Laluka Safari Lodge

I could write a book about Laluka, but I’ll try to keep it brief. Family of 4 visiting S Africa from USA for the first time- 2 senior citizens and 2 Millenial travelers, all very seasoned and frequent travelers. We went to Laluka after a hectic time in Cape Town (lost a phone in an Uber), and a disheartening look at the massive inequality of Johannesburg. We weren’t having the best vacation and we weren’t sure what to expect when arriving at Laluka, though the prompt responses and caring service throughout the booking and planning process was easy and seamless. When we arrived at Laluka we realized that this place is a dream come true. The entire place is luxury from start to finish. The welcome reception, the safari trucks, the lodge, heck even the front gate was elegant and sophisticated while also perfectly situated among its wilderness surroundings. The rooms are enormous luxury cabins with every amenity and feature carefully thought out. We are picky and very specific travelers, and everything from the lighting to the soap to the hot water was perfect. On top of the property, every staff member treats us like we’re their family, visiting after a long journey away from home. They immediately met us at our transfer van and started helping us retrieve our lost phone (they actually achieved the impossible by actually coordinating and arranging the phone rescue from the Uber Driver 950 miles away! And Laluka did that for us without batting an eye- they literally took care of the whole thing). At every turn, it seemed like every staff member was an expert at their job, and always eager to show us the absolute best of their talents, whether it was a game drive, a chat at the bar, a truly world class spa treatment, or the owners dropping in every day to help manage everything and keeping 4 very different people 100% satisfied every minute of our trip. Some final notes: the game drives are incredible (you’ll see a ton and you’ll be as comfortable as possible- many other lodge safari-goers seemed to look at us in envy as we had more space, more blankets, better seats, and a shaded canopy for all our drives. We did drives and safari walks, and the Laluka guides are truly truly the best the Reserve has to offer. The spa therapists are so good that their treatments are truly a physical and spiritual experience all at once. You will be lucky to be touched by their healing hands. You will surely be impressed by the food throughout your stay- ingredients are the highest quality (and often straight from the Laluka Farm). Even though we are particularly picky eaters, we really enjoyed our overall dining experience and we all agreed that most people would love the dining experience here. We doubt there’s anything better in the entire Reserve when it comes to food. All 4 of us were thrilled with our stay, and we were all so incredibly sad to leave. We departed with hugs, tears, and hopes of seeing each other again. Before staying at Laluka we had