Reviews of Tomo Safari Lodge

Stunning property. Kind and attentive staff. Delicious food, all of it gourmet and plentiful. Knowledgable guides and trackers.. we had Nick, who shared his knowledge and passion and made it special and fun for our kids. We saw lots of animals! Saw everything we could have hoped for and more. Simply amazing! My kids didn't want to leave! Quick side story to show the kind of people who work there: On our last game drive, my daughter lost her phone in one of the vehicles, and I left some valuables in a nightstand drawer. We didn't realize it until after we checked out and were far away in Zimbabwe. We were devastated, for my daughter had used her phone to take all her pictures and videos. I coordinated with lodge staff who went absolutely above and beyond to find our items and drive into Hoedspruit to overnight ship them to our next hotel. Thank you Tomo Lodge for the unforgettable experience and care.

Nothing. Amazing!

Fabulous place, as soon as you arrive you feel comfortable. The staff are great and the food is phenomenal. Water hole in front of the deck was regularly visited by numerous animals. All the staff were wonderful people, not only those we had most contact with such as hospitality Angel, Paige, chef Alex and our amazing guide Driska, but also all the behind the scene ninjas that keep everything clean and running.

Nothing

Excellent rooms, Excellent food.. but above all the staff members ( all.. property manager, chef, safari driver+ guide, server all were amazing, courteous, helpful.. customized everything for us..

Nothing.. couldnt spot the “Lion” which isnt properties fault.. we saw the other big 4 including cheetah all thanks to the safari guide

The lodge was beautifully run and clean and comfortable. The staff were all super helpful and efficient.

We managed to see the Big 5 in our 3 night stay. All the staff were wonderful including the guides. As vegetarians, all the food we had was excellent and we never felt like an afterthought. Beautiful property and an incredible experience overall. The outdoor shower was a nice bonus.

We stayed at Tomo Safari Lodge for 4 nights and had the most incredible experience from start to finish. Conny along with all of the staff were warm, friendly, and consistently went above and beyond to make our stay special. Our guide, Gareth, was exceptional—his knowledge, calm presence, and keen eye made every drive fascinating. We were fortunate to have private game drives throughout our stay, which created such a relaxed and personal atmosphere. We also had a very exciting drive with Tanya, who was equally engaging and knowledgeable. Gareth along with Paige, Stephan, and Mike helped coordinate the most perfect proposal moment. It was so thoughtfully planned, personal, and special. An absolutely magical day we’ll never forget. The lodge itself is peaceful and beautifully set within Balule Nature Reserve. The rooms are stunning and the food was delicious. The entire team, from kitchen to front-of-house, made us feel incredibly well looked after. We left with amazing memories, fantastic wildlife sightings, and huge gratitude for the kindness and attention to detail shown by everyone at Tomo. Thank you Tomo for the best holiday ever!

Nothing at all, everything was perfect!

It was a very comfortable and spacious place to be and the room was large with a very luxurious touch to it.

I liked that it had a intimate feel to it and the deck where we have our meals overlook a water hope where we managed to see a good amount of wild life apart from the amazing game drives we had.

Everything was Super good: Accommodation( Comfortable room with patio & outside shower), Food (different every day), Staff, Game Drives and Great Hospitality. Everyone went above and beyond their duties.

Nothing

An unforgettable experience! Our stay at Tomo Safari Lodge was absolutely fantastic. We enjoyed state-of-the-art service, delicious food, and luxurious rooms that were immaculate down to the finest detail. But what truly stood out was the mental peace we experienced — being completely taken care of, without a single worry. The unforgettable safaris with Meg were the highlight: personal, passionate, and filled with wonder and expertise. If there’s one thing to put on your bucket list, let it be a stay at Tomo Safari Lodge. You won’t regret it for a second!

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My partner and I stayed at Tomo for 3 nights and it was a truly amazing experience! The property was modern, welcoming and beautiful. The common areas are great to just sit and relax through the day. It overlooks the reserve and we saw elephants and giraffes right from the property deck. The staff was very accommodating, attentive, warm and made us feel comfortable at all times. They would greet and welcome us with fresh hot towels after every game drive. They are not a lot in number and feels like they wear multiple hats. They were professional and always ready to help if needed. Special thanks to Paige and Conny! The food is not buffet but gourmet. I loved every meal! Dinner was 3 courses and prepared very well, fresh and tasty. They even packed lunch for us when we wanted to visit the Blyde Canyon one afternoon. The game drives were amazing - we saw 4 out of the Big 5, except Leopard! Our guide Gareth, was friendly, professional and very knowledgeable. He answered all of our questions and it was so much fun going on the game drives with him. It was really cool to see so many animals. The sundowners and morning coffee in the reserve, even hot water bottles for the cold, made our experience even better. Note that animals are unpredictable in nature so don't go thinking you will spot 5/5 for granted. We saw the pride of Lions on our last game drive but the build up was worth it!

