Our Guests Comments

We want to go back! This is a very personal friendly safari, you feel like you are with family. We stayed at the lodge 4 nights, tented camp for 3 nights - different experiences but both great. All the staff made us feel welcome, fantastic food (despite having dietary conditions, they cooked some extra food to accommodate us). We went because of the elephants, were not disappointed and loved everything else too. The game reserve is also passionate about the welfare of the animals which l loved - they wanted you to share that too.

Amazing people, make sure you read the book before you arrive as it will give you a sense of being and the identity of the elephants and game.
Very helpful and knowledgeable staff, luxurious accomodation and well worth it. As you are in Africa, there is no point in roughing it. The food can be overwhelimg sometimes, as Breakfast, lunch and dinner is full on, but i am sure you can discuss this with chef and get something lighter and more local.
We actually went in Oct 2010 for our Honeymoon with 10 of our mates and it was perfect. It was however very dry, as the KZN winter gets, with no water close to the main hut, hence no elephants close by....
I would go back there in a heart beat.

9 of us visited Thula Thula in March this year. The food and accommodation were amazing, the people were brilliant and the whole trip was wonderful. The staff we met were fun and knowledgeable and really went out of their way to make sure we had a great trip. The animals were amazing and the guides even took us to Umfolozi for a day to try and spot the Lions but in hind sight we all wished we would have stayed and just enjoyed an extra day at Thula Thula. I would highly recommend a stay.

bettyballare

Swansea

Luxurious camping and lovely staff

Reviewed July 29, 2011

This is very posh camping - the tent has a bathroom with a claw tub bath, and, rather fabulously, an outdoor shower if you are not shy of the monkeys watching you. You can lie in bed and hear the hyenas outside.
The staff are fantastic - really friendly and knowledgeable. The reserve never feels crowded as they have such limited numbers staying there. We saw a two day old baby elephant! Hammocks and swimming pool for peaceful lounging, listening to the birds.
At the tented camp the food is not as gourmet as at the lodge, but it was fine and plentiful.
You eat together with fellow guests and the atmosphere is quite sociable so it wouldn't be a great place if you wanted privacy .
Not cheap but fairly priced for what you get (especially with some extra game drives thrown in free), and a real treat.

 

gmeeei

Afula, Israel

Fantastic !

Reviewed April 9, 2011

We stayed 3 nights at the lodge in th Luxury Safari Suite. We had an incredible time. The room was big and comfortable. The food superb. All the staff went out of their way to make us feel at home and make our stay comfortable. We met very interesting people and the group we went on drives with became friends. We went on two game drives a day with Promise our tracker and driver whose eyes knowladge and sence of humor made our game viewing a real experience. I don't have much to compare with game-wise, it is possible that at other game reserves there is a bigger variety of game, but the combination of the knowladge of the trackers, the overall welcome and good atmosphere made our stay wonderful. There is also an option of day walks which are very interesting and give a different perspective. We also visited the Zulu village and healer which was interesting.
Thank you again for a wonderful stay.

• Stayed March 2011

Reviewed March 22, 2011

 

The Thula Tented camp was our home for five nights; we were intrigued to visit the game reserve after reading Lawrence Anthony's 'The Elephant Whisperer' and seeing for ourselves this herd of elephants which had so inspired the heart, mind and soul of the author.

For those of us who care deeply about the conservation of wildlife and the
environment they need to live in, then this game reserve is truly a place to visit.
The emphasis of the Thula experience, is to encourage and allow the visitor the opportunity to learn and truly understand the delicate and transient cycle of all the animals, birds and creatures living in this beautiful bushland.

We spent every morning on a bush walk with the tracker guide, Victor. The walks were very interesting, informative and huge fun. Victor was knowledgeable and very amusing. We managed to get intimate with the grasses,bushes and trees, nearly all of which seemed to have multiple medicinal or extraordinarily dangerous foliage. We loved these walks and would not have missed them for the world.

In the evenings we were taken out on a bush drive with our ranger David who kept us very entertained with his bush anecdotes and wonderful knowledge of the reserve and it's inhabitants. On our very first drive, we were lucky enough to see sixteen elephant, including Nana, Frankie, and their various offspring, drinking and cavorting about at one of the waterpools. Following that, almost every evening we spotted many birds species, giraffe, nyala, kudu, impala, various birds of prey, vervet monkeys, warthog, crocodile, and either part of the herd of elephant or Mabula, the 21 year old bull, who always seemed to be pushing over a tree or two. Equally exciting was the brush with heavenly bush smells, bird cries, animal noises and gold red streaked skies as dusk made way for the night stars.

Needless to say, the staff of Thula Thula were wonderfully warm, friendly, knowledgeable, caring and dedicated. Many a delightful eveing was spent chatting to Lawrence Anthony, who is wonderfully charismatic, sensitive, deeply committed, very amusing and way too modest! Keep writing about what you know and love.

