"Very friendly owners and staff that went out of their way to make our stay comfortable. The peacefull atmosphere and tropical garden is wonderfull! The lodge is centrally situated and near restaurants and shops. I can recommend the lodge to anyone and would definitely stay there again when we return..."

"Very friendly owners and staff that went out of their way to make our stay comfortable. The peacefull atmosphere and tropical garden is wonderfull! The lodge is centrally situated and near restaurants and shops. I can recommend the lodge to anyone and would definitely stay there again when we return!"

"Just simply perfect in every way!
"

"When coming into Umlilo, it feels like you are entering into the Amazon Forest area. The way the entire place has been laid out, it really is amazing. The breakfasts were stunning. Umlilo is perfectly situated very close to the restaurants & shops in St Lucia so it is a very short walk to go out at..."

"When coming into Umlilo, it feels like you are entering into the Amazon Forest area. The way the entire place has been laid out, it really is amazing. The breakfasts were stunning. Umlilo is perfectly situated very close to the restaurants & shops in St Lucia so it is a very short walk to go out at night. We really enjoyed our stay & will definitely return."

"Our stay at Umlilo Lodge was a real treat. My wife and I, together with our friends, stayed there for one night on our tour through South Africa. The surroundings, the rooms as well as the breakfast matched the friendliness of the owners."

"Very nice lodge!"

"We can't fault the place. Great atmosphere and attention to detail. Owners were very friendly and helped us book a cruise down the river. Great place to stay all round!"

"Although we only stayed for two nights and did not get to fully enjoy the facilities, Umlilo Lodge was an exceptional place to stay. The logs and green plants made it a serene and calm setting. Laurence and his mom were very welcoming. We've decided to go back next year."

"Excellent accommodation. Staff are friendly and accommodating in all aspects. Will recommend to anyone going that way."

"Our stay at Umlilo was great from start to finish, the staff are very friendly and helpful. The setting at the lodge is also great, and delicious breakfasts.

A very good package and well priced too."

"Great place. The pictures do not do the lodge justice. It's like staying in the middle of a jungle and there's a hippo hot spot just outside the lodge. Highly recommended."

" Would return again."

"We thought the guest lodge was very nice and very well-maintained. We loved the tropical setting! "

"We were there on our Honeymoon, what a great place, and the owners Lourens and his wife and mother are hands on, and very friendly, i must say this...the food ( breakfast) is ample, fresh and excellent, and they have a great variety...

Grandma can cook, (and bake great scones, pancakes, and m..."

"We were there on our Honeymoon, what a great place, and the owners Lourens and his wife and mother are hands on, and very friendly, i must say this...the food ( breakfast) is ample, fresh and excellent, and they have a great variety...

Grandma can cook, (and bake great scones, pancakes, and muffins), and she knows the place like the back of her hand, she was the best tour guide ever....

They cleaned the place like clock work, whilst we were having breakfast, it was always neat and tidy

The 'Honesty bar came in very handy', if you run out of something to drink

We loved sitting in the open air lounge, very comfortable furniture and tranquil - a great place for smokers to hang out...

We went to another B&B, and it just could not compare - BRAVO GUYS - keep it up, you deserve 5 stars

Reinier & Salome Geel"

"My wife and I really enjoyed our stay at this establishment, the room was kept neat as well as the owners were very friendly. Even the set-up makes you feel you are away from the city life, sound of water flowing pass gives you that relaxing mood,"

"Very friendly staff. Lourens and Es run their lodge very well. They make you feel at home and do care a lot. We highly recommend a stay with them!

Peter Quint & Mieke SchaminŽe, the Netherlands."

"Just a one night getaway, place was quiet, clean and well organized."

"The visit to Umlilo Lodge was awesome we had a desire of extending the weekend but we couldnt.

This is a good place to relax with your partner and listen to the relaxing sound of the water which runs the whole night.

The rooms are very clean and smell fresh. That is a place to revisit..."

