Some places steal your heart and make you want to stay forever. That is exactly what happened to me at Ubuntu Luxury Villa. After four amazing nights with them, I didn’t want to leave. I found myself scrolling through real estate websites, dreaming of buying my own place in the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate! In fact, I loved it so much that after a week of safaris in Timbavati, Thorny Bush and Kruger, I decided to come back. Sadly, Ubuntu Luxury Villa was fully booked, so I tried an alternative on the estate, which only served to solidify my belief that Ubuntu is the best choice of accommodation in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate and most likely in all of Hoedspruit town, too!
Disclaimer – Ubuntu hosted me for free at their villa. However, I entered my agreement with them on the understanding that the words I wrote would be an honest and accurate representation of my experience, for better or worse. Therefore, this Ubuntu Luxury Villa review is based solely on my honest opinion. This post also contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I will earn a small amount of commission at no extra cost to you.
What's in this post:
Why did I love Ubuntu Luxury Villa so much?
There are many factors that made me fall in love with Ubuntu, some of which have to do with the hosts, others the quality of the accommodation, but a lot also had to do with the town itself. I will tell you a little bit about Hoedspruit in this post, but it deserves a blog of its own, so keep your eyes peeled for that one!
But first impressions count, and there is no doubt that Anouk and Dennis, the owners and hosts of Ubuntu Luxury Villa, nailed it. I was having a nightmare journey from Tanzania. My first flight had been delayed, I’d missed my second flight, my new flight got cancelled, I had to sleep on the airport floor, and to make matters worse, my luggage didn’t make it to Johannesburg with me! But it was all made better with a simple text: “Bea, sorry to hear about your luggage. What size clothes are you? We will go out and buy you underwear, a T-shirt, and some toiletries. You can also borrow our jackets. Let us know if you need anything extra.” They had seen the updates on my stories and had decided to be proactive. At that moment, I knew I was in good hands.
A home away from home
I’m not someone who is wowed by expensive lodges and beautiful aesthetics. Of course, I appreciate them, but they’re not what make me love a place. It is the feelings a place evokes in me that make me love it and remember it. Ubuntu Luxury Villa gave me the warmest feeling ever.
The villa is beautiful, and the team has thought of everything. It combines comfort, luxury, and attention to detail in such a way that you feel pampered yet relaxed. You can tell Anouk is a photographer with a keen eye for interior design, as every nook and cranny is picture-perfect as if curated for an Instagram photoshoot. Yet this perfectionism doesn’t hinder enjoyment since it is inviting and livable.
The bedrooms
The villa has three large ensuite bedrooms, each with a different animal theme. The beautiful pictures hanging on the wall are all Anouk’s own work, while the furniture has all been designed and created locally to provide the most authentic feel.
The beds are some of the most comfortable I have slept in. They have Sealy Posturepedic mattresses. I usually wake up to a duvet fort in the morning due to my incessant fidgeting, but not here. I slept so well that one side of the bed never even got untucked! Unheard of for me!
Two of the rooms have sliding doors that lead straight onto the deck. I never bothered closing the blackout curtains so that when I woke up in the morning, I could look right out into the wild. It’s not uncommon for wildlife to be grazing right by the deck!
Two of the rooms also have an outdoor shower. I’m not sure why I like outdoor showers so much, but I find them so reinvigorating! Just beware of the peeping Tom! As I was getting ready for bed one night, I heard something outside! I pressed my face against the window, and there I saw, sitting on the fence that surrounds the outdoor shower, a genet!
Photos by Dean Productions
The wildlife
Before I tell you about the other amazing amenities at the villa, I have to tell you about the wildlife because, to me, that was the biggest draw! Ubuntu is located in the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate. The estate is a 645-hectare (1593 acres) fenced-off reserve with houses around the outside and a big greenbelt area in the middle. Wildlife roams freely throughout the estate, coexisting happily with the residents.
There is nothing I enjoyed more at Ubuntu Luxury Villa than sitting out on the deck waiting for the next visitor. While working on my blog, I spotted duiker, warthog, bushbabies, impala, nyala and waterbucks! And while driving around the estate, we also came across giraffes and zebra! I had to pinch myself. How was this even real?
The viewing deck
One of the reasons I think Ubuntu Luxury Villa is the best choice of accommodation in the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate is that it has not only an outdoor deck with plush sofas and a dining table but also an elevated viewing area from which you can not only more easily spot wildlife but also enjoy sundowners, stargaze, or welcome the early morning sunrise. I loved it up there!
The other great spot for sundowners at Ubuntu is by the fireplace in the boma. We ran out of time to have a traditional braai there, but we did enjoy a fire and cocktails.
