Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps

Facilities of the site were better than average. Bed, shower, food, staff were according expectations based on price. However the game drives were below expectations. They do not use trackers, neither qualified guides, but locals that know the bush by heritage and we found less than enthusiasm from our guide TWICE. We have done more than 140 game drives in our live and this guide was one of the worst we have ever had. Never smiling, never joking, always in a hurry. He was not interested in other elements beyond the big 5, like looking good light for special pics, curiosities of the plants in the bush, small animals, etc He looked always angry...we felt very little enthusiasm for his job. Not a place we will repeat

We stayed at Honeyguide Mantobeni and absolutely loved it! I believe our guide was Clive, and he was fantastic. On the drive to the lodge from reception, he stopped for us to take photos of the giraffes and a cheetah. The game drives were fantastic with rhino, elephant, zebra, lion, and hippo sightings. We only stayed here one night on the way to other lodges, but I would definitely stay again and for longer. The tents were in great shape and the food was excellent. Our stay ended with a herd of elephants coming by the pool when our morning drive ended.

The rooms were a spacious Safari tent. No fences so you needed to be escorted to your tent after 4pm. Elephants came to the camp for water. The safaris, 2 per day were filled with all the animals you would expect. Never guaranteed, but we saw everything more than once. Except the elusive leopard 🐆. We bashed through the jungle for better vantage points. Tasty meals and midday relaxing. Oh those sunsets.

We stayed at this lodge from April 1–4. On our first afternoon, we locked all of our valuables, including cash and a cellphone, inside the safe in our tent before leaving for a safari. When we returned and opened the safe, we discovered that USD 1,600 in cash had been stolen. We immediately reported the theft to the managers, Anna and Johan. Although they promised an investigation, we received almost no communication, updates, or even a simple apology during our stay. We had to repeatedly seek them out ourselves just to find out what was happening. We completed the lodge’s internal report, filed a formal police report, and fully cooperated with every step of the investigation. On our final day, after once again asking the managers for answers, we were told that their hands were tied. In the end, nothing came of the investigation. After returning home, we continued following up by email, seeking updates and a resolution. Instead of helping us, the managers eventually blocked our emails and marked them as spam, making it impossible for us to communicate with them directly. Only after nearly a month of persistent efforts and repeated contact with the company did we receive USD 500 as a “goodwill gesture”, far less than the amount that had been stolen. What disappointed us most was not only the theft itself, but the complete lack of empathy and professionalism shown by management. We never felt supported, informed, or safe. We received no proactive communication and no sincere apology. To make matters worse, despite everything that had happened, at check-out they made sure to charge us for the only extra items we had consumed during our stay: four soft drinks. Considering the circumstances, this felt incredibly insensitive and perfectly reflected the attitude we experienced throughout the entire situation. This lodge felt insecure: the tents have no locks and there are no cameras at the entrances. Based on our experience, we cannot recommend staying here.

We stayed at Honey Guide Montobene, and let me tell you — this was one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever had. We booked it for New Year, and I’m sure it’s something we’ll remember for a very long time. It was a real adventure from start to finish. The New Year’s celebration they organized — with music, dancing, and delicious food — was just incredible. But honestly, this trip wouldn’t have been the same without our ranger, Michael. I’ve done many safaris before, but he made this one truly special. He’s fun, incredibly knowledgeable about the park, and on day one we had already seen the Big Five. What made it even better was how he brought the whole group together. From little coffee stops to sharing cookies and snacks, he created such a warm, social atmosphere that by the end of each day, it felt like we were one big family. Michael is a true professional, and he made this experience unforgettable.