Xanatseni Private Camp

To Dean, Teneil, Ash, Ridge & the rest of the wonderful team at Xanatseni, where do we begin?… This was a true bucket list trip for us - we entered camp excited and full of hope for an unforgettable experience. We left (one of us in tears) feeling like we were leaving behind family in a place so magical you’ve got to be there to fully understand how much it moves you like nowhere before! We’ve been lucky enough to travel a lot, but nothing comes close to the memories we left camp with after 4 incredible days. We were lucky enough to tick off all of the big five during our stay, spotting baby hyena and lion cubs along the way - our ranger Dean & tracker Ridge made it a bit of a mission to find everything for us and the tracking of these wild animals in their natural habitats was exhilarating. Morning coffees & muffins out in the bush, and sundowner drinks watching the beautiful African sunset is something we’re already missing as part of our routine, and hot water bottles and blanket ponchos were such a lovely touch to warm up those cold starts before the sun rose / after it went back down. The accommodation was spotlessly clean and main lodge had a beautiful interior with plenty of space to relax, plus a great pool for those warmer days during down time between drives. You’re seriously well fed at this place so don’t worry about going hungry! Food is entirely home made and really great quality - plenty of variety across each meal time too meaning we were never disappointed with what was served. The entire team at Xanatseni were wonderful to us - we were fortunate enough to end up having 2 days of camp entirely exclusive to ourselves due to a quiet period for guests, meaning private game drives, but also a private dinner around the Boma fire pit that they set up for us. This place is special - if you’re looking for a 5* Uber pamper experience where you’re showered with home style luxuries and unnecessary pampering don’t go here. I say this because we had guests who joined us from a 5* camp and they were underwhelmed. I think they set themselves up for disappointment as if you visit the Burj Kalifa then anything afterwards is downhill! If you’re looking to experience an authentic safari and be among Africa’s big five literally roaming the camp at night (you will be awoken by the sound of Hyena) and be well looked after in the most real, authentic and rustic setting possible, this is the place for you! Thank you Xanatseni we’ll never forget you or the memories made experiencing your world!

For our first time visiting South Africa, and our first safari, I am so glad that we stayed at Xanatseni camp. It has truly been an unforgettable experience in all the best ways. Our group of 4 friends stayed in the Tseni suite which was a level of luxury none of us expected: beautiful rooms, private patio & pool, full kitchen stocked with espresso machine, drinks fridge and wine bar. Everything was taken care of for us from the moment we arrived and through our 4 days/3 nights at the camp. Meals were delicious, staff was so friendly, and each day was a perfect balance of adventure and leisure. The safari drives were so much fun, especially with Ash at the wheel navigating the winding roads and pointing out all the animals along the way. We learned a lot about the animals and it's clear that Ash and the other rangers have a lot of care and passion for what they do. With Ash's skills, not only did we get to see 'the big 5', but also honey badgers, warthogs, hyenas, zebras, a bush baby, giraffes, and a family of african wild dogs...and so many more animals and birds. We visited during a drought and despite the rangers surprise at how quiet the area was, we had a wonderful time and got to see animals every drive. I am so thankful to have visited the Greater Kruger Park, and to the staff at Xanatseni for taking such great care of our group.

We were 2 families and we stayed 3 nights at the Xanatesni Suite, a beautiful very tastefully done 2 BR apartment with all the comforts you can ask for - private pool, private fire pit, your own wine fridge and bar and many more. The service at the lodge was excellent and everyone from the manager to the staff were helpful and knowledgeable. It was like a mini community. Our guide Dean was super, he was extremely passionate and well versed about the forest, animals and it was just so much to learn. The safari experiences were great. There wasn’t anything during our stay that was sub-par! Overall an extremely memorable experience

seeing as this was my first safari experience i was very happy to have chosen xanatseni.it was everything we needed to start our adventure.from the minute ash picked us up in a taxi i knew we was in for a treat.the room itself was easily large enough and decorated in a tasteful style and the bath was so big !!!! the shower was prob the vest i've ever had and everything worked just fine and housekeeping done a great job.the seats outside were great to sit and watch the world go by or even a short walk to the tower to lookout for game was enjoyment in itself. the service for food and drink was first class and everything was cooked to perfection so well done to the cooks and waitresses.it was great to sit and eat with the staff at meal times and was very informal and great fun round the bbq. we had ross and sydney for the game drives and what a pair they are !!! always had light hearted jokes to get us through the drives but they went above and beyond their roles,sydneys tracking is an asset to the camp and ross driving to catch a leopard up a tree was also an experience but great fun ( well for the males in the group ) we saw lots off game ,only a cheetah eluding us,and also wild dogs ( a bonus ). a special mention to teniel the camp host,she went out her way to see everybody was happy and she is also a credit to the camp,she also done some sewing for me and sat with my partner one morning when she missed a drive.so thank you teniel x all in all i was more than happy with everything,excellent value for money and irreplaceable staff make this camp a must.paul and kim x

A game park safari is on the bucket list of so many, as it was ours. This was our first visit to South Africa and it certainly wont be our last (we hope). We placed our trust in our travel agent who booked the Xanatseni Private Camp for us for a 4 night stay and he chose a winner as far as we are concerned. We were met at the little Hoedspruit airport by a staff member and taken to the lodge (extra cost but reasonable). Although not top of the price range we found the lodge and our villa to be absolutely delightful. All facilities mentioned on the website were great and since the lodge is small and intimate we felt very much at home right from the start. Our villa was so beautifully presented, spotlessly clean and, in a modest way, quite luxurious. Very comfortable, modern and bright with an outdoor patio overlooking the grounds and plain. The shower was wonderful, hot and strong and a bath was there for those who want to soak and relax. All this was very much appreciated however the highlight was our Safari, guide and tracker. ALL the staff were wonderful but, of course, we spent more time with Dean and Sydney than the others therefore getting to know and appreciate their passion for their work. Whether or not we had spotted animals, the drives themselves would have been spectacular in their own right. The ‘boys’ prepared morning coffees and afternoon drinks during the drives and we saw the most stunning sunrise and sunsets and we FELT Africa. Amazing. But we did see animals and plenty of them. Sydney and Dean found the Big Five within our first 36 hours. Some of that was luck but much of it was incredible knowledge. They not only found a plethora of animals but Dean’s knowledge was endless and he explained about the flora and fauna in detail with an enthusiastic passion. An incredible man, an incredible country all enjoyed from a wonderful lodge. Highly, highly recommended.

Xanatseni private camp is such a nice place to stay. The staff was awesome und took care of us during the whole stay. On our arrival day we were a bit late due to an accident but the staff made it possible to join the afternoon game drive. Thank you Dean, Ash and Sydney for all the experiences and interesting information during the game drives. It’s great to see how respectful and kind they treat the animals and the environment. It’s not about chasing animals it’s about getting to know them in a very good way - thank you so much for these special days of our trip to South Africa. We will come back :-)