Exterior View - Dulini Lodge, Safari, South Africa
Hearth at Dulini Lodge, Safari, South Africa
Deck Lounge at Dulini Lodge, Safari, South Africa
At a Glance
This gem of a property is lovingly run and the owners’ personal touch is evident, from the warm staff and customized meals to the luxurious, handpicked details in the lodge’s six suites.
Indagare Loves
The intimate riverside setting, great for game viewing
The excellent chef who customizes meals (which are always private)
The hands-on owners who run Dulini like their home
Review
The first thing you’ll notice upon arriving at Dulini is how shaded it is. Ebony and leadwood trees create a canvas over the thatch-roof structures of this small and intimate lodge on the riverbanks. Iain Garratt, the proprietor, greets every arrival with a warm smile and a cold drink. In fact, he is on hand and on property almost all the time, sometimes with his wife and kids. This attention comes through in the care and detail in which this six-suite lodge is run. With a maximum of twelve guests at one time, Iain gets to know the travelers who come to Dulini, and usually it is a self-selecting group of people who value the intimacy and personal touch offered here.
The owners’ warmth extends to the staff, and it’s clear there is a close and respectful relationship with their employers. Overall, it creates an atmosphere where you truly feel like a guest in someone’s home. The chef meets you upon arrival not only to inquire about dietary requirements, but what food in particular you want to eat and how you want to dine – in such a small property, it’s possible to set up private table settings wherever possible. There is no restaurant here, just options for dining venues. Dulini achieves what other lodges strive for: a bespoke experience.
Instead of building more rooms, Dulini wisely used its space to build large, luxurious suites. Each suite is 1,500 square feet, with a plunge pool and a direct view of the riverbed, an artery to the main river that attracts a high density of wildlife. While there is an electric fence to keep out elephants, smaller animals like antelope and leopards still get through, and it’s not unusual to see them in the grassy courtyard between the main lodge and the rooms.
As with many small lodges in the area, Dulini shares the land with neighboring lodges for game drives. Collectively, Dulini traverses 10,000 hectares (roughly 25,000 acres) of bush, and information on sightings is shared by rangers from the various lodges. Iain was a ranger himself before opening Dulini in 2013, and he prides himself in selecting and training some of the best guides in the area. Dulini also shares the airstrip at Ulusaba.
Who Should Stay
Dulini is for travelers who want to connect not just with nature but with the community that makes safari such a special experience. The owners and staff welcome you to their home, and the intimacy of this lodge sets it apart from the larger and more commercial properties.
Note: Dulini only takes children eight years old and up (most lodges require 10 & up) but with just six suites, a multi-generational family can easily take over the property, in which case kids of any age are welcome.
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Pool Lounge at Dulini Lodge, Safari, South Africa
Pool Lounge at Dulini Lodge, Safari, South Africa
Bedroom at Dulini Lodge, Safari, South Africa
Pool Lounge at Dulini Lodge, Safari, South Africa
Exterior View - Dulini Lodge, Safari, South Africa
Hearth at Dulini Lodge, Safari, South Africa
Deck Lounge at Dulini Lodge, Safari, South Africa
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