Reviews
Voices from the Wild: Guest Reflections on Sibuya
Every journey to Sibuya leaves a story — of breathtaking encounters, tranquil moments, and heartfelt connections. Here, our guests share their experiences, offering a glimpse into the magic that awaits when you become part of the Sibuya family.
Sibuya Day Trips
Our iconic river cruises with lunches and game drives on select tours.
Superb Service and Expert Guides
We really enjoyed our day trip at Sibuya. Everything from start to finish was superb. The staff at reception (the day before, the day of and the day after when we popped by as we were without wifi) were helpful and friendly. Brayden and Sipho were both amazing on the boat ride in. Sipho was excellent throughout our game drives with him. He was passionate about nature, informative, enthusiastic, attentive, helpful and with a lovely sense of humour as well. We really appreciated all the extra information he shared about not only the larger animals but the trees, plants and insects as well. When we stopped by the following day, Keisha was so kind and hospitable and allowed us to connect to WiFi so we could send some photos to Sipho and guests we met on the boat ride, along with getting some urgent banking done as we had no connection at our accommodations. The food was superb. Julie and the other staff looked after us wonderfully through lunch. Many thanks for an unforgettable day at Sibuya.
~ Sincerely, Wendy and Jeremy Bell (Full day trip)
Knowledgeable Rangers and Wildlife Highlights
Our guide Sadie was exceptionally knowledgeable, stopped to share lovely facts about fauna and flora making the outing into the reserve a highlight of our trip to the coast. She was able to share how big the reserve is, the array of wildlife living there, she shared stories about the animals themselves which is really important to know that these animals mean so much to the reserve. While our safari started with a flat tyre, Sadie was able to swiftly organise to change the tyre and get us on the move. We were not put out by the small delay and instead took it as an opportunity to enjoy the setting and head to the bathroom. She’s a young and capable ranger, respecting the animals and we particularly appreciated her dedication to ensure we saw the elephants once they had been located. Above and beyond. Thank you and we would recommend you to our friends and family.
~ Gisela Gier (Full day trip)
A day to remember
A superb choice for a safari. Staff, guide, action with animals, close-up…absolutely great. Different from other safaris as you start out with a boat trip up the river to the actual safari park. Beautiful and a great way to begin a wonderful day. A day to remember. Big, Big recommendation!!
~ F5504UYianw (Full day trip)
Fantastic full day trip!
We did the full day trip which included a 3 hour drive, lunch and then another 3 hour drive. It was an absolutely fantastic adventure! Our game ranger Jared was an expert in hospitality and took care to make sure we had a good time from the moment we arrived. We had great sightings including Rhinos, Giraffes and a very close encounter with elephants which was the highlight of the day. The river cruise was a great addition to the trip which included bird sightings too. From Jared’s knowledgable explanations, the well thought out trip, great food for lunch, snacks during the day and top class pictures – it was a day to remember. Absolutely recommend for locals and foreigners alike!
~ Christopher H, Barcelona, Spain (Full day trip)
The perfect family safari from start to finish
e’ve been on many game drives throughout South Africa, and our experience at Sibuya Game Reserve was truly top quality. From start to finish, everything felt thoughtful, seamless, and special.
The boat ride from Kenton-on-Sea was absolutely fabulous – it set the tone for the day and gave us the chance to see and learn about so many birds along the way, which we loved. Once at the reserve, we were so impressed by their conservation efforts and the depth of knowledge shared throughout the experience. We were lucky enough to see 4 of the Big 5.
This was our son’s first safari (he’s almost 4), and the team went above and beyond to make it meaningful for him. The experience felt really tailored to our family, they made it educational, engaging, and paced in a way that worked perfectly for a young child. Weeks later, now that we’re back in the U.S., he’s still talking about it!
A very special shoutout to our guide, Sadie. She was incredible – so knowledgeable, capable, and intuitive. She really understood what would excite our son and made sure he felt included and engaged the whole time. Her ability to balance a high-quality safari experience for adults while also making it magical for a child was truly impressive.
Lunch was also wonderful, with a delicious meal for us and a kid-friendly option ready to go, along with activities to keep our son happy and entertained.
For both seasoned safari-goers and families experiencing it for the first time, Sibuya is an outstanding choice. We couldn’t recommend it more highly.
