Dungbeetle River Lodge
The guest house has 6 up-market large, safari style en suite bedrooms, with old world furnishings, s...
Dungbeetle River Lodge
The guest house has 6 up-market large, safari style en suite bedrooms, with old world furnishings, subtly decorated to give you a classy colonial Africa feel, with all the luxuries expected of a 4 Star graded establishment. Your stay will include a very substantial farmhouse breakfast, with fresh home baked breads, jams, cereals, yogurt, eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato and baked beans. Freshly made real fruit juice, coffee and tea. Served on our deck over looking Sundays River. (Supper at a local restaurant with good quality food at excellent prices, within walking distance, braai facilities are also available.)
Dungbeetle River Lodge is your entry point to the world famous Addo Elephant National Park (3 km to the new gate), and some of the finest game reserves in the Eastern Cape. The owners/managers are qualified game/nature guides, and offer guided tours into Addo Elephant National Park, to our guests.
Situated on the banks of the Sundays River, our magnificent decks have sweeping river views, a perfect backdrop to your big five game viewing. Classified as one of the cleanest rivers in the Eastern Cape, swimming is safe, canoes are offered to our guests, as is fishing tackle for the guest who wants an all round river experience. A ferry operates on the river, taking guests to the river mouth.
Opposite the lodge is the famous Alexandria dune fields : the longest widest coastal dunes in the southern hemisphere, full of history and interesting facts. Use the canoes to access these dunes. Guests always enjoy the dune hikes. Perhaps you want to know more about the history, geology, flora and fauna of these amazing dunes. For a nominal fee a boat can collect you at the lodge, drop you off at your starting point, and with a GPS. system and detailed instructions do a self guided tour to the river mouth, where you will again be picked up by boat and brought back to the lodge. (Choose your degree of difficulty). Minimum of 4 persons or be prepared to pay the minimum fee.
Use the lodges cycles or drive to where the Sundays River flows into Algoa Bay. Take a couple of drinks and watch the sun go down over the dune fields, or walk along this beautiful beach. The only people you may see are the occasional fishermen.
Let the Lodge owners assist you in organising your stay: Booking you onto game drives at private game reserves, elephant back safaris, sea cruises on Algoa Bay (perhaps see whales).
Reviews
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"Overnight stay"
20 December 2016"Perfect"
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"One great place that won't disappoint"
11 November 2012"We chose Dungbeetle River Lodge because of their positive reviews and we are so greatly that we made this choice. This sounds corney but what a gem. Simply divine and the credit goes to Etta and Derik, two of the nicest people that you could ever meet. Our only regret is that we did not stay longer. Breakfast was delicious and you must try the bread and home made jams. Rooms were large and very neat and the service was like a five star hotel. Make sure that you arrange a safari drive with Etta."
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"Great place"
19 December 2011"We stayed here for a romantic getaway. Could not have been nicer. Would definitely recommend the afternoon game drive. We will be back."
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"Great"
25 July 2011"Had a brilliant stay here last week. The owners were fantastic and made us feel very welcome. If you are travelling to Addo, it's a must-stay!"
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"Excellent"
17 November 2010"Was like staying with old friends. Excellent welcome, nothing too much trouble, excellent knowledge. Marvelous food. Wish we could have stayed longer. So enjoyed Eta and Derek's company."
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"Lovely setting"
24 February 2010"Thanks to Derek and Etta for making us welcome. Both were excellent hosts in a lovely setting."
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"Dungbeetle river lodge"
25 December 2009"Derek & Hetta are most wonderful host's They know everything about Addo park and help in any way they can. Breakfast is perfect"
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"Dungbeetle river lodge"
25 December 2009"Derek & Hetta are most wonderful host's They know everything about Addo park and help in any way they can. Breakfast is perfect"
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"Recommended"
28 September 2009"Great experience."
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"Recommended"
28 September 2009"Great experience."
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"Great Location"
05 May 2009"Stayed 2 nights at Dungbeetle River Lodge and it was great. Booked the Elephant Suite and got the Big 5 Suite, a very good and spacious room. Lovely hosts made us feel at home. Loved to sit at the terrace and look over the river to the dunes. Safe environment, walked to restaurant for dinner. Would like to come back and stay longer. Will recommend the lodge to all our friends."