"The visit to Umlilo Lodge was awesome we had a desire of extending the weekend but we couldnt.

This is a good place to relax with your partner and listen to the relaxing sound of the water which runs the whole night.

The rooms are very clean and smell fresh. That is a place to revisit. "

"Location - perfect!

Venue - stunning!

Hospitality - could not ask for better!

Rooms - comfiest, I already miss it!

Ambiance - peaceful!"

"Umlilo lodge is a beautiful designed place near the center with restaurants and shops in walking distance, but still a quiet place to stay.

The owners and the staff are very friendly and helpful and makes the stay for you as comfortable as possible.

We highly recommend that place."

"The hostess was very friendly, kindly and helpful.

The location in the center of the city had a safe feeling.

Unfortunately we spent only two days in this region, but perhaps there will be a next time"

"Very nice, people friendly and helpful, setting beautiful we will return again."

"Wonderful stay; unforgettable hostess. very warm welcome. a place to be and for returning!!"

"It is strange how easy it is to mix the thoughts of your journey, and gauge it by the quality of your accommodation. Rattle of long sentences to judge, but basically these are things to make us look good and I think this is wrong.

When writing this review to describe our stay one word kept ..."

"It is strange how easy it is to mix the thoughts of your journey, and gauge it by the quality of your accommodation. Rattle of long sentences to judge, but basically these are things to make us look good and I think this is wrong.

When writing this review to describe our stay one word kept popping into my head, and that word is 'solid'.

A strange word to describe a stay but I'll try to elaborate.

The accommodation is laid out in a 2 story, open plan configuration surrounded by a security wall and gates - Solid

The well stocked, open plan honesty bar, lounge and satellite TV configuration - Solid

The air conditioned rooms with TV and spacious bathroom facilities - Solid

The open air meals stoop, layout and quality - Solid

I could easily take individual parts and describe them, but I would still come up with the same one word - Solid

The only thing that wasn't solid was the owners and staff, and their approach to bookings, help, and our general wellbeing during our stay.

Now I have to reach for the word - Exceptional

We annually take our holidays from Australia to South Africa and travel the garden Route. It is not uncommon for us to travel anywhere between 4 to 6 thousand kilometers and stay in many different types of accommodation from the 'upmarket' to the 'not so up market'. This is the first time we could pause, take stock and relax knowing that everything was...Solid

Thank you for our stay and we WILL be back.

Just not when the soccer is on! Go the Wallabies!"

"This lodge was ideally situated near the centre of St. Lucia. The people were very kind and especially at breakfast there was always the kind smile & service of the lady of the house. The lodge has a nice and cosy atmosphere and it looks very tropical with lots of plants and streaming water. A major..."

"This lodge was ideally situated near the centre of St. Lucia. The people were very kind and especially at breakfast there was always the kind smile & service of the lady of the house. The lodge has a nice and cosy atmosphere and it looks very tropical with lots of plants and streaming water. A major disadvantage of this is however that the humidity was very high and wet clothes etc does not dry very well (even after 2 days our wet clothes after a fantastic whale watching adventure was not yet completely dry..)"

"It is like a little jungle inside the little town. My wife and I absolutely loved it. Umlilo lodge will definitely see us again."

"We had a great relaxing stay in a beautiful, tranquil setting. It was a great place to take my small child as she was safe and enjoyed every minute. The accommodation was beautiful. A definite must. We'll visit again!"

"Very neat place , friendly people , always willing to go the extra mile , breakfast very nice and the place looks fabulous , we will definitely go back to Umlilo Lodge "

"It's was one of the most beautiful, tranquil accommodations I've ever stayed in. We will most definitely be back. Es was soo sweet & hospitable, not to mention extremely hands on. It was very sad having to leave... Could've spent another month there at least. Thank you!"