Photos by Dean Productions
The openness
The house revolves around a large open-space living area. The comfy sofas were great for lounging around reading the various wildlife books that were available. In fact, it was here that I planned my impromptu self-drive trip to Kruger! We used the Samsung Smart TV to find afro beats, which we then played through the soundbar. The dancing was terrible, but the sounds were great!
I also made great use of the washing machine, opting to save the environment by hanging it to dry in the warm winter sun rather than using the available dryer. It really was like being at home—everything I needed I had.
The other great thing about Ubuntu Luxury Villa is the high-speed fibre optic broadband. After six weeks of travelling through Sierra Leone and Tanzania with very slow internet connections, it was finally nice to crack on with work at a normal speed!
360 Experience
If you want to truly experience what Ubuntu Luxury Villa is like check out this 360 virtual tour!
What did we get up to at Ubuntu Luxury Villa?
Ubuntu is more than just a luxury villa; it’s also an adventurer’s paradise. Sitting in the heated pool waiting for wildlife is great, but jumping on the mountain bikes and exploring the greenbelt is the best! Within five pedal strokes of the house, we came across our first wild encounter, a male impala with his harem. Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate has 25 kilometres of single-track dirt paths perfect for some mountain biking wildlife spotting fun! There are no hills, so it’s even better! You don’t even need to break out into a sweat!
If you don’t like the idea of cycling, you can go for a walk instead. And if you are feeling particularly lazy, you can drive the dirt roads in search of animals. But believe me, nothing beats being amongst wildlife on foot/or by bike!
Massage on the deck
I’m on a mission to experience a massage in every country, and the massage at Ubuntu Luxury Villa was one of the best I’ve had. Maybe it was the setting or perhaps the expert hands of the ladies from Africology, but one thing I know is that it felt like I was in heaven.
The massage table was set out on the deck right outside my room. All I had to do was walk out, lie down, and relax. There was no need for nondescript spa music. Here, we had the sounds of nature: birds chirping, duiker crunching the leaves as they walked past. Pure perfection!
There might be many accommodation choices in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, but I don’t believe any others go above and beyond as Ubuntu did! No request is too big, and no detail is too small!
Private Dinner Party
One of the highlights of our stay was enjoying a meal cooked at the villa by the head chef of Keystone, Nthabi. While we sat by the fire sharing stories, Nthabi and Keystone owner Jackie prepared the most delicious meal for us within the Ubuntu Villa kitchen.
I found Jackie’s story inspiring. She spoke about the important role that animals play and how it’s not what we eat but how it is reared that is so important not only for our own dietary health but also for the planet. Beef can be carbon neutral if it is raised on enough land. Keystone sources all its ingredients as close to Hoedspruit as possible, and it knows and visits each of its providers to ensure nothing but the utmost quality.
We had a delicious lamb shank meal, followed by a rosemary panna cotta, which was out of this world!
You can’t beat dinner with friends, in the comfort of home and cooked by a brilliant chef. Actually, you can! They did the dishes afterwards too!
What else is there to do in Hoedspruit?
You will find a much more comprehensive list on my Things to do in Hoedspruit blog post, but to give you a taster, here are my favourite activities in Hoedspruit.
Game drives
While staying at Ubuntu Luxury Villa, I went on two game drives: one in Pridelands with Reinhardt Safaris and one with Khaya Ndlovu.
Reinhardt Safaris
Reinhardt collected us from our accommodation in the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate and drove us less than five minutes to the closest game reserve: Pridelands. Pridelands is a Big Five game reserve that makes up part of the Greater Kruger Area. The fences that once bordered Kruger have been removed, allowing wildlife to roam freely over a larger area.
I was really impressed with Reinhardt. His calm, somewhat shy demeanour meant there was no show, just a love for all things wild. This was my first game drive in South Africa, and the first time I’ve seen someone use footprints to track animals, something I had not experienced in either Tanzania, Kenya or Uganda.
The highlights of our time with Reinhardt were following a hyena, sitting with elephants during sunrise and spotting two young male rhinos.
Khaya Ndlovu
Khaya Ndlovu, on the other hand, is a fenced private game reserve situated in the Rietspruit Big Five Game Reserve. The Khaya Ndlovu Lodge operates all the game drives and our driver and tracker here was Lovers, a rather joyful personality.
The highlight of our game drive here was spotting the cutest baby rhino with its mama. We also enjoyed the most magical sundowners while watching what was possibly the best sunset of my trip.
We also stayed at the lodge for a rather delectable three-course meal, which I highly recommend you do after the game drive.
