Hippo Hollow Country Estate

Hotels
•
Independent
8.6 (50 reviews)
R40, Mbombela, Mpumalanga, 1242 , Mbombela , ZA
27-13-7377752

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Facilities

Boat tours nearby
Free WiFi
Terrace
Garden
Luggage storage
Designated smoking area
Concierge service
Picnic area
Free airport transportation
Gift shops or newsstand
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent location close to Phabeni/Kruger gate
Beautiful river views and terraces with wildlife sightings (hippos, elephants)
Friendly and attentive staff praised by many guests
Good value for money and many recommended the stay
Nice facilities and pleasant property setting
Good breakfast and dinner reported by several guests
Cons:
Inconsistent cleanliness: reports of damp/thatch smells and at least one buffet-related illness
One guest experienced poor handling of breakfast packs by management
Some rooms/buildings are a bit dated and need maintenance
Food service issues: slow restaurant service and occasional poor food handling
Noise from nearby cars and the property is large (can feel spread out)

Categories

Cleanliness
7.6
Mixed mentions: some guests said the accommodation was 'very clean' while others reported damp or unpleasant smells and at least one buffet-related illness, indicating inconsistent cleanliness standards.
Service
9.3
Generally praised as friendly, welcoming and attentive staff who assisted promptly; however, one notable negative incident involved inflexibility from management over breakfast packs. Overall service is strong despite that isolated failure.
Location
9.5
Consistently highlighted as excellent — ideal positioning for Kruger/Phabeni gate access, fantastic river and wildlife views; repeatedly noted as a primary asset.
Room Quality
7.8
Rooms offer great views and pleasant terraces but several guests noted aged buildings, damp/thatch smells in rooms and some maintenance issues.
Amenities
8.9
Strong amenities: restaurant/buffet, wildlife viewing from the property (hippos, elephants), and proximity to gates; the site and facilities are described as very nice overall.
Value for Money
9.2
Explicit positive mentions of 'Good Value for Money' and multiple recommendations suggest guests feel the stay represents strong value.
Food and Beverage
7
Mixed reports: some found dinners and breakfasts very good, while others experienced long restaurant wait times, handling issues with breakfast packs, and at least one report of illness linked to the buffet.
Overall Experience
9.5
Overall sentiment is very positive — beautiful setting, great views, wildlife sightings and friendly staff lead many guests to recommend or wish to return, despite some service/food/room issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-05-15 04:49

Property Description

Outdoor Swimming Pools and Lazy River
Indulge in relaxation with 2 outdoor swimming pools and a lazy river at your disposal.

Dining and Beverage Options
Savor delicious meals at Hippo Hollow Restaurant and enjoy drinks at the bar/lounge.

Additional Amenities
Benefit from complimentary Wi-Fi, concierge services, and babysitting facilities. The hotel also offers a computer station, dry cleaning services, and event facilities for your convenience.

Book your stay at Hippo Hollow Country Estate and experience a tranquil retreat on the river, just a short drive from Kruger National Park.

Important information:

  • Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: MQP

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets not allowed

  • Sustainability Certifications

    Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures

  • Pets

    Service animals are exempt from fees/restrictions

  • Children and extra beds

    No rollaway/extra beds available

  • General

    Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

8.6
Based on 50 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.6
Service: 9.3
Location: 9.5
Room Quality: 7.8
Amenities: 8.9
Value for Money: 9.2
Food and Beverage: 7
Overall Experience: 9.5
C
Celina • couple • at
7
Wunderschöne Anlage, sehr touristisch.
Pros:

Die Lage direkt am Fluss mit vorbeiziehenden Hippos ist wunderschön.

Cons:

Am Anreisetag hat es im Restaurant leider nicht gut geklappt, da wir 2 mal das falsche Gericht bekommen haben. Leider wurde das gewünschte Chakalaka überhaupt nie nachgebracht. Das BBQ Buffet am zweiten Tag war als wir um 20:00 Uhr von der Safari kamen leider schon kalt und wurde schon abgebaut obwohl wir reserviert hatten. Wir hatten die Morgen Safari gebucht, leider hat das Hotel unsere Namen nicht weitergegeben also hatten wir um 5:30 a.m erstmal keine info ob uns noch jemand abholen wird. Um 6.00 a.m. hat es sich durch die Rezeption dann geklärt und wir konnten auf Safari, leider etwas spät so dass wir den Sonnenaufgang verpasst hatten.
Grundsätzlich habe ich vom Hotel auf Emails 1-2 Wochen vor Anreise nie eine Rückmeldung erhalten.
Gegenüber des Hotels sind Elefanten die leider für Touristen zum Reiten ausgenutzt werden.