"We enjoyed our stay at the Umlilo Lodge in St. Lucia very much. Beautiful tropical garden atmosphere. "

"My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Umlilo. The room was great and Es made us feel special and welcome. The breakfasts were delicious. We will definitely go back and stay there next time we return to St Lucia. Thank-You very much."

"Thats all I can say about Umlilo Lodge ! "

" - the staff go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. They organise excursions and even packed us breakfasts and lunches when we left too early in the morning to make the breakfast. I would recommend Umlilo to everyone."

"We enjoyed every moment! "

" Es made us feel at home. The setting is beautiful, the hotel and rooms gorgeous, and all the staff excellent. All email correspondence prior to the time was dealt with quickly and Es pre booked a number of excellent tours we wanted to go on , not an easy task as there were 2 couples, and the four o..."

" Es made us feel at home. The setting is beautiful, the hotel and rooms gorgeous, and all the staff excellent. All email correspondence prior to the time was dealt with quickly and Es pre booked a number of excellent tours we wanted to go on , not an easy task as there were 2 couples, and the four of us changed our minds a few times. Es was ever helpful despite all of this hassle. Everything ran like clockwork. I would definitely recommend Umlilo lodge as a fabulous place to stay in St Lucia- we would definitely stay there on any future visits. "

"excellent"

"A hide-away for two, in amazing surroundings. "

"We really felt as part of the family there. I really NEVER experienced such a warm hearted welcome and stay,the charming couple treated us like real family members,it was hardly believable. The garden with frogs, little bridges to the rooms and the gurgling little water source was most enticing too...."

"We really felt as part of the family there. I really NEVER experienced such a warm hearted welcome and stay,the charming couple treated us like real family members,it was hardly believable. The garden with frogs, little bridges to the rooms and the gurgling little water source was most enticing too.

If we ever came back to St.Lucia we shall stay there again. "

"We had a perfect 3 days there, the hospitality, rooms and food were all we could ask for and we will definitely return."

"We had a wonderful 3 day stay here. It was perfect,the room was lovely, breakfast superb, second to none. The hosts were very friendly and extremely helpful, nothing was too much for them. They gave us good information on the area which we felt was unbiased and based on what we wanted to do rather t..."

"We had a wonderful 3 day stay here. It was perfect,the room was lovely, breakfast superb, second to none. The hosts were very friendly and extremely helpful, nothing was too much for them. They gave us good information on the area which we felt was unbiased and based on what we wanted to do rather than any other agendas on their part. I would definitly stay here again."

"Umlilo is a lovely place from which to explore St Lucia. Close to the shops but still secluded and tranquil. The staff are superb and the gurgling stream running through it makes for a peaceful nights sleep. The little touches, like beach towels and multi-cultural breakfasts are special. Will certai..."

"Umlilo is a lovely place from which to explore St Lucia. Close to the shops but still secluded and tranquil. The staff are superb and the gurgling stream running through it makes for a peaceful nights sleep. The little touches, like beach towels and multi-cultural breakfasts are special. Will certainly return, for longer. Thanks."

"A very pleasant stay with welcoming, friendly, and helpful owners"

"Yes we enjoyed our stay."

"We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 night stay at Umlilo Lodge. Lourens, Elphia and Co. were all extremely friendly and went out of their way to make us us feel most welcome at their establishment.

The rooms were modern, very clean and had all required amenities.

The natural and creative surro..."

"We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 night stay at Umlilo Lodge. Lourens, Elphia and Co. were all extremely friendly and went out of their way to make us us feel most welcome at their establishment.

The rooms were modern, very clean and had all required amenities.

The natural and creative surroundings made one feel as if in a tranquil and relaxing environment.

Breakfasts adjacent to the pool area was both varied, plentiful and enjoyable.

We will certainly recommend this establishement to all our friends and family, and plan to return on our next vacation to the area."

"We found our stay at Umlilo very very enjoyable and would go there any time again. 'S' is a very hospitable person and made us feel very welcome."

