Rating: Deluxe
Leopard Mountain Lodge is a high quality safari lodge in Zululand Rhino Reserve, north of Hluhluwe in KwaZulu Natal. It's a scenically pretty, hilly reserve which was made into a reserve from ex-farming lands which have been returned to the wild. It has the big five, and there is a small pack of five wild dogs too.
As well as game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, the lodge has a hide overlooking a waterhole, and they can also offer walking safaris. There is a small spa where they offer good massage and relaxation treatments.
The accommodation here is particularly good, with well-appointed comfortable rooms with a wet room bathroom and a verandah with a plunge pool. The meals are very tasty, and they have a small boma where they offer dining under the stars on warm evenings.
Leopard Mountain is a popular lodge which often gets quite booked up due to its excellent mix of high quality accommodation and good game viewing.
Open: Leopard Mountain Lodge is open all year.
Location: The lodge is on a hill overlooking a river valley and towards the Lebombo Mountains, in Zululand Rhino Reserve north of Hluhluwe, KwaZulu Natal.
Rooms: There are 9 stone and thatch chalets. All are en-suite with a wet room featuring a large shower, have tea and coffee making facilities, a minibar, mosquito netting over the bed, and a veranda that includes a plunge pool and a hammock.
Activities: The main activity here is guided game viewing from open safari vehicles looking for the Big 5 and more. They offer morning and afternoon drives. They can also offer walking safaris, though these should be booked in advance as the option is limited by the availability of a walking guide and the small numbers he takes. In addition there is a waterhole hide where you can spend a happy hour watching the birds, waterbuck, zebra, impala, nyala and other wildlife that frequent this popular drinking spot.
Facilities: There is no main swimming pool here, though all rooms have small plunge pools. The boma is often for al fresco dining at night. The Africology Spa offers a variety of massage and relaxation treatments.
Dining: The meals are very good. They are taken at separate tables, and on warm evenings they often use the outdoor boma lit with lanterns. Lunch is often in the form of a picnic basket which you can either take to your room or enjoy elsewhere in the lodge. The cellar offers a selection of wines to accompany meals.
Children: Children aged 12 years and over are welcome.
Health: This is a low risk malaria area.
Communication: There is Wi-Fi but it is only decent if you sit in reception. There is mobile signal here.
Excellent
0Good
0Average
0Poor
0Terrible
0"This is a pretty, hilly reserve where we enjoyed some good game drives. The rooms are really lovely and very well done, especially those with incredible views from its lofty position looking down over the reserve. If a high standard of accommodation is important to you, as well as a good game viewing experience, this should be considered as a worthwhile option. Note that there is no main pool for swimming, but there are plunge pools on the verandah of each room. "