Rio Dos Elefantes River Camp

We recently stayed at Rio Dos Elefantes for our honeymoon and were warmly welcomed by two wonderful hosts who stepped in during the main hostess’s absence. They were incredibly accommodating, attentive, and genuinely kind—making us feel like long-time friends. Their hospitality and warmth were truly the highlight of our stay, and we especially appreciated our game driver, Japie, whose knowledge and friendly demeanor made the game drive a memorable experience. However, we did encounter several challenges during our stay. The most concerning issue was the inability to lock the doors in both rooms we stayed in. This led to repeated baboon intrusions—approximately four times—resulting in damage to personal belongings, loss of food, and unsanitary conditions in the room. Despite our efforts to hide food, the baboons managed to access it, even scratching a suitcase that had remained pristine for over a decade. After being moved to another room, the problem persisted. While trying to rest, we were disturbed by baboons scratching in the thatch roof, causing debris to fall inside. This, combined with uncomfortable bedding and the fear of further intrusions, made restful sleep difficult throughout our stay. Additionally, the road leading to the lodge is not accurately described online. It is a long, rough dirt road that requires slow driving, which was unexpected. The water on-site had an unusual taste, making it undrinkable, and with our groceries compromised, we had to rely on lodge-provided meals. While breakfast was included, supper came at an additional cost of R350 per person with a set menu, which added significantly to the overall expense. We also noticed discrepancies in pricing. Furthermore, an unexpected 15% VAT was added to all costs, including drinks and accommodation, which was not clearly communicated upfront. Ultimately, we decided to leave a day early due to work commitments, which turned out to be a relief given the circumstances. While the staff were exceptional and the setting has potential, the lack of secure accommodation, food safety, and transparency around pricing made this a difficult experience—especially for a honeymoon. We hope these concerns can be addressed to improve future guests’ experiences. Additional edit: I have no evidence whatsoever of being offered a free weekend. Furthermore, as nature lovers we understand the dry season, however we feel that locking doors would aid the issue somewhat. It is not trashing the establishment in any way or form, merely a word of suggestion to improve upon the beautiful river camp that is present.

We stayed for two nights at Rio Dos. And what a amazing place is this. The lodges are near by the river, so you can see a lot of animals. We saw like 35 elephants drinking at the river, it was amazing!!! Agnes and her stuff are also really kind and make you feel like home. The food we got was so delicious!!! I would really recommend this stay to other people.

Beautiful views of the river. Did some birdwatching feom the deck. Saw elephants and small game at the river. Service was friendly and very helpful. Felt rested afterwards. It was good for my soul to be there in nature.

Property location and the ability to see a varied amount of animals is very special. There are unfortunately a few things that impact the experience. The main issues being the cost transparency and negligent maintenance. We would strongly advise guests to book accommodation through reputable sites and not directly as the host gets you to sign a waiver that indemnifies her from all responsibility which is issue when you have problems like broken lights, aircons or someone falls through her decking.

Peaceful place, away from hhe city. But be prepared to drive on a long gravel road . The Service was very good, very attentive.