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"Great Location"
05 May 2009"Stayed 2 nights at Dungbeetle River Lodge and it was great. Booked the Elephant Suite and got the Big 5 Suite, a very good and spacious room. Lovely hosts made us feel at home. Loved to sit at the terrace and look over the river to the dunes. Safe environment, walked to restaurant for dinner. Would like to come back and stay longer. Will recommend the lodge to all our friends."
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"Dungbeetle Lodge"
13 March 2009"A lovely lodge, well stocked and everything has been thought of.One of the other guests mentioned that there's a lot of love in the little things and i would totally agree.ideal if you are feeling sociable and up for meeting and eating with other guests.less suitable if you want complete privacy.we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and the people we were with were great fun but given the slightly enforced togetherness would recommend this lodge for 2 nights max."
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"Dungbeetle Lodge"
13 March 2009"A lovely lodge, well stocked and everything has been thought of. One of the other guests mentioned that there's a lot of love in the little things and i would totally agree.ideal if you are feeling sociable and up for meeting and eating with other guests. less suitable if you want complete privacy. we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and the people we were with were great fun but given the slightly enforced togetherness would recommend this lodge for 2 nights max."
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"Dungbeetle Lodge"
02 December 2008"Wonderful stay.Very welcoming and knowledgeable hosts.Lovely comfortable rooms. Wish we could have stayed longer and hope to return soon."
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"Dungbeetle Lodge"
02 December 2008"Wonderful stay. Very welcoming and knowledgeable hosts. Lovely comfortable rooms. Wish we could have stayed longer and hope to return soon."
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"Great"
12 May 2008"Our stay was great, we unfortunately were not there long enough to use the canoesbut I would love to stay there again.Thank you for everything, we felt that it was a home away from home."
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"Fantastic time"
10 March 2008"Although we stayed only one night, we had a fantastic time - would have loved to have stayed longer. Everyone was so helpful and friendly - our children had a great time on the Sundays River in the canoes. "
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"Recommended"
06 March 2008"Derek and Etta were very helpful and friendly and the lodge itself was clean and comfortable. They advised us of the local points of interest, including an unforgettable canoe trip up the Sundays River."
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"Fantastic"
24 February 2008"Could not have been better, the only downside was we were only there for 2 nights, could have spent a week there. Everything was excellent even the game drive with Etta in Addo park."
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"What a fantastic place. "
17 February 2008"What a fantastic couple. We are locals and not foreign travellers. On that note I learned so much culturally about my own culture "South African" from Etta who makes everything a wonderful lesson about the culture of the area. A truly great place an I encourage everyone to stay there even if they are local."
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"Fantastic"
04 December 2007"This was the peak of our SA journey with a wonderful room and wonderful people. Edda and team organised all the trips to the Addo Park for us and really gave us the feeling that we were much more than simply guests for a couple of days."
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"Fantastic"
28 October 2007"Wonderfully situated guesthouse very close to ADDO, great hospitality, great dog :-) "
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" Very comfortable"
10 July 2007"We thouroughly enjoyed our stay at the Dungbeetle Lodge, and appreciated the personal attention paid to us by Derek & Etta. The accommodation is very comfortable, and they were very informative about the surrounding area and what there is to do and see. "
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"A great place to stay."
09 July 2007"Wonderful setting on the banks of the Sundays and close to Addo; comfortable rooms; Derek and Etta are very helpful and considerate - almost like family - and Etta's breakfasts are unbeatable! We'll be back."
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"Accommodation and hospitality"
03 May 2007"A delightful lodge with all the home comforts. Charming hosts who go out of their way to ensure a pleasant and relaxing stay. Huge comfortable beds and a more than adequate delicious breakfast. Will certainly recommend to friends and family."