Reviewed February 28, 2011

My Mum and I stayed at Thula Thula for 6 nights in Feb 2011. We went as I bought the book "The Elephant Whisperer" for her 2.5 years ago and ever since it had been her dream to go and meet the wonderful herd and the great man himself, Anthony Lawrence. I also read the book nearer to the time of the trip and I was filled with wonder and delight at such a marvellous place and the good things Lawrence has done. It felt so surreal to actually be there...So on a personal level we loved it as it reflected everything we had read about but as a first ever safari and South African trip it far surpassed any expectations. The lodge and tented camp (we stayed at both) were fabulous, beautifully designed and organised with every amenity you would need. The staff were warm, welcoming and ensured nothing was too much trouble - as an example to their attention to detail, when I mentioned to one of the wonderful rangers Sizwe that it was my mother's birthday, he ensured that the super efficient manager Mabona knew and at dinner my mum was presented with the most wonderful home made chocolate cake, complete with the whole procession of staff singing happy birthday! Definitely a birthday to remember! The fact the lodge and camp only take a certain amount of people make the experience even more intimate and special, we had dinner with like minded people and got to swap stories of the sights seen on the walks and drives of the day. As for those, we were lucky to see every bird, bug and animal (apart from the elusive leopard!) going including the whole elephant herd which was truly humbling and exciting. We also got to meet Lawrence on the last night and he was as friendly, charismatic and humble as he came across in his book, happily signing our books, even buying us champagne and we all had dinner with him and his earth org guests which was fascinating; we felt truly honoured. As we checked out we also met Francois, Lawrence's amazing French wife who has totally put her heart and soul into making the lodge the most magical place - and we got to meet her little dog Bijou, also in the book who is now 16 and totally blind but still going strong! All in all, the most life-affirming experience we have ever had...when you come from somewhere and you now look at things differently, you know it's a special place. I couldn't recommend Thula Thula highly enough

Dear Lawrence and Francoise

 Reading The Elephant Whisperer and finally having the pleasure of seeing Nana, Franki with their family as well as meeting you in person (however briefly) .............was I must say the highlight of my first holiday to South Africa. We had three "jam packed" exciting days at Thula Thula and I know we will both return in the future to check out your new acquisitions, the Hippo's.  

Thula Thula's elegant accommodation, friendly and knowledgeable staff, not to mention the superb French cuisine we grazed on for three days, .......thanks to your delicious menu......... were out of this world.

 Finally, many thanks for allowing Promise to meet us at Empangei in order to collect our signed books we purchased from Thula Thula, I know these copies will be circulated throughout all my close friends and who knows they will be inspired by your actions as we have been. 

 Keep up the good work Francoise and Lawrence - you are a team who have the right recipe for continued success.  All the very best for the future.  

 Regards to all your staff, esp Siya, Sanele and Promise 

Craig & Jude Frazer

 PO Box 408, RICHMOND NSW 2753 AUSTRALIA

Wonderful experience My wife and I had two days at Thula Thula, they were truly remarkable. Everything was wonderful, the staff were tremendous especially our guide; Siswe. Thanks to all for a memorable visit!
Ken Williams, South Africa 25 January 2012

Wonderful Experience What a wonderful experience, we were a group of 11 and nothing was too much to change for us. The food was superb and the friendliness of the staff was wonderful. You were all were great, keep up the good work.
Elmari Rautenbach, South Africa 30 September 2010

Loved it! Me and my parents loved staying in Thula Thula! The staff are so nice and always available for you whatever you need. The game ride was cold but rewarding and the animals are just beautiful. All the information given by the guides is so interesting. The rooms are beautiful, clean and in general the place is amazing. What can I say about the food? It is delicious, a truly culinary experience. I would definetly love to come back.
Paola Guadarrama, Canada 24 June 2010

The Wild Irish Rovers This was an amazing experience of customer service and luxury chill out. The staff were amazing especially Promise and Johnny T and Candis...the food was excellent and we were made to feel very special..we will be going back soon.
John Church, Ireland 27 August 2008

Outstanding We had 10 days in South Africa staying with friends for 5 nights and with 2 nights in Thula Thula and in Rocktail Bay. Both Zoe and I agreed that Thula Thula was the highlight of our holiday.
Paul McNea, United Kingdom 18 October 2007

Amazing Anniversary Weekend My husband and l shared the most amazing weekend at Thula Thula for our 1 year anniversary - the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable, the food was totally out of this world, the accommodation was beautiful, the game viewing even though a little wet (rained a whole lot) was great - overall - a perfect treat for us.
Lauren Hinds, South Africa 04 June 2007

A change that was well worth trying. We normally finish our SA visits with a visit to the Kruger area. Visiting Thula Thula saved a lot of extra travel and I can honestly say that it compared very favourably. The staff and accomodation were splendid and the rangers exceeded all expectations. Unlike the Kruger, there are other activities in the area during the day out of the camp and the massage is a must! The highlight has to be the elephant herd,their history and the stories of their establishment. I think Thula Thula is still developing - buffalo due to arrive next month and the introduction of the tented camp. One disappointment - the elephant have killed some rhino - but that proves it's still wild Africa.
Tim Chadwick, United Kingdom 26 April 2007

Highly recommended Just to let you know that my friend (visiting from Australia) and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to your park and the relaxed peaceful comfort of a smaller resort. The game rangers were fantastic and the food - well - out of this world. I shall certainly recommend your lodge to friends and other visitors and hope one day soon to be able to visit again.
Jenny Lilley, South Africa 03 October 2006

Wonderful We most certainly like to go back to Thula Thula in the near future. It was wonderful: elephants, rhino, great rangers, lovely food and many beautiful birds. We'll be back in summertime.
Nicole Maes, Angola 10 August 2005