Hippo Hollow Country Estate

Hotels
8.8 (2113 reviews)
R40 Road , Hazyview , ZA

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent location near Kruger National Park
Beautiful gardens and river/nature setting
Friendly/helpful staff (special mention: Thandeka)
Delicious/generous breakfasts with view
Heated outdoor seating area
Well-maintained grounds
Cons:
Room maintenance and functionality issues (TV, mattress, shower design, leaking toilet)
In-room amenities problems (no bedside outlets, fridge cabinet stuck, limited bottled water)
Occasional inattentive service / reservation mishandling
Early-morning noise from game vehicles and outside activity
Perceived poor value for money by some guests

Categories

Cleanliness
9.6
Generally reported as good/clean in multiple reviews; no widespread cleanliness complaints.
Service
10
Frequently praised as very helpful and friendly (special mention for staff like Thandeka); isolated comment asking for more attentive/friendlier service.
Location
10
Strongly positive: excellent location near Kruger NP, river bank setting, gardens and nature views repeatedly highlighted.
Room Quality
6.5
Several significant negatives: poor room functionality (no bedside outlets, awkward shower design), maintenance issues (TV not working, leaking toilet, mattress due for upgrade), and missing expected items (water not stocked).
Amenities
8.3
Mixed: nice facilities such as heated outdoor seating and river-facing dining, good gardens; but in-room amenities had problems (TV/channels, fridge cabinet, limited bottled water).
Value for Money
6.6
Several guests felt the rooms and some services did not justify the price—explicit 'money not well spent' feedback and details about missing/poor features.
Food and Beverage
9.8
Very positive: multiple mentions of delicious/generous breakfast (breakfast with a view) and well-prepared meals; generally praised dining experience.
Overall Experience
9.6
Overall positive stay due to location, grounds and helpful staff, though room quality, noise at night and some service/booking hiccups tempered a perfect score.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-13 00:18

Property Description

Riverside Serenity and Wildlife Encounters

Scenic Views and Comfortable Accommodation

Adventure Awaits at Your Doorstep

Experience tranquility by the Sabie River at Hippo Hollow Country Estate. With 2 outdoor pools, a riverside restaurant, and the chance to see hippos up close, your stay promises relaxation and excitement. The rooms feature garden-view patios and cozy en suite bathrooms, ensuring a comfortable retreat. Explore the nearby Kruger National Park and Panorama route, with safaris and activities easily arranged by the tour desk. Embrace nature's beauty and wildlife wonders during your stay. Book now for an unforgettable getaway at Hippo Hollow Country Estate.

Important information:

Please note the full payment will be charged for reservations of 1 night.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Location

Guest Reviews

8.8
Based on 2113 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.6
Service: 10
Location: 10
Room Quality: 6.5
Amenities: 8.3
Value for Money: 6.6
Food and Beverage: 9.8
Overall Experience: 9.6
N
NoNameNecessary • couple • de
9
Nice estate, no hippos
Pros:

Spacious room, nice outdoor facilities, good location, nice restaurant

Cons:

No hippos/ crocodiles spotted

2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
J
John • couple • gb
7
A disappointment
Pros:

Liked the ambiance of the breakfast and restaurant area.

Cons:

Found a very different restaurant menu online to the one we experienced in situ. It seems like the menu was designed for international visitors and not for locals. Prices seemed inflated. For instance trout was advertised for R165 on the online menu, but when we went to the restaurant. It was on at R235.

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
L
Linda • couple • be
10
Fantastic place and staff!
Pros:

We had an incident not far from the hotel before we checked in and the staff has helped us tremendously. Management but especially Amo and Vanessa were a great help. Property is beautiful too.

Cons:

Nothing. Due to the incident we didn't enjoy the moment as we did previously during our stay then, which was a shame but we will definitely visit again.

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
S
Sophie • couple • ch
9
2026-10-14 • via Nuitee
N
Ngcongo • solo_traveller • za
9
2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
K
Kristin • couple • de
9
Pros:

Die tolle Location des Restaurants und das sehr freundliche Personal

2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
S
Sommerville • solo_traveller • za
9
Pros:

I loved all of it .. the staff were so friendly and kind ... we are elderly.. we NEVER felt unsafe .. thank you so kindly

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
S
Sylvain • couple • fr
7
Chambre ok restauration sur place moyen
Pros:

Le bungalow confortable,

Cons:

Pas d’eau potable au robinet merci de nous prévenir en avance pas de commerces à proximité sans prendre un véhicule. Manque de prises dans la chambre. Personnel au restaurant pas très professionnel. Lors de nos commandes par ex dessert on n’a pas eu ce qu’on a commandé !!!!

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
L
Luis Henrique • couple • br
10
Pros:

Tudo ótimo.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
M
Maren • couple • de
7
Guter Ausgangspunkt zum Kruger Nationalpark.
Pros:

Die Nähe zum Nationalpark sowie das äußere Erscheinungsbild der Unterkunft inklusive der Außenanlagen waren hervorragend.
Das Essen war okay.

Cons:

Die Unterkunft selbst ist schon etwas in die Jahre gekommen und etwas mehr Liebe zum Detail wäre schön gewesen. Das Personal haben wir leider als überwiegend unfreundlich und abweisend empfunden.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
S
Stijn Hermans • solo_traveller • be
9
Cons:

The shower was difficult to get the right temperature

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
C
CATHERINE • couple • fr
9
je reviendrai
Pros:

la vue sur la rivière et la tranquillité

Cons:

la salle de bain avec peu de rangements

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
T
Thandeka • couple • za
10
2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
G
Ginger • solo_traveller • za
10
Pros:

The place is quite and gives you the moment of rest

Cons:

The TV in the room shows 1 channel, I was not able to watch a soccer match on tv

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
D
Daniel • couple • au
10
2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
C
Carmel • solo_traveller • za
9
Pros:

Lovely property - I booked the river facing suite which was spacious with a balcony looking onto the river.
The bathroom was spacious with good shower pressure.
A Nespresso coffee machine is in the room for a good cup of coffee

Cons:

The thatch roof does lend itself to some bugs.
Being river facing you are serenaded by frogs throughout the night, although this adds to the charm

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
M
Mathilde • couple • fr
6
Bien pour un nuit
Pros:

Localisation près du parc Kruger

Cons:

Le restaurant était le pire de notre séjour en Afrique du Sud

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
D
Dilara Peker • couple • tr
9
Perfect staff and perfect accommodation!
Pros:

Our room was very comfortable, and both the breakfast and all the other food we tried were really delicious with affordable prices. We made use of the beautiful green area for our morning workouts! 😊We even saw a hippo swimming in the Sabi River, just near the restaurant area, which made the stay even more special. Honestly, there was not a single thing I could complain about.
A special thank you to Theodora for her support both before and during our stay. She answered all of our questions patiently and was always incredibly helpful.
This is truly a wonderful place to stay peaceful, beautifully green, surrounded by nature, and filled with warm, friendly, and smiling people. We really enjoyed our stay and would absolutely recommend it!

Cons:

The only small downside is that there aren’t many other places nearby to buy things, and due to safety concerns, especially after dark, it is not recommended to go to the nearby shops. This means the bar at the accommodation is essentially the only option for basic necessities. Some essentials, such as bottled water, are quite expensive there, so it would be a nice gesture to provide drinking water free of charge.

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
J
José • solo_traveller • za
9
Good value for money
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
G
gumurill • solo_traveller • cr
10
2026-09-06 • via Nuitee