Reviews of Elephant House
Wildlife sightings and reviews
8 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Elephant House and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Jul-2019, 2 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Elephant House.
Lion
50% success
Leopard
0% success
Buffalo
100% success
Eland
100% success
Elephant
100% success
Zebra
100% success
Oryx
50% success
Aardvark
0% success
Black Rhino
0% success
Brown Hyena
0% success
Giraffe
0% success
Hippo
0% success
Meerkat
0% success
Spotted Hyena
0% success
Wildebeest
0% success
Mr T
Bangkok
"Elephant House review"
3 nights Arrived 19 Apr 2023
"Least favorite of our stay in this trip.
Room was ok, nice breakfast and it's convenient located about 5-10mins drive to Addo. I thought it's understaffed and the staff who welcomed us brought us to our room wasn't very helpful at all (despite his effort to be) possibly due to lack of training.
Example: we drove straight 4-5 hours to get here, we were expecting and asked for welcome drink. The staff insisted on bringing us straight to the room. Also, we didn't receive any helpful advice on visiting Addo NP when we asked (not that we need much but we expect as it's clearly their main attraction)." See all these reviews: 17n in South Africa
Room was ok, nice breakfast and it's convenient located about 5-10mins drive to Addo. I thought it's understaffed and the staff who welcomed us brought us to our room wasn't very helpful at all (despite his effort to be) possibly due to lack of training.
Example: we drove straight 4-5 hours to get here, we were expecting and asked for welcome drink. The staff insisted on bringing us straight to the room. Also, we didn't receive any helpful advice on visiting Addo NP when we asked (not that we need much but we expect as it's clearly their main attraction)." See all these reviews: 17n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Good
Service:
Average
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Average
Sightings Report
Buffalo
2 sightings
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
Mr P & family
Dublin
"Elephant House review"
3 nights Arrived 1 Jul 2019
"Great location near the entrance to Addo.
It was excellent with the only exception being that it would be good if there was a better choice on the evening meal; especially for children" See all these reviews: 12n in South Africa
It was excellent with the only exception being that it would be good if there was a better choice on the evening meal; especially for children" See all these reviews: 12n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Good
Sightings Report
Buffalo
3 sightings
Eland
5 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Lion
2 sightings
Oryx
7 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
Mr W & Ms W + kids
NL
"Not the best part of the trip"
2 nights Arrived 20 Nov 2017
"This was certainly the 'worst' of the places we stayed at during our trip, but still fine for a few nights. It's actually more or less what we expected all stops to be like, but the rest just exceeded our expectations (in some cases by a lot).
The location of the lodge is fine and the room was big enough as well. We liked that there were a lot of toys for the kids to play with. This was the only stop where we encountered any bugs, but there were no mosquito nets for the kids. Our boy was stung several times on his face due to this.
The service at the lodge also has room for improvement. With the exception of Charlene at breakfast, none of the staff seemed interested in the guests. Diner was often very chaotic, whereby we once received two courses at once and nothing for the kids. Management was never around." See all these reviews: 14n in South Africa
The location of the lodge is fine and the room was big enough as well. We liked that there were a lot of toys for the kids to play with. This was the only stop where we encountered any bugs, but there were no mosquito nets for the kids. Our boy was stung several times on his face due to this.
The service at the lodge also has room for improvement. With the exception of Charlene at breakfast, none of the staff seemed interested in the guests. Diner was often very chaotic, whereby we once received two courses at once and nothing for the kids. Management was never around." See all these reviews: 14n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Good
Service:
Poor
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Average
Mr N & Mis R
Scotland
"Great Location"
5 nights Arrived 15 Nov 2014
"Elephant House was an amazing place. We stayed here for 5 nights. Excellent staff and service. If you needed anything someone was available to help you. The room was very clean, spacious and everything you would want was there. The meals were very very good, the set 3 course evening meal was excellent. We never looked at the menu we just waited to see what was served to us. All meals were all home cooked, no fancy trimmings, excellent. The area around Elephant House was well kept and very quiet.
Every morning when we went to go to our car, someone had the exterior cleaned for us. There were plenty of seating areas around the hotel if you wanted to sit down, chill out and have a beer or read a book.
Absolutely amazing place, quiet, relaxing. The place looked and felt really old and colonial, but the owner told me he started the build process 16 years ago, and it is an ongoing process. I advised him not to change anything about the hotel, it was amazing. I would love to go back and stay there again. Thank you so much for our excellent 5 night stay." See all these reviews: 16n in South Africa
Every morning when we went to go to our car, someone had the exterior cleaned for us. There were plenty of seating areas around the hotel if you wanted to sit down, chill out and have a beer or read a book.
Absolutely amazing place, quiet, relaxing. The place looked and felt really old and colonial, but the owner told me he started the build process 16 years ago, and it is an ongoing process. I advised him not to change anything about the hotel, it was amazing. I would love to go back and stay there again. Thank you so much for our excellent 5 night stay." See all these reviews: 16n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs K
Crewe
"Elephant House review"
2 nights Arrived 10 Nov 2014
"Colonial setting - very convenient for the park. Good quality large room .Staff appeared a little 'at sea' with customer service but were trying hard - it felt like they needed a manager.
Limited menu but tasty enough.
Recommend Crisscross tours for the safari visit." See all these reviews: 13n in South Africa
Limited menu but tasty enough.
Recommend Crisscross tours for the safari visit." See all these reviews: 13n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Average
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Ms H & Family
Roke
"Elephant House review"
2 nights Arrived 9 Apr 2013
"This was our last hotel - beautiful place. Room was huge and perfect for a family. Well located for Addo.
