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
O
Olivia • extended_group • us
9
Pros:

Location was great, nice amount of privacy for the whole property, and from other rooms. The porch in the back on the river was magical. Beautiful views of the river and hillside. Great sightings of hippos and crocs! Breakfast included was wonderful. They also pack you a breakfast bag to-go if your excursion leaves earlier than breakfast begins.

2026-06-26 • via Nuitee
A
Andre • solo_traveller • za
9
Excellent place for a good rest.
Pros:

The natural beauty and well kept premises / facilities.

Cons:

Nothing, all was very good.

2026-06-23 • via Nuitee
C
Chantelle Lomax • solo_traveller • za
10
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer • couple • za
7
Great. Rooms Need some upgrading
Pros:

Loved the area, the restaurant and the view of the river with hippos and you could see elephants!!! The breakfast was amazing!

Cons:

The style of the bedroom could use an upgrade to a more modern feel, especially cause the view from your room and the place as a whole is such a wonderful place.

2026-06-20 • via Nuitee
P
Peter • couple • za
10
2026-06-19 • via Nuitee
A
Anna • couple • nl
10
Topverblijf net naast Krugerpark
Pros:

Ligging aan de rivier met zicht op rand Krugerpark.
Vanaf balkon vogels spotten en soms olifanten of een krokodil.
Zeer aardig personeel.

Cons:

Niets

2026-06-18 • via Nuitee
M
Marleen • family_with_children • za
9
Very nice relaxing stay
Pros:

Staff was extremely friendly and service was excellent. Breakfast was good. Nice comfy rooms
Hippos was a treat

2026-06-17 • via Nuitee
Z
Zandile • solo_traveller • za
8
Great
Pros:

Everything

Cons:

Nothing

2026-06-16 • via Nuitee
B
BONGIWE PRECIOUS • solo_traveller • za
10
True African environment
Pros:

It is the place it thinks it is.
Everything: the place, the food, the ambience…

Cons:

That I stayed too short

2026-06-15 • via Nuitee
S
Sibusiso • couple • za
10
Hippo, the place to be at.
Pros:

The rooms were neat and clean. The breakfast was out of this world.

Cons:

Well, I made a bad choice by choosing the chicken and prawns curry. I personally didn't like it.

2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
E
edistaap • Family
10
Great stay
Pros:

Our stay at Hippo hollow was amazing with dinner n breakfast by the river and hippos in it.
The location is excellent. Chef Jonathan and Amo from guest relations even helped us with Jain meals. The rooms are great and excellent value for money

2026-06-13 • via Tripadvisor
C
Chantelle Lomax • solo_traveller • za
10
Excellent
2026-06-12 • via Nuitee
S
Sheila • couple • us
10
Wonderful stay with views of elephants and hippos from our room
Pros:

Location near Kruger National Park

Cons:

We liked everything about it

2026-06-11 • via Nuitee
C
Chantelle Lomax • extended_group • za
10
Excellent will rebook again
2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
V
Van • solo_traveller • za
9
Most satisfying
Pros:

Everything

Cons:

Nothing

2026-06-09 • via Nuitee
C
Chantelle Lomax • couple • za
10
Excellent - will defiantly rebook again
2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
A
Asanda Sibiya • solo_traveller • za
10
Pros:

We loved Everything about our stay at Hippo Hollow Country Estate. From the security at the gate as well as the staff that welcomed us. Our room, the set up for us to celebrate our anniversary. Everything was exceptional.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
B
Bas • couple • nl
8
Goede uitvalsbasis
Pros:

vriendelijk personeel. apart 'egg station' en doen echt hun best om het naar je zin te maken. locatie en ligging is helemaal goed t.o.v. het plaatsje, winkelcentrum en kruger

2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
A
Alexander • solo_traveller • de
10
Wundervolle Anlage in sehr guter Lage
Pros:

Sehr schöne Unterkunft direkt am Fluss in Hazyview mit abendlichen 50/50 Chancen, die Flusspferde beim Grasen zu beobachten.

2026-06-03 • via Nuitee
M
Mary • extended_group • gb
7
Perfect for safari trips to national park. Only 15 minutes from gate. The hotel had a good range of food and drinks . T
Pros:

It was in a beautiful location , by a river with 2 pools. Lovely restaurant area which overlooked the river .

Cons:

The rooms /chalet need updating . Need new bathrooms . However the water was amazing in shower . They were very clean .

2026-06-03 • via Nuitee