Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tremisana Game Lodge was a founder member of the Balule Game Reserve. Tremisana is the largest and leading lodge in this section, having a total of 12 chalets plus a two-bedroomed guesthouse. We can sleep a maximum of 35 guests. Every unit is en suite ( shower, toilet, basin ) and all units are air-conditioned.The lodge is serviced by two excellent boreholes. Its proximity to the tar road means Tremisana is easily accessible all year round, including the rainy season. The presence of lions, elephant and buffalo necessitates the maintaining of an electric fence around the camp. Perhaps the most striking feature of Tremisana Game Lodge is the beautiful gardens. The presence of numerous bougainvilleas and various palms and cycads gives the camp a subtropical feel. Water features add a soothing effect and the overall feel of Tremisana is very relaxing. At night, the subdued light from the illuminated paved walkways lend a romantic and magical flavour to this outstanding camp.
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Nestled in the wild, Tremisana Safari Lodge has earned accolades from guests for its spotless and cozy, albeit modest, rooms equipped with essentials like a fridge and kettle. Many reviews applaud the hotel's exceptional service and staff, who are often described as friendly and attentive, contributing to the lodge's memorable group atmosphere and family-friendly vibe.
The safari experiences are particularly well-received, ensuring the lodge's reputation as a value-for-money destination, despite some concerns about extra tipping costs. The amenities, including the food and organized safaris, consistently receive positive mentions, rounding out the enriching stay.
Atmosphere
Welcoming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Budget-friendly
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Satisfactory
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My fiancee and I had a great time at the lodge. The drivers are really good at spotting wildlife and are knowledgeable and very friendly. With a longer stay (3+ days), you get to know them quite well and they do a great job of making you feel welcome. The scheduled events are generally great and do a good job of rounding out your experience (day-trip to Kruger to see large quantities of animals, trip to another game reserve to see big animals up close). I wouldn't have had a clue what to do by myself at Kruger and was extremely glad to have such good guides. The food is excellent and there's plenty of it. The vibe of the food is that they hired the best local mom to make food for everyone, and it's great. There's AC in the rooms and they're pretty comfortable even though you're out in the bush. They've even got some comfortable chairs looking out of the camp where you can read in the shade and watch the wildlife. The cash bar is generally inexpensive (~$10 USD for a bottle of wine). They don't use the opportunity to gouge you on price. My fiancee and I had to cancel our second day at Kruger in our six day stay due to sickness, but honestly weren't upset about it - we liked having a morning off to rest and read and got to do our favorite activity twice (a game drive ending with a beautiful view of a sunset with snacks and drinks). While the day trip to Kruger was great, we had the most fun at Tremisana itself. You see fewer animals, but it's more of a hunt/adventure bouncing around in the game viewers trying to see something very up close. There were two things we struggled with. First, Joberg airport ground floor arrivals area has numbers to help you determine where you are (it seemed like each entrance/exit on the ground floor was numbered 1-22 from one end to the other). The directions we got gave relational directions ("go past the yellow sign to this certain office"), and it would have been better if they included the absolute location as well ("go between number 21 & 22"). We also struggled with was tipping the drivers, not knowing if their suggested tip was per person or per group. For instance, should we tip 80 rand for both of us or for each of us? What should a family of 4 do? We also struggled because we quickly run out of small bills (100 rand or less) but we just went in with another couple on our schedule and alternated giving larger tips. Tipping is always weird in a foreign country, though. Overall, everything was better than we expected. They run a tight ship with their schedules, but are able to move things around to accommodate you (if you get sick, for instance). Everyone is extremely helpful It's really a wonderful experience and a great value.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â It's not a big compound and I don't think there's a specific benefit to any one room.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from VivaSafaris, General Manager at Tremisana Safari Lodge
Responded 16 Jan 2020
Hi Carl Thanks for taking the time to post an extremely detailed review. We are pleased that your very first safari was made PERFECT by Viva Safaris. We are thrilled to know that you enjoyed the facilities at Tremisana Lodge and that the staff and food were so appreciated. Thanks for the comment re not profiteering on bar prices - we are aware that many other lodges do take advantage. Thanks for your constructive criticism re meeting point at O R Tambo airport - Thandy and Riana have produced a better and more user-friendly version which is already in use. As far as tipping goes, this has been a difficult one since we started almost 30 years ago. On our welcome letter, we give guidelines but they are precisely that - if a tourist feels like giving no tip, that is fine and if a guide gets a big enough tip to take his family out to a slap-up dinner, that is also OK. Thanks for rating our safari package as better than anticipated - we take pride in our slick organisation and ability to improvise should there be a need todo so. We hope you return to repeat another 'great value' and 'wonderful' experience ! Kind regards Piero
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we had an absolute blast at our stay at the Tremisana Game Lodge! From the moment we stepped off the shuttle bus we were greeted with smiles! We first began our adventure by going on a sunset drive where we spotted 3 of the big 5 along with many other African animals. As the sunset, we stopped in the middle of the bush to indulge in a delicious meal cooked by Elvis along with a special surprise for the adults! we were even joined by some hyenas as we ate! we drove back to the lodge and went to bed in the lovely and clean lodge. We woke up at 4:30 had complimentary tea, coffee, hot chocolates and rusks to set off on our 4-hour bus walk with the incredible guides Elias (Smiley Ha La La) and fortune who made us feel incredibly safe along with educating us on the African plants and animals. After our long bushwalk, we went back to the lodge and ate an incredible breakfast. We then had some time to relax and have some time around the pool before eating lunch and then going on a 2 hr game ride with Elias (Smiley Ha La La)! He went out of his way to ensure that we saw as many animals as possible and truly made our time at the Tremisana lodge an experience! As we set off to our next lodge we were farewelled with much love! overall the rooms were immaculate and were provided with mosquito nets, bug spray and airconditioning. Along the way we made incredible friends from all over the world and is definitely an incredible lodge with the most amazing staff!
