Enjoyable once you accept
Apr 22, 2025 PeteHotelInspiration Chobham, United Kingdom
GENERAL I appreciate Aquila's not the Kruger or the Masai Mara and can only offer a taster of a game safari, however it could be so much better in value. The actual game lodge is very commercial and in parts industrial. Having said that Aquila can be very enjoyable once you accept its short comings. ROOMS Don't opt for a basic Sandard Lodge which… Read more
GENERAL I appreciate Aquila's not the Kruger or the Masai Mara and can only offer a taster of a game safari, however it could be so much better in value. The actual game lodge is very commercial and in parts industrial. Having said that Aquila can be very enjoyable once you accept its short comings. ROOMS Don't opt for a basic Sandard Lodge which is 3 stories high. Rooms face the back industrial/service area and you may as well be at an airport. What little view you get from the small inappropriate windows is obscured as you need to draw the curtains in order other guests/staff dont look in, no privacy, very poor design! The main lodge is inappropriate with its outside corridors resembling old council tenement flats, for goodness sake you're meant to be in a wild African game park! MAIN SWIMMING POOL AND LOUNGER AREA Can be overcrowded and lack shade. When we stayed there were large groups of rowdy drunkern men, not pleasant or what you'd expect in a game lodge. Fortunately this does not happen everyday. However the spa pool and facility was a saviour and a far better option, lovely and peaceful. FOOD AND DRINK Albeit it buffet style the food is very good and tasty ranging from Babotie to Thai Chicken to Cape Malay Lamb Curry and good range of salad, deserts and a reasonable breakfast. If staying 3 days it may however become repetitive as reverts every third day! Restaurant drinks are a slow affair as they share the upstairs bar which is slow and somewhat bad for staff who have to continually climb the steep stairs. In general many (not all) staff tend to group together chatting and are not interactive with guests. They tend to concerntrate on stock taking or look at PC screens! We found this particularly so in the lounge bar, pool bar and spa. One to one they are great, however overall they treat you great. Overall staff need customer care training! Qu. Why TV screens showing UK football in the bar of an African game lodge? We've come here to get away from that. SAFARI DRIVES Overall good but I think you have to view it as a large zoo where animals have to be fed to supplement their diet, fair enough. There are only 4 lions but many White Rhino, Buffalo, Zebra, Hippocampus and 4 Elephants including a circus rescued one now reintroduced into the semi wild. You will not see a Cape Leopard but watch out for the opportunistic Baboons! Our first tour guide was really good and informative, the second was not so good, luck of the draw. Vehicles are old noisy bone shakers and hold 26 people which is far too many. If any animals spotted too many vehicles gather in one spot. Game drives may not be tranquil particularly if babies on board (!) but can still be very enjoyable and most people seem content. We opted out of some drives as staying 3 nights as they became repetitive but still highly recommended. Read less
