Noel was an excellent guide! Lots of special moments (e.g. watching the cubs) and I appreciated that they were always respectful of the animals (e.g., avoid shining lights in deers eyes). I also liked the open top safari vehicles and the warm raincoats provided. We were always well fed and staff was very helpful! Unfortunately we were there when the Wifi had some issues (due to rain I think) which led to payment issues and us waiting 10 minutes for the gate to open when we were in a rush. Hope that's fixed! Also, we drove from Kruger and the property was a little difficult to find on Google Maps but it all worked out fine. Thanks for the memorable experiences!

Stayed in April 2025

Thornybush Reserve is outstanding for wildlife sightings....and Tangala is a great value, small tented camp. Staff went out of their way to celebrate a special birthday.

Stayed in February 2025

- you had to pay for Wi-Fi should be included - would be nice to have a drinks package included

- saw all the big 5 - lovely surroundings and the water hole is amazing - lovely authentic African feel to it - decorated the room for our anniversary -very kind and helpful staff (bar man was great and the tracker) -beautiful place surrounded by animals

Stayed in August 2024

Tents had no view but the waterhole in front of the main lodge made up for it.

Waterhole in front of lodge was continuously visited. Staff were amazing and the game drives excellent. Food was full of flavour and generous servings.

Stayed in July 2024

It would have been nice to have some reading materials about the wildlife in the common areas for in between game drives otherwise definitely bring your own books/maps in case the Wi-Fi goes out.

The game viewing and tracker/guide were great. Also the food was very good and all the staff very nice. Chris and Janet were great hosts/managers and even kind enough to provide a lift back into the town of Hoedspruit after I checked out. All around- a wonderful experience.

Stayed in January 2024

Raincoats are not waterproof. Management knows this but don't care to purchase proper ones. For the price you are paying per night they should afford actual waterproof raincoats. The water just "goes through" the coat. It's ridiculous how bad they are. Going on a Safari with light rain will result in you being wet until your underwear. Staff seem heavily underpaid for what we as customers are paying per night.

We did a private Safari with Matimba and Clements. They are locals and know their lands. Proper professionals. Everything is very clean. Staff is great. Food is good.

Stayed in November 2023

There were no hot drinks available during the day when we first arrived. However this was changed when I mentioned it to the owner Michael. The service during the evening meal felt rushed, as if the staff wanted us to move on. It would have been better for all if they had offered us coffee or another drink after dinner in the lounge area, leaving the table free for them to clear.

We were greeted warmly by owners Michael and Vicky who were always happy to chat and find out about our experience at the lodge. When I mentioned a couple of minor issues they were quickly addressed. Our tent was comfortable and well equipped. We enjoyed seeing antelopes just outside. They also came to drink from the swimming pool, giving us some great photo opportunities. The driver Dennis and spotter Phomani were very knowledgeable and found some wonderful sites to spot the animals, especially the lions killing a buffalo.

Stayed in September 2023

More water in the waterhole might have encouraged the wildlife to linger longer but I understand the pipe was broken. Our guide was okay but a bit disappointing, didn't engage or 'read the room'

Location was excellent, surrounded by Game. Room 3 has the most amazing views over the waterhole. Nyala roaming through camp. Mike and Vicky are doing a great job rebuilding the camp after the devastating fire. Tulli the chef was excellent, as was Reply the barman and Funami our tracker. Housekeeping very good.

Stayed in September 2023

There is nothing really not to like.

We have visited Tangala many times over the past 15 years and wildlife wise it never fails to disappoint. The sightings you get here are consistently better than most of the other camps we have visited in South Africa and is the main reason we keep coming back. The camp is nicely located close to a waterhole and so very often the guests are given sightings from the veranda as the animals come down to drink. The camp is small, cosy and in all the times we have been there appears to create a very warm atmoshere for the guests. This time we stayed (once again) in one of the Chalets and whilst they certainly don't fall into the modern 5 star luxury bracket, they are authentically charming, clean and also very comfortable. The kitchen staff look after their guests very well and there is always plenty of food to go around. So for us, this trip simply confirmed what we already knew. We will be going back.

Stayed in November 2022

nothing

excellent team with great focus on all our possible wishes

Stayed in November 2022

nothing

We had an amazing stay at Tangala. Our first safari and it didn’t disappoint. Our Guide Respect and Tracker Fumani were incredible, went all out to make sure we saw the Big 5, great guys. Karen and Bertus run a fabulous authentic lodge and all the staff were fantastic, they all made sure we had the perfect experience. Can’t recommend Tangala enough !

Stayed in September 2022

the room / tent is super old and furniture should be replaced too old cabinets not stable and they did not offer a queen bed as I requested instead they put together two twin beds and u can feel the separation in the middle I found a spider in the bathroom because they’re were holes in the tent and I can see the tape owner is greedy charged gustiest for internet per day and never offers soft drinks to water with diners

I liked the game drives the staff is was nice breakfast was ok but dinners were very spicy more adequate for locals

Stayed in August 2022

Nothing! We Loved everything

We loved everything about this place - the location, the rooms, the dining area, the meals, the waterhole. We felt very welcomed and looked after. The safaris were sensational, our driver and tracker were second to none.

