Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge Reviews

Our stay at Jock Safari Lodge was nothing short of exceptional that exceeded all expectations. A special mention must go to our ranger, Patrick, whose expertise, passion, and depth of knowledge elevated every safari drive into something unforgettable. His ability to share insights and stories brought the wilderness to life in a remarkable way. The lodge itself is great and we even saw elephants from the room. Staff delivered service of the highest standard, ensuring a welcoming experience throughout our stay. We are deeply grateful for such a memorable visit and sincerely hope to return again in the future.

We had the most wonderful experience for our honeymoon at Jock Safari. The service is fantastic and the lodges are beautiful. The food was impeccable and we were made to be special - it was a real luxury guest experience. The highlight has to be the incredible game drives with our guide Patrick! We saw so much wildlife and had a number of jaw-dropping encounters. The private concession means it felt even more intimate and special. Patrick was so knowledgeable and captivated us with facts on the flora and fauna as well as fascinating stories of his time in the bush. Jock Safari exceeds our already high expectations and we had the most fenomenal time. Gutted to leave and can't wait to return in the future!

Wonderful location at Fitzpatrick for a family gathering to enjoy the bush, the game and the hospitality

Our entire experience, from the accommodations, to the food, to the incredible staff, to the breathtaking game drives was exemplary. Staying within the park offers the opportunity to enjoy the views and wildlife both before and after the park gates open. We were able to see all the wildlife we’d dreamed of and much more!

We had an amazing 3 nights stay at Jock. From the staff at the lodge to our ranger Cindi, everything was more than great. The service is amazing, the food excellent, everyone is so kind and smiling - highly recommended!

I am going to try and review about our incredible time at Jocks Lodge. From the time we were collected at Skukuza airport to the time we were dropped back, we had the most amazing time, an experience my husband and I will never forget. Our guide Mayneth was just wonderful. He had a sixth sense regarding where the animals would be and was always right. His knowledge and expertise was astounding. He made our Safari out of this world. Jocks Lodge was stunning, set right in the heart of the Krueger, it was magical. Our room was fantastic, everything you could possibly need and with an amazing view. The food was superb, everything was cooked to the highest standards and so good. All the people working there were wonderful, so friendly and helpful, they made our trip extra special. Thank you everyone for the best time, we will never forget it.

We spent ages looking for the right place for our stay in Kruger. We opted for Jock Safari Lodge because everything was included - no surprise fees - and it’s a private concession area in the southern part of the park which meant it was easy to get to for us. I didn’t know what a private concession was but it’s basically a private part of the Kruger National Park which no one other than guests at Jock Safari Lodge can access. You also get access to the public areas of Kruger too so the area available is huge. The other reason we picked Jock Safari was because it’s in the park so game drives aren’t restricted by park gate opening times. On our first morning, we drive out of the front gate of the lodge and saw a leopard within 5 minutes! The game drives were excellent. We had a total of 4 people plus our guide, Patrick, in the jeep. Each drive was about 3 hours long and included a stop for a coffee in the morning or a drink in the evening. Again, the advantage of Jock Safari is that in the private concession you can get out of the jeep and walk around - which I don’t think you can do in the public areas of Kruger. If we get to go back to Jock Safari, we’ll definitely be asking for Patrick to be our guide - he was brilliant! The rooms at the lodge are great. Really clean and comfortable. We had an outdoor day bed (with a mosquito net) and a small plunge pool with sun loungers. Our view was onto the river bed. Each day around lunch time we could sit and look at an elephant right from our balcony area! Food at the lodge is also excellent! The best lamb I’ve ever had as well as countless other delicious dishes. You won’t go hungry. There tea, coffee and drinks before each game drive too. The staff were wonderful and so friendly. We forgot binoculars so they were kind enough to find a pair for us to borrow. (Definitely take your own binoculars though!) Overall, I can’t recommend Jock Safari Lodge enough. It’s a lot more expensive than what we would normally pay but worth every penny!

This was a truly memorable experience in every way. The hallmark stated was boundless hospitality and indeed this was our experience. The staff could not have been more attentive and our experience of the morning and evening drives into The Kruger Park outstanding. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

We have mixed feelings about Jock Safari Lodge. It purports to be a luxury lodge and whilst our room was comfortable and quiet we felt it needed a refresh, there was a big stain on one of the chairs and the outside cushions/ chairs etc. were not much better. The plunge pool was certainly not up to standard with peeling paint and a rotten wood surround, not at all inviting. The main areas of the lodge were very rustic (nothing wrong with that), but it all looked as if it had seen better days and in our opinion was not of a luxury standard. More attention to detail required. The gardens were however well tended to. We saw the big five, but the animals were a little scarce and whilst our guide did his best to find them, it was all a little disappointing. There was a lot of driving up and down the main road, with excursions on the smaller side roads, but as it is not a private game reserve the guide is not able to follow the animals into the bush itself. The food was very good and a lot of effort was put in by the friendly staff to make each evening different. The staff saved it from being an underwhelming visit. Thank you to all of them. We enjoyed our stay, but it was not up to the standard we expected from a lodge with this reputation.

The resort is one of the oldest but with a very established area within Kruger. Guides are very experienced and in only 3 days we saw the big 5 plus so much more. Staff are incredibly helpful and the food is excellent. The lodge and rooms are spacious and wonderfully apportioned.

We just spent 3 great days on our first safari. Lazarus was a great head ranger and we saw 4 of the 5 big 5. The leopards were particularly stunning. The lodge has a good location and the team couldn’t have done more.

The commitment of the people at Jock Safari Lodge to the quality of our experience was wonderful. A lovely atmosphere, excellent facilities and expert guides made our memorable time in Jock an absolute delight. Very early starts are a necessity to see the animals but worth it. Catch up on the sleep another time!

First ever safari, but absolutely blown away and so in love with South Africa and Jock Safari Lodge. Everybody is so so friendly and helpful, really wanting you to feel at home and always checking if they can do something to improve your day. Absolutely delicious cuisine, always something different on the menu, different locations to dine and very tasty ! My game driver Ike did extraordinary work in trying to get the maximum of sightings possible in 4-5 days, and he did: We saw the big five and even some extras like a pack of wild dogs and beautiful lion couple on Valentine’s day. And when you think your trip is over, you still have the ride from the lodge to the airport: together with ranger Sindy, we witnessed a leopard enjoying a fresh kill of Impala up in the tree ! Thank you so much everybody, it was amazing. I hope I’ll be back soon !

We stayed for three days during a particularly rainy rainy season in January, so we missed some experiences (like a braii in the usually bone-dry riverbed) and still had a wonderful, completely memorable time. The food was delicious, and the staff was so accommodating and friendly. I loved the daily routine. The lodge experience was top-notch, but it was all about the game drives. Our guide, Jacob, was just excellent. He could spot animals from an amazing distance and knew everything about them. Jacob could tell us the specific history of some of the animals. He knows them. We saw the big five (including a herd of buffalo), which was very cool, but there was so much more to see. This was our first safari, and we're spoiled now. I can't wait to return!