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Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve

5.0 star property
Safari adventures and peaceful relaxation await at this natural haven in Amakhala Game Reserve, where wildlife viewing meets complete tranquility

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Bukela Game Lodge in Amakhala Game Reserve offers a tranquil escape with massages at the spa, two pools, and wildlife viewing. Enjoy continental breakfast, free WiFi in public areas, and a poolside bar for refreshments.

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 3 of 3 rooms

View all photos for Luxury King/Twin Suite

1 bedroom, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Luxury King/Twin Suite

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Individually decorated
Fireplace
Private hot tub
Air conditioning
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Jetted bath
  • 45 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

View all photos for Luxury King Suite

1 bedroom, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Luxury King Suite

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Fireplace
Private hot tub
Air conditioning
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Jetted bath
Hairdryer
  • 45 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Luxury Safari Tent

Luxury Safari Tent

Luxury Safari Tent

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Private hot tub
Air conditioning
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Deep-soaking bath
Hairdryer
Separate bath and shower
  • 45 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds
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About the area

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Amakhala Game Reserve, Paterson, Eastern Cape

What's nearby

  • Woman standing in the middle of a dirt road in Africa making a fun posture to resamble the two giraffe in the background.
    African Pride Pumba Private Game Reserve
    55 min drive - 58.6 km
  • Lalibela Game Reserve
    33 min drive - 33.5 km
  • Sundays River Dunes
    36 min drive - 54.4 km
  • 1820 Settlers National Monument
    51 min drive - 75.7 km
  • Rhodes University
    52 min drive - 77.1 km

Getting around

  • Port Elizabeth (PLZ)
    74 min drive

About this property

Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve

Luxury boutique lodge in a rural location
Free continental breakfast, game and wildlife viewing and a poolside bar are just a few of the amenities provided at Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve. Treat yourself to a massage at the on-site spa. Free WiFi in public areas is available to all guests, along with a terrace and a firepit.
Other perks include:
  • 2 outdoor pools, along with sunloungers and pool umbrellas
  • Free self-parking
  • A safari, a round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge) and game drive on-site
  • Laundry services, smoke-free property and barbecues
Room features
All guest rooms at Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve have comforts, such as Hot tubs and air conditioning, as well as amenities, such as safes and minibars.
Extra conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Bathrooms with rainfall showers and free toiletries
  • Balconies or patios, wardrobes/cupboards and coffee/tea makers

All-inclusive details

All-inclusive room rates at Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve are available. These rates are higher because they include on-site food and beverages in the room rate (some restrictions may apply).

Food and beverages

All buffet and à la carte meals, snacks and select beverages included
Basic alcoholic drinks included

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  • Breakfast included
  • Parking included
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • 24-hour return airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast
  • A bar/lounge
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Things to do

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Archery
  • Full-service spa
  • Game drive
  • Game viewing
  • Safari

Conveniences

  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Turndown service

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • In a national park
  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Massage

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • 1 building
  • 1 floor
  • Built in 2012
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Phone
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 1 PM; check-in end time: 9:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The front desk is open daily from 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 3:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Guests planning to take part in the afternoon game drive on their arrival day should check in before 2 PM.

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children younger than 12 are not allowed at this adults-only property; all guests 12 and older are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cots (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Destination fee: ZAR275 per person, per night. This fee does not apply to children under 2 years of age.

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: ZAR 3000 per vehicle (return)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts major credit cards and cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Property Registration Number 2004/024354/07

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
Guests under 12 years old are not permitted at this adults-only property
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

National rating

Quality graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) – South Africa's official quality assurance organisation.

Property is also known as

Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve Lodge
Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve Paterson
Bukela Game Lodge Paterson
Bukela Game Paterson
Bukela Lodge
Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve Lodge Paterson

Frequently asked questions

Does Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve have a pool?

Yes, this property has 2 outdoor pools.

Is Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve?

Self-parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve?

Check-in start time: 1 PM; check-in end time: 9:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Does Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of ZAR 3000 per vehicle applies.

Are there all-inclusive benefits at Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve?

Some rate plans available at this property are all-inclusive.

Where is Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve located?

Situated in a national park, this luxury lodge is 16.7 mi (26.9 km) from Lalibela Game Reserve and within 32 miles (52 km) of Addo Elephant National Park and Quin Sculpture Garden. Schotia Tooth and Claw Safari and Olifantskop Pass Lookout are also within 32 miles (52 km).

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Reviews

Bukela Game Lodge Amakhala Game Reserve Reviews

8.6

Excellent

9.0

Cleanliness

9.4

Location

8.8

Staff & service

8.8

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 19 reviews

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Mingyuet

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Bukela is a beautiful stay, facilities are great, friendly staff and our ranger (Sim) was very knowledgeable. Foodwise is really below average, just not good especially for a 5* resort. It felt like diner was prepared during the day and heated up in the evening, just not fresh. Breakfast was really poor. Only meal that was good was the lunch. No snacks during the day. Due to this matter i will not likely to visit Bukela again nor reconmend to anyone which is regretful as the staff and facilities were great. For the price you pay I would have expected high quality meals.

