Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge

Jock's Safari Lodge has a "colonial" vibe. Generally, each building is divided into two rooms but they are completely private and we couldn't see the people in the other room from our deck. The bed was very comfortable and the hot water bottle at night was appreciated (July was VERY cold out; even though there is a heater in the room, the hot water bottle still felt very luxurious!). The individual plunge pool, outdoor bathtub, and couch/bed overlooking the river would be incredible in warmer weather (we didn’t use any of this as it was too cold!). The lodge’s main pool is heated…but it was still too cool for us (we are from AZ and used to much warmer weather). Note that the lodge is on a seasonal river; July is dry season so the river is empty and you will not see animals drinking from the river in July. The food and service were great. One night we had dinner in the dry river bed. We liked that Breakfast had both a buffet component (for fruit, yogurt, pastries, etc) and a hot component you could order. Thus, we could start digging into the food right away! We liked the social "vibe" of Jock as they had large communal tables people sat at for tea before the morning and afternoon game drives. This encouraged people to chat with each other which my husband and I like to do! Our guide, Patrick, was amazing and sought out wonderful animal sights for us. We saw the big 5 (and they have some resident leopards nearby that we saw on several of our game drives!). I really liked that you could go on Kruger land (but had to stay on their roads) AND on Jock's Private concession land (where we could go off road). I think that this combination really maximized the animal viewing. I believe that they limit the number of jeeps at their own land to 3 jeeps (and that was for the extraordinary sighting of a pride of 9 lions feasting on a young giraffe). It never felt crowded. Overall, I'm so happy we stayed here and we had such an outstanding time. It was our first safari experience and it exceeded all of my expectations!

Just returned from spending 5 days at this wonderful place celebrating my 70th birthday with my family. It is difficult to put into words how truly magical this place is, from the location, accommodation, food and most importantly the staff. Our Ranger Jan was a true gentleman, very knowledgeable, funny and professional. He made our game drives not only special but also personal. A big shout out to Lazarus and his staff who look after the needs of all guests with a smile. Lastly a big thank you to the JEMU team who work tirelessly to protect the environment but more importantly the animals, keep up the good work.

Great lodge about an hour away from the nearest airport but the drive is through the Kruger National Park so you encounter various animals even before settling into the hotel. Great facilities including a restaurant, bar, swimming pool. The staff are fantastic and do not stop offering you food and drinks. The guides on the game drives are very knowledgeable and know their way around the park and where your chances are highest to view animals. The daily itineraries give you options to select from including game drives, walking safaris, spa treatments. The tents are spacious and very nicely furnished with a great bathroom, a patio and an extra star gazing room and a small water hole for a refreshing dip.

Our time at Jock was spectacular. The game viewing was unparalleled crowned off with superb food and super attentive service. The attention by rangers to ensuring unique animal siting without crowding by other vehicles makes the Jock experience feel especially personal. After four wonderful days there, I have deep withdrawal.

We came to Jock as part of our honeymoon and it did not disappoint! The main jock lodge is fantastic - really cool aesthetic serving fantastic food and delicious wine. We are here in ‘winter’ although it was warm it wasn’t quite warm enough for jumping in the pool which looked so inviting. You can sit on the deck and take in fantastic views of the riverbed . We were lucky enough to see herds of giraffe and impala animal while having a drink which was a great experience! The staff in the lodge provided a 5 star level of service. The accommodation was next level tranquility. Beautifully decorated with a tent at the end of the deck for sleeping under the stars. It was a truly relaxing experience fit for a honeymoon. Safari itself was a truly amazing experience. The rangers work so hard to find and animals and yet remain respectful of them in their environments. He was incredibly knowledgable of the animals and the landscape. Our guide Jan also helped us make the most of our experience by taking us out for extra time to find what we really wanted to see. We were lucky enough to see all of the big 5!