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from VivaSafaris, General Manager at Tremisana Safari Lodge
Responded 9 Feb 2020
Hi there Thanks for an equally perfect review !! We are pleased that you found our staff friendly and that you thoroughly enjoyed the Sunset Drive and Bush BBQ. It is great that Elias and Fortune did so well to make your Bush Walk and Afternoon Drive so memorable. To rate Tremisana as " an incredible lodge with the most amazing staff " is a truly wonderful compliment - thank you ever so much ! Be well Piero
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From your arrival to your departure (which you won't want to leave), Tremisana offers amazing accommodation and activities. At first, you are greeted with a warm welcome by the beautiful Pretty and the rest of the staff. Soon thereafter, you board a safari cruiser and are off on a sunset safari. Fortune was full of insight and information (especially about the toilet paper tree...ha ha). As the sun was setting, we made our way to dinner. Dinner was served in the middle of the bush under the stars and the African Marula tree. We received a surprise before dinner that I sure won't spoil for those who have never tasted the South African delicacy. We then had a traditional South African braai with delicious mango and cream for dessert. Thereafter, we boarded the cruiser and searched for the animals of the night. Fortune even spotted two genets on our way out! We were up early the next morning for a 4 hour bushwalk after some coffee and rusks. Upon return, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast and had some time to relax around the pool and bar while admiring all the monkeys and their babies. After another great lunch, those of us moving on to the next accommodation enjoyed our final safari with Tremisana in Balule and were sent off in love and with a new African family. Overall, the rooms were clean, provided with nets and airconditioning and the beds were really comfortable. The bar is cash only, the gardens surrounding the rooms are serene and you could view many animals, such as hyena, an array of birds and warthogs, from outside your room and breakfast area. The team at Tremisana are very warm and welcoming. Definitely a place to recommend!
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from VivaSafaris, General Manager at Tremisana Safari Lodge
Responded 24 Jan 2020
Hi Gabriela WOW !!! Compared to reviews of other lodges ( in some cases done in collaboration ) that are reasonably short, this is a detailed DREAM of a review !!!! Thanks for mentioning Pretty and Fortune by name. We are so pleased that it seems that you had a wonderful time - an African Dream come true - and that you found our staff "warm and welcoming". Thanks for your recommendation. Kind regards Piero
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We had a truly wonderful time at Tremisana and would thoroughly recommend to anyone thinking of staying there.
It’s arranged with small chalets dotted around a small swimming pool and oozes charm and character! The rooms were bigger than we expected and, although fairly basic, had everything we needed and were cleaned and tided daily. The whole place has a very authentic feel and is clearly well run.
The food was nice with cooked breakfast and three good meals each day. The staff were nice and willing to come up with alternatives if you couldn’t eat the main meal for some reason. Breakfast was served overlooking the bush and dinner was in a different place with a traditional campfire burning every night which really set the perfect ambience.
What really made our stay extra special were the staff, especially the safari guides who were soooo very friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had the best time. They were really knowledgeable and made sure we saw loads of wildlife on the game drives whenever possible. A special mention must go to Smiley and Victor both of whom were amazing funny guides and worked so hard to make sure our trip was everything we wanted it to be. We were sad to leave at the end and miss the staff. The kitchen staff Elvis and Mama D also both deserve a special mention and again worked hard to make sure everything is spot-on with the catering operation.
Our only slight area for any improvement would be the arrangements with the bar in the evening. Lovely little place to sit and enjoy drink before dinner, the only problem being you had to disturb one of the kitchen staff (who were busy cooking dinner) to get a drink. No criticism of any of the staff who were clearly working hard to get dinner ready, but just something we thought might be able to run a little bit different even just for an hour slot before dinner to get a drink.