2026-05-21 • via Nuitee
B
Barbara • couple • gb
9
Very peaceful stay
Pros:

Beautiful setting, very peaceful accommodation
The staff was friendly and helpful

2026-05-21 • via Nuitee
L
Laura • extended_group • de
9
2026-05-20 • via Nuitee
J
Juan Lucas • couple • ar
10
2026-05-19 • via Nuitee
R
Raisa • family_with_children • mu
10
Pros:

We stayed nice time this place❤️

2026-05-19 • via Nuitee
M
molatelo • couple • za
8
2026-05-18 • via Nuitee
C
Carolina • solo_traveller • uy
9
Alojamiento en un entorno bellísimo, natural y tranquilo.
Pros:

El HIppo Hollow Country Estate es un lugar precioso, rodeado de una naturaleza exhuberante. las cabañas son preciosas, espaciosas y cómodas, con un porche con mesa con vistas al jardín y a metros de las areas comunes , ,como las piscinas. el personal es super amable, atento y profesional, con buenísima disponibilidad para atender las consultas de los hupespedes. ALgo que me gustó mucho es que tienen personal en formación y se nota como trabajand en equipo todos.
El restaturante tiene unas preciosas vistas del río, donde se peude apreciar la fauna, entre ellos los hipopótamos que suelen salir a recorrer el predio cercado, lo que lo hace una experiencia más linda la de ver de cerca estos animales en un etorno seguro. También se peuden ver los elefantes que están en el predio de al lado.
La calidad de la comida del restuarante es suprema. Muy buena carta, elaborada con materias primas de primera calidad.
Recomiendo ampliamente este alojamiento por su belleza, comodidad y por el personal, que es sencillamente exepcional.

2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
D
Dennis • couple • za
8
Pros:

Beautiful scenic place. Very peaceful relaxing. Excellent food.

Cons:

No dstv in our room. Replace old style blankets with duvets. Need basic cutlery and nice wine glasses in unit.

2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
B
Brett • couple • za
10
Well positioned for our travels, very clean and comfortable and a great view.
Pros:

The accommodation was lovely and the view of the river and surrounding area was fantastic.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-05 • via Nuitee
K
Katie • couple • gb
10
2026-05-02 • via Nuitee
J
Juan Lucas • couple • ar
10
Pros:

Ubicacion y entorno espectacular

2026-05-01 • via Nuitee
A
Antonio • couple • au
9
Pros:

Good Value for Money. 15 Minutes drive to Phabeni Gate. Nice staff. Breakfast with Hippos, Elephants (not wild ones), crocodiles, etc. Would come back

Cons:

Room was a bit damp smelling...

2026-04-30 • via Nuitee
D
Dino • solo_traveller • za
2
Poor experience
Pros:

Location and facilities

Cons:

My stay at Hippo Hollow and was disappointed by their handling of breakfast. We had requested breakfast packs for a self game drive, but due to poor weather we stayed in and went to the restaurant for breakfast, which was included in our booking. The manager refused, saying we had already taken the packs, and insisted we pay again. The packs were collected, yet they did not equal a proper breakfast.I have traveled extensively and stayed at many safari lodges, and this is the first time I’ve experienced such inflexibility. Most lodges accommodate guests when plans change unexpectedly. Unfortunately, Hippo Hollow did not, leaving me feeling frustrated and short-changed.Recommendation: Hippo Hollow should adopt a more guest-friendly approach and allow flexibility when circumstances change, especially when breakfast is part of the stay.

2026-04-30 • via Nuitee
A
Alice • couple • fr
8
Pros:

Proximite avec la porte Phabeni

2026-04-30 • via Nuitee
F
Franziska • couple • de
7
Perfekte Lage für Krüger NP
Pros:

Perfekte Lage, um den Krüger NP zu besuchen. Innerhalb von ca. 15 Minuten erreicht man das Gate. Die Anlage ist auch sehr schön. Wir hatten einen tolles Ausblick von unserer Terrasse! In der Nähe findet man 2 ganz nette Restaurants.

Cons:

Die Häuser sind etwas in die Jahre gekommen - aber völlig okay.

2026-04-28 • via Nuitee
J
Jean François • solo_traveller • fr
9
Pros:

Le cadre, l espace, l emplacement idéal pour tout visité.cuisine buffet à volontés. Un endroit de rêve. La gentillesse et dispo du personnel .je reviendrai avec plaisir.

2026-04-28 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer (jenny) • family_with_children • fr
9
Belle expérience
Pros:

Le cadre
On a pas vu voir deux hippos de notre terrasse

Cons:

Nous avons été malade toute une nuit à cause du buffet

2026-04-28 • via Nuitee
T
Themba • solo_traveller • za
6
The place was overall beautiful and the views were breathtaking.
Pros:

The staff was friendly and welcoming from the moment we stepped in to check in we got assisted without even asking and the guy made sure that he showed us our room and made sure that we were comfortable.

Cons:

The thatch room had a smell and it was uncomfortable.

2026-04-27 • via Nuitee
A
Andreas • couple • ch
9
2026-04-24 • via Nuitee
J
Jasper • solo_traveller • nl
10
2026-04-24 • via Nuitee