"Beautiful place lovely garden.
Good atmosphere.
Many things to discover around.
Good organisation.
Friendly service."

"The only thing better than the wonderful accommodation was the very accommodating nature of the hosts. They couldn't have been more helpful and in such an easy and warm way too. This is how a professional lodge should be run, with ease and subtlety. We can only thank the hosts for a great stay in su..."

"The only thing better than the wonderful accommodation was the very accommodating nature of the hosts. They couldn't have been more helpful and in such an easy and warm way too. This is how a professional lodge should be run, with ease and subtlety. We can only thank the hosts for a great stay in such a lovely environment. It was like living in an impeccably designed treehouse which my children were particularly fond of. A great place to rest and relax. "

"We had a very pleasant stay. The staff and owner were very helpful."

"We spent 3 relaxing nights in a nice environment. Friendly and helpful people, giving us suggestions on where to go and what to visit in the surroundings, arranging everything for us with care. Somewhat humid the rooms right over the water, but nicely furnished and well equipped."

"It was a very pleasant stay in a most beautiful environment. We all really loved the garden with all trees and flowers. The atmosphere was perfect with the wooden structures as a contrast to boring standard concrete facilities, a very important part in our selection of accommodations. On top of that..."

"It was a very pleasant stay in a most beautiful environment. We all really loved the garden with all trees and flowers. The atmosphere was perfect with the wooden structures as a contrast to boring standard concrete facilities, a very important part in our selection of accommodations. On top of that a very friendly host, supporting with anything needed. It would be a pleasure coming back again."

"Umlilo se trouve à ste Lucia, nous l'avions choisi pour ses constructions en bois et c'était super. L'accueil a été très chaleureux,nous conseillant les meilleurs tours à faire avec nos enfants,nous aidant même à porter nos valises. La chambre et la salle de bain sont spacieuses toutes décorées de b..."

"Umlilo se trouve à ste Lucia, nous l'avions choisi pour ses constructions en bois et c'était super. L'accueil a été très chaleureux,nous conseillant les meilleurs tours à faire avec nos enfants,nous aidant même à porter nos valises. La chambre et la salle de bain sont spacieuses toutes décorées de bois. Le petit déjeuner a été très copieux et la dame était aux petits soins pour nous . C'est très agréable de se faire chouchouter comme cela.

(RoomsForAfrica translation)

Umlilo Lodge, we chose it for its wooden buildings and it was great. The welcome was very warm, advising us the best tours to do with our children; they even helped carry our bags. The bedroom and bathroom are spacious, all decorated in wood. The breakfast was very rich and the lady was very attentive to us. It's great to be pampered like that.
"

"Nice pool and place to have breakfast. It has a beautiful Bar. It is a very cozy place. The staff are friendly. Thank you."

"Such a nice place to stay in a wonderful area. We were made to feel so personally welcome, not to mention the great food and ambience."

"We (family w. 3 children) enjoyed Umlilo Lodge a lot! Everything was right: spacious, comfortable rooms/bathrooms, the place has a very nice "tropical" look and feel, breakfast was excellent, staff including the owners were very helpful and after a day of seafishing everything was provided for to br..."

"We (family w. 3 children) enjoyed Umlilo Lodge a lot! Everything was right: spacious, comfortable rooms/bathrooms, the place has a very nice "tropical" look and feel, breakfast was excellent, staff including the owners were very helpful and after a day of seafishing everything was provided for to braai our own fish. We definitely recommend this place."

"Umlilo Lodge is a tranquil oasis in the delightful resort of St Lucia. The accommodation is in traditional African style, but with all mod. cons. Rooms are stylishly decorated, spacious and comfortable. Every attention to detail is given at Umlilo Lodge (eg. beach towels provided, honesty bar, br..."

