Wild Horses Lodge

I have been told by the avid fisherman that when you find a “honey hole”, you keep the location secure. You don’t even mention its name for fear of it being overrun and the elusive fish you have been yearning to catch, done in. I’m no fisherman, but that’s exactly how I feel about Wild Horses Lodge. I want to scream its name from the rooftops but am afraid to do so for fear of it being overrun. That said, I feel compelled to share how amazing this place is with others. It’s a conundrum. Wild Horses is an absolute hidden gem, an oasis of calmness and serenity, hidden amongst the hills and dales of Sterkfontein Dam. Arriving at its door is akin to arriving home – somewhere all too familiar, amongst people you have known forever – and yet – something new and enticing all at the same time. “No” is simply not a word at Wild Horses – just my kind of place. Nothing is too much effort or impossible. I arrived at Wild Horses with dietary requirements as long as my arm and every single one was followed to the letter. Not only that, but I could have sworn I was eating in a hidden Michelin Star restaurant, world-renowned for its mastery. And yet, I found myself in a remote location in a small corner of South Africa. The rooms were immaculately clean and extremely comfortable, with magnificent views of the Dam. We stayed in the Zebra Suite, and I can highly recommend it. You can go sailing, fishing, take a trip on a speed boat, quad biking and more. There is so much to do but also nothing to do at the same time – depending on your preference for the day. All of that aside, the standout for me is the people. From the incomparable Kayla who is the face of Wild Horses and your first interaction with the lodge, to Marlise the very talented and incredible chef, to your server for your stay, the friendly Miriam and of course there is the charismatic owner of Wild Horses himself Jon Hawkins, his charming wife Trish and their delightful son Scott. It was an honour to spend three marvelous nights at Wild Horses. I was terribly sad to leave – feeling like I was leaving behind family. But I’m excited to return and know – beyond a shadow of a doubt – that my next stay will be as superb as my first. Do yourself a service and spend some time at this tranquil locale. You won’t regret it.

the place is beautiful. Wild views, friendly staff, a trip from Jozi is about 3 hours a break from the long trip to Durban. Close to Lesotho. The dam is just a walk to the lodge.. you have plenty time to fish, Rooms are absolutely Hawkins.

Just spent 3 days (2 nights) at this small but exclusive and extraordinary retreat destination on Sterkfontein Dam. One of those truly rare establishments that leave you feeling as though you are bidding farewell to close family when it’s time to go. Every member of the team was very special in their own way, with such positive vibes in their interaction with each other. Johnny and Trish, Scott, Kayla, Marelize, and Miriam were all wonderful hospitable hosts It saddened us to say goodbye, even knowing that we will be back. Truly the most spectacular location that can only be described as therapeutic in every sense of the word. Rooms have great attention to detail, the gardens are exquisite, food is excellent and views are quite extraordinary. But our lasting memory will be the warm hearted people who made us stay so unforgettable, Kayla and Scott in particular 👍

Just a one night stay I’m afraid (my recommendation would be two). I have to get the elephant in the room out of the way first - I was a bit concerned about the last 20km of road to the property being dirt track and although I have driven on worse in SA, it wasn’t the easiest journey’s end. Still, once there the magic commenced. Staff were incredibly welcoming and wonderfully friendly and chatty throughout; it was like being a house guest (not everyone’s cup of tea perhaps but perfectly appropriate for an intimate four bedroom hotel). A very peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. It was like stepping off the planet - for an all too brief time. The lounge, library, outdoor relaxation areas and small pool were wonderfully appointed - the views of the dam and surrounding mountains and landscape were to die for. Evening meal and the breakfast were an absolute treat - beautifully presented and incredibly tasty. Agreed, dinner was a set menu but from the moment the chef presented her menu for the meal as we supped our pre-dinner drinks, it was equal to the best restaurants I’ve ever dined at (and for comparison that includes the Savoy Grill which I genuinely wouldn’t rate as highly). The restaurant was open fronted that evening providing a stunning panoramic view of the dam as the sun went down; the sublime colours changing every two minutes. An utterly memorable stay from every perspective. I’d read previous TripAdvisor reports and some made reference to unfriendly staff, a cold welcome and other shortcomings. Perhaps those were issues a while back (I don’t know, I wasn’t there!) but certainly not during my stay; quite the opposite in fact. Wild Horses claims five star status and I would agree with them on every single count.