All in all we had the most amazing week and we will definitely aim to go back at some point. Such a shame it’s so far away!
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Piero Colia, General Manager at Tremisana Safari Lodge
Responded 20 Sept 2022
Hi Tom WOW !!!! What an amazingly detailed and wonderful account of your experience at Tremisana Game Lodge with Viva Safaris. We appreciate your kind words in respect of the "well-run" lodge and the "perfect ambience" at mealtimes. What is even more pleasing are the glowing comments about our staff-from the dedicated rangers to the talented chefs. We have taken note of the issue re bartender and have appointed Thamia to that position. We do hope that you will come back soon. Be well
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We just came back from a wonderful 6 days staying in Tremisana Lodge. The room was spacious and filled with every comfort and we really enjoyed the common areas and the swimming pool.In addition the garden is freshly curated with palms and beautiful flowers.
The staff is really nice and fun, always available to help both during the game drive in the safari and during the stay, moreover the meals cooked were delicious.
Balule private game reserve it's a hidden gem, where you will get in closer contact with all the animals compared to Kruger National park and where the big 5 sightseeing it's really likely.
We defenitely reccomend Tremisana Lodge for everyone who is looking for a Safari, filled with fun activities in the wild nature but at the same time with all the comforts that you can have at home.
We can't wait to come back there one day.
Attached some pictures of our experience in Tremisana and Balule.
Lanfranco & Evgenia
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Date of stay: March 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from VivaSafaris, General Manager at Tremisana Safari Lodge
Responded 23 May 2020
Ciao Lanfranco and Eugenia What a wonderful review !! We love to read the way you appreciated the comfortable room at Tremisana Lodge along with the common areas, swimming pool and manicured garden. We thank you for your comments on our exceptional staff and the delicious food. Certainly the combination of game drives in Balule and Kruger proper leave nothing to be desired from a wildlife enthusiast's point of view. Thanks for the lovely photos . We look forward to seeing you again. Be well Piero
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The Tremisana kick started our 6 day Kruger NP safari adventure, organised by Africa Budget Safaris (thanks Bronwyn). Viva Safaris actually ran the trip.. They picked us up promptly from our guest house in Jo'burg and safely took us to the Tremisana. Our room (8) was clean and tidy, with a comfortable bed and a good shower. First event was a sunset game drive culminating in a braai in the bush. I thought the braai was brilliant - white table linen, candles and a couple of hyena passing by?!? As we were travelling for the meal, one of the group spotted a leopard, which sauntered past the vehicle without a care - truly amazing! We managed to see the big five during the 24 hour period, which was a result! Food was good, staff were cracking (should I mention 'go in peace not I pieces' ?!?), accommodation was spot on and the organisation was perfect. Thank you Viva Safaris. One request, consider issuing drivers with hands-free cell phone equipment.. Just a thought!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from VivaSafaris, General Manager at Tremisana Safari Lodge
Responded 16 Jan 2020
Viva the reviewer !!! Thanks, Wilco, for a great review. You certainly had wonderful luck - Big Five within first 24 hours is really excellent ! Well done ! We appreciate your exceptional compliments. Be well Piero
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It was a long drive for us from Johannesburg but it was a brilliant journey, our driver was very courteous and made sure we were all happy and had everything we needed. The journey itself was a pleasure seeing all the sights on the way to Tremisana Lodge very well organised we first stopped off for refreshments, the view from the rest room was incredible zebra, rhinos and impalas wow. We set off again heading nearer to our final destination. Next stop was lunch we pre-ordered from the menu our drive gave us, so when we arrived at the restaurant the drive just handed in our order and before long our food was served, and very nice it was. We final arrive at the lodge and are warmly welcomed by all the lodge crew, we check in, lodge setting is stunning and our lodge is well equipped for all our needs, great having a fridge for our beers n wine we purchased on route. We are then taken out for a driver around to see if we can spot any animals, we certainly did a pride of lioness approximately seventeen all sleeping and laying down, we got so close I couldn’t believe it wow. Dinner was under the stars a bbq, foods was delicious, great time and experience. The next day was a bush walk with Bernard he is brilliant so passionate about the animals and the lodge, pointed out some really interesting stuff about elephants poo, I will never forget:) unfortunately the weather for our 6 days wasn’t very good rain which we didn’t like neither did the animals we hoped to see. Nevertheless it was an amazing time and adventure for us. We loved staying at the lodge everyone was so lovely to us, food was so yummy. One evening we had one of the rangers singing and everyone dancing, wonderful atmosphere. We felt like part of the gang and family. Would definitely stay there again.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Â All the rooms are the same well equipped
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from VivaSafaris, General Manager at Tremisana Safari Lodge
Responded 29 May 2020
Hi there Thanks for a fantastic review . We are pleased that you enjoyed the drive from Johannesburg to Tremisana Lodge. It is pleasing to read that the staff welcomed you so warmly and that you were very so fortunate to find 17 lions on your very first game drive. Wow ! Thanks for mentioning Bernard by name -a great potential indeed. We are pleased to know that the delicious food, the singing staff and the "wonderful atmosphere" allowed you to feel part of our VIVA family. We look forward to seeing you again. Be well Piero
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We landed up at tremisna game reserve on Monday 23rd August and we greeted by a lovely lady who was very welcoming and offering.g bottles of much needed water. This place is situated on a game reserve therefore is fenced and gate the whole way round. We were taken to our room for the evening 4 separate beds with mosquito nets and bathroom facilities. Although the room was small there was entry of space. In the evening we were given a safari followed by a boma (dinner) in the Bush. At this point it was very dark amd getting chilly. That said the guides done an amazing job and provided a lovely meal by camp fire of course we were visited by the local hyena who was just checking us out and looking for a snack. This was our first experience and it set the rest of the week up beautifully!
