Jaco K.

"Beware, theft at Sediba Lodge"

Our family met at Sediba Private Game Reserve for my Mom's 80th birthday on 22 Feb 2014. We stayed there for 4 nights from 19-23 Feb.
We were the only guests staying at the lodge, the smaller camp with only 5 chalets.

My Mom has recently had some serious medical challenges and our family wanted to make this gathering a very special occasion and a time for us to be together and celebrate her life. We wanted this to be a relaxing, fun time for her to enjoy with her family being together in one place.

We did have a wonderful stay and celebrated her birthday on the Saturday evening with dinner, followed by an audio-visual show of her life. When we woke the following morning, we realized that some of our valuables were missing: my nephew's Macbook Air, my brother's digital SLR camera and my sister's bracelet and watch. Total value approx 3,000 USD.

The lodge is situated in a private game reserve (Welgevonden 37 500 hectares, surrounded by 15 ft high electrified fence). The western entrance gate is situated an hour from the nearest town. Once at the gate, it's another 35 min transfer via Game Ranger's truck to the lodge, which is also surrounded by an electric fence. It is not easy to get to this lodge; it is isolated and there is nothing else around.
The doors to the chalets are equipped with a bolt only (see photo); there is no key and no way to lock it. Since our family were the only guests at the lodge, the conclusion we came to was that the theft was committed by staff or by trespassers. Regardless of who stole our property, one does not expect this kind of experience at a premium vacation property anywhere in the world.

I have since had protracted correspondence with Sediba through SA Tourism Company (the company I made the booking through), who have been very engaged and after 3 months suggested I make a claim through my insurers. The lodge management's response was indifferent, "there is nothing we can do". They have not made any effort to compensate us for our loss or recover our confidence in the South African tourism experience.

Based on our loss and experience dealing with Sediba, I cannot recommend this property.