A lot of mixed emotions encountered enroute, however, upon arrival understanding the attraction of the lodge. Placed in a picturesque location and viewpoint of the dam, the relaxing view invites you sit back and enjoy a drink while you forget about the worries of everyday life, this made even easier by the amazing and attentive staff. From the room to the meals and the experience as a whole, absolutely amazing and definitely a bicketlist item achieved with full marks.

The best treatment I ever had. The rooms were clean. The food was out of this world. Thank you Marelize Nothing was an effort for the Hosts. The attention to detail was perfect. The mooring of my boat was save and well maintained. The dirt road to the lodge was a breeze. I will be back, I have to go back!! Thank You Trish, Jon, Scott and Kayla! Special people all of you!! Best Regards

We had the most amazing weekend, beautiful lodge, incredible hospitality , outstanding food ….. we can’t wait to go back. This is a hidden gem. Thank you John , Trish & team . We will definitely be back !

If you don’t know the definition of ‘False Advertising’ then look no further than Wild Horses ‘Exclusive’ Mountain Lodge. We had anticipated a long awaited family holiday in the seclusion of the Eastern Free State, but from the moment you enter the ‘secure estate’ which has at least ten other properties on it, you start to feel something is amiss with regards to the exclusivity of the lodge. The reception staff and manager Kayla is probably the most miserable person I have met (and I include myself in that) and on arrival we were under no illusion that something was definitely amiss. There are only four rooms and they are one on top of each other and are not quite sure what they are in terms of decor but no matter. The issue here is privacy, which there was none of. From the outset, my son’s room only had an electric blanket that warmed half the bed and a television that did not work. No explanation or apology was offered. The attempt at a fireplace was an electric heater that just made a noise and provided bright lights rather than actually heating the room. The first night’s food was reasonable but no choice was offered and that included no choice on how you wanted your fillet cooked, you just accepted what you were given. A perfect example of the ‘False Advertising’ was revealed on that first night when load shedding shut off the heating and plugs. So when their website claims that ‘they are able to keep the lights on’ don’t believe it. At breakfast the following morning we enquired about activities as advertised and were told that if we had bought our own fishing gear and our own mountain bikes then we could happily participate in those. I was almost expecting them to tell us that we should have bought our own masseuse for the spa (which is at an a nearby lodge). In fact if you want to do anything besides take a trip on their overly expensive yacht, you are out of luck. Even the much advertised horse riding appeared to be an effort for Kayla to organise. Lunch was served on the lowest table possible making it extremely uncomfortable to eat and again appeared to be a real chore for the staff. Because of the lack of activities and enthusiasm in recommending anything, the first day was spent at the neighbouring lodge, playing putt-putt and swinging on the swings. The food the second night, again, was reasonable although no choices were offered in the rather dated dining room. Affected by load shedding again on the second night, nobody slept very well and the second day’s activities included a short walk that we planned ourselves with no assistance from management. To be fair this was the only day that we were assisted in booking Quad Biking at the nearby lodge. This was fantastic and kudos to Qwantani Lodge for their exceptional service and friendliness. Arriving back at the lodge mid afternoon we were greeted by a power outage and were not kept updated with regards to the status of it. With the temperatures siting at around 5 degree

What an incredible, beautiful anniversary we spent at this exclusive lodge. We have never experienced a place quite like Wild Horses in its unparalleled beauty and love in every single detail. To say we have not stopped raving about our time there is an understatement. Our anniversary dinner was held in the intimate wine cellar, which was stunning. The staff of their own accord had filled the cellar with romantic candles and placed rose petals in a heart shape on the floor. This was truly so very special to us and we can not express our gratitude enough. Every single person there is attentive, gracious and such a pleasure to be around. The food is phenomenal - every single meal is a masterpiece - Cookie you are a gem! The sailing was spectacular and we loved every minute on the water with Jon. Huge thanks to all for our memorable stay - Miriam, Scott, Kayla, Trish and Jon.