Hippo Pools Resort

3.5 star property
your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Hippo Pools Resort

View from room
Exterior
Reception
Property grounds
Cottage | Living room

Reviews

8.4 out of 10

Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
    Bar
  • Room service
    Room service
  • Breakfast available
    Breakfast available
  • Pool
    Pool
  • Laundry
    Laundry
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Oxford Farm, R40, 22km North of Hoedspruit, Hoedspruit, Limpopo, 1380
  • Greater Kruger National Park
    6 min drive
  • Makalali Game Reserve
    23 min drive
  • Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate
    26 min drive
  • Hoedspruit (HDS)
    36 min drive

Room options

Luxury Double Room

  • 35 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Sofa Bed

Family Room (Budget)

  • 26 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Luxury Triple Room

  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Standard Room (Budget)

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

House, 3 Bedrooms (Boabab)

  • 150 sq m
  • Sleeps 7
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Bed OR 1 Twin Bed

Cottage

  • 135 sq m
  • Sleeps 14
  • 1 Twin Bed OR 1 King Bed and 1 Queen Bed

House, 3 Bedrooms (Marula)

  • Sleeps 7
  • 1 Twin Bed OR 2 Double Beds and 2 Twin Beds

Similar properties

About the area

Hoedspruit

When you stay at Hippo Pools Resort in Hoedspruit, you'll be on a river and 6 minutes by car from Greater Kruger National Park. .This family-friendly lodge is 9.4 mi (15.1 km) from Selati Game Reserve and 9.5 mi (15.3 km) from Makalali Game Reserve.

What's nearby

  • Makalali Game Reserve - 23 min drive - 15.3 km
  • Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate - 26 min drive - 24.6 km
  • Phalaborwa Gate - 57 min drive - 58.5 km
  • Jessica the Hippo - 58 min drive - 43.0 km
  • Blyde River Canyon - 103 min drive - 98.0 km

Getting around

  • Hoedspruit (HDS) - 36 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Three Bridges Restaurant, at The Outpost - ‬6 min drive

About this property

Hippo Pools Resort

Family-friendly lodge with a coffee shop and an outdoor pool
Hippo Pools Resort offers 14 accommodations with air conditioning. Rooms open to balconies or patios. Satellite television is provided. Guests can make use of the in-room full-sized refrigerators/freezers, microwaves, and coffee/tea makers. Cribs/infant beds (complimentary) and rollaway/extra beds are also available.
Recreational amenities at the lodge include an outdoor pool.

Children under 10 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool without adult supervision.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Make yourself at home in one of the 14 air-conditioned rooms featuring microwaves. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Satellite television is provided for your entertainment. Conveniences include coffee/tea makers, and both cribs/infant beds (complimentary) and rollaway/extra beds are available on request.
Enjoy recreation amenities such as an outdoor pool or take in the view from a garden. Additional features at this lodge include complimentary wireless internet access, an arcade/game room, and wedding services.
Grab a bite to eat at the lodge's poolside restaurant, which features a bar/lounge and a garden view. You can also stay in and take advantage of the room service (during limited hours). Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available daily from 8 AM to 10 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, laundry facilities, and coffee/tea in a common area. Planning an event in Hoedspruit? This lodge has 1980 square feet (184 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and a meeting room. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available on request), and free self parking is available onsite.
Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 8 AM and 10 AM.
Onsite venue - This poolside restaurant specializes in African cuisine and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. A children's menu is available. Reservations are required.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and public transport

  • Free self-parking on site
  • Return airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Airport shuttle on request

Food and drink

  • Cooked-to-order breakfast available for a fee daily 8 AM–10 AM
  • 1 restaurant and 1 coffee shop/cafe
  • 1 bar
  • Room service available
  • Coffee/tea in a common area

Things to do

  • Arcade/games room
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Mini golf
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground

Family friendly

  • Arcade/games room
  • Free cots/infant beds
  • Full-sized fridge
  • Laundry facilities
  • Microwave
  • Mini golf
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground
  • Rollaway beds available
  • Snack bar/deli

