Name: Shishangeni, by BON Hotels
Address: Southern Kruger Park, Kruger National Park, Kruger National Park, Kruger National Park, 1340, South Africa
Rating: 9

Air conditioning

Smoking areas

Smoke-free property

Ticket assistance

Gift shop

Television in lobby

Terrace

Reception desk

General

Non-smoking rooms

Rooms

Accessibility features

Wheelchair Accessible

Accessibility

Laundry

Safe-deposit box

Concierge services

Dry-cleaning

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Breakfast

Restaurant

Breakfast/lunch to go

Meals

Internet access

Internet

English

Languages Spoken

Tour assistance

Tourist services

Library

Barbecue grill(s)

Billiards

Barbeque

Sun Deck

Recreation

Free parking

Parking

Swimming pool

Outdoor pool

Pool and beach

Business center

Event facilities

Fax and copy machine

Conference Hall

Business

Fitness facilities

Sports

Beauty and wellness

Playroom

Babysitting and childcare

Kids

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Temperature control for staff

Personal protection equipment for staff

Extra decontamination measures

Temperature control for guests

Personal protection equipment for guests

Contactless check-in and/or check-out

Individually packaged food

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

At the hotel

Komatipoort Airport

Malelane Airport

Shishangeni, by BON Hotels

Kruger National Park

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

You never go hungry at the hotel and the food is nice😊 The service is cool and the house is also well placed in a way that you see the sunrise in the morning with a little bit of some birds whistles and the sound of the rever flows. It's  also private in a way that you enjoy your own space without any distractions, it's a great place to take your patner💯❤️

We really enjoyed ourselves, it's a reserved and coolest hhotel anyone can wish to visit ?

Recurring visitor as always the service is top notch, was worried when we heard our manager had left us but it turned out well the new manger knows her stuff so it was good. Rangers as always blow me away, this time our Ranger was Sifiso Nkosi. That man has the eyeofan eagle and nature seems to love him as we saw 3 of big five interchangeably every safari. We did see the big five which is almost impossible to achieve. The staff as always, accommodates us and our personal needs. We do ice baths and they always hook us up. 

Food was nice, they always make sure we well fed if not over. Buffet buffet. The Boma is an experience to look forward to. 

We were 11 adults.. intimate family and friends who decided to spend our Christmas at this lodge. The accommodation was nice. Rooms were serviced, the linen white and clean, rooms were spacious with a small deck and there was a turn down service each evening. 

The concession in the Kruger Park delivered lots of great sightings and the guides were knowledgeable and keen. 
 
HOWEVER.. The catering, bar and overall service were atrocious!! The lodge manager, barman and key personnel were ON LEAVE during peak season!! (The lodge was at full capacity with mostly international guests) The staff were untrained and inattentive and the ‘buffet’ was grim to say the least! We weren’t served Christmas lunch as the food ran out! 
There was not a manager in sight and we witnessed guests complaining to staff daily about the quality of the so called buffet. 
For R5500 per night it was a RIP off!!

BON HOTELS you need to catch a huge wake up!!

Shishangeni - what a disappointment!!

Amazing facility in Kruger National Park.  Private villas were very luxurious and the outdoor shower was a highlight.  The twice daily safaris included drinks and food enroute whilst viewing the wildlife.  The guides were very knowledgeable and were committed to ensuring guests saw all the animals.   Meals were included and provided different options each day.  

African adventure

Myself and my daughter spent two nights three days in the SHONGA lodge tents. I can not recommend this experience enough. 
We had Steven as chef and a lovely lady plus Texan as our safari driver . We were very lucky to have the whole camp to ourselves and everyone made us super welcome!
The food was insane and you will never be hungry. 
We went on two safari per day and one in the morning on our last day.
We saw everything from elephants, Lions and was lucky to see a Leopard after a kill.
All the team welcomed everyone with a smile and hello even at 5 am for the morning trips.
The camp is run by generators so no wi- fi which we actually enjoyed and lights out by 10pm. The do provide you with a torch.
There is an outdoor shower, so get ready in the morning to say hello to the monkeys. We also saw a group of elephants walk past whilst we relaxed by the pool. Thank you again Steven and his team.
We will definitely recommend this experience and this is solely due to the amazing Safari but Steven and his team, not forgetting Texan who is an amazing informative guide.


Great experience and Safari

Camp Shawu Tents have a unique location in front of a watering hole that house Hippos, and see a string of animals come to hydrate like elephants, impalas, and giraffes....You can seat on your deck and enjoy the show.  Our Safari Guide Sifiso, was AMAZING! He made the trip even more special.The property lacks maintenance ...the pool was not maintained hence looked like a mosquito fest, the umbrellas were all broken hence no shade to sit out on the beautiful deck overlooking the watering hole, the doors of the main area were mostly out of service hence not allowing a proper breeze to flow through...The food was average.  That said, you pay for the location and an amazing guide not for the property....

Warmly welcomed by all staff upon arrival expectations were raised.
It was like being welcomed by near family. Pampered in all ways. 
Texan, our ranger, always smiling and knowledgeable on all animals,  ensured we managed to see more wildlife that we have ever seen before in our lives (over 20 years of travels to Africa!). And made every evening sun-downers in the bush a great and safe experience. 
Chef Bongekile made our vegetarian meals -- breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner -- a pleasure -- and included a bit of bush meat to spice things up (for vegetarians curious of all tastes offered). Ready anytime, to respond to our diary requests.
Prayer, our camp manager, the sweetest manager ever, ensured we felt at home all the time, including opening our wine for dinner every evening. 
Nozipho, our Lady, had made our room perfect anytime we returned from a game-drive.
Our night guard, protected us from a roaring leopard and made us sleep like logs and pleasantly woke us for our early  game-driver every morning. 

