reviews

9.6

Exceptional

115 Verified Reviews

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Cleanliness9.8/10

Service9.6/10

Comfort9.6/10

Condition9.6/10

location9.4/10

Neighborhood9.2/10

Amenities9.6/10

This is a great property as it has a range of stay options plus a separate place for day visitors who want to do a game drive. The 'tent' was quite luxurious and game drives informative and exciting. i liked the option to pay what you use and not just an 'all inclusive' which is better value for people who don't eat and drink huge amounts. Fully recommend.

Limited transportation! They need to work on this

This is a very beautiful hotel and has amazing safari grounds. Rooms are beautiful, clean and inviting. Overall very expensive for what you get and has a lot of hidden fees on arrival. It is a shame that things such as breakfast or activities are not included or discounted with the significant cost of a room per night. We paid approximately AU$1500 per night and only received the hotel room. Even arrival drinks come at a cost. The experiences such as the safari tour and horse riding were excellent, and the staff members were fantastic. However, staff at the guest services and throughout the hotel facilities were not inviting and often ignored guests. Would think with the price paid and 5-star experience customer service would be better. When seated for dinner and breakfast you have a designated seated table for your room. If asked to sit in an alternative place staff members respond by stating "the viewing tables and window seating is for those guests who have paid more money and stay for longer". Understandable, however, due to the large period of time provided for breakfast and dinner perhaps guests could sit where seats are available. I would recommend doing the safari tour/alternative activities as a day trip only and not staying at the hotel. You can visit this hotel and have the same experiences - with much less of a cost.

Beautiful lodge with exquisite views

Wonderful

A peace of heaven, wonderful staff and class facilities. We back ASAP

We arrived far too early for room check-in, but they took our suitcases and stored them until later. After filling out the various registration forms, we signed up for an afternoon safari and had some lunch whilst we waited. The safari was excellent, with the guide asking what we'd most like to see, and then drove round the reserve until we could find the various animals on our wish list. The Guide was excellent, obviously knowledgeable and quite witty - all of which making for a great afternoon out. When we got back, out cases had been put into our room/tent. Our meals were first class and the whole experience something to treasure.

Fantastic place, the views are incredible. The food was really good and all the staff were all great. Our tent was lovely and as we were travelling on our honeymoon we received a welcome gift on arrival. During our stay we did the game drive 2 times and saw all the animals, the game rangers have fantastic knowledge about all the animals. Hopefully we’ll be back one day.

Such an amazing experience. Beds are very firm but other than that, everything was superb!

Staff caring and privacy of tent .. Room cleaning..

Just fantastic

Incredible place with fantastic views, wildlife, food, service and luxury tents. Just perfect. I could have spent a week there easily. Staff were really friendly and helpful and the game guides extremely knowledgeable about their animals.

Great overall, not the best game drives or b'fast

It was a great stay, they offer a lot of activities. We did a game drive, back horse riding, tennis, and a massages. However, their safari is small compared to Kruger where I stayed previously. Only saw 2 of the big 5, elephants and lions. It would have been nice to see all. They do not have leopards in their reserve. Aside from that, the stay was great, fantastic pools and dinners at the restaurant as well as a great service. I did not like their breakfast as it lacked the choices, a lot of pork choices, but for someone who does not eat pork, there was not much to choose from.

It was just lovely in the valley amidst nature............

Best of the garden route private reserves

Absolutely fantastic place, wonderful staff. Difficult to find the words to express how good it is. Their commitment to their customers, staff and the animals they look after is exemplary. A memory my wife will never forget is sitting on our veranda watching a wildebeest giving birth 30m away!! I can't recommend it highly enough, 5*****

Hidden paradise

We loved this little hidden paradise so much that we are considering it to be the venue for our wedding! That should say quite a lot! The property and setting is a "must see". The staff and their service is not only friendly but also knowledgeable and at all times helpful. The activities offered are multiple and in our view world class! Although the bar is set high, you can't possibly be other than amazed if you choose to stay here. We rate it 10/10 and can't wait to get back!

