Minara Private Boutique Game Lodge

19 reviews

Self Catering

Reviews

4.7/ 5

Based on 19 reviews

Excellent

Cleanliness

4.7

Location

4.6

Value for money

4.5

Service

4.7

Safety

4.9

Albertina M

Short stay ⋅ With partner

5.0

Sep 2025

Perfect. It was the most beautiful stay, peaceful and full of life.

Cleanliness

5.0

Service

5.0

Location

5.0

Safety

5.0

Value for money

5.0

Room stayed in

Luxury One Bedroom V...

Nomsa N

Short stay ⋅ With partner

5.0

May 2025

Tranquility. Perfect place to unwind and relax. Stunning place. Planning on going back soon.

Cleanliness

5.0

Service

5.0

Location

5.0

Safety

5.0

Value for money

5.0

Room stayed in

Classic 2 Bedroom Fa...

Mandy H

Short stay ⋅ With partner

5.0

Mar 2025

Loved it and will go back. We really enjoyed our stay. Thank you so much.

Cleanliness

5.0

Service

5.0

Location

5.0

Safety

5.0

Value for money

5.0

Room stayed in

Deluxe Open-plan Vil...

View host response

Minara

Minara Private Boutique Game Lodge

Thank you! We're so glad you loved it. We can't wait to welcome you back!

Jacob M

Short stay ⋅ With partner

5.0

Jan 2025

Excellent. It was wonderful and a good stay to start the year.

Cleanliness

5.0

Service

5.0

Location

5.0

Safety

5.0

Value for money

5.0

Room stayed in

Luxury One Bedroom V...

View host response

Minara

Minara Private Boutique Game Lodge

Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful stay to kick off the year. We hope to welcome you back again soon!

Prudence Koketso N

Short stay ⋅ Family with teenagers

4.8

Apr 2025

Fabulous. We really enjoyed our stay and the place was clean. The WiFi is a bit slow; however, the stay was excellent. My kids enjoyed themselves.

Cleanliness

5.0

Service

5.0

Location

4.0

Safety

5.0

Value for money

5.0

Room stayed in

Classic 2 Bedroom Fa...

Nthabiseng R

Short stay ⋅ With partner

4.4

Jan 2025

Demure. It was very epic and nice. I'd like to recommend it to someone else.

Cleanliness

3.0

Service

5.0

Location

5.0

Safety

4.0

Value for money

5.0

Room stayed in

Deluxe Open-plan Vil...

View host response

Minara

Minara Private Boutique Game Lodge

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Your recommendation means a lot!

Anonymous Guest

Short stay ⋅ With partner

4.0

Jul 2025

Cleanliness

4.0

Service

4.0

Location

4.0

Safety

5.0

Value for money

3.0

Room stayed in

Deluxe Open-plan Vil...

Isabel V

Short stay ⋅ With partner

2.6

Oct 2025

Very nice Villas, but that's where it stops. There were endless problems. Our experience at Minara Villas was unfortunately very disappointing. I booked a Luxury 1 Bedroom Villa via the website, but upon arrival we were placed in a Deluxe Open Plan Villa. On the website and Minara’s own page there are clearly different descriptions and photos of the two types of units, and nowhere are villa numbers indicated that could have prevented this confusion. When we checked in, there was no water. There was also no bedding for the sleeper couch – only two pillows in the cupboard, but no sheet, duvet or blanket. The fridge did not work properly, and the oven had no instructions. The bath leaked, causing the entire bathroom to be wet. Furthermore, there was a constant noise from the roof when the wind blew, possibly because there is no insulation. There were also howler monkeys in the roof, which made it difficult to sleep peacefully. We were then moved to Villa 3, but the problems continued. There was no welcome basket, Villa 4 was left untouched, and the fridge still wouldn’t get cold enough. The toilet in this villa was excessively high – so high that my feet couldn’t even touch the ground – and definitely not standard height. The water temperature was unstable: either scalding hot, or freezing cold. I also found long black hairs in the house (definitely not mine), which reinforced the impression of poor cleaning. As for privacy: we could see other guests while they were getting their massages. There is also a camera pointed directly at the pool, which feels very uncomfortable – especially since management says in one review that the cameras are “off” when there are guests, but elsewhere mentions that they used “camera evidence”. The air conditioner leaked and sprayed water all over the room, leaving the floor soaking wet. Even though someone was sent to check, it happened again the next night. There was also construction going on late into the evening, which made it difficult to relax. It seemed more focused on expansion than maintenance – despite reviews of the same issues having been going on for months. There was also no clear indication as to whether guests were allowed to walk or drive on their own on the farm. The wooden furniture had visible wood beetle damage, the pillows were flat and uncomfortable, and the noise from the roof in the wind made it virtually impossible to sleep soundly. The plug kept kicking out when I tried to use the hairdryer. On our last night, the Wi-Fi password changed, which caused another unnecessary hassle. Overall, I spent more time on my phone trying to sort out problems than enjoying my time with my husband. This stay definitely did not meet our expectations – especially not for the price and description advertised.