We didn't eat in each evening but went to a local restaurant and then to the Schotia Safari (which came with dinner).
Elephant House was a bit deserted (very few guests) and staff hard to track down. Lack of tea and coffee in the room was a bit disappointing - it was provided when asked but it would have been nice to have it in the room. Breakfasts were nice but not as extensive as the other places we stayed (all the others had a buffet option). We also had to cross over to another site - which was fine but felt a bit odd. We asked for laundry service but they forgot. Check out was also odd - took ages to find someone so we could pay!
Safari organised by Elephant House was great and they recommended we did the Schotia evening safari which was tremendous." See all these reviews: 13n in South Africa
We didn't eat in each evening but went to a local restaurant and then to the Schotia Safari (which came with dinner).
Elephant House was a bit deserted (very few guests) and staff hard to track down. Lack of tea and coffee in the room was a bit disappointing - it was provided when asked but it would have been nice to have it in the room. Breakfasts were nice but not as extensive as the other places we stayed (all the others had a buffet option). We also had to cross over to another site - which was fine but felt a bit odd. We asked for laundry service but they forgot. Check out was also odd - took ages to find someone so we could pay!
Safari organised by Elephant House was great and they recommended we did the Schotia evening safari which was tremendous." See all these reviews: 13n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Average
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs W
Aberdeen
"Elephant House review"
1 night Arrived 9 Nov 2010
"We stayed at the Elephant house on our last night in South Africa. The rooms were great and the breakfast the next morning was also good.
Unfortunately we did not have enough time to fully enjoy the facilities." See all these reviews: 9n in South Africa
Unfortunately we did not have enough time to fully enjoy the facilities." See all these reviews: 9n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Mr C & Mrs P
UK
"Elephant House review"
1 night Arrived 27 Dec 2007
"Bathroom needs refurbishment - shower head broken, lights not working, no shampoo. generally a bit shabby and run down.
Rushed to order and choose dinner immediately on arrival after 10 hours on the road. Service at dinner was haphazard by local staff, management not very evident - food not particularly good.
Stuggled to get a packed breakfast - but succeeded after three attempts. Did not seem geared up to people wanting an early start and to be out all day.
Other guests seemed to like the hotel as a place to relax and do nothing." See all these reviews: 4n in South Africa
Rushed to order and choose dinner immediately on arrival after 10 hours on the road. Service at dinner was haphazard by local staff, management not very evident - food not particularly good.
Stuggled to get a packed breakfast - but succeeded after three attempts. Did not seem geared up to people wanting an early start and to be out all day.
Other guests seemed to like the hotel as a place to relax and do nothing." See all these reviews: 4n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Average
Rooms:
Poor
Food:
Average
Feedback Response
We have been in touch with Elephant House immediately after receiving this traveller’s feedback. Clive, the owner and manager, responded swiftly with a very concerned response.
He apologised for the poor experience the guests had experienced, commenting that Elephant House prides itself on delivering a friendly and hospitable stay to all their travellers. He has investigated the issues raised, replacing the light bulbs and checking that the shower-head in the room was unblocked. Clive made the point that had the guests bought these issues to his attention at the time, he would have done his best to sort them out immediately.
(We’d like to echo this point: it’s always vital for our travellers to clearly voice problems at the time, as it’s only then that we have a real chance to solve them properly!)
It seems clear from his response to us, as well as our own experience inspecting Elephant House, that what this traveller describes is not normal here! However, Clive comments that as part of their on-going upliftment work with the disadvantaged local communities, they are currently employing local student interns – who are just learning about the hospitality industry, and what guests expect. Hence it’s possible that one or two members of staff we’re not as ‘switched-on’ to the traveller’s needs as is usual for his team.
As a gesture of goodwill, and by way of apologizing for the experience they had, Clive has kindly offered to refund these travellers for their meals and drinks whilst at Elephant House.
He apologised for the poor experience the guests had experienced, commenting that Elephant House prides itself on delivering a friendly and hospitable stay to all their travellers. He has investigated the issues raised, replacing the light bulbs and checking that the shower-head in the room was unblocked. Clive made the point that had the guests bought these issues to his attention at the time, he would have done his best to sort them out immediately.
(We’d like to echo this point: it’s always vital for our travellers to clearly voice problems at the time, as it’s only then that we have a real chance to solve them properly!)
It seems clear from his response to us, as well as our own experience inspecting Elephant House, that what this traveller describes is not normal here! However, Clive comments that as part of their on-going upliftment work with the disadvantaged local communities, they are currently employing local student interns – who are just learning about the hospitality industry, and what guests expect. Hence it’s possible that one or two members of staff we’re not as ‘switched-on’ to the traveller’s needs as is usual for his team.
As a gesture of goodwill, and by way of apologizing for the experience they had, Clive has kindly offered to refund these travellers for their meals and drinks whilst at Elephant House.
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Other lodges in Addo Elephant National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
River Bend Lodge
Located on a private concession within the Addo Elephant National Park Riverbend Lodge is a very comfortable base from which to discover Addo.
Addo Main Camp
Addo Rest Camp offers a variety of self-catering accommodation types to suit all tastes. Overlooking a floodlit waterhole, the camp allows guests to get a closer view of the elephants in the park.
Gorah Elephant Camp
A beautiful safari camp set within Addo Elephant Park. Lovely tented suites and great game viewing make this a great stop along South Africa's glorious Garden Route.
Camp Matyholweni
An easily accessible safari camp in Addo Elephant Park, Matyholweni offers self-catering family cottages, as well as access to the nearby town of Colchester.
Camp Fig Tree
Camp Fig Tree is a luxurious lodge located just outside Addo Elephant Park. It is well situated for visits to the park itself.