Awesome

Fantastic place which I would definitely recommend. Very friendly staff. We saw 4 of the big 5. Loved the charming decor and cosy feel of the place. Indoor and outdoor fires. The manor house suite was luxurious and the heated infinity pool had stunning views, the food was delicious (including the crocodile!) Unfortunately the spa massage was very average - that being the only negative.

Botlierskop Game Reserve and Cat Walk

Botlierskop Game Reserve was a memorable experience, from the moment we arrived, we were treated impeccably. The service throughout was faultless. Our two Game Drives were informative and led by Loundice who did really well in both finding the animals, driving and imparting a great deal of knowledge. Lunch, dinner and breakfast were all of a very high standard and variety. We fitted so much into our 24 hour stay, even a swim in the pool. The luxury tent was set in a tranquil setting, across a stream we pulled ourselves over by punt. On our way to the punt for our 0600 game drive, a family of 3 giraffes, ambled close by us. We opted to do the Cat Walk as an extra, the afternoon we left. This is a walk with lions, no touching allowed, but walking is close In close proximity, under the instruction of guides, a great experience.

Amaizong and close up wild life.

It was an amazing drive, we did 2 drives and the catwalk in the neighbor state. We had an amaizong time. Very small group, personalized, felt like private. Guides are very knowledgeable. Food was splendid. Will do it again!

Exceptional staff

From the moment we arrived we felt like valued guests. Chris organised complimentary drinks and nibbles then left us to relax and complete the obligatory check-in paperwork. We were then shown to our lovely room in the Manor House. To look out of our bedroom window and see a herd of wildebeest wandering past was amazing. Later in the afternoon we were sitting on the terrace and three giraffe appeared in the valley below. It was truly magical. Dinner was part set courses and part buffet and one of the best meals we had during our 9 day trip to SA. Delanie, our waitress, was delightful. When we went back to our room, we found the electric blanket had been switched on which was most welcome as it had turned quite chilly. The next day we joined an early morning game drive. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience thanks to our guide, Duan. We were well aware that there are a limited number of animals living on the reserve and found that we enjoyed seeing the fabulous scenery as much as we did game spotting.

Fantastic place to stay

This was our second visit. We love everything about it. The staff could not be more friendly and helpful. You are made to feel special from the moment you arrive until you leave. The activities can be booked when you arrive we loved the Game Drive horse riding safari and walking with lions. The food is amazing . We stayed in the Manor House with fantastic views and a beautiful pool area. The only problem was the water in the bathroom did not flow well and was not always warm. We will be back x

Beautiful lodge set amidst the rolling hills

Botlierskop is an amazing lodge set in beautiful rolling hills above Mossel Bay. The rooms were incredibly comfortable and the food at the lodge was great. The Little Brak River goes right by the lodges and there is a grassy area between the main lodge and the river that a lot of the animals like to graze at. Our rooms were right next to this area and had a great view of rhino, wildebeest, bontebok, impala, etc. Keep in mind this is a small game reserve and won't be a game viewing experience like Chobe, Kruger, or even Madikwe. The safari here is set among a beautiful drive in the Western Cape hills. I think of it more as a scenic drive with the chance to see animals rather than a drive to see animals that also includes some scenic views. It is a much different experience than the usual game drive and quite enjoyable. If you are going to do the Garden Route or Cape Town in addition to a safari at a big park then stopping here for a couple of days is a nice add-on that is different than what you will experience at the big game park. The horseback riding here looked incredible and is something I plan on doing when I return. They also did a great job of accommodating my 88 year old grandmother who has some difficulty getting around. The staff was very, very helpful. Our game guide Chris was quite knowledgeable and had some funny stories. We stayed for two nights which I think was about the right length.