"Umlilo Lodge is a tranquil oasis in the delightful resort of St Lucia. The accommodation is in traditional African style, but with all mod. cons. Rooms are stylishly decorated, spacious and comfortable. Every attention to detail is given at Umlilo Lodge (eg. beach towels provided, honesty bar, braai facilities). The gardens have been beautifully designed with lush vegetation at various levels and boardwalks across a stream. Breakfast on the terrace is very relaxing and a time to plan the day ahead, although with its swimming pool set amidst such beautiful surroundings it's hard to tear yourself away from Umlilo. The owners made our stay feel special, we were sad to leave, but intend to return."

"We were suppose to stay one night at Umlilo lodge but we loved the place sooo much that we decided to stay two more nights. The whole lodge had a very peaceful atmosphere and was very nice in every way. The rooms and all other guest areas were great and the service was super.

I can definite..."

"We were suppose to stay one night at Umlilo lodge but we loved the place sooo much that we decided to stay two more nights. The whole lodge had a very peaceful atmosphere and was very nice in every way. The rooms and all other guest areas were great and the service was super.

I can definitely recommend everybody to stay at this lodge!
"

"We recently had an 8 night stay at the wonderful Umlilo Lodge. On arrival after an incredibly long drive we we're very pleased to have arrived at such a peaceful beautiful lodge. We shown to our rooms and as the door opened and I looked in, I was more that delighted to see a wonderful room. It wa..."

"We recently had an 8 night stay at the wonderful Umlilo Lodge. On arrival after an incredibly long drive we we're very pleased to have arrived at such a peaceful beautiful lodge. We shown to our rooms and as the door opened and I looked in, I was more that delighted to see a wonderful room. It was clean, neat and exceedingly tidy and absolutely beautiful. The decor was relaxing and luxurious, and the bathroom was delightful. A real African feel!

Each morning an excellent breakfast was served, which saw us through the day of activities until dinner.

I wound definitely stay at Umlilo Lodge, St Lucia again. The family that run the lodge are lovely and made us feel incredibly comfortable and really made our stay in St Lucia a great one. Many thanks to you all."

"The accommodation and facilities were good. Breakfasts were excellent and the lodge hosts were friendly, helpful, informative and very accommodating. The staff assisting the hosts were friendly and efficient. The lodge decor and flora is beautiful.

Would recommend to large groups and pare..."

"The accommodation and facilities were good. Breakfasts were excellent and the lodge hosts were friendly, helpful, informative and very accommodating. The staff assisting the hosts were friendly and efficient. The lodge decor and flora is beautiful.

Would recommend to large groups and parents. Not a place for couples looking for a tranquil getaway."

"We had a very nice and pleasant time. We arrived at the 1st of january. No restaurant open. And there we ate some good lasagna!!! Super.
The lunchbox we got for our daytrip to Cape Vidal was another succes.
Service with a big smile.
"

"We had a very good stay in Umlilo Lodge.
Our family room was big enough for four people, staff very helpful and breaksfat good.
Nice swimming pool."

"On a very hot summer's day, Umlilo lodge was the air conditioning that we longed for. Excellent service, delicious breakfast and caring people. Thank you so much, we'll definitely visit again!"

"Our 3 nights at Umlilo Lodge were ones of fantastic relaxation and replete with massive breakfast consumption - I think we put on about 1kg a day! And this is despite the lodge's close proximity to "town" - walking to restaurants is a short distance away so as the designated driver, I could enjoy a..."

"Our 3 nights at Umlilo Lodge were ones of fantastic relaxation and replete with massive breakfast consumption - I think we put on about 1kg a day! And this is despite the lodge's close proximity to "town" - walking to restaurants is a short distance away so as the designated driver, I could enjoy a few glasses of wine every night. There's plenty to do at the lodge should you get stuck with rainy weather - there are loads of movies taped on the PVR, a lovely wide screen TV and free fast internet. All in all, we had a marvelous time and will recommend the lodge to all and sundry who are visiting St Lucia. Oh, and there's no malaria in St Lucia, so don't do what we did and spend 00's of rands on bug spray and anti-mozzie stuff, you don't need it. Last but not least is the wonderfully friendly service we received there - they went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed, including drawing maps for us etc."

