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Emdoneni Lodge

3.5 star property
Family-friendly lodge with coffee shop/cafe and outdoor pool

Photo gallery for Emdoneni Lodge

Honeymoon Cottage, 1 Queen Bed | Exterior
Lounge
Safari
Interior
Bar (on property)

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Pool
  • Housekeeping
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
The current price is AU$201
includes taxes & fees
1 May - 2 May

Explore the area

Map
District Road 123, Bushlands, Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, 3960
  • Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Centre
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • iSimangaliso Wetland Park
    ‪24 min drive‬
  • St. Lucia Estuary Beach
    ‪57 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Double Room

Highlights

Furnished patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Ceiling fan
Premium bedding
Tempur-Pedic bed
Blackout curtains
  • 24 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

Deluxe Suite

Highlights

Furnished patio
Separate sitting area
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Free rollaway/extra beds
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Ceiling fan
Blackout curtains
  • 50 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Single Beds

View all photos for Luxury Twin Room, 2 Single Beds

Luxury Twin Room, 2 Single Beds

Luxury Twin Room, 2 Single Beds

Highlights

Furnished patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Free rollaway/extra beds
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Ceiling fan
Premium bedding
Tempur-Pedic bed
  • 35 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

Family Cottage, 2 Bedrooms, Garden View

Highlights

Furnished patio
Separate sitting area
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Free rollaway/extra beds
Kitchenette
Full-sized fridge/freezer
Flat-screen TV
  • 70 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 2 Single Beds

View all photos for Family Room, 2 Bedrooms

Family Room, 2 Bedrooms

Family Room, 2 Bedrooms

Highlights

Furnished patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Free rollaway/extra beds
Hypo-allergenic bedding
2 bedrooms
Premium bedding
Blackout curtains
  • 25 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Single Beds and 1 Double Bed

About the area

Hluhluwe

A family-friendly stay in Hluhluwe awaits you at Emdoneni Lodge. You'll be 5 km (3.1 mi) from Bonamanzi Private Game Reserve and 18 km (11.2 mi) from iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Highlights at this lodge include a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and free self-parking. .The buffet restaurant, Emdoneni Lodge, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For a drink, you can stop by the lodge's own lounge bar. Enjoy the pool loungers along with access to ecotours and a safari. Added amenities include free Wi-Fi in public areas, a free manager's reception and a coffee shop/cafe. There's also the convenience of limited parking. .Sights in the vicinity of this 3.5-property class Hluhluwe lodge include Lake St. Lucia Viewpoint and Cape Vidal Lighthouse.
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What's nearby

  • Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Centre - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • iSimangaliso Wetland Park - 24 min drive - 18.0 km
  • St Lucia Crocodile Centre - 57 min drive - 58.6 km
  • The Gallery-St Lucia - 57 min drive - 58.2 km
  • St. Lucia Estuary Beach - 57 min drive - 58.5 km

Getting around

  • Durban (DUR-King Shaka Intl.) - 156 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Steers - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Steers - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Mugg & Bean On The Move - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Indigenus Kreasionz - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Lalapansi Restaurant - ‬19 min drive

About this property

Emdoneni Lodge

Family-friendly lodge with coffee shop/cafe and outdoor pool
There's a restaurant on site, as well as a coffee shop/cafe and a snack bar/deli. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. A free manager's reception is offered daily. WiFi is free in public spaces.

A business centre and meeting rooms are available. An outdoor pool, a terrace, and barbecue grills are also featured at the family-friendly Emdoneni Lodge. Limited free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

This 3.5-star Hluhluwe lodge is smoke free.

  • 1 floor
  • 50 guestrooms or units
  • Conference rooms
  • Built in 1993
  • Manager's reception (free)
  • Deli
  • Childcare (surcharge)
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Umbrellas for the pool
  • Business facilities
  • Coffee in lobby
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Express check-out
  • Staff members are multilingual
  • Front desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Wedding services available
  • Games room or arcade
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • Gift shop
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Television in lobby
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
Emdoneni Lodge offers 50 air-conditioned accommodations with a safe and complimentary bottles of water. Rooms open to furnished patios. Tempur-Pedic beds feature premium bedding. Bathrooms include a shower, complimentary toiletries and hairdryers. Additionally, rooms include coffee/tea makers and a ceiling fan. Housekeeping is offered on a daily basis and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested.

Languages

Afrikaans, Dutch, English, Zulu

Similar properties

Property entrance

ANEW Hotel Hluhluwe

  • Pool
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
3.9 out of 5, Good, 95 reviews
The price is AU$193
includes taxes & fees
2 May - 3 May
ANEW Hotel Hluhluwe

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site parking

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas
  • Couples/private dining
  • Free daily manager's reception
  • Snack bar/deli

Restaurants on site

  • Emdoneni Lodge

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Ecotours
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground
  • Safari
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Babysitting (surcharge)
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground
  • Snack bar/deli
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • Business centre
  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Picnic area
  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No lift

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Premium bedding
  • Tempur-Pedic mattress

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; check-in end time: 7:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Late check-in fee: ZAR 500.00 for check-in between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Guests will receive an email 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after noon please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Cots (infant beds) are available for ZAR 400.0 per day.