Leaving

Tomo Safari Lodge offers a beautiful and comfortable safari experience in the Greater Kruger area. The lodge itself is thoughtfully designed, with spacious and well-appointed rooms, excellent amenities, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The staff are attentive and go out of their way to make guests feel at home, and the safari guides are knowledgeable, making for memorable game drives and wildlife encounters. However, my experience with the food was a significant disappointment. Despite the lodge being marketed as all-inclusive, we found ourselves having to pay extra for simple drinks, which was frustrating and felt misleading. The biggest letdown was the food itself: there were no menu options, and guests were served whatever the kitchen prepared. For example, on one occasion, calamari was served as the main dish, and for those who do not eat seafood, there was no alternative offered. This lack of choice is unacceptable for a lodge of this standard and price point, especially when compared to other safari lodges in the region that provide far more varied and accommodating culinary experiences. While the guide was excellent and the lodge itself is lovely, the food experience was a dealbreaker. If food quality and flexibility are important to you, there are definitely better culinary options available at other safari lodges in the area. Based on this, I would not book Tomo Safari Lodge again.

We stayed at Tomo Safari Lodge for 4 nights and honestly, we didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the stunning setting— on a couple of days we were lucky enough to watch giraffes and elephants graze right from the lodge. The lodge itself was beautiful, and the warm, friendly staff made us feel so welcome throughout our stay. The food was absolutely delicious, with something new and tasty served each day. A special mention has to go to the evening sundowners out in the bush—such a unique and unforgettable touch that made each day even more special. A huge highlight of our experience was our guide, Gareth. His knowledge of the wildlife was incredible—no question was too much, and his passion for the animals and the environment was evident in everything he did. He was always respectful, not only of the wildlife but of the other vehicles and guides too. He struck the perfect balance between professionalism and fun, and we learned so much from him while having an amazing time. Every moment at Tomo Safari Lodge felt special. We can’t recommend it highly enough and are already dreaming of our return!

The whole experience was amazing from our welcome to our game drives to our goodbyes. We loved it. Gareth was a great guide! There was nothing that was too much of an ask and the staff could not have been friendlier. They made the 5am wake ups a lot easier! The location is amazing, especially if you fly into Hoedspruit. The food was great and fresh, and it included a communal dinner.

Leaving :(

Everything

We had an amazing stay at the Tomo Safari Lodge. Tomo is a beautiful small private lodge with a very personal feel to your stay. The team that run the lodge are amazing and make you feel so welcome and looked after - thank you especially to KG, Angel and Connie. The food and drink is outstanding and the kitchen team are awesome. The game guides are very knowledgable and with small groups try to focus each drive on what you may or may not have already seen. We loved the two game drives every day with Gareth. For anyone staying, it’s important to realise that it’s a private lodge, but the area is part of the Great Kruger so the animals are free to roam over a huge area so sometimes can be hard to track down - for us that’s all part of the adventure ! Would definitely recommend and can’t wait to visit again. Thank you to all the team at Tomo.

Nothing.

Everything on our stay was wonderful! The staff extremely friendly and doing their best to make us comfortable and enjoy. The food was amazing, the rooms very cozy and the game drives were perfect, on two of them we had already seen the big five.

Everything was perfect.

We liked everything about the property. Everything was clean and just as we expected. The staff and the warm welcome we received from the moment we sat our feet there was unmatched, we really appreciate your hospitality and the way you made sure we enjoyed our stay. The safari rides from day one to the last were magnificent, we were grateful to see the big 5 in real live. My little brother enjoyed the surprise birthday celebration, we really would like to thank you for the effort and everything. We’re really visiting again soon.

What’s there not to like about tomo safari lodge? We liked everything. Big ups👍

Everything, Great staff - super kind, helpful and attentive; Amazing bedroom - Spacious, clean, the AC, the coolest bathroom indoor Awesome game drives - 5* to our safari guide. Common areas - decoration and architecture superb, the pool, the silence, the birds and squirrels sound We will definitely come back!

Just one thing - The food could be better taking into account the price-quality relation, though it's nice!

Our stay at Tomo Safari Lodge was incredible and it was a once in a lifetime experience. The Tomo Safari Lodge team — Irene, Conny, Marco, the kitchen staff, and all others — were super hospitable and attentive. This meant that from the moment we walked though the door there was nothing we had to worry about (except to show up for game drives and meal times) and we could truly switch off and relax. We had romantic dinners and lunches on the deck, saw elephants and impalas by the watering hole almost every day, and even saw and heard the lions around the lodge! We also LOVED the food (shout out to the chef Solly), especially the the bbq we had on our last night . Keegan was an incredible guide. We saw the big 5, got close to the elephants and lions, and even saw baby hyenas and pangolin. It was truly once in a lifetime experience which we will cherish for the days to come. Please say hi to Dee-Dee for us when you go❤️

No, everything was amazing!

Beautiful property in the middle of a private reserve. Very comfortable rooms. Staff were exceptional. We really enjoyed our game drives with Nic each day - he is very knowledgeable of the animals and land

Amazing location, stunning views, way beyond wonderful staff, exquisite ambience. Our ranger, Nick was very knowledgeable he went above and beyond to make sure our game rides are memorable. Thank you Tomo Safari Lodge team for the experience!