THABA TSHWENE GAME LODGE

I attach below a email as sent to management at Thaba Tshwene Game lodge which have to date not even sent an apology or responded. I am beyond disgusted and shocked and am investigating who rated this lodge as this is unacceptable.

It is with great disappointment that we leave such a beautiful venue like Thaba Tshwene this morning.

This booking was made as a gift from my mother for my Husband and I as our 40th Birthday present. Being on SASSA she had saved long to be able afford such an extravagant gift.

To now have to go home and say that it was not worth it is a heartbreaking and a total dissapointment thought.

Our booking showed as on website and photo attached. We arrived a bit early and we were greeted friendly by Romana and asked to please enjoy a drink in the cigar bar as rooms are not ready, which is acceptable as it is standard with most lodges.

However on our return to reception at 14:00 we were greeted by 2younger ladies who gave us a key and said we can go to the spa at 3. On our request to check that we had booked a game drive as part of the package we were told there are not welcome drinks or a game drive for us. At which a gentleman who was at the door (who did not greet) rep**** the game viewers tyres are flat and he was not informed of a game drive. We decided to leave it and look for our room. As I did not have my printed Itinerary to argue the subject immediately.

On entry of our room we were immediately dissapointed again. Room anemenities on website aswell as Itinerary says KING BED which can split- ours was two single beds (so already split) on our booking says couple, not sure which couples get a romantic get away and then want to sleep in separate beds?. On further look we do not have an outside bath like on website advertised and once again on our itinerary, what a HUGE disappointment to say the least. There is no reason to not have received the room as advertised as the lodge only had 6guests.

But once again I say let it be as we will make best of the situation. Push the single beds together and we off to our spa booking.

What a divine experience with a stunning spa and an amazing team that Maria and her ladies run at the spa.

But back to the lodge😔. We shower and go to bar to have a drink and order dinner. Thabang is amazing a plan maker, hard worker, and was the only reason I didnt leave last night already. Worked hard to keep us happy. Get menus order starters, they dont have two of the three things we want to order. Finally ask if they can make a small chicken ceasar salad as a starter. Salad comes- no parmasean, no apple, no croutons so my salad was chicken and lettuce on a small plate- which see on invoice was paid for infull. Poor Neo - chef- must have apologised 10times. Mains come- eisbein has a smell of a boar and was not nice. At 8:30 I decide I want something sweet. I am informed they only have cheese cake. I order and it is served frozen SOLID piece of cheese cake, pushed a soon in with all my force and could not even get it in, and yet paid full for something I could not even eat! At 21:00 went to our room. To find only one channel set in on tv ETV which played Zulu programmes and we could not understand or watch anything with no other options. Website says certain DSTV channels, I did see the notice about there only being SABC 1 2 3 and a movie channel. But not even this was available. So we sleep. Beds sheets are not on properly and before I even lie down I pull right my onw beds sheets. Which moved all night and I ended up lying on a bare mattress.

After not so great nights sleep we pack up as breakfast is served from 7-10 as we were told at reception. 08:00 and no one insight at breakfast parlour. Let our selves in and wait. Only once I went doen to reception to ask where is everyone and what time breakfast is served did staff come. We sat on deck which had not been cleaned.

Over all defnitely not an experience I wish for anyone that books in at a 4star lodge and saves to pay for the experience.

Thaba Tshwene can be grateful for their friendly staff that Atleast tried their best to make it a friendly stay. But from a management point of view I have NEVER been i such a badly managed lodge and it was defiantly not one I would recommend to any one. Unfortunately hello pieter is a place where people should be warned about staying over in such a badly managed lodge.

I send this email to hope that future guests will not have to endure such an experience.