~ Jessica Tillem (Full day trip)
Magical Sunset Elephant Sightings
~ Robyn Hierse (Sunset cruise)
Multi-Generational Magic on the River
~ Lida Roos (Sunset cruise)
Forest Camp
Family friendly tented camp for ages 12 and over
Four Days of Extraordinary Memories
A massive thanks to the Sibuya Game Reserve Team. A quick note to give you and everyone at Sibuya a massive thanks for an amazing and extraordinary 4 days at the reserve. We were so well looked after from the moment we arrived and had a wonderful stay. CJ was an excellent guide, Tayla, Mimi and the Forest Camp team great hosts, the food and ambience was fantastic and thanks to Sivi for the late boat ride from Kenton to the camp. You have all given Laurianne and I beautiful memories and looking forward to coming back. Please send on our thanks to everyone.
~ Peter and Laurianne
A place to feel good and create memories for eternity
We were warmly welcomed at the reception and were provided with warm drinks on a terrace with a sea view. After a short duration, we were accompanied to the boat with other guests and drove to our accommodations. Meanwhile, we were offered a lot of information about the area as well as cold drinks. When we arrived, a delicious lunch was waiting for us. We got to know the other guests as well as our guide “Luke”. At the reception, the desire for a gluten-free meal was expressed, which was implemented immediately. The cook has prepared every meal again in gluten-free. Really great:) In the evening we went on our first safari. We were always explained a lot and questions could be asked. The group consisted of four people. Right on the first tour we could see many animals. A round finale was the sunset with snacks and cold drinks that were taken on the safari. After we came back, dinner was served.
My partner and I stayed a total of 2 nights and we were able to choose four safaris. Together we decided on: 2xsunset, 1xsunrise and 1x morning tour.
It was really impressive what we experienced. In addition, various leisure activities were made such as fishing and/or canoeing.
The next morning we were taken by boat to the beach and a varied lunch was waiting for us, which was lovingly arranged. In addition, shady places in the shade were offered, this was super nice:) The rooms were very stylishly furnished and the cleaning staff came twicea day. In conclusion, I can only say that it was really great for us and we would love to come back.
~ Lisa from Germany
Close to Nature with Outstanding Details
The lodge is beautifully located, you are very close to nature. And instead of a pool, there is the river for swimming. With great attention to detail, the tables are redecorated every day, and depending on the group composition, they are placed differently. We were lucky enough to experience a magical evening with all the guests at a large table together. The meals are offered as a buffet, it tasted wonderful. Four coffees of the best varieties round off the range. The safaris are led by very dedicated, young guides. We had a lot of fun with our guide Jared, especially with the rhinos, but he also had an enormous knowledge and was able to show and tell us a lot about birds and plants in addition to the large animals.
~ gthoma550234
An Unforgettable Educational Adventure
Thank you to you and the team for making our stay in Sibuya unforgettable for us. All where so kind and helpful and spoiled us. The drives where absolutely amazing. All the beautiful animals (small and big) we saw and the information we got. We learned a lot. It was such an amazing experience we will never forget. Hoping to return some day. The transfer to PA and Kasouga worked perfectly. We now have a few more days at the sea in Kasouga before going back to cold Vienna. Please pass this message on to the team of Forest Camp. The guides were Mike, Milly & CJ.
~ Catherine Poigenfürs
Top Experience!
If I may recommend something this is definitely the place to be in South Africa. My sister and I were extremely impressed with our entire stay. We stayed there for 2 nights and were allowed to do 4 safaris with as “REERCE” as our guide. TOP GUY. He knows an answer to all questions, whether about animals or plants. I certainly don’t want to forget the other staff, Nicolas from Belgium, Taylor and Mimie the managers of the kitchen. And the whole team. We are extremely grateful to everyone.
~ Peggy6724, Noorderwijk, Belgium
Fantastic experience
We spent 2 nights in the tented forest area, and it was absolutely wonderful. All the staff were lovely friendly and knowledgeable. We had Brian and JP on our drives and they went above and beyond to ensure we saw as much as possible and we did see the big 5. The team in the lodge does a great job of ensuring we are all fed and watered The tents are very comfortable with very good showers and decent beds. Overall I would very much recommend it and would love to go back.
~ Jackiemol, London, United Kingdom
River Camp
Family friendly tented camp for all ages
Heartfelt Gratitude from the Group
Exceptional resort with very friendly competent staff!
~ Thommy15, Dettingen unter Teck, Germany
Amazing glamping safari experience — highly recommend!
Sibuya was exactly the experience we were looking for
Oh my, what an amazing few days! I cannot express how sad we were to leave the River Lodge in Sibuya.
After having done safaris in Kenya and Kruger in years gone by we really didn’t know what to expect. We wanted an experience that would be amazing for our children whilst also being malaria free. We looked at a lot of the bigger reserves before booking but felt Sibuya was much more of the experience we were looking for!
How right we were. The location is stunning (just wow!) the accommodation wonderful , but what makes the place perfect is the fabulous staff. Genuine, warm, knowledgeable, and so very friendly. They also went out of their way with some lovely touches on my husband’s Birthday which was very much appreciated! (And we really enjoyed the extremely tuneful rendition of happy birthday!).
Specific shout out to Braiden and Nicole. Braiden was the best guide, so knowledgeable (also helped us to spot lots of birds in addition to all the other wonderful wildlife we saw!), and was just a pleasure to spend the few days with. Nicole always met us with a smile, was so very welcoming and nothing ever seemed too much trouble.
I would not hesitate to recommend Sibuya to anyone looking to take a Safari. Our two girls were so sad to leave, and our youngest said it would be the people she would miss most. Thank you to the whole Sibuya team for making our stay so wonderful.
~ Claire Richardson
Bush Lodge
Thatched suites for ages 12 and up
The Most Beautiful Place on Earth
I want to give a very special thank-you to Sivi, who turned every drive into an unforgettable experience. The guides are full of passion for nature and wildlife, possess extraordinary knowledge, and are genuinely kind and welcoming.
This has already been our second stay, and this time we slept in the Bush Lodge. The camp lies right in the heart of lion territory—you can actually hear the animals at night. Yet you always feel completely safe while still being wonderfully connected to nature.
The accommodation, including the pool area, garden, and main lodge, is exceptionally beautiful and well maintained. The food is fantastic and leaves nothing to be desired. The entire staff is incredibly attentive, friendly, warm, and simply charming. Every guest is taken care of, yet the atmosphere remains wonderfully familiar and personal.
I am absolutely thrilled and truly hope to return one day.
Thank you to everyone at Sibuya for another unforgettable stay.
~ Anne Siegler – Family
A First Game Reserve Experience to Last Forever
We had the most incredible 2 night stay at Sibuya Bush Lodge. Firstly, the service goes above and beyond anything we’ve experienced before with kind, skilled and knowledgeable drivers, attentive staff and excellent food. You are truly looked after and get an amazing feeling for the reserve you are in. The reserve itself has amazing scenery and we had some very special viewings in particular with the lions, elephants, buffalo and giraffe. It was our first experience in a game reserve and will stick with us forever. The lodge itself is also beautiful in a tranquil setting with the added benefit of a pool and plenty of areas to sit amongst nature.
~ Jonah Lynch
Nel’s Lodge
Sole-use lodge for families and small groups.
Please note: Nel’s Lodge is a brand-new addition to Sibuya. Official photographs will be available soon, but in the meantime you can read more about the story behind the lodge in our blog post
A Hilltop Sanctuary with Views for Miles
~ Stuart Morton
The perfect place to relax and just enjoy the bush
~ Mmutte 456524
Saying goodbye was difficult
Great lodge with magnificent views, beautifully furnished, courteous and friendly staff, the guide JP is brilliant.
~ Monica
A once-in-a-lifetime family experience at Nel’s Lodge
Where do we even begin? We had an absolutely incredible stay at Nel’s Lodge in Sibuya. From the moment we arrived, Laine and her team made us feel so genuinely welcome. The level of care and attention to detail was outstanding – every element of our stay had clearly been thoughtfully planned to make it truly special.
The lodge itself was perfect for our family: beautifully designed bedrooms, sleek modern bathrooms, plenty of space to relax and entertain, plus a sun deck and heated pool that we could make use of.
The team went far surpassed expectations to ensure we were comfortable, taking care of everything we needed throughout our stay. Chef prepared some of the best meals we enjoyed on our entire trip!
Jordan was also fantastic – he went above and beyond to look after my nephews, even helping them achieve ranger status! He was patient and gave his time to all of us. My nephews were sad to leave.
A very special mention must go to Mashudu, our guide during the stay. He struck the perfect balance between great humour and exceptional, detailed knowledge, making every game drive feel fresh and engaging. He is generous with his time and expertise, and a wonderfully calming presence when animals came close! His tracking skills are second to none, too – each drive left us more amazed than the last.
We were so sad to leave. We cannot recommend Nel’s Lodge and Sibuya highly enough. For us, it truly was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and the memories will stay with us forever. Thank you!
~ Peter May
