HillsNek Safari Camp – Amakhala Game Reserve
Nature lodge in Eastern Cape
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsPool, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Internet / Wifi and more
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About this nature lodge rental
Located in the Amakhala Game Reserve, this lodge is set on the banks of Bushman’s River. It features an outdoor pool and luxurious tented chalets with panoramic views of the plains.
Amenities
Pool
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Smoking allowed
Parking
Balcony or Patio
TV
Family friendly
Map of Eastern Cape
Available Rooms
Tent
1 King or 2 Single • 387 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
Tent
1 King or 1 Sofa • 484 ft²
Sleeps 4
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
$$$$
Ratings and reviews
100% verified reviews
9.0 / 10.0
Fantastic, friendly staff, all of them.
Great Hospitality and Excellent Food.
Excellent game viewing , with unique experiences, with Elephant visitors at the lodge, cheetah and cubs, pride of lion, a variety of buck species. The game was plentiful!! Our guide was Eben was great!
It was extremely hot here in late March. So it must be steaming in mid summer. There was no air conditioning.
10.0 / 10.0
Exceptional camp with really super friendly hosts, staff and guide.
The food is sensational with large portions. The tent is simply awesome, the top furnishings and the exceptional view.
But the game drives are more than exceptional, they are simply phenomenal.
Our guide Jesse has a lot of knowledge and can explain it very clearly.
He found all the Big Five and many more in the huge reserve and we were able to get very close to the animals.
Many, many thanks to Jesse, Nadine, Jaison, Murray and all the staff for an unforgettable experience.
10.0 / 10.0
Everything was excellent. The staff were exceptional. I have been on a number of safaris and the staff at Hillsnek really went above and beyond. Special mention for Jesse the ranger, Renzo and Jaison at the lodge. Got to be the best option in the E Cape.
Leaving.
9.0 / 10.0
Private and lovely
location
Nothing really all good
9.0 / 10.0
wonderful experience with lovely experienced staff and fantastic food.
nothing
10.0 / 10.0
Food was excellent. Staff super friendly and helpful. The lodge and rooms far exceeded my expectations.
They are remodeling the swimming pool which will be terrific because it’s not appealing now. But this will soon not be a problem.
10.0 / 10.0
Unique location in the middle of the african bush. Luxurious tents, relatively spacious, comfortable beds! Can definitely recommend this place!
10.0 / 10.0
Our stay couldn’t be covered by words or any pictures. It was outrageous and so unique. HillsNek is a very special place, you are in the middle of the Reserve, where you park your car at the beginning and get picked up by the ranger who is going to take care of you the next couple of days during the game drives (safaris). Arriving at the lodge was so nice, being welcomed by the staff with a warm towel and friendly atmosphere. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and the drinks are included as well (unless you want a special wine or something). The food did not only had a great and fresh quality, the team was also very flexibel in terms of dishes (I am a pescatarian and they also cooked only boiled vegetables and couscous for me as I asked once, but my boyfriend always picked one from the day-menu and especially the meat was very good!). The breakfast was lovely as well, they had delicious self-baked bread and cheese, and in addiction to that we were able to choose from a bunch of other things (Joghurt with granola and fruits, all kinds of eggs,…. they even made warm porridge when I asked) - everything very delicious!!
Spending time at the lodge was very quiet and relaxing as well. You can lay on the daybeds or sit by the fireplace. The rooms also have a beautiful balcony, an outside shower + bathtub (from where I watched the stars one night - I have never seen so many stars so clearly in my life), and they even provide a yoga mattress. However we focused on the game drives - two a day (one 6 am and one 4 pm) which were incredible. We had the ranger Dex, who has such a knowledge about the animals (he could really read their expressions) and the area and his driving skills where amazing. You also stop for a nice sundowner drink + snacks (the Chardonnay is delicious!!) and enjoy the landscape. We got to see soo many animals so close: lions, cheetahs, zebras, buffalos, special birds, elephants, giraffes ….
10.0 / 10.0
Unreal experience! HillsNek will make you feel in the heart of nature while offering you the best service and luxurious feeling. Having only 4 lodges, the whole experience felt very personal and private while at the same time enjoying the feeling of community with the other guests during game drives and meals. Our ranger Tim did his best to show us everything we wanted to see and more while making us feel safe and sharing great stories. Renzo and the staff made sure to be ahead of every of our needs. We even had the elephants coming to drink in the pool twice during our stay - it's not just great marketing ;)
The pool was not usable after the elephants came to drink - but who will complain about that after experiencing this?!
10.0 / 10.0
The safaris.
Food was excellent.
Very exclusive.
The location.
The ranger - Andrew.
Nothing
10.0 / 10.0
The location of Hillsnek is breathtakingly beautiful! The camp is small & intimate and the staff are very warm and friendly - nothing was too much to ask! Our ranger, Brogan was incredibly knowledgeable and accomodating - we left having seen 4 of the Big 5. Brogan ensured our morning coffees and sundowners were set against incredible scenery! We loved this!
