Hidden gem of non-chalant luxury in a natural setting and inside a nature reserve (we saw Gnus and Zebras on the road). The owners are a friendly , open minded and pleasant couple who made our stay special and also helped us to better organise our incoming days & safaris in the NP Kruger. Dinner (brai) and breakfast where tasty and high quality. Rooms very clean and beautiful.

Stayed in April 2025

Nothing. It’s was great.

Beautiful and comfortable rooms and gardens. Good food and friendly hosts. Very tranquil and relaxing.

Stayed in April 2025

We absolutely loved the location. Rooms, pool, outdoor dinning area, braai, outdoor shower... all surrounded by nature and the sound of the river. Eventhough it's a bit far from Kruger Park, it's totally worth it. And the drive doesn't feel that far anyway. Max also made us feel at home, inspite of some difficulties he encountered with unexpected shortage of personnel. The game drive with him was also very nice. We learned from him especially about birds. And he even sent us fantastic photos he took during our drive. A plus we didn't expect! Overall, a great experience in Paradise!

Stayed in December 2024

Curtains can not close.

The surroundings, hospitality and food exceeded expectations. Peaceful and a good place to rest. Max and Maris are excellent hosts. Self drive on the lodge, saw lots of wildlife even on night drive. Perfect for small or big groups getaway. 80km from Orpen gate.

Stayed in June 2024

The checkout time of 10:00 is early as most of establishment Chek out is 11:00

The Chef went extra mile in meeting our special dietary needs and the braai was excellent, Maris was super welcoming and make our stay comfortable. We felt like we are part of the family

Stayed in April 2024

Nothing, except the word of caution about snakes/scopions. I hate them and freaked out, even though I didn’t see any (and believe me, I watched everywhere carefully!). This being said, I am grateful to Max for being transparent about things that could ruin your stay.

The location is a bit remote, but worth the 10K of gravel road since it is really amazing by the river The room are awesome, with both an inside and outside shower, and a nice terrasse to chill out. The braii (BBQ) was delicious. So was the breakfast. Both meals were taken by the river… accompanied by the sound of water.

Stayed in April 2024

Nothing

Cool and quite and accommodative

Stayed in January 2024

A few minutes of dirt road will be what it takes to get to Paradise !

We were lucky to spend 3 nights in Paradise ! The place is amazingly peaceful and the surrounding nature (the river, the reserve) is breathtaking. Maris and Max are so friendly that you will have the feeling you knew them for a long time. The half board booking is a great formula since the chef's really concerned with various and delightful breakfasts and dinners. We enjoyed a sundowner and a whole day in Kruger with Max who's the man if you want to learn about SA flora and fauna! Warmly recommanded place !

Stayed in January 2024

The scenery, the nature, the hosts Brilliant little getaway spot

Stayed in September 2023

Great stay at the Paradise River Lodge. Perfect start: a girafe was near the Entrance Gate for our arrival! Our host was great, full of advice and knowlegde about wildness! Go there!

Stayed in August 2023

The only thing that I can raise is that the rooms do get bit cold so if only they could offer more blankets or a heating system.

What I loved the most was the outside shower, Wow the property offers a perfect opportunity for one to experience the wild life and just be at peace with no other sound but the sound of the beautiful Mother Nature.

Stayed in August 2023

- Fantastic location on the river - Lots of activities , wildlife to see in the reserve - Relaxing atmosphere

Stayed in August 2023

Nothing to note.

The oasis of green on the banks of the river was awesome. The room, with outdoor shower, and view of the river, was beautifully styled, clean and welcoming. Max and Maris were gracious hosts, organizing a wonderful sundowner drive with breathtaking views and great wildlife spotting. Max clearly knows his stuff. The activity was rounded of with an authentic braai as the water rushed by.

Stayed in June 2023

No comments.

We had an amazing time. Max is an experienced tour guide with exceptional birding skills. Max and Mariska did everything to make our stay at their lodge unforgettable. We will definitely come back.

Stayed in June 2023

This lodge was indeed a little paradise with a very calming environment. I loved the room with the outdoor shower and the experience of being around the animals. The sound of the river was very calming at night. My partner and I were very impressed with how amazing it looked and really enjoyed our stay. The place even looked better than the pictures displayed.The couple that hosted us was friendly and very welcoming. I am definitely planning to come back again and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to spend quite time around nature on a beautiful, comfortable lodge.

Stayed in June 2023

Everything was oké 👍

Our second stay at Paradise River Lodge. Accommodation is provided in spacious suites. The suites boast stunning views over the Olifants River which can be enjoyed via the privat deck. Wunderful place to stay and see you next time 😁

Stayed in June 2023

The location is amazing, the sound of the river flowing was cherry on top. It was paradise indeed. The place was great for shutting down and focusing on the nature.The owners are lovely and friendly people.

Stayed in April 2023

The pictures don't do justice to the actual beauty of the place, it's a true paradise! The hosts are very friendly and will do anything to make you feel comfortable and at home. From the rooms to the outdoor kitchen and outdoor facilities, every detail was in place. A perfect place to stay for a couple of days or even weeks and just relax and enjoy nature.

