Romantic weekend? - NOPE!! Think again!!!!!!

5-7 June 2026 - We booked the Super Deluxe Room (Room 10) for a romantic weekend 5–7 June 2026, expecting a relaxing getaway. Unfortunately, from the moment we opened the door, it was clear that this was not the experience we had paid for. The room had a strong sewage smell, the floors were visibly dirty, and the curtains were falling off the rails. After reporting the issues, reception agreed that the room was in an unacceptable condition and moved us to another unit, Woodlands 2.

Sadly, the replacement accommodation was just as disappointing. There were no blankets when we arrived, and after requesting them from reception, we returned later that evening to find that we still had to make up the bed ourselves. That's when we discovered a severly stained mattress with no mattress protector, a paper-thin fitted sheet, torn bedding, heavily stained carpets, worn furnishings, and a non-functioning electric blanket. The unit was freezing, with no heater, and there was not even soap provided in the bathroom (The Super Deluxe Room had all these amenities).

To make matters worse, the "upgraded unit" looked nothing like the photos on the resort's website or Booking.com. We ended up using spare duvet covers from the single beds as a barrier between ourselves and the dirty mattress because we were very uncomfortable sleeping on it.

After a horrible, sleepless night, we decided we simply could not stay for a second night. We checked out the following morning without even having breakfast and met with the General Manager before leaving. What has been equally disappointing is how our complaint was handled afterward. Following numerous emails, photographs, follow-ups, and an internal review by the resort, they acknowledged the issues but refunded only the unused second night. This completely overlooks the fact that the first night's accommodation was the reason we were forced to leave. We didn't cut our trip short by choice—we left because the accommodation failed to meet even basic standards of cleanliness, comfort, and maintenance.

We requested a full refund of the **R3,250** paid, but only **R1,624.86** was refunded. What an embarresment to the Lodge, the refund of only the unused night appears to suggest that the first night's accommodation was delivered satisfactorily!!!!

We are not writing this review to seek special treatment or to be unfair. We simply want other travellers to know that our experience was nothing like what was advertised. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDIT AND UPDATE 19 AUG 2026 13:13 @ Dunkeld Country Estate Your General Manager (Marlene) contacted us on 28 July 2026, I WAS ACTUALLY SUPER EXCITED about this telephone call! She said she is arranging a NICE Weekend for us!! WOW! Fast Forward to three weeks later - I have been asking Marlene every single week (few times per week) about this "PROMISED WEEKEND". And the reply is the same - STILL WAITING FOR HEAD OFFICE! Aai, sooooo dissapointed to say the least......

EMPTY PROMISES!!!