Game and Fine Dining

Go for the game drives, stay for the excellent food and dining. Amazingly friendly and attentive service from everyone from the guides to the cleaning staff. Every meal was beautifully presented and delicious. Quite a value as well compared to game lodges around Kruger. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a game drive and lodge experience along the Garden Route. Didn't want to leave!

Excellent hotel in a stunning location!

My partner and I stayed here for 3 nights in December. From the moment we arrived, we fell in love with the place! HOTEL & FACILITIES The hotel itself is beautiful, well furnished and styled with animal furs, leather lounges, candles, and African-themed decor throughout. Our tent was stunning, the bed was HUGE and there was ample space for two people with double basins in the bathroom and a comfy stone bathtub. Everything was clean and we'd been gifted a bottle of wine and some cute chocolates. We looked onto a grass hill near the water so there was privacy and around the grounds, the views were breathtaking - rolling grass hills and a river and plenty of game/wildlife around. There were however a few things which let us down - the outdoor shower is amazing and a really great idea but can be a nuisance if you want a shower at night as it can get very cold and there are mosquitoes and bugs. The outdoor lights for both the back shower and the front deck were both broken, these were not repaired until our 3rd day so we had to use candles outside and couldn't have a shower after it got dark. And the pedicure at the day spa was not the best. Overall however, the place is stunning! SERVICE Overall, the service was excellent. Our check-in was a little slow, we arrived at 9pm and didn't get to our rooms until 10.30pm! But aside from this, reception/restaurant/activities service was excellent in all cases. Staff are super friendly and happy to assist and passionate about their jobs

Fantastic Experience

The game reserve is accessed via a very long gravel track and it makes you wonder what you are coming to! When we arrived we were met by our assigned guide who arranged the car to be parked and took us on a tour of the main buidling which is amazing. We were then offered complimentary drinks and a snack whilst we browsed the selection of activities. I was worried that they would all be booked up but there was plenty of space and they were so accomodating. We booked walking with lions, horseback riding and a Game Drive. All were excellent value and were fantastic. We booked a luxury manor room. The Manor was down a steep drive but there are plenty of golf cars around to take people up and down if they so wish. The Manor House was stunning with its own private lounge where a fire is lit each evening. Our room look out onto a grassy plain where wildebeest and spring bok were grazing-fantastic. There was also a swimming pool for Manor House guests to use which was a stones throw from our veranda. It was sheer bliss. The room was fabulous we couldn't fault it. Our food was not included but we opted to eat breakfast and evening meal as it was difficult to go elsewhere. The prices were very reasonable and the food superb. A real experience to eat there. One evening there were African Drummers and we sat round a large fire pit learning how to play the drums. We only had a two night stay but it was fantastic and look forward to going back again.

Wish we had more time there

Great place to stay, clean, classy but not pretentious, amazing food and great staff. Wish we could have stayed longer. Well done everyone :)

Exotic and Outstanding!

Simply the best hotel stay we've ever had! Everything was done to perfection. We will be back!

Awful experience - poor drives, food and room

This place is a scam. They go out on fewer than 20% of the committed game drives and spend their whole time trying to sell spa treatments to you. It's not a safari experience it's a tacky sales engine. The food was inedible and the staff incredibly rude. Be careful not to get stung and try elsewhere. In addition we overheard someone saying that the place is for sale and that they have a few weeks to screw as much money out of their visitors as possible. Together with the flooding and fire risk we couldn't recommend this place to our worst enemy. STAY CLEAR!

Attention to Detail

Awesome location, really friendly staff remembered us by name which was nice they were knowledgeable and happy

Staying with the wildlife

Wonderful family experience, calm, relaxing and a quality destination. Walking with lions, was memorable! The guides were attentive and informative, taking time to explain the ecology and master plan for repopulating the area with wildlife. These lions are captive, not wild, they seem better off and well cared for. A must do, but have your eyes wide open to the circumstances to why your there!