Payment types

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • Cash Breakage deposit: ZAR 500.00 per stay

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Late check-in fee: ZAR 500.00 for check-in between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM
  • Crib (infant bed) fee: ZAR 400.0 per day

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guest room reservation. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, debit cards and cash.

We should mention

  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.

Property is also known as

Emdoneni Animal Care Rehab Centre
Emdoneni Animal Care Rehab Centre Hluhluwe
Emdoneni Lodge Animal Care & Rehab Centre
Emdoneni Lodge Animal Care & Rehab Centre Hluhluwe
Emdoneni Lodge Cheetah Project Hluhluwe
Emdoneni Lodge Cheetah Project
Emdoneni Cheetah Project Hluhluwe
Emdoneni Cheetah Project
Emdoneni Lodge with Animal Care Rehab Centre
Emdoneni Lodge with Cheetah Project
Emdoneni Lodge Lodge
Emdoneni Lodge Hluhluwe
Emdoneni Lodge Lodge Hluhluwe
Emdoneni Lodge with Cheetah Project Spa

Frequently asked questions

Is parking available at Emdoneni Lodge?

Yep, Emdoneni Lodge has a free self car park. Onsite parking is limited.

How much does it cost to stay at Emdoneni Lodge?

As of 25 Apr 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Emdoneni Lodge on 1 May 2025 start from AU$201.15, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Are there any beaches close to Emdoneni Lodge?

The closest beach to Emdoneni Lodge is Cape Vidal (27.1 km).

Does Emdoneni Lodge have a pool?

Emdoneni Lodge has an outdoor pool. Grab your bathers and lounge poolside while enjoying under the shade of an umbrella.

What makes Emdoneni Lodge a romantic place to stay?

Couples dining and a lounge bar, as well as comfy beds and private patios in the guestrooms, help set the scene for a romantic weekend at Emdoneni Lodge.

Is Emdoneni Lodge family-friendly?

You bet! With amenities such as children's meals, babysitting services and a playground, it's no surprise that Emdoneni Lodge is a hit with families.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Emdoneni Lodge?

No, Emdoneni Lodge does not offer an airport shuttle service.

Is there a bar or restaurant at Emdoneni Lodge?

Yep, they've got a lounge bar and an onsite restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

What time are check-in & check-out at Emdoneni Lodge?

Check-in begins at 2 PM. Check-out time is 10 AM.

Are pets allowed at Emdoneni Lodge?

No, pets are not allowed.

Emdoneni Lodge Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 25 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 25 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 25 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 25 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 25 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

6.0/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Leon

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
?
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Weekend getaway at Emdoneni Lodge

5 Star service excellence. The staff are all extremely helpful and only happy to assist. The rooms are clean and fully air conditioned which is much needed. The food is exquisite and well done to the chef. Wonderful experience to be up close and personal with the cheetahs and the various cat family.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019

6/10 Okay

Arnaud

Liked: Cleanliness

Alright but not exceptional

THe rooms are ok -they could use a refurbishment but are fine. Beds not great. Lights are horrible. The food is really the main issue -tasteless buffet food. Breakfast is alright I guess but dinner to be avoided. The cheetah project is great though, so I would recommend doing it even if not staying.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness
It was an okay stay. Nothing extra ordinary. Good for bush lovers. Not for individuals that love modern lifestyle.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Wim, Houston, Texas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

nice place in the middle of nature

arranged a business trip for one night and game drive in the morning, everyone was very excited about the whole program, the accommodation and the service.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2018

4/10 Poor

Lyn, Mexico

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

False advertising of facilities

we could not touch the cheetahs as shown in their promo video. the other animals were scarce---4 cats , 1 caracol, 2 servals all behind bars---we went into the pen with the cats and could not touch. we are not allowed to see the bay cheetahs. Iffit is better for the cheetahs I am for it----JUST DO NOT ADVERTISE THAT TOUCHING IS ALLOWED.- IT WAS DISAPPOINTING and fraudulent! too much money for not enough. food was OK and staff was nice---just not what was advertised.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017

8/10 Good

D

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great Playing with the Cheetahs

A well managed establishment that pays attention to detail.

10/10 Excellent

John, US

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Ingrid the host & the staff were simply wonderful

Rustic , comfortable & peaceful in the middle of nature.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
The rooms were very well serviced and the locations is excellent for accessing that eastern coastline, Sodwana Bay, Richards Bay and St Lucia are all within an hours drive. The food is ok, it's all buffet style so some of it is dry/cold/stale. The WiFi was abysmally unreliable, it took about 30 mins to to purchase a birthday card online. The concierge/reception service was absolutely terrible. During check in she told us we could speak to her later on about tourist attractions in the area so we did "What are some of the best things to do in the area?", and the answer we got was "yes". So we probed a little deeper, "can we go whale watching?", answer "yes". "well where can we go whale watching?", "at the sea". It was painful, she took a long time to answer any question, only ever gave one word answers, and hardly looked up whilst talking.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Special Place - should be higher than 3 stars