Back at camp we turned in for the night and a comfortable sleep.
The next morning was a safari drive and Bush walk one of which I was extremely blessed to experience. Our driver Uri has got to be one of the most knowledgeable people on wildlife I have ever met and its all thanks to him we saw the top five and mostly at tremisana (we hadn't even got to kruger at this point) On arrival back at camp we all sat for lunch and had a chance to relax in the beautiful surroundings, my children took full advantage of the swimming pool and even made friends with the little boy who lives in camp. The velvet monkeys also live here and await any scraps of food that may be dropped. They literally were every where at certain times of the day.
There is a small bar here, toilet facilities separate eating area and of course a swimming pool. Definitely a great start to our safari adventure! Would we stay again absolutely! Thank-you for making the start of our adventure amazing.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Piero Colia, General Manager at Tremisana Safari Lodge
Responded 29 Aug 2022
Hi Rebecca Thanks for a detailed review on your stay at Temisana Lodge en route to Marcs Treehouse Lodge. It is pleasing to note that you appreciated the welcome, the accommodation and the bush BBQ complete with hungry hyena. It is wonderful to read that you felt " extremely blessed" to experience the game walk with Yuri. It is quite an achievement to see the Big Five even before your trip on Kruger Park proper. Thank you for a great recommendation - we would absolutely love to host you again. Be well.
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Some of the happiest staff members I have ever met with some of the best hospitality out there. Victor, Rocky, Mama D are some stand out people that I recommend everyone meeting. Great personalities and just uplifting people to be around. They accommodate to any dietary restrictions, my gf is a vegetarian and her mom is gluten/dairy free and as soon as they know they rush to the kitchen to make you something because they don’t want you to be left out. Rocky was like a teacher on the safaris, quizzing us on most things to see if we learned or knew anything. Victor was the happiest guy I’ve ever met, I don’t think he stopped smiling the whole time we were there. He just loved everything about being out there in Kruger. We gravitated towards those 2 guides because we felt they gave the best experience possible! The home base was well managed, rooms well serviced, even with the load sharing(planned power outages) everything was right on schedule with the itinerary they had setup for us. Food was delicious at every meal, you gotta get Mama D to make her curry potatoes because they were delicious! I could have eaten them every day. I’d recommend Viva Safari and the Tremisana Game Lodge any day if you want a great experience with lovely people
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Early risers so make sure to get some sleep, it’s not a “zoo” so don’t expect to see everything....
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from G M, General Manager at Tremisana Safari Lodge
Responded 4 Mar 2024
Hi Turner What an equally GREAT review ! We are absolutely thrilled that you noted how HAPPY our staff at Tremisana is. This is, without any doubt, the strength of Tremisana Lodge, essentially an unpretentiously wholesome accommodation establishment. We are happy to read that your dietary requests were admirably catered for (loved the bit about Mama D's curried potatoes) and that you found Rocky and Victor's guiding skills and personalities so attractive. Thanks for commending Viva's organization - we all appreciate such a great review !!! Be well
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Viva Safaris allowed us to live a fascinating and unforgettable experience. Everything worked perfectly. Every activity was planned in detail to get the best out of it. The lodge is very well maintained (every morning the rooms are fumigated to avoid insects - which we appreciated) and the staff is helpful and very kind.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from G M, General Manager at Tremisana Safari Lodge
Responded 26 Jan 2023
Hi Camilo Thanks for a lovely review. We are so glad to read that everything worked perfectly and that you had an unforgettable and fascinating wildlife experience. Thanks for your appreciation of our staff and the efforts they made to control insect numbers in the chalets. Be well
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There are more places to choose from in the Balule Nature Reserve area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
tremisana game hotel balule private game reserve
LOCATION
South AfricaKruger National ParkBalule Nature Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
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