Isandlwana Lodge

I would advise anyone to avoid this hotel in the off season. No electricity and too mean to put on the generator. Cold rooms and cold food. After one friendly e mail all communication stopped. An unpleasant experience apart from the staff who spent their entire time having to apologise. Nothing to recommend it.

Several friends and I had a tremendous experience staying at Isandlwana Lodge last weekend. From the moment we arrived, we were properly looked after and engaged by the superb staff. Dinner was excellent along with a wonderful cooked breakfast the following morning. We understood we were choosing to stay during the winter season but even with the chillier temperatures, the staff provided multiple warmth elements to make us very comfortable including hot water bottles in our beds! I have stayed at Isandlwana Lodge previously (and relish every opportunity to return) but my friends were all experiencing it for the first time and loved it! We had a fantastic guided tour of the iSandlwana and Rorke's Drift Battlefields the following day by Lindizwe (Dalton) Ngobese - 100% recommend having Lindizwe take you for the tour if you stay at the Lodge. I already can't wait to stay there again!

Stayed here two nights in April 2024. Really quirky boutique hotel in a fabulous location with views across the plains for miles. Hotel is tastefully decorated with a real African feel to it, food is good and everything is clean and presentable. The hotel emanates peace and tranquility with the only noise from birds and animals. The iconic Isandlwana Mountain is prominent in the distance where you can watch the sun set on the battlefield and contemplate what those fighting were going through newly 150 years ago.

Great boutique hotel with an interesting look. The rooms were spacious and clean, the shower was like sranding under a waterfall best ever😂 The views from our room were spectacular, overlooking the Isandlwana mountain. The pool area was clean and tidy with a great view. Ricardo and his staff were as friendly as you can get and looked after our every needs. The food was plentiful and tasty and severed in a nice dining area. Only real downside wqs Wifi was only in the hotel lobby.

This hotel was one of the standout experiences from our trip to South Africa. We arrived late at the hotel as we had landed in Durban about 1800 and the weather en route to the hotel was very foggy but were instantly made welcome with food and drink. The hotel is an amazing structure built into the hillside with marvellous views over the battlefield area of Isandlwana. Our room named after the then Zulu King was very comfortable with the same fantastic views and a lovely quiet balcony. We could watch the cattle being moved early in the morning and returning home at night. We stayed three nights, choosing to visit Isandlwana battlefield on our first morning and Rorkes Drift in the afternoon. It was fascinating to hear about the battles and see the geographical location of where the different parties were. Dalton, our guide, made the whole experience come alive. He is a Zulu and the great grandson of the then local chief but presented the information about why the battles took place giving information about the breviaries on both sides. Everyone at the lodge made us so welcome and were very attentive to our every need. We had a much needed rest the second day, enjoying a swim and being able to take in the wonderful views. The food was outstanding. A wonderful experience.

Even if you are not interested in the Battlefield etc this is a wonderful location. If you are driving in yourself its 7km from the nearest made up road (depending on you arrival direction) however the access was no issue at all. We drove around the area on a number of non-made up roads with no problems in an ordinary hire car. As you approach you start to get the feeling for the lodge as you see it up on the hillside. On arrival you are greeted by the member of staff on the gate and then drive up a slope to the car park (they washed my car before we left). The staff help you with your luggage up a slight incline to the lodge, with rock hyrax looking on. The lodge is quite small and thus has quite a family type atmosphere. The rooms are below the main lodge and have all your need inc a shower and a balcony outside with chairs and table. Tea and coffee in the room. The view I will come on to later. The main lodge has a reception, inside seating area, dinning are and bar. There is a terrace outside with seating and tables. Breakfast had a buffer type with cereal, fruit, water and juices, with tea and coffee. Then a hot menu choice. Lunch and dinner were in the same location. Lunch was with a choice of, normally a starter and a choice of two main dishes. Dinner consisted of a starter, soup and a choice of two main courses plus a dessert. However for both meals the chef would provide an alternative should someone not like what was on offer etc. Indeed between parties departing and arriving we were offered a choice by the chef for lunch and dinner, when at breakfast. The food was great and the fact we managed lunch as well (which we often don't) speaks volumes. Staff were always friendly and often very talkative. Now for the view, whether from your balcony, terrace, bar or even at lunch the view goes beyond words. A panorama that you cannot really convey in pictures. The view covers a lot of the battlefield and our guide started us off there to show the key points. I could have stayed forever just looking at the view. The lodge offers trips. We choose a guided tour of Isandlwana, in morning and Rorkes drift in the afternoon. Our guide, Dalton, was a Zulu whose great, great etc grandfather took part in the battle. His guiding was totally unbiased and acknowledged bravery and mistakes on both sides. It was an honor to have such a person take us round, and he helped us get fuel at the local town which was a massive help. We stayed here 3 nights. Day 1 was the tour, day two just at the lodge. The latter may not be for everyone but given the birdlife and the view I was more than happy. Its a place I will never forget and would love the chance of going back here.