Fantastic stay. We wish we has booked more than one night. We have stayed in '4 star' guesthouse son our trip that were not as good as Emdoneni. The food and drink was very good and excellent value. The staff were all very friendly and professional and it was no problem for them to organise a very special private tour of the cat project.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

first class lodge and staff

We stayed for 4 nights ,my lady and I had one room -double - and my the other room was occupied by her sister. Both rooms were the same and were first class. The pool area was good,the breakfast and dinner was first class.The lodge offers game drives and again these were first class.It was my lady's birthday and the staff made a cake and came out singing-wonderful.There is the cat conservancy next door which again is first class. The only down side was the Wifi. Tip drive down the road to the fuel stop and they have good and free wifi.I would stay at this lodge again and would recommend.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Outstanding place to stay. Loved the Cheetah experience. Great to touch beautiful cats.

10/10 Excellent

Donna, Ballito South Africa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A once in a life time experience

Fantastic and a great experience

10/10 Excellent

Frederick

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

Leslie, Ashkelon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great stay at a Cheetah Sanctuary

I truly enjoyed my stay at Emdoneni Lodge. Upon arrival, Rebecca was most welcoming, and I immediately enjoyed the afternoon cat feeding session. Gerry was most informative about the serval, caracal, wild cats, and cheetah, and I loved seeing them so close, and being able to actually touch the cheetah. There were zebra walking the grounds, and it was a very relaxing location. Amanda, the manager, is wonderful, and extended my booking when I missed my first night after getting woefully lost. She adores the cats, and she was most helpful in every way, including when I needed a pharmacy in the area. She also arranged for me to visit the Bayete Elephant Sanctuary nearby, and find my way to my next stop. Also--the butternut squash soup was the best I ever had. Best of all, the next day,Gerry took me for a private visit with the 2 cheetah: Raine and Summer, and I was thrilled to have so much one-on-one time with them. It was a highlight of my trip.

10/10 Excellent

Eleanor, England

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Wildlife wonderland

Wonderful experience here, being taken to see the animals in rehabilitation and stroking the cheetah. Extremely professional guide, giving much information on the animals. The bedroom was small but beautifully clean and maintained. You could see zebras and antelope wandering around from the windows, and listen to the birds. The main part of the lodge, eating and lounge areas were great. Very relaxing, the food was excellent and the staff extremely attentive. Well done to the manageress who looked after us so well to make us feel welcome there. We spent the day walking the trails in there and seeing the wild animals, and the beautiful birds around.

8/10 Good

Sarah, Burlington, Vermont

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Comfortable room and great staff!!

We very much enjoyed our stay at this hotel. The chalet rooms were roomy and clean. The food and staff at this hotel are wonderful. The lodge is about a 40 minute drive from Saint Lucia and they have game drives leaving from the lodge. We also enjoyed the cat rehab tour that was free if you stay at the lodge. They even let you take picture with 2 of their Cheetah's. Fun!!!

10/10 Excellent

A Benzon, Natal South Coast

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

all in all: 10 out of 10!!!!!

it was a lovely birthday present from my wife!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

8/10 Good

Henrik, Lund

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Interesting cat project, great food!

The rooms are very chic in design. The beds are comfortable. However, the aircondition was not good enough to make the room cold enough. There are trees right over the cabin and nuts drop on the roof all the time, and since it is a metal roof, there is very large sound every time a nut drops and we woke from it some times. We had breakfast and dinner two nights and the food is really amazing! One night there was a great buffet and the other night a la carte where I ate a perfectly made steak, don't eat anywhere else! Breakfast includes scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, sereals etc. They have good wines for a good price. A minus that of the three desert wines that they had by glass in the menu, the two best ones weren't available. Come here for the cat experience, great service and totally amazing food! The pool looks a bit dirty so wouldn't jump in. The cheetah experience is very interesting, and you are aloud to pet cheetahs and also meet some other cats.

8/10 Good

Muriel Danilo

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

8/10 Good

herbert, wien

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Room comfort

there is a lot do to improve quality !!

Ingrid! She was the friendliest, kindest and most helpful highlight of our stay. And the cats. And the really good food. And the pool. The lodge is frequented by bus tours with all the downsides of large travel groups. So the lodge is not really as exclusive as you might expect from the price you pay.  The chalets are close to each other, with a lack of privacy. They are old and not too comfy. Plastic stools on the tiny concrete porch. No international plugs in the room. Internet very unstable. Highway close and a bit noisy. Some of the staff could definitely be friendlier.

10/10 Excellent

Samia, Waarder

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Uitstekend

Zeer correct en behulpzaam personeel. Veel geleerd over de 'katten' en knuffelen met de luipaarden was uiteraard onvergetelijk.

8/10 Good

Stefan, Stuttgart

Liked: Staff & service

Schon einmal einen Geparden gestreichelt?

Die Anlage ist sauber und die Angestellten sind sehr nett. Das Highlight sind die aufgezogenen Geparden, die man im Rahmen einer Tour streicheln kann. Ist schon ein lustiges Gefühl ein so große Raubkatze in einem weitläufigen Gehege zu streicheln.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort