Forest Lodge

Pictures look nice online but don't show the lack of maintenance over the last few years, which is apparent. Great blackout curtains in the room and quiet so sleep quality good. There is a pool & breakfast has lots of choice but no restaurant or bar. Having said that it's 10 mins max walk to town for those things. If you want a basic, clean place for exploring iSimangaliso this works. When tourism picks up I'm sure it'll get back to being proper 4*

The place and room was clean ..

In a town where is probably an oversupply of accommodation, I would think that establishment would strive to give the best possible service. We went on a long weekend and most places were booked out but the main street didnt look too busy. Nevertheless, we chose Forest Lodge 2 streets out of the city centre for some quiet. Quiet it was, definitely. Ours was a 2 bed, 2 bath self catered unit with a balcony but no real view except in to the central garden which was very beautiful. Our room was missing a few items like some towels and we had to ask repeatedly before we go them. Most of the time reception was unmanned, a bit puzzling for a long weekend. This lodge was built to a high standard. The outdoor lounge is next to the pool and full of character with its hanging chairs, built under the canopy of trees.. There was a second pool which was under renovation and its dirty water brought alot of mosquitos to our room, they could have drained the water out. Theres also provide a braai area at the far end, just watch the monkeys. We didn't take the breakfast option or use the restaurant.

We stayed here two nights and anjoyed our stay. The location was great and we loved the greenery in the hotel. It provided a feeling of serenity and privacy. The staff was nice. However, the room was terrible. Very humid and no chance to leave your windows open as monkeys will invade your room. The airconditioning could be set on "dry", but that made the room extremely cold. The breakfast was average. We saw the monkeys break into the kitchen, that was enteraining. They really are cheeky.

Als je arriveert bij receptie en je gaat via de binnenplaats (zwembad - zitjes - tuin) denk je mooi. Wij hadden twee kamers verbonden met een woonkamer net boven ontbijtzaal, 16+17. Niet vaak meegemaakt maar ik kan het niet aanbevelen voor mensen die een bepaalde beleving willen: gehorig (je kunt het telefoon gesprek van je buurman eenvoudig volgen, ook de verbale correcties binnen een gezin), tussendeuren knellen, dus in de nacht wordt iedereen wakker als er iemand naar toilet gaat en bij onze aanwezigheid: twee bussen van grote touroperators met Nederlanders. In de ochtend erg druk met ontbijt ivm plaats tekort en ook nog wachten op eten (buffet). Ivm aanwezigheid aapjes kun je kamers slecht luchten. Medewerkers vriendelijk en behulpzaam.

We hebben hier twee nachten geslapen. Kamers waren vrij nieuw, echter de airco deed het niet in de nacht vanwege de loadshedding. Dat waren twee warme plaknachten. Raam open is vanwege de alen geen optie, die haalden alle suikerzakjes uit de hotelkamers via de raampjes en als je pech hebt bagage. Ontbijt was goed, zwembad prima. Locatie is erg leuk, lopen vanaf de lodge naar de restauranttjes. Uitkijken voor nijlpaarden….wij liepen er eentje teegn het lijf op straat, serieus.