Baie mooi Villas, maar dis waar dit stop. Daar was oneindig probleme. Ons ervaring by Minara Villas was ongelukkig baie teleurstellend. Ek het ’n Luxury 1 Bedroom Villa bespreek via die webtuiste, maar by aankoms is ons in ’n Deluxe Open Plan Villa geplaas. Op die webtuiste en Minara se eie blad is daar duidelik verskillende beskrywings en foto’s van die twee tipes eenhede, en nêrens word villa-nommers aangedui wat hierdie verwarring kon voorkom nie. Toe ons inboek, was daar geen water nie. Daar was ook geen beddegoed vir die sleeper couch nie – slegs twee kussings in die kas, maar geen laken, duvet of kombers nie. Die yskas het nie behoorlik gewerk nie, en die oond het geen instruksies gehad nie. Die bad het gelek, wat veroorsaak het dat die hele badkamer nat was. Verder was daar ’n aanhoudende geraas van die dak wanneer die wind gewaai het, moontlik omdat daar geen isolasie is nie. Daar was ook nagaapies in die dak, wat dit moeilik gemaak het om rustig te slaap. Ons is toe geskuif na Villa 3, maar die probleme het voortgeduur. Daar was geen welcome basket nie, Villa 4 is onaangeraak gelaat, en die yskas het steeds nie behoorlik koud geword nie. Die toilet in hierdie villa was buitensporig hoog – so hoog dat my voete nie eens die grond kon raak nie – en beslis nie standaardhoogte nie. Die watertemperatuur was onstabiel: óf vuurwarm, óf yskoud. Ek het ook lang swart hare in die huis gevind (definitief nie myne nie), wat die indruk van swak skoonmaak versterk het. Wat privaatheid betref: ons kon ander gaste sien terwyl hulle hul masserings ontvang het. Daar is ook ’n kamera direk op die swembad gerig, wat baie ongemaklik voel – veral aangesien bestuur in een resensie sê die kameras is “af” wanneer daar gaste is, maar elders noem dat hulle “kamera-bewyse” gebruik het. Die lugversorger het gelek en water oor die kamer gespuit, wat die vloer papnat gelaat het. Al is iemand gestuur om te kyk, het dit die volgende aand weer gebeur. Daar was ook bouwerk wat tot laat in die aand aangehou het, wat dit moeilik gemaak het om te ontspan. Dit blyk asof daar meer gefokus word op uitbreiding as op onderhoud – al is daar al vir maande resensies oor dieselfde probleme. Daar was ook geen duidelike aanduiding of gaste toegelaat word om alleen te stap of te ry op die plaas nie. Die houtmeubels het sigbare houtkewerbeskadiging gehad, die kussings was plat en ongerieflik, en die geraas van die dak in die wind het dit feitlik onmoontlik gemaak om rustig te slaap. Die prop het voortdurend uitgeskop wanneer ek die haardroër wou gebruik. Op ons laaste aand het die Wi-Fi-wagwoord sommer verander, wat weer onnodige moeite veroorsaak het. Altesaam het ek meer tyd op my foon spandeer om probleme uit te sorteer as om my tyd saam met my man te geniet. Hierdie verblyf het beslis nie aan ons verwagtinge voldoen nie – veral nie vir die prys en beskrywing wat geadverteer is nie.

This review has been automatically translated using Google.

Cleanliness

2.0

Service

2.0

Location

4.0

Safety

4.0

Value for money

1.0

Room stayed in

Luxury One Bedroom V...

Gosiame M

Short stay ⋅ With friends

5.0

Nov 2024

Great, enjoyed everything. Our stay was great; we had a wonderful, relaxing time. The only slight issue was the WiFi; the connection was poor.

Cleanliness

5.0

Service

5.0

Location

5.0

Safety

5.0

Value for money

5.0

Room stayed in

Classic 2 Bedroom Fa...

View host response

Minara

Minara Private Boutique Game Lodge

Thank you for your wonderful review! We truly appreciate it and are delighted to hear you had a relaxing and enjoyable stay. Regarding the Wi-Fi issue, it was due to a lightning strike affecting the towers, but we’re happy to share that it has since been resolved.

Koketso M

Short stay ⋅ With partner

5.0

Sep 2024

Awesome. Hi there, the stay was perfect and I loved it; however, the noise coming from the ceiling was a problem. I’m not sure what was inside as it was making noise the whole night.

Cleanliness

5.0

Service

5.0

Location

5.0

Safety

5.0

Value for money

5.0

Room stayed in

Deluxe Open-plan Vil...

View host response

Minara

Minara Private Boutique Game Lodge

Dear Koketso, Thank you so much for your positive feedback - it truly means a lot to us! We're always striving to provide the best experience, and it's great to know when we are on the right track. Regarding the noise in the ceiling that you mentioned, we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. We were not aware of the issue and are grateful that you brought it to our attention. We will certainly look into it as soon as possible. Given that there is no space between the roof and the ceiling, it seems highly unlikely that something would be in the roof itself, but we will make sure to investigate thoroughly. Once again, thank you for keeping us informed, and for your understanding as we work on resolving this matter. Kind regards, Minara