Not to forget the tent we were staying at -- being brought back to the time of Issac Dinesen (Karen Blixen) -- luxury in the middle of the bush.

All together home sweet home -- paradise in Kruger

Highly recommended if you want the experience of your life.

Camp Shonga -- Home sweet home in Kruger

A friend and I booked our first safari experience through Siyabona Africa - couldn't have asked for a more professional and committed travel consultant. Special shout out to Annerie Els who was so thorough in her recommendations on the perfect time to visit and the perfect accommodation suited to our tastes and budget.

Booked a 3N4D package at the main Shishangeni lodge – we were initially intent on the quainter satellite camps that share the concession but the non-AC tents at Shonga were a deterrent while Shawu, although beautiful, was too exclusive for our liking. It's never enough time in the bush but I would recommend staying an extra day or two to feel (somewhat) satisfied.

Read about the rich game viewing experience in the Mpanamana concession. We were not disappointed - sighted a pride of 16 lions enroute the lodge from Crocodile Bridge gate. And then over the next few days, they descended...the big 5 and then some. We hung around a leopard hanging out in a tree and lived our own NatGeo moment watching a cheetah in chase. God bless our ranger Texson for his hawk eye, his never-say-die attitude, his vast knowledge of the lay of the land and 14 years’ worth of game experiences and anecdotes. Texson is a careful and punctual ranger - our game drives were excellently planned with vehicles in good condition, bio breaks well timed and great sundowners. 

If you're a first timer, you will want to carry your own pair of binoculars, maybe a granola bar and bottled water - a precious commodity at the lodge. Arrangements (clean, comfy blankets) were made to keep us warm during the drives. 

We were prepared to experience the aftershocks of the pandemic but were very pleasantly surprised with the upkeep of the property, the dining area and our room - no peeling walls, no worn-out furniture, no leaky taps, no creaking doors. Although more conventional in appearance, the thatch roofs and decor lend authenticity to your stay. I wasn't a great fan of the open bathroom plan (the toilet area was enclosed) but my friend loved the nature shower. All in all, our chalet was beautiful, spacious and more than comfortable for two. We didn't encounter mosquitoes on our visit although we did follow advice on taking a prophylaxis (Maloff Protect) and carrying ample repellent. The lodge thoughtfully provides repellent spray in the room and prepares the mosquito nets when you’re out on your evening game drive. Psst…you can look forward to a little surprise before you turn in for the night. 

Where Shishangeni might be lacking a great view or main attraction like a waterhole, it makes up in terms of its warm and friendly staff. Our deepest gratitude to Funeka, Harriett, Amanda and Linah for making the place feel like home. Since you can’t take Chef Regina back with you, I urge you to make good on every meal. Her Malva pudding was the standout. If you’re a small group at the lodge you can expect to enjoy personalized service (read pampering) during your meals, otherwise looked after by a sumptuous buffet. Food options may have been a bit limited for my vegetarian friend. However, between breads, cheese, bakes, fresh salads and every kind of potato preparation, she had little cause for complaint. 

The pool was clean and functional. The tiny gym room not so much. The spa was under renovation but they made alternate arrangements in a chalet. My friend booked the full body massage and gave it a 5-star rating. WiFi worked fine in the main lodge and Vodacom caught a few bars in our balcony. If you’re an international traveler, don't forget to carry a travel adaptor.

Load shedding was an ugly truth and perhaps most severe during our visit to South Africa. Shishangeni was a very wise choice with their power back up that functioned without any hiccups. Best to also request the lodge or your travel consultant for a packing list so you’re well prepared.

The curio shop at the lodge was poorly stocked so if you're looking to create a South Africa-inspired corner in your home, you might want to reserve some time for the larger souvenir shops at Crocodile Bridge gate on your way out…or in. 

Team Shishangeni, thank you ever so much for giving us an experience of a lifetime. We hope to visit again!


Big Beginners Luck in Big BON Hospitality

Just wow! Spent 2 nights in Camp Shawu with my wife to finish off our honeymoon. Greeted by about 20 elephants at the watering hole when we arrived, 2 of which were right beside our balcony/terrace! A lot of animals use the watering hole at different stages of the day. Great location for game drives. Only Shishangeni vehicles allowed in the concession so you get the proper safari experience away from the main roads. We had 4 drives with our guide Sifiso and how he sees some of the things he spotted I have no idea! 1st drive, 4 of the big 5, 2nd one all of the big 5 including some excellent persistence in searching for a leopard which yielded finding 2 of them! A pride of 18 lions were casually resting outside the camp on our last morning! All the staff were so friendly and attentive and the food was really good and in abudance (we had to refuse food a few times as we were stuffed!).

Worth noting the walls of the lodges are partly material (as opposed to solid) so if it's windy you will know about it! You will need to get used to the sounds of the hippos in the watering hole too (they're noisey!). But that's all part of it, being out in nature.....while in a luxury, secure, comfortable room!

Camp Shawu, wow!

We spent two nights of our honeymoon at the Camp Shonga with the company of Herold, who took us in a two-days long game drive. It has been a beautiful experience  and we had the chance to see wild animals very close in their natural environment.
Steven and Nozipho welcomed us at the beautiful Camp Shonga site with kindness and special fondness: they cooked for us amazing dishes and made our honeymoon nest very warm and special.
All the experience has been so unique thanks to this special place, but also because the staff has been so nice and professional.
We surely recommend to visit and enjoy your time at Shishangeni!
A special thanks to Herold, Steven and Nozipho =)
Elisa e Pietro

Shishangeni, by BON Hotels

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