Stayed in April 2023

I was honestly happy with my entire experience

Paradise river lodge was exactly the experience I was looking for. I stayed here in order to escape the busyness and hassle of the city and found myself truly in the heart of the African bush surrounded by nature and the sound of the flowing olifants river. Max was a fantastic host who quickly catered to my requests and made me feel at home and looked after while also giving me the privacy I needed to connect with nature and enjoy my stay. The braai area was a massive hit for me; the braai is placed with an undisturbed view of the river and so I managed to see a hippo plodding along the opposing bank while cooking myself a meal as the sun was going down! Truly a memory I will cherish. I also took the opportunity to do some walking around the property where I was lucky enough to encounter giraffes, wildebeest, waterbuck and other animals while on foot.

Stayed in February 2023

Nothing, we have completely relaxed ;-)

Had a great stay at this lovely riverside lodge. We were welcomed by the friendly owner Max and then drank a glass of wine by the Olifants River. A perfect place to relax after our journey through the Kruger Park, a pure relaxation! They offer game drives, walks and day trips to the Kruger Park, Mariepskop and Panoramaroute. The owner knows a lot about birds and is an enthusiastic bird guide. That made the game drive a valuable experience. After the game drive, the owner provided a tasty braai and a beer. LOVE it. The swimming pool is centrally in the lodge and there are sun loungers and chairs for relaxing. The bungalows are nice to stay. Everything you need is available. You will see us again in June. Then we come for a week with our family. Thanks for your hospitality and see you again.

Stayed in January 2023

There wasn't really anything we didn't like at Paradise River Lodge, keep doing what you're doing guys!

Everything! We had one of our best stays in South Africa at the Paradise River Lodge. The location right beside the river is truly special, and being able to see hippos and other wildlife while drinking and eating was spectacular! It actually feels like Paradise here - the name is soooo suiting. Our room was really nice and the bed was super comfy - it was also super private with the way everything is set up here. Regina the housekeeper was also really nice during the stay and made sure everything was perfect. The new owner Max was also amazing! He cooked us a beautiful Potjie Pot for dinner, as well as took us out for a safari in his Game viewer where we saw Giraffes, sable, many interesting birds and lots of other cool wildlife up close. Max is a trained field guide and his knowledge definitely shows in his safari trips. The coolest thing though was Max's insane birding skills - I'm definitely not a birder, but I might be now after spending some time with Max and hearing his passion about birds! He was able to identify and explain all of the birds we saw during our stay, plus tell us about other places in SA and the world to see amazing bird life. I will definitely will be coming back to Paradise River Lodge whenever I am in Hoedspruit, it's a hidden gem. Thank you Max fo

Stayed in January 2023

None

After booking I received a personal message from Max with the route description. What a beautiful location on the river! the rooms were clean. Did a nice game drive where I saw a lot. I'll definitely return.

Stayed in January 2023

We had no complaints, however there was a couple there that complained about things that are not true, firstly complained about the gravel road, however arrived in a low suspension car that cant drive off a tar road ? this is a game lodge after all .. 2ndly they did not arrange for breakfast to be made before hand (as its a self catering stay ) and when the host tried to accommodate with things he had ( which weren't frozen) given 20 min to prepare , they still complained . they also were upset that the host wouldn't take them out to town to buy alcohol ( as again they had not brought stuff for the self catering and couldn't drive their own car) yet complained . Very unfair and unnecessary the way they spoke to the host ( and we were there in hearing distance to witness) . in the end I read the review now, which are not true and the statement to hide behind color is something which is unacceptable considering South African has grown past this factor and everyone is treated equally . these guest left liquor packets and empty bottles around the fire as well as put all the dirty dishes in a communal place that we then washed as we felt embarrassed for them . Perhaps a bush game lodge holiday is not for them, however to use this tactic and to negatively score the lodge is of poor taste and not a true reflection of what Paradise River Lodge is. I really would urge Bookings.com to please verify statements like these before allowing the false negative score .

The lodge is situated next to a beautiful river, all the facilities were there for the self catering experience. The host Max was really amazing and extremely knowledgeable on the game drives , fantastic sightings, Sable, Giraffe , various bucks, and more. if you are a bird fanatic this is the place to be and Max has over 650 birds claimed already with his knowledge. This is a remote place away from the city and exactly the place to experience the calmness of the bush. highly recommend this to anyone and everyone, we had a beautiful stay. its extremely safe, I was even able to go have a 5 km run as a lady and no issues at all. The lodge was even prepared for load shedding with a bed side portable flashlights too, all the details were there . We arranged to have breakfast made by the host before hand, which was a full English breakfast to full standard. The host Max even recommended good outings and tours around the area for us. this is a place we will definitely go back too again and again. Perfect getaway .

Stayed in January 2023

We ran out of water, the food had no varieties and the were too salty especially the breakfast.

It’s pure serenity and being around nature is the best

Stayed in February 2025