Sail down Blyde River Canyon
Unbeknownst to me, the Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world, and I urge you not to miss it. As you glide along the tranquil waters of the Blyde Dam, you’ll be surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenery in South Africa. Towering cliffs, lush vegetation, and unique geological formations make this area a feast for the eyes. The trip offers an excellent opportunity to spot wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and various bird species. Knowledgeable guides provide fascinating insights into the canyon’s history, geology, and ecology, ensuring you leave with a deeper appreciation of this natural wonder.
The Panorama Route
If you want beautiful scenery, hire a car and explore the Panorama Route, which extends through the Mpumalanga province. There is so much to do that you could spend multiple days exploring the area, but I will leave you with some highlights that you can enjoy on a day trip.
There are a number of waterfalls you can visit. We opted for the Lisbon Waterfalls, which involve no walking-just pure beauty! We also hiked up to God’s window, where you can enjoy sweeping vistas of lush forests, rugged mountains, and expansive lowveld. I would also stop at Bourke’s Luck Potholes, where centuries of water erosion have carved out a series of intriguing rock formations.
The real highlight though, is seeing the Blyde River Canyon from above! The views are magnificent; if you only have time for one stop, make it this one! Pro tip: go in the afternoon for better lighting!
Farmers Market
If you happen to be in town on the first Saturday of the month, don’t miss out on the farmers market—but be warned—you might spend all your money! The market features an array of stalls offering fresh, locally sourced produce, artisanal goods, and handmade crafts.
Elephant Moments
One of the highlights of my stay at Ubuntu Luxury Villa was a visit to Elephant Moments in the Kapama Reserve. Elephant Moments was started in 1997 when the team rescued a 4-month-old elephant abandoned by his herd after becoming stuck in the mud and injured. After bringing him back to full health, the team tried to rewild him, but Jambulani didn’t want to leave—the humans were, after all, his new herd!
And that’s how Elephant Moments came to be. Over the years, it has become a sanctuary for 17 rescued orphaned elephants. For many years, they offered the type of animal interactions which we now know are not ethical, and acknowledging their error, Elephant Moments has pivoted to a new ethical model.
All but three elephants have no guest interaction, so they have the best chance of being rewilded once they are old enough. However, the three elephants that had become too accustomed to humans still interact with guests once a day for 20 minutes. They are brought to greet the guests, who get a chance to feed them and take some photos with them.
It is an educational experience that Elephant Moments hopes will inspire future generations to care enough about conservation and climate change to bring about positive change.
Getting around Hoedspruit
I would highly recommend hiring a car to make the most of your time in Hoedspruit. I’m unsure what the public transport situation is, but I know it certainly won’t take you to the places mentioned above. I picked up a car from Hoedspruit airport. It was easy and cheap and it meant I had complete flexibility to do whatever I wanted to! I always use Discover Cars to find the best deals across all the available providers.
Where to eat in Hoedspruit
These were my favourite eateries in Hoedspruit:
The Hat and Creek: I highly recommend the ostrich steak!
Sleepers: I recommend the chicken thigh skewer here! Delicious!
The Hoedspruit Café: If you fancy something sweet, try the Peanut Butter milkshake!
The Stoned Olive: This was probably my favourite meal of them all. I had Shakshuka for breakfast here, and it set me up for the whole day! It was delicious and nutritious!
Staying connected while at Ubuntu Luxury Villa
The good news is that Ubuntu Villa has really fast WIFI. As mentioned above it has fibre-optic broadband, so you won’t need data while at the villa. But you will undoubtedly want to remain connected while out and about. In fact, I think that being connected is one of the most important safety tips for travellers in any country. You can do this by either buying a local SIM card, or by avoiding the hassle and downloading an eSIM before you arrive so that you are connected as soon as you touch down on the tarmac! And lets be honest, the first thing any of us ever wants to do upon landing is switch off airplane mode to check what’s been going on!
I always used to opt for local SIMs are they were cheaper, but they are also a hassle if you can’t get them at the airport, so I have moved over to Airalo who has kept me connected through Tanzania, South Africa and Lesotho so far!
Final thoughts on Hoedspruit
I hope my love for both Hoedspruit and Ubuntu Luxury Villa has come through in this blog. It’s not often I look at real estate websites as settling is the opposite of what I want to do. But this charming town had that effect on me!
So, if you are looking to use Hoedspruit as your base and are looking for the best accommodation in the area, do check Ubuntu Luxury Villa out. You really can’t beat it, and I can’t think of a better setting for your stay than the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate.
Please visit their website to check availability and a complete list of amenities.
Want help booking your trip? Evan from Nala Africa organized my entire South Africa trip.
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