Guest services

  • Dry-cleaning service
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Laundry facilities
  • Tour/ticket assistance
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • Conference space (1980 square feet)
  • A meeting room

Outdoors

  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Garden
  • Picnic area
  • Pool sunloungers

Accessibility

  • If you have any requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • This property does not have any lifts
  • Wheelchair-accessible (may have limits)

More

  • Designated smoking areas (fines apply)
  • TV in lobby

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Air conditioning
  • Free cots/infant beds
  • Rollaway beds available

Bathroom

  • Private bathroom

Entertainment

  • Satellite channels
  • TV

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Fridge

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 7 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 72 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 48 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 9 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available
Free cribs are available on request at the property

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Breakage deposit: ZAR 500.00 per stay

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Children under 10 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool without adult supervision

Property is also known as

Hippo Pools Hoedspruit
Hippo Pools Resort
Hippo Pools Resort Hoedspruit
Hippo Pools Resort Lodge
Hippo Pools Resort Hoedspruit
Hippo Pools Resort Lodge Hoedspruit

Hippo Pools Resort Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 25 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Jeannie, Wales

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Hippos close up !
Hotel has riverside location, set back from road. Mirelle very welcoming and took us on tour of hotel area to show us hippos and took us to room, she also recommended 3 bridges restaurant 5 minutes drive away which was excellent and had lovely gift shop next door with beautiful objects made by locals. ask for accommodation near river , we wished we had as can watch hippos from there to your hearts content ! Crocs also seen. Lots of monkeys in grounds , didn't see elephants but could see where they had been ! Lovely grounds despite obvious lack of rain recently. Really good value with delicious breakfast I would definitely recommend this place if you like to watch hippos !

10/10 Excellent

Michael, NY

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed for a day, wanted to stay longer
Awesome staff, they go out of their way to help you.

6/10 Okay

Dave, Krugersdorp

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Upgrade needed
Friendly owner and staff and nice food, but the resort needs some serious attention in terms of upgrading - at the moment it's just plain ugly with unplastered holes in outside walls, a potholed approach road and half finished building work everywhere. It's a shame because there is great potential given the riverside location.

10/10 Excellent

Ross, Blackwater

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Enjoyed our stay, it was comfortable and quiet, meals were fantastic.

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice, clean with nice swimming facilities
Overall no complaints, enjoyed our stay and enjoyed the swim. Nice and clean rooms, thank you.

4/10 Poor

Japie Maritz, Nelspruit

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Bad Service
Very disappointing. Resort did not know we were coming, but payment was done two days before. Restaurant was closed because we were the only people. Room was downgraded and now refund was given (too much of a hassle according to them. No warm water at all in the room. The Television did not work.

10/10 Excellent

Sarah, Manchester, UK

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fabulous!
What a wonderful time we had here, the owner Meryl was just so friendly and helpful, great local knowledge, absolutely perfect, tranquil location, would totally recommend this place! Fabulous!

10/10 Excellent

sunita, Canvey Island, Essex

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Home away from Home. LOVE IT!
Warm, welcoming resort, a home away from home. The manager is an elderly Multilingual English lady with a heart of Gold,loving and caring for nature. Perfect location for road trips and to use as a base. One can view the hippos at the river, and deers near on the resort. The hippos are indeed her "grandchildren". It also has its own runway for small planes. Security guarded entrance and polite, friendly staff. The hotel is child friendly with a huge pool, table tennis etc God bless the owners and their family for being one with nature and showing us what life should be about. Thank you!

8/10 Good

Ian , Axminster

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Relaxing place to chill out
went there in Feb so few people around, staff made the place clean while doing the maintenance to improve the hotel, and were very helpful, and the pool was a great place to cool off and have a beer, food in the evening was very good.

8/10 Good

Paul, New York, NY

Liked: Staff & service
Very Good Value and Great Service!
The owner Ryan is very nice and helpful. The staff was super friendly and went above and beyond to serve your needs. When we got there late... we were hungry so they served us dinner even though we were their only customers late at night. The ribeye steak and pot pie stew were so delicious... the best we had in South Africa!