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"A great place to stay"
20 March 2007"Excellent accommodation, beautifully situated and professionally run. Breakfast was superb. Well deserved its 4 star rating. Extremely helpful and friendly couple of hosts.A lovely touch was their welcoming drink on the deck overlooking the river. Will definitely return."
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"Wished we could have stayed longer......"
11 February 2007"We eventually arrived after the longest day of travelling ever, and Etta and Derek were so welcoming!They showed us to the most beautiful rooms and then took us off for a free welcome drink by the river.Bless them!The rooms were so beautifully decorated and the doors were amazing!As we were only staying for one night, we didn't really get to experience everything, but Etta was happy to let us check out late (as we had a morning safari at Addo), and even made us breakfast when we got back.We could not have asked for a nicer friendlier place to stay.Will definitely be back - and look forward to spending more time there."
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"Great stay, great B/B, great people"
28 December 2006"Everything was great thanks."
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"Homemade bread and jam"
28 November 2006"Dungbeetle River Lodge is a very pleasant place to stay. It is close to Addo and has beautiful sand dunes that are amazing. We had a lovely breakfast on the deck with home made bread and jam, and freshly squeezed juice. <br/><br/>The hosts are extremely friendly and helpful with good local knowledge."
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"We should have stayed longer!"
25 October 2006"We stayed at the Dungbeetle River Lodge for only one night. <br/><br/>We regretted that we did not book there for a longer time. <br/><br/>Etta and Derek are such great hosts! They show real interest in their guests, trying that you feel comfortable and have a good time while staying there and there are so many things you can do when staying at the lodge. <br/><br/>We went canoeing to the other side of the river into the dunes. <br/>Wonderful and what we will remember most; the breakfast on the terrasse overlooking the river, with homemade bread (delicious) and everything you could desire. <br/><br/>We have been three weeks in South Africa and at the Dungbeetle River Lodge we experienced the most friendly hosts of all our trip!"
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"Great time"
11 September 2006"Had a great time at the Lodge.Etta & Derek made everyone feel at home and we had a wonderful stay.Usually we would pass straight through Colchester on our way to PE / Jeffreys Bay but this time we had the opportunity to stay in Colchester at the Dungbeetle lodge.Would definitely recommend this little piece of paradise."
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"Great time"
11 September 2006"Had a great time at the Lodge. Etta & Derek made everyone feel at home and we had a wonderful stay. Usually we would pass straight through Colchester on our way to PE / Jeffreys Bay but this time we had the opportunity to stay in Colchester at the Dungbeetle lodge. Would definitely recommend this little piece of paradise."
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"A very genuine welcome from a charming couple."
20 August 2006"Our family of 6 (grandparent, parents and children aged 11-17) enjoyed a very brief overnight here, where we couldn't have been made more welcome without being imposed upon! Derek and Etta went out of their way to make us feel at home, including rising to make us breakfast for 6.45, so that we could go on an early morning trip to Addo and helping the boys with the canoes. "
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"A very genuine welcome from a charming couple."
20 August 2006"Our family of 6 (grandparent, parents and children aged 11-17) enjoyed a very brief overnight here, where we couldn't have been made more welcome without being imposed upon! Derek and Etta went out of their way to make us feel at home, including rising to make us breakfast for 6.45, so that we could go on an early morning trip to Addo and helping the boys with the canoes."
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"Dungbeetle River Lodge"
24 March 2006"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Dungbeetle.Etta and Derek went above and beyond our expectations to provide a wonderful home away from home, with fabulous food (much of which had a traditional South African story to accompany it), beautiful rooms (there were 10 of us, taking up 5 rooms), and a wealth of information about local flora, fauna, history, food and activities.We would certainly return for another visit!:)"
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"Dungbeetle River Lodge"
24 March 2006"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Dungbeetle. Etta and Derek went above and beyond our expectations to provide a wonderful home away from home, with fabulous food (much of which had a traditional South African story to accompany it), beautiful rooms (there were 10 of us, taking up 5 rooms), and a wealth of information about local flora, fauna, history, food and activities. We would certainly return for another visit! :)"