Meals were tasty and varied and the Wednesday evening Braai was awesome! Loved the feel of the boma and the food was lovely!
Our tents were just AMAZING! All the tents are set well apart giving a lovely feel of privacy. Each tent is thoughtfully laid out and beautifully presented - lovely sense of luxury.
Highly recommend Hillsnek and the wonderful team that work there! Thank you for an amazing couple of days!
10.0 / 10.0
It felt authentically South African but with luxury touches and incredibly friendly service. The rangers and staff were incredibly knowledgeable and always happy to help. As there are only 8-10 guests max, it’s a really intimate experience and gives you a proper chance to get to know other guests as well as the staff in a short space of time.
The internet was patchy and unreliable in places but this www partly because of the load shedding. When it rained the cabin got a little wet from the tent not being completely closed so a bigger radiator/options to dry clothes and shoes in between safari but it wasn’t a big problem.
10.0 / 10.0
Amazing overall experience, luxury accommodation in the middle of nature, staff is alway very supportive & friendly, the stay was adjusted to individual needs, and every request was fulfilled. The lodge is nice situated in the middle of the game reserve with amazing views. Elephants visited us in the pool area. Lots of animals observable during the game drives, and the rangers are very competent.
10.0 / 10.0
An amazing location overlooking the plains where animals roam fantastic tents and small and intimate with great staff who have time to chat and explain and that's not forgetting the elephants who stop by for a drink from the pool
Nothing
10.0 / 10.0
Everything about Amakhala was fabulous. The Hillsnek accommodation was stunning and the service and food exceptional. Then there are the twice daily game drives; no superlatives do them justice. Our ranger Andrew was so knowledgeable and attentive to our viewing requests. The reserve is literally teeming with wildlife so you will not be disappointed. Saw lion, elephant, giraffe, zebra, cheetah, hippo, all kinds of antelope plus smaller animals, birds and interesting vegetation. Not forgetting the hilarious warthogs! Loved it all. Don't look elsewhere...this reserve is incredible!
Nothing st all. What a trip.
10.0 / 10.0
From the moment we arrived, we were treated with incredible hospitality from all staff members. Although a small team, they went out of their way to make sure all of our needs were met and exceeded all of our expectations. The facilities and room were absolutely beautiful. Private and quiet, very comfortable bed and warm bath robes. Lovely bath with an outside shower and bath salts provided next to the bath. An electric blanket kept us warm during the night and waterproof ponchos and blankets were provided on the game drive. We were met with hot towels and hot chocolate after our very chilly game drive which was very well received. The cuisine was excellent and beautifully presented. Thank you to all the wonderful staff members for an unforgettable experience.
The only thing which could have added to being amazing, would be to provide slippers as the wooden floor of the chalet gets quite cold for the winter yearly mornings.
10.0 / 10.0
Very comfortable and luxurious but at the same time kept the bush feel. The staff really go out of there way to make sure you looked after and that your every need is met. Lungi was our game ranger and he was AMAZING,really good at his job,friendly and professional!
There was honestly nothing that I disliked.
9.0 / 10.0
amazing setting, beautiful views, staff did everything to make us feel welcome and looked after, constant little touches which were great.
couldn’t use the outside shower due to wasps which was a little sad
9.0 / 10.0
The staff were fantastic. Our game-drives were unbelievable! Our ranger was top class! All our expectations were met, and nothing seemed to be too much trouble. Great Stay!
Dinners were delicious, but the cuisine is very rich. So if you have a sensitive stomach, remember to ask for more bland meals.
10.0 / 10.0
Excellent service
Game drives we really enjoyed and Roelof made it a super experience
9.0 / 10.0
We were really amazed at the beautiful setting of this lovely tented camp, even had a lovely bull elephant meet us at the front of the camp. The staff were wonderful and did what ever they could to make our stay as memorable and comfortable as possible. Had the pleasure of two different guides on our game drives and they were both full of knowledge and enthusiasm for nature in all its guises, thank you Brad and Roelof you were fantastic.
There was very little to complain about, my only gripe would be being served cold meats and salad on the coldest day in August for 18 years. Please don't misunderstand me as the food was top class and more than enough of it, always felt like a lion after a buff kill after leaving the table.
FAQs
How much does this nature lodge cost compared to others in Eastern Cape?
The average price for a rental in Eastern Cape is $107 per night. This rental is $368 above the average.
Is parking included with this nature lodge?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at HillsNek Safari Camp – Amakhala Game Reserve. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this nature lodge?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at HillsNek Safari Camp – Amakhala Game Reserve. Enjoy the water!
Is HillsNek Safari Camp – Amakhala Game Reserve pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this nature lodge is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at HillsNek Safari Camp – Amakhala Game Reserve?
We found 9 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and smoking allowed.
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