Name: Lakenvlei Forest Lodge
Address: Dullstroom Road Langkloof Farm 365, Belfast 1100 South Africa, Machadodorp, Machadodorp, Machadodorp, 1100, South Africa
Rating: 7

Location

Lakenvlei Forest Lodge

This is our third visit to this wonderful majestic place as usual it has delivered with the added surprise of a wonderful lunch at the Restaurant. Well presented, decent servings and suburb cuisine.  Best place in Mpumalanga to enjoy a log fire. Staff are always fantastic. 

It was with some trepidation that we proceeded for our weekend break at Lakenvlei and with some mortification that we were assigned cabin number 12. 

Our fears were soon banished when we stepped inside and saw none of the faults listed in previous reviews. The cabin was spotlessly clean, ample supply of firewood and firefighters were neatly stacked. We really couldnt find any fault and the kitchen was very well equipped. 

The grounds were neatly maintained with the same wonderful forest views. Although we didn't row we noticed two well maintained row boats in front of lake. The only drawback was that the walkway to the former observatory was closed. Other than that, we had a most enjoyable stay. 

We spent the last three nights of our holiday here, and what a relaxing way to end it. The staff were very friendly and the cabins, which were cleaned each day, are beautifully made and set amongst the trees. We look forward to returning here in the future

Machadodorp

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Wonderful visit

Fantastic forest

Lovely relaxing stay

We visited the lodge over December and the nature setting is beautiful with ample wildlife and convenient hiking & MTB trails as well as a dam where you can kayak.
However the self catering accommodation is very dated, the carpets and furnishing is damaged with cigarette burns. We also had a little resident rat in our chalet. 
Sundowners on the deck is still great and atmosphere is relaxing, the chalet is very cosy with tranquil surrounds, just the dated accommodation is a big negative.
Hopefully there will be upgrades soon and chalets will be maintained. 

Beautiful nature setting but dated accommodation

This was my fourth visit to Lakenvlei Forest Lodge. My last visit was in 2009. The first three visits where amazing which is why I returned in the first week of January 2018. What a disappointment, the paved road from the main road to the lodge is collapsing from a lack of maintenance. We arrived at 3:45 pm to very impatient reception staff who very quickly booked us in and gave us the key to our chalet because the reception was closing at 4pm. After 4pm there is nobody at reception until 8 am the next morning. People arriving after 4pm have nobody to greet them and show them where there chalet is. The road from reception up to the chalets is in a terrible state as it is badly washed away. I am glad I drive an Isuzu pick up as I would not want to drive a normal car from reception to the chalet. We were booked in chalets no 12 which is a four-bed chalet. The couch and two chairs around the fire place has not been cleaned in years and there are burn marks in the fabric on the couch. We opened the windows in the chalet. Many of the blinds in the chalet have been damaged. Then latter the evening when we tried to close the widows we discovered the widows where stuck. I had to slam the windows shut from the outside and the widow frame of the bedroom window was broken. It is obvious that the chalet had not been maintained in years. There is a menu on the fridge but the restaurant closes at 4 pm so there is no way that you can order anything from the restaurant after 4 pm. The evidence of a lack of maintenance did not end with the chalet. The observatory in front of the lodge is gone and the boardwalk up to the observatory is closed and is collapsing. We went to visit the bird hide only to discover that the boardwalk to the bird hide has collapsed so you cannot even get to the bird hide.  I have no idea if the bird hide is even still there. I am also very concerned about how secure the farm and the lodge is. After the failed outing to the bird hide we saw four men fishing in the Bass dam. The four men where not staying at the lodge and fishing is not allowed in the Bass dam anymore. So how did these four men gain access to the farm, very easy as there is no staff on the farm after 4 pm in the evening. We then visited the ruins. The sign post at the ruins has fallen over, another example of a lack of maintenance. The lack of road signs directing you back to the lodge from the ruins resulted in us getting lost in the pine plantation on our way back to the lodge. Fortunately, we were able to find out way back to the lodge but it was nerve racking to get lost in a pine plantation as the sun is setting. Then finally after visiting Dulstroom on Saturday we return to the lodge to discover there is a party going on in the lodge with music blaring. I paid for piece and quite at Lakenvlei and not to listen to music from a party at the lodge. I can do that at home in Pretoria.  The only saving grace of our trip to Lakenvlei Forest Lodge was the Lakenvlei wetland which is still beautiful with fantastic birding and the wild flowers were also stunning. It is just very disappointing that the lodge is in such a state of disrepair and that it took just nine years for the lodge to get so bad with no indication that it will ever improve. This is the last time we will ever stay at Lakenvlei. We will be looking for alternative accommodation the next time we visit Belfast and Dullstroom. Very disappointing and sad indeed.

Very Disappointing

What a disappointment.
The resort has deteriorated since our last visit.
Also stayed in unit 12.
Front door broken and unable to latch closed.
All the window blinds are broken and do not work.
Curtains are torn.
The Formica kitchen worktops are badly water damaged as well as some of the drawers.
This is a 4 sleeper unit. Only a 2 seater couch(burn holes)and 1 chair in the unit.
No stool for the dressing table in the main bedroom.
Heater panel in pieces and not working. 1 bedside and 1 ceiling light not working.
1 ceiling light in the bathroom not working. Matress collapsing.
Shower leaks all over the floor.
Rowing boats(3) dirty and full of water.  Canoe (1) seats broken.
Was told that there were no fish as the otters had eaten them all?
Hopefully the other units are in a better condition.
Clearly no supervision or regular maintenance being done or units being checked regularly.
Attempts to have these issues attended to came to nothing.
Won't be back,won't recommend, until the owners get their act together.

Lakenvlei Forest Lodge

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