Rating: Mid-range
AmaZulu Lodge is in St Lucia village in KwaZulu Natal, on the edge of iSimangaliso Wetlands Park. The 18 guest rooms surround a large, lush garden. Rooms are designed to reflect the rounded forms of traditional Zulu huts, but feature modern facilities such as air conditioning, TV and tea and coffee making facilities. Each room has an en-suite bathroom with both shower and bath, plus a private terrace looking out on to the garden. Two of the rooms are larger and can accommodate up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children, so are ideal for families.
The central shaded lapa is the location for breakfast which can be eaten while enjoying views of the swimming pool. Dinners can be taken in the boma. The lounge deck is set up high and has views of St Lucia village and is a perfect spot to enjoy the sunset. The lodge has its own beauty salon where guests can treat themselves to some pampering in the forms of manicures, pedicures and aromatherapy.
The location is ideal for lovers of the outdoors, with the vast iSimangaliso Wetlands Park on the doorstep, waiting to be explored. This area is rich in birdlife and marine mammals such as hippos and crocodiles, as well as numerous species of fish. Inland are hills, savannah and grassland. The area can be explored on foot, on horseback, by boat, kayak and 4x4 game viewing vehicle. Night drives of up to 3 hours duration in open vehicles with spotlights allow glimpses of nocturnal species. Between May and November Humpback Whales visit the coast and can be seen, while dolphins can be seen year round.
Open: AmaZulu Lodge is open all year.
Location: The lodge is in St Lucia on the edge of iSimangaliso Wetlands Park in KwaZulu Natal
Rooms: There are 18 rooms including 2 family rooms. There are also 2 self-catering rooms. The design is based on that of the traditional round Zulu hut. Modern conveniences include air conditioning, TV and en-suite bathroom with a shower and a bath.
Activities The emphasis is on outdoor activities. From the lodge you can enjoy horse rides along the beach, take game drives and night drives, go on boat cruises in the estuary, kayak along the coast, explore on foot and spend time on the beach. Other activities available nearby include cycling, golf and watersports> Between May and December whales can be seen off the coast.
Facilities: There is a large swimming pool. The lodge has an open-sided (lapa) breakfast area and a boma where dinner can be enjoyed beside the camp fire. There is a lounge deck with views down over the gardens. The spa offers health and beauty treatments and there is a gym on site.
Dining: Meals are taken at individual tables.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome.
Health: This is a malarial area.
Communication:There is Wi-Fi internet access.
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0"The best bit about Amazulu is the friendliness of all the staff, the white members of which are members of the family who own it. All our questions (about activities, where to eat, the weather) were answered cheerfully and extremely helpfully. The rooms are fairly standard by SA standards, ours smelt a little musty which might have been because after 12 years the rains had finally come! Breakfast was the usual buffet, eggs were cooked to order but everything else was help yourself. One of the Zulu waitresses chatted happily about her culture and background, and gave me my first lesson in Zulu, which was great."