Shindzela Tented Safari Camp

I wish I could give Shindzela Tented Camp more than 5 stars! We stayed for two nights, and honestly, our stay was absolutely perfect. We already wished we had booked one more night before we even left! The staff is amazing — so kind, attentive and welcoming. They are constantly checking if you are okay, if you would like a drink, if you need anything… You really feel taken care of the entire time, and everyone made us feel so welcome. And the safari was simply incredible! We were lucky enough to see the Big Five during our very first two game drives, which was absolutely unforgettable. And Ruben is THE GUY! He was an amazing guide, incredibly knowledgeable, passionate and fun. He made every game drive even more special, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. The food was also wonderful. Every meal was delicious, and we honestly looked forward to every single one. The tents are lovely and very comfortable, and the bed was SO comfortable after a long day of game drives. One of our favorite things was being able to see elephants coming to drink water right from the veranda of our tent. They come by frequently, and watching them from there was such a special experience! Everything about our stay was amazing, and we are already talking about coming back. If we could have stayed another night, we definitely would have! A huge thank you to the entire Shindzela team for making our stay so special and giving us memories that we will never forget. We absolutely loved it and are already missing it! ❤️

I recently had the opportunity to stay at Shindzela and it was an unforgettable safari experience. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, checking in on me throughout my stay without being overbearing or pushy. The accommodation itself was quite lovely, with a comfortable bed, ample cabinet space, and a clean bathroom in a semi-open format. However, there were a couple of downsides to the room, including inconsistent water pressure and heat in the shower, making showers brief. I also noticed some bugs in my anti-mosquito netting, but fortunately, I didn't have any negative reactions to any bug bites. The food provided was delicious and plentiful, with the steak particularly standing out. Being able to indicate specific dishes for breakfast and dinner felt luxurious, and the lodge delivered each dish perfectly as I had requested on the form. The food allowed me to experience a variety of South African cuisines, and dinners were served by a campfire when the temperature permitted. The guides and trackers were extremely knowledgeable and proactive about sharing insights about the animals we observed. I was able to spot the Big Five within a couple of days, with many other animals spotted as well. One highlight was spotting a chameleon at night, which demonstrated the trackers' exceptional depth of experience. The guides were also skilled in spotting a leopard on a tree, something that had eluded other lodges that morning. They were always willing to answer questions and shared unique, interesting anecdotes about their own experiences and the camp's history. The Wi-Fi was intermittent, as expected in the wilderness, but it was healthy to be disconnected from technology and fully immersed in the safari experience. I am grateful for choosing Shindzela for my first safari experience and am now curious to see how any future safari experiences might compare to this one.

If you want an awesome experience with superb guides and trackers, this is the place. Incredible food, great accommodations, wonderful staff. I have been there five times and hope to have many more.