Jozini Tiger Lodge & Spa by Dream Resorts

When I travel in KwaZulu Natal I travel with purpose and on a preplanned itinerary that is put together months in advance. Locations and routes need planning to maximise my time and ensure that I get the most from my journey. I also do the same when planning for and with others. Yes, this can prove to be tiring, but it is also hugely rewarding. It enables me to be able to relay firsthand knowledge to help fellow travellers get the very most from their holidays. I am at Jozini Tiger Lodge and Spa wondering what to do with myself as I was staying a little longer than I normally would. Ryan, the lodge manager, had simply said to me, relax and enjoy yourself, that’s what our guests do. So here I am, best described as lake and leisurely, sitting on my balcony looking down at Lake Jozini, reading The Conspiracy Tourist by Dom Jolly. So, this is what people do on their holidays. I should mention that my room, leading to my balcony was perfect. Spacious and large in size, with ample storage for a lengthy stay with couch, table, additional seating and king size four poster bed. The tea and coffee station came complete with a drink’s fridge. The ensuite bathroom was also a good size with both bathtub and shower. All this with a great view of Lake Jozini. To get in the holiday mode here at the lodge does not take much thinking about. I had been given a full tour by assistant manager Gugu so knew where to find everything. I was tempted by the Mangwanani African Spa and the treatments on offer, and I regret not indulging myself, but my stomach told me to check out the lunch menu. I need to take more interest in my body and not just my stomach. I did opt though for a healthy lunch, Greek salad, an excellent choice on a very hot afternoon taken on the restaurant veranda looking down onto the lake below. Every meal here felt like an event. Breakfast and dinner were feasts with huge choices put together by chef Sabelo and his dedicated team. In the mornings I started with healthy options including locally sourced fresh fruit salad before moving on to the cooked options. It’s not often you get three choices of sausages plus meatballs along with crispy bacon, zhuzhed up baked beans and a near menu of egg variations. Dinners were buffet and braai, (barbecue), affairs. Chef Sabelo talked me through the buffet options on the braai night and it took him nearly two minutes. Home made breads, freshly prepared salads and dressings, mealiepap, (a local speciality), rice, potatoes, sheba or chakalaka, a local spicy vegetable sauce dish, plus other choices of vegetables. Then comes the meat, chicken, boerewors and pork chops. On other nights the buffet included traditional roasts with all the trimmings, stews and curries. As a curry fan I have to mention and recommend the excellent curries. I also have to admit that I could not face the dessert selection. What I can say is that you will not go hungry here and there is something for everyone. It never gets cold up here aro

I recently stayed at this so-called “five-star” establishment, and it was hands-down one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. The only thing remotely similar to what’s advertised on their website is the view – and that’s literally the only thing you’re paying for. Let’s start with dinner. The service was horrific. We were overcharged not once, but twice, and when we tried to query it, we were met with unhelpful, rude staff who seemed completely uninterested in fixing their mistake. I waited over an hour just to get a simple drink. No apology. No urgency. Just blank stares and phones in hand. The food? Even worse. There was absolutely no variety – you could immediately tell they used the cheapest possible ingredients for the buffet. Everything was so bland it might as well have been boiled cardboard. The chicken and pork chops were so dry and overcooked, they were inedible. I genuinely could have thrown them at someone, and they might’ve done damage – that’s how hard they were. The dessert was a disaster. The so-called chocolate mousse was made with water, full of lumps, and tasted like raw cake batter. It was disgusting. The rest of the dessert table? No better. It looked like they had just thrown leftovers from a kid’s birthday party together and hoped no one would notice. Then there’s the room. The bed was rock hard – might as well have slept on the floor. The bath was filthy, and to top it off, there were only two towels in a four-bed room. No extra towels, no bath mats, no care whatsoever. Breakfast was a complete joke. Again, no variety. Just a sad selection of vegetables and a few random scraps. I ordered an omelet, and the cheese inside wasn’t even melted – it looked like they’d just thrown cold ingredients onto an egg and called it a day. The fruit juice was so watered down it tasted like cheap Oros, and there was no milk in the cappuccino machine, so no coffee either. The pancakes were old and dry, and the muffins were dense and heavy like they’d been sitting out for days. The staff were absolutely useless. Not once did anyone offer us a Coke, coffee, or even check in to see if we needed anything. Instead, they just stood around on their phones, completely disengaged. And when you asked for something, it felt like you were inconveniencing them. They were rude, dismissive, and clearly not trained in any form of hospitality. Even the table setup was wrong – our table didn’t have any big spoons while every other one did. It’s just another example of how disorganized and careless this place is. This place is a disgrace. It is absolutely not five-star – I wouldn’t even give it two. The food is well below average, the service is non-existent, and the staff are lazy and rude. I would never come back here, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. The only thing this place has going for it is the view – and even that’s not enough to make up for the pathetic experience. Save your money and stay somewhere that actually cares about its gue

Lovely family hotel… You must visit Lovely family hotel. Good balance of kids programs and adult activities. The view is stunning, the food is good too. Only improvement is for them to upgrade gym facility but besides that lovely. Definitely worth coming back.

IF YOU'RE GOING THERE FOR THE FOOD, DON'T GO. OVER PRICED FOR BELOW MEDIOCRE TASTE. THE VIEWS ARE AMAZING, THE ACTIVITIES ARE NICE. I'VE EXPECTED MUCH MORE WHEN IT CAME TO THE FOOD BUT IT WAS JUST A DISAPPOINTMENT AND HONESTLY A WASTE OF MONEY...

We stayed at the Villa. It was lovely, spacious with a beautiful view of the dam. The staff were always friendly, we has some minor items that we needed assistance with, and maintenance was also efficient to resolve and always done with a smile. Breakfast was lovely, and the kids enjoyed the activities planned by the lodge. We will definitely visit again.

For a couple of hours today we meandered through rural northern KwaZulu on the P447, P449 between Sodwana and Jozini. As usual I was blown away by the scenery. The blood of my ancestors called to the herds of beautiful big and fat Nguni cattle we passed along the way. I spent time gaping at the width of the dirt road and speculating as to why a four lane highway was needed. Finally, we spotted the gentlemen and his grader and realised, he must love playing with his toy. Gwarking at sugar cane not expected in places, dust smothered trees and more cows. Sometimes one needs to leave the main road, wander through the back roads of life to appreciate Gods splendour. We spent most of the day travelling in silence, it was that kind of day. Feeling nostalgic this morning as we arrived at Tiger Lodge, this place is just beautiful, there are no superlatives that do it justice. It rests peacefully in the bustling chaos of the little town of Jozini. Not 3 years ago we visited during my 50th year celebrations. Today, I learnt what I have always called Jozini Dam is called Pongola Poort Dam. The hotel sits perched on the side of the hill over looking the dam. The staff friendly, the food it’s ok fair no gourmet offering but it’s the place that makes the heart beat soar. There are boats you can take on the river but this time I visited to sit at one on nature.