10/10 Excellent

Lulu, Washington, D.C.

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Extremely Pleased & Satisfied. What an Experience!
When you go to see nature, you do not need the same hotel you stay in when you go for a luxury visit to New York City or Paris. You need clean, pleasant and friendly staff; you need comfort, and people saying “Madam, is there anything else I can do to make your trip better?” We knew about Hippo Pools Resort from the internet and our colleagues. We wanted a two night stay that will not cost us an arm and a leg but still be safe, clean, and with GOOD food. All of these were there and much more. The manager at the time, who is also the owner, is very pleasant and accommodating; he ensured that we were satisfied with the rooms. When WE, in the last minute and against all wisdom, asked for a ride on the quads, there were no guides because we did not make a reservation, Ryan was willing to guide us himself and was patient with me who had her first ride at that time. If you are a practical tourist looking for a great value, make this your choice. A snobbish tourist might want to go elsewhere, rather than the natural reserves in and around Kruger Park. And by the way, they provide transport service to go to the near-by gates at 4 a.m. for the morning drive. And, forgot to say, very quiet and the view of the stars in the sky was breathtaking. The children enjoyed a swim in the very clean swimming pool.

8/10 Good

Håkan, Norrköping

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Trevligt att komma tillbaka till
Ger en skön start på semestern inför kommande safariutflykter i krugerparken.

8/10 Good

Jean Charles, Saint Benoit

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Hôtel sympa
Hôtel un peu isolé mais très bon accueil et séjour agréable.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service

8/10 Good

Vincent, Vendée, FRANCE

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice place next to the Kruger Park
Nice place, perfect stage on the way to go to the Kruger Park ( close to the Orpen and Phallabora Gate ). We stayed in a roundavel totally equipped for a very good price. The name of the hotel is real, on the morning, take time to go to the river and have a look on hippos …be careful of crocodiles ( not seen for us ). Merrill gave us very good advices and we were perfectly welcomed in this hotel.

8/10 Good

Anton', Longjumeau

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Cadre paradisiaque, personnel hyper accueillant
Hôtel situé dans un parc arboré partagé par plusieurs hôtels ou Guest house. Celui-ci bénéficie d'un restaurant en terrasse donnant sur une piscine très bien entretenue. Les lodges sont en forme de "rondavels", propres mais très sommaires en ce qui concerne les sanitaires. Un peu d'investissements serait les bienvenus.

10/10 Excellent

paolo, italia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
perfetto su tutti gli aspetti
eccellente in ogni sua valutazione

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Heel fijn hotel
Door onoplettendheid waren we een nacht dakloos tijdens onze Zuid-Afrika reis. Snel op Expedia gekeken en op de goeie gok dit hotel geboekt. We waren zeer aangenaam verrast. We kregen twee kamers, een met een complete keuken en voor vier personen ontbijt. We hebben heerlijk bij het zwembad gelegen, genoten van de aapjes en heerlijk gegeten. Voor ons was het een spontaan doorreis hotel, maar het kan super als uitvalsbasis voor het Krugerpark. Het personeel is ontzettend vriendelijk en behulpzaam.

8/10 Good

Annelie och Tomas

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
Poolen var fantastisk. Ren, stor och härlig.
Maten var mycket dålig samt att vi fick vänta i en timma innan maten kom till bordet.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Swimming Pool und WLAN
Kühlschrank und ausreichend Platz und sehr viel ruhe. War einfach nur o.k

10/10 Excellent

Larsson, Bra läge

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Suverän service
En trevlig lodge, med väldigt trevlig personal.

8/10 Good

Donatella

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

6/10 Okay

baldit, france

vacances en famille
personnel tres agréable et à l'écoute mais hôtel en cours de travaux, la literie est confortable mais chambres très defraichies et équipement tres vieux .Tres difficile a trouver

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Quiet Hide out
Very friendly and generous staff. A perfect stay. Thank you.