A wonderful stay at the Lodge. Service was great, wish we could have stayed longer

Great stay

Very good - it was a cold night, but the pool was heated and the fireplaces were lovely. The food was very good for the price. We had to leave very early the next morning, and they made it very easy for us! Definitely recommend!

Somewhat ersatz, but wonderful

Unexpectedly luxurious, interesting, and convenient, this hotel and private game park has many ancillary activities to make it even more pleasurable. While very close to Knysna, the night is quiet and calm, while the game drives (reminiscent of Safari West in the U.S.) are interesting and exciting if you have not yet done the full-on Safari experience. Food and drink are above average, though not in the 5-star range. Rooms are very comfortable and staff is friendly. It was perfect for us on our way down the Garden Route.

Brilliant experience, great location

Reserve & staff so friendly & helpful, food good, drinks great, definitely recommend to anyone thinking of booking, superb experience

Amazing

Nothing to say but Wow!!! I don't write reviews very often but this place was to awesome to not say anything. We had a blast. The place is amazing!! Staff is very friendly food was incredible. The safari was super fun!! We saw everything and our driver was super nice. The property is beautiful. We got to stop and have a cold beer and wine on the top of a mountain half way threw the safari. Truly amazing!! Thank you!!!! We will recommend this place to everyone.

remarkable

from the moment we arrived mid afternoon we experienced a shear pleasurable stay. All staff were well trained and every expectation and request was carried out efficiently and completely. BEDS WERE SUPER COMFY AND PILLOWS AS SOFT AS CLOUDS. The lion walk was exceptional. we were the only participants it being off season and still all care and safety was paramount having 9 handlers and 1 main guide to accompany us and the 2 female lions for 45 mins of once in a lifetime experience. sitting on the verandah late afternoon sipping a complimentary sherry while the wilderbeast and zebras grazed a stones throw away was piece and tranquillity to the utmost. finishing up with a hot bamboo massage from Sylvia in the spa was delightfull. thankyou Botlierskop staff for a wonderful stay

A great experience in every way

Every component of this hotel is excellent. It is a very premium hotel with superb views. The game drives etc are SUPERB. The tented villas equally as luxurious (the photos under sell them). Even the restaurant is superb ("buffet" always worries me but this is a fixed 4 course menu with amuse bouche and cooked to order Braai meat). I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Game Reserve with a difference

First class from start to finish, food amazing, good selection at dinner, we stayed full board never again just to much food to eat. We will stay half board when we return. Game drives were good although rough terrain, downside was the Jeeps were covered on the roof and the ranger had to keep getting out to explain things. Walking with the Lions is a must do, feeding the Elephants not so good to many people(day trippers) Having been to Sanbonna, Bufflesdrift we rate Botlierskop number one at the moment.

Unforgettable!

We stayed here for 2 nights in the newly converted stables at the Manor House. Having been on Safari before I preferred this type of accommodation to the tented rooms and the setting was amazing. The manor house is in a fabulous position and we woke on the 2nd day to Rhinos in front grazing in front of the unit. The rooms are lovely. We did the elephant ride which was very special, the game drive ranger was very informative and the scenery is breathtaking, and the animals are so much easier to view than on Safari but at no stage did it feel unnatural. We also did the 2 hour horseback safari which was the highlight - getting close to the wild animals on horseback whilst experiencing the fabulous horses and the guides made this event truly memorable for both of us. Fingers crossed the trekking holiday plans go ahead and we will be first in the queue! Food fab, you need to be hungry as there is a lot of it! Recommend this place all day long!

Amazing experience

Spent one night as a stopover. We were so impressed with the whole experience, especially the amazing food, that we will definitely include a longer stay on our next itinerary.

Magnificent experience.

The 'luxury tent' accommodation is exactly that: the bed large and luxurious with four posts and full mosquito nets (not that we noticed any, and nor is it a malarial area), and a great bathroom with large oval bath and double outdoor shower (quite private), complete with touches like candles and room fragrance. Of course, being separated from the bush by just canvas walls, you will hear the creatures around you making their natural calls, which is most noticeable nocturnally and the incredible dawn chorus - but if you're up for the 6am game drive that won't be a problem! The game drives themselves were wonderful. The food is good - although the dinner buffet is let down by the side dishes in awful heated containers, whereas the cooked to order meat (including game such as impala, ostrich and crocodile) is great.