10/10 Excellent

Alison

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A luxury all- inclusive game lodge experience. The 8km drive from the main road is dirt and gravel so a little challenging for our tiny hire car. A warm welcome on arrival and our room was very spacious and comfortable ( the bed was quite hard but perhaps the mattress was new). An indoor and outdoor shower meant you could wash under the incredible stars in the night sky if so inclined. Lodge was comfortable and well decorated if slightly lacking in atmosphere. Not sure if the pools were for swimming in but they looked attractive. Meals were all delicious with generous portions. The highlight of course was the game drives - you are assigned one ranger for your stay and get two drives per night stay. Our driver Edisonnwas completely brilliant and made sure we saw Lions, Elephant, Giraffe and Rhino as well as numerous species of antelope, baboons and birds. We managed three drives but opted on our last morning to relax at the lodge instead. There are more luxurious lodges out there but this is at the high end of the less expensive lodges on Amakhala.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sébastien

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Parfait

Excellent sejour. Staff aux petits soins. Repas all inclusive très agréable. Les guides-safaris se démènent malgré le temps qui n'était avec nous. Si possible prevoir une nuit supplémentaire, une nuitée est trop courte pour profiter pleinement du site
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Bastian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wunderschönes Safari Erlebnis mit sehr netten Personal. Worauf sich Gäste jedoch einstellen müssen: - 7,5km Anreise auf einer sehr schlechten „Safari-Straße“ mit vielen Schlaglöchern und anderen Hindernissen - Kein TV in Suites (Für uns war das nicht störend da die Lage traumhaft ist) - Auswahl an Essen etwas limitiert
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary-Laure

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Allez-y

Séjour parfait, staff sympathique, bonne nourriture, très bon guide
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

8/10 Good

Kevin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great Lodge with awful access road for cars

A great lodge in Amakhala reserve. Accommodation very good but in need of upkeep. Balcony furniture was in a sorry state and outside shower was too unhygenic to use
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
die Lage ist wunderbar, das Wasserloch lockt viele Tiere an, bei uns kamen 2x über 25 Elefanten, die beiden Pools sind klein aber sehr angenehm und schön gemacht, die Hütten könnten sauberer sein, das Essen könnte besser sein, das Servicepersonal war sehr langsam und manchmal einwenig unwissend, die Einführung am Anfang war trocken und kurz.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2020

8/10 Good

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Excellent game drives and good accommodation

Main reason to visit is the game drives and these were excellent. Lucky, our guide, was fun and informative. The tent was amazing and comfortable. The staff,with one exception, were very welcoming and eager to see were pleased. Minor blemishes, evening meals disappointing and minibar items used were not replaced. Amakhala highly recommended for inclusion on South African tour.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lauren

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Brilliant Bukhela

Brilliant service, amazing setting, loved it! Highly recommended
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

The perfect stay for a luxurious safari!

Bukela Game Lodge is the perfect stay for a short safari. We stayed 2 days at the lodge and never experienced such a luxury. The staff makes sure everything is perfectly arranged. Bukela is the only lodge that is not fenced in the area which makes it possible to wake up and have wild animals outside your front door. Would definitely recommend Bukela!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Großartige Anlage mit liebenswertem Personal

Liebe zum Detail, wunderschöne Chalets mit Ofen und Blick in den Giebel. Die Ranger gaben sich jede Mühe, die Big 5 aufzuspüren.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lodge mit hervorragendem Preis-Leistungsverhältnis

Eine großartige Lodge, die sich durch liebevolle Details und persönliche und herzliche Atmosphäre auszeichnet. In den reetgedeckten Häusern hat man einen freien Blick in den Dachgiebel.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Hinweis für Expedia: Die Lodge war überbucht !

Wir mussten in die Hlosi Lodge ausweichen und sind nach einem Tag voller Ärger abgereist. Das Management hat uns zugesagt, Expedia zu informieren und uns den kompletten Buchungsbetrag zu erstatten.

4/10 Poor

Edgar

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service

Für uns kein Luxusresort und schon gar keine *****

Leider konnten wir bei unserem Aufenthalt die vorangegangenen Bewertungen so gar nicht nachvollziehen. Entweder hatten wir einfach Pech... oder aber die Qualität in "fast" allen Bereichen hat extremst nachgelassen. Wir haben 2 Nächte dort verbracht. Wir wurden weder nach unserem Game Drive am 1. Abend besonders in Empfang genommen, noch wurde der Abend besonders gemütlich zelebriert (es war auch kein Manager vor Ort) und bei meiner Nachfrage nach dem Abendessen, nach einem Amarula wurde ich vom Personal schräg angeschaut, noch wurde generell nach Getränkewünschen gefragt. Man musste jeder Flasche Wasser hinter herlaufen. Am 2. Abend war es dann sehr viel gemütlicher eingedeckt (die Managerin war diesmal vor Ort) dafür waren leider beide Gerichte eine völlige Katastrophe. Das Lamm war so durch, dass man es weder schneiden noch kauen konnte und der Fisch "roch", dass alle Gäste ihn zurück gehen liessen. So etwas darf doch nicht passieren. Am 2. Morgen mussten wir nach der Rückkehr des morgendlichen, dreistündigen Game Drives über 1 Stunde auf Kaffee und Frühstück warten (dabei ist doch bekannt, wann man zurückkommt... und die Managerin war vor Ort) Leider war auch unserer Fahrer bei den ersten Fahrten sehr unmotiviert, was sich dann erst auf der letzten Fahrt gebessert hat. Zum Glück haben wir aber trotzdem einige Tiere zu sehen bekommen. Alles in allem (unsere Klimaanlage in der Hütte war auch noch defekt) waren wir leider ziemlich enttäuscht von der gesamten Entwicklung!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

Thanks for a fabulous experience

They did everything possible to accomodate us. Rooms aren't totally luxurious but the service is top notch. Jean the game driver is great guy and has excellent eyes!

10/10 Excellent

klaus schön

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Service, Hotel, Ranger, Tiere....alles perfekt....

Einfach super.......super.....super......super....super......was soll ich noch schreiben...

10/10 Excellent

Nancy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Liam

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2017