"Umlilo Lodge is absolutely fantastic. The hospitality is superb, greeted with a smile every morning and loads of wonderful foods. Twice we made use of some other facilities and Es really helped us a great deal. Umlilo Lodge is magnificent; it’s a lovely get away but still close enough to all the sho..."

"Umlilo Lodge is absolutely fantastic. The hospitality is superb, greeted with a smile every morning and loads of wonderful foods. Twice we made use of some other facilities and Es really helped us a great deal. Umlilo Lodge is magnificent; it’s a lovely get away but still close enough to all the shops to indulge. Our stay was short but wonderful and I would go back anytime."

"The management team from Hencon Handling, consisting of 13 people, spent an enjoyable evening at Umlilo Lodge on the 16th November 2007. Our friendly hostess, Es, made all the arrangements for a sundowner boat cruise on the lake as well as the braai around the boma area. Accommodation was of a high ..."

"The management team from Hencon Handling, consisting of 13 people, spent an enjoyable evening at Umlilo Lodge on the 16th November 2007. Our friendly hostess, Es, made all the arrangements for a sundowner boat cruise on the lake as well as the braai around the boma area. Accommodation was of a high standard and very comfortable. Breakfast on the deck around the pool was well presented and very enjoyable. All in all, Umlilo Lodge met our expectations and we would definitely make use of their facilities in the future. Highly recommended! "

"What a delightful place. The rooms are spacious, clean and beautifully decorated. The atmosphere and setting amongst the trees is just so special and everyone was so friendly - it felt like being at home!

I would like to highly recommend Umlilo! The perfect place to stay while in St. Lucia!"

"Absolutely perfect. Friendly greeting on arrival, good help with getting tours in St. Lucia, fantastic environment at the guesthouse - best place we visited in South Africa!
"

"Nice rooms, very tasteful design, good beds, good service and a good price. We will come back."

"We had a great stay at Umlilo Lodge. Es could not have been more friendly and accommodating. We felt right at home and the accommodations were beautiful and picturesque. We were happy to not run into any hippos in the evening outside the lodge."

"We stayed 3 nights at umlilo! What a beautiful place! very nice rooms, beautiful setting, it really is a small paradise!! everybody very friendly, helpful and hospitable. Excellent breakfast with every day different items!! we can really recommend this place to everybody!"

"We were very impressed with Umlilo Lodge. We arrived from the UK and travelled straight up to St Lucia. Although we arrived late in the evening we received a very warm welcome despite the rainy conditions, which lasted throughout our 3 day stay. The quality of the accommodation and service made up f..."

"We were very impressed with Umlilo Lodge. We arrived from the UK and travelled straight up to St Lucia. Although we arrived late in the evening we received a very warm welcome despite the rainy conditions, which lasted throughout our 3 day stay. The quality of the accommodation and service made up for the bleak conditions. The rooms were very spacious and extremely well decorated - almost palacial. The honesty bar and lounging area was a pleasant bonus and the guest house offered a good breakfast spread.

Umlilo Lodge was very "Africany" but didn't lack any luxury or comfort - it was like a little world on its own.

A big thumbs-up from the entire party (all four of us)"

"Heavenly, best describes our visit to Umlilo Lodge. From the first enquiry to our last day there the service was nothing but professional and efficient. From the beautiful rooms, stunning garden and swimming pool to the excellent breakfasts we were truly pampered. Lourens and Es sure have a winni..."

"Heavenly, best describes our visit to Umlilo Lodge. From the first enquiry to our last day there the service was nothing but professional and efficient. From the beautiful rooms, stunning garden and swimming pool to the excellent breakfasts we were truly pampered. Lourens and Es sure have a winning recipe here. True hospitality and a relaxed atmosphere made our experience unforgettable."