First time safari

We were a little apprehensive as to which game reserve to choose during our recent stay in South Africa but, after having read some other reviews, we decided on Botlierskop and we were so glad that we did. The attention to detail was second to none and we loved the activities that we chose to do. We weren't even put off by the rain we had when out on our game drive; it was all still very exciting. Our guide, Corlia, was knowledgeable and informative and knew just where to go to find the animals we wanted to see. And, as for walking with cats - it was a wonderful experience. I won't give too much detail as I wouldn't want to spoil it for other people who choose this activity! Although we only stayed in the resort for less than 24 hours, we were able to pack so much in and felt as if we had stayed for a week. As for our 'tent'; definitely glamorous camping as its best!

Great place but limited night time activity

The hotel the rooms and the food were great. The staff were extremely helpful and the day time activities were plenty. At night however there was little to do but eat and drink. It felt to me as though it needed something to entertain you - like some live music. There are no tv's in the rooms or at the main lodge so once you had eaten there was nothing happening. The place was deserted by ten pm. For romantic holidays that might be fine but when travelling as friends there was a need for something else.

Great and attentive staff

Really enjoyed the game drive but dinner choices a little limited

Great Experience

This hotel location must be one of the best in the world despite the fact that you travel the last few Kms over an unpaved track. Facilities were very good.

Luxury is always nice

Great stay. We had dinner and it was very nice and also did the walk with the lions.

Amazing destination we highly recommend it!

We stayed in the luxury tents, they were beautiful. Did game rides on horseback, played with lion cubs, walk with Lyons in the wild And even rode elephants. This is will be our most memorable vacation ever. Great destination for vacation or wedding or anniversary.

Relaxing, Stunning and Fun

My boyfriend and I had an absolute blast at Botlierskop. Our first night there was chilly and we were worried about staying in the unheated tent, but were delighted to find that the bed had an electric heating pad in it. It turned out to be the first of many details that made for a great experience. The game drives were more fun than I could have imagined, not only because of the opportunity to see animals, but also the bumpy ride through beautiful, hilly terrain! A baby rhino was born when we were there, and we also saw lions, wildebeast, zebras, giraffes, many types of antelope, elephants, and more. We did not see cheetahs or hippos, as I don't believe they are on this reserve, but I was not disappointed. Our guide, Nico, had a great dry sense of humor and kept us laughing throughout. We learned a ton about the animals, plants, and South Africa in general. We also did a horseback ride and it was just the right length to see some animals and get back before we were too sunburnt or tired. The food was also fantastic - we tried blesbok, ostrich, alligator and also plenty of less adventurous delicacies. It was our favorite activity in South Africa and I will never forget it. While the grounds and accommodations are classy, it never felt stiff or overly formal. We were able to select activities at our leisure and never felt pressured or obligated to sign up for more. For this reason, I felt completely relaxed and at ease the whole time.

Excellent

This was one of the best experiences we ever had. Everything was great. The staff makes one feel welcome from the moment you arrive till the moment you leave. We stayed in one of the tents and have absolutely nothing negative to say. Will tell everyone we know to visit as staying at this amazing lodge is an experience not to be missed.

Perfect

excellent experience in a private reserve for the first time everything was very well organized and the staff very friendly the food is excellent . There are many activities to do during the day we recommend this reserve and had an excellent stay

Very nice private reserve

Spend one night at hotel traveling from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town. Hotel was very nice and would have liked to have spent more time participating in the activities. Back door of room opened onto the reserve and could see animals grazing from the room. Very nice place.

Best tent ever.

This place was unbelievable. Very luxurious. The food was unforgettable.