Stayed in July 2025

The room, meals, staff, and daily drives were outstanding. I highly recommend!

Stayed in September 2024

All my scences where taken for a ride Smell- Rooms smell of ceacrete (wood treatment) and Taste-Food was on average found in a school hostel Sight- Rained a lot and sand everywhere in chalet roomd in bed in shower in toilet, change the walkways to stone or tiling/ the mosquito net dirty and threadbare(chalet 1) Sound- had the generator running from 8 pm to midnight and again from 4:30 am Beds are steel army beds in single only???? On our game drive started raining and given a dirty rain poncho that has not been rainproof for about 2 years, The most cold and misrable i have been in my whole life, glad the trip is over, again i state not the staff's fault but very p oor reinvestment by management, should be removed from your site and others to force owner/management to spend/invest. The quality of the game drive vehicles are very poor, For the price we paid Wi Fi should be a given but no we had to pay to get this, also water we had to pay for, only receive 250ml per person per day, come on i know when we are been screwed. Close this lodge, disgusting is all i can say, The staff is the only good thing at this lodge

Very poor value for money, should be rated as 1 star, I feel sorry for the staff as they must do miracles to keep cliets happy.All rooms are below avarage and the first room allocated to us had a large amount of mould in the shower(chalet no2)/ come on Booking . com send a representative to this lodge and see for yourselves, This place will never see me again and i will let all my aquantices know about this lodge,

Stayed in November 2024

Everything. Not only the rooms, but also the food was far below standard. We were greatly dissapointed and had a terrible experience. Booked and paid for 3 nights however only managed to stay for 1 night, Tangala did not offer a refund of any sort. The game drive was unorganised and when we stoped for sundowner drinks they forgot to pack more than half of the guests requested drink. Our ranger, Robert, dissapered into the bush with one of the guests and did not return until we were suppose to leave. Rooms are outdated, which would have been acceptable (to a certain extent) but we found a mop hair in the room and found the rest of the room extremely dirty. Even had to shower with flip-flops. Checked out the next morning at 5o’clock, and definitely won’t ever be cheking in again. Would also reccomend prospective guests to steer clear and book other accomodation.

Stayed in August 2024

so, i don t even know where to start. -they were chasing an old rhino bull 25 min off road - they did not have enough food for all the people when they brai - they overprice completly and even charge you for a bottle of water, where it is included in most other places. - they had extremly noisy other guests - i got harassed by a "Sabine" from germany for doing animal conservation - the guide does not really speak any english - the game drives are not worth it - i checked out 1 night earlier then planned cause i got harassed, only noise, no refund. - you had to sit in a circle like in school to introduce yourself to the other guests - you had to sit and answer thier questions - the owner tired to manipulate me, gaslight me, and send me manipulative messages in whats app. i will add them to the review - i did travel south africa for 5 weeks and this place was the worst - rooms had a bad smell, everything was broken - all thi is 1000 $ for 3 nights. i want a refund for the last night

i can prove everything i said below with videos and i will add them as soon as i have better wifi. i can not recommend you to book this place, only if you like noise, thats your place i would say.

Stayed in April 2024

Loved the location and the cozy environment

Stayed in December 2023

The showers are a little bit low

The location is amazing. All the animals are right at your feet.

Stayed in September 2023

Safari was spectacular. All the staff were so attentive and went out of their way to make sure our stay was perfect.

Stayed in January 2023

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We had an amazing stay at the Tangala Safari Camp. Especially the kindness of the staff and the Safari Tours (2 x per day included) made our vacation unforgettable. The camp and our room/tent was perfectly clean and the food was very good (e.g. homemade granola for breakfast, different salads and sides for high tea and a 3 course dinner with different meat/fish and vegetables) The camp is perfectly located, with a lot of wildlife around. Different animals are using the waterhole that is just some meters away from the camp and some of the smaller animals also walking around within the camp. A usual day would start at 5:00 with a coffee/tea and the morning Safari at 5:30. After the return at the camp we would usually make use of the pool/enjoying the South African sun. High Tea was served at 15:00 and the second Safari of the day would start at 15:30. The Safari itself was unbelievable. The Guides/Trackers are awesome. We have been able to see the Big 5. After the first Safari, we thought we have seen already everything. However, each of the trips were different and stunning. We saw the animals in there natural environment (e.g. Elephants bathing, lions eating a Zebra, Buffalos taking a mud bath). All-in-all an amazing experience.

Stayed in January 2023

nothing

Staff are fantastic and go above and beyond to make your stay special. Food is excellent. Game drives with Bennie and Witness were way beyond expectations. This is an authentic bush experience.

Stayed in November 2022

great team, great game drives, yummy food & time to relax

Stayed in October 2022

Everything is great

Perfect from arrival to departure. Its now around 2/3 weeks ago and we still think about our stay and Safari every day. The lodge is lovely to stay with the kindest staff who also love to make some fun! The area is amazing for safari and game drives. We saw a LOT! And of course the big 5! our tracker and guide made sure we wouldn’t leave without seeing them all. Tangala team goes above and beyond. thanks for making our safari dream coming true like this! We love to return one day!

Stayed in October 2022