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Reviews of Shakaland

3 out of 5
Shakaland
Normanhurst Farm, Nkwalini Zululand, Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal

Reviews

7.8

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 33 reviews" "

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Thore

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
The condition, the food, the shop, the comfort - it all went downhill in the last few years. The only thing that went up has been prices. I’ve been visiting Shakaland every year since 2010. I wont anymore.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2019
Response from General Manager on Nov 5, 2019
We would like to thank you for your feedback. We would like to apologize for the inconvenience during your stay. We value your concerns and will be dealt with accordingly. We as a team strive to give our best to our clients and we hope that we may host you again in the future.

10/10 Excellent

Nontobeko

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Our stay was amazing I can tell the others about t
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019
Response from Gabriel Mnguni (General Manager) on Apr 24, 2019
We would like to thank you for such positive feedback. It is always a great pleasure to see that our guests enjoyed staying in our property. We as a TEAM strive to give our BEST to our clients and we are looking forward to host you again in the near future.

8/10 Good

Terence

Liked: Staff & service
It was very good value for money and the meals were all included in the price. Mr Gabrial the manger and staff went out of their way to make our stay very pleasant.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2019
Response from General Manager (Gabriel Mnguni) on Mar 27, 2019
We would like to thank you for such positive feedback. It is always a great pleasure to see that our guests enjoyed staying in our property. We as a TEAM strive to give our BEST to our clients and we are looking forward to host you again in the near future.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fab! Fab! Fab! Shakaland!
We and our relatives, a young couple from Austria, enjoyed a fabulous sojourn at Shakaland last weekend, 02/03 March 2019. The people were, without exception, genuinely friendly and helpful. The accommodation was more than adequate and the food was African style par excellence. Very enjoyable. The young ones were so impressed by the cultural side of the programmes, they did not want to leave, begged to stay for a week. But alas, it could not be. Thank you Shakaland for making an unforgettable weekend for us in paradise!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019
Response from Gabriel Mnguni (GM Shakaland) on Mar 11, 2019
We would like to thank you for such positive feedback. It is always a great pleasure to see that our guests enjoyed staying in our property and enjoyed the cultural experience. We as a TEAM strive to give our BEST to our clients, which we now consider you as family and we are looking forward to host you again in the near future and thank you for choosing Shakaland as your place of relaxation.

10/10 Excellent

Jason, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great experience if you want to learn about the Zulu culture. Lovely food and very helpful and friendly staff. Third time I have been here over more than a decade and still recommend it. Give yourself enough travel time and worth paying the extra money to take to Toll roads. Don't speed and look out for cows on the road when off the tolls, this is the heartland of the Zulu Kingdom :)
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2018
Response from General Manager on Feb 20, 2019
We would like to thank you for such positive feedback. It is always a great pleasure to see that our guests enjoyed staying in our beautiful property. We as a TEAM strive to give our BEST to our clients and we are looking forward to host you again in the near future.

10/10 Excellent

M

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
great great great!
lovely group that use alot of energy and fantastic dinner and dancing!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2018
Response from General Manager on Feb 27, 2019
We would like to thank you for such positive feedback. It is always a great pleasure to see that our guests enjoyed staying in our property. We as a TEAM strive to give our BEST to our clients and we are looking forward to host you again in the near future.

4/10 Poor

Donald

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Zulu culture stop
Stopped here for one night to experience some traditional Zulu culture but found the whole place to have a run down feel about it. The Zulu dance show was very good but staff doing the other activities gave the appearance of being bored with it all. Our room was clean and comfortable enough but lighting was poor, our main door was badly fitted with a gap round it, no WIFI in the room. The paths around the accommodation were broken in places and the swimming pool was unusable due to thick algae. Food was a standard buffet and OK but the restaurant was crowded with large tour groups. Fine for a visit to see the Dancing but not to stay.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2018

2/10 Terrible

Kevin

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
How bad could it get? Read on....
It was awful from the getgo. We reserved a room with 2 double beds and got a room with one, and a twin. My husband got food poisoning from the curry served at lunch. Getting back to our room was dangerous in the hard rain, as there was no drainage and no handrails. The waitress in the am insisted in cash payment for a coke for my sick husband, since the bar was closed. And on top of it all, the coke was refunded. Oh, and the leaks in the room, whether from the rain, the shower, or the sink. And ants in the toilet and sink. I am awaiting some sort of a letter from the company manager. The concept was good, but the rain brought out the worst problems of the hotel. Serious work is needed to bring it up to snuff. The entertainment staff we good, tho limited by the rain. I wish I could say more nice things. It is great if you have children, as long as the repairs and maintenance ar done,
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Alison

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Zulu experience
Fantastic experience. Some parts are looking tied in bathrooms.

8/10 Good

mark, NZ

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Shakaland
Shakaland was is a unique place to visit. We wanted the Zulu experience and Shakaland provided. We were well hosted and entertained. Overall a great experience and would recommend to anyone visiting SA. Groups and families could have a great experience here. It was offseason when we visited. Only us and another couple, but we still had a great Shakaland time, and lovely evening sitting around the fire chatting at night. Amazing Zulu dancing!!!

10/10 Excellent

Eric, Richards Bay

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
SHAKALAND EXPERIENCE
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Shakaland and found it very relaxing and educational. Your tour guide did a superb job. We will certainly recomend,and in fact have,already recommended your hotel. For us it was an eye opener. Unfortunately some of Shaka's less savoury behaviour was not mentioned. In this regard I think the public was misled to a large extent. Shaka was not the romantic do-good enlightened king. Like the great Napoleon of Europe he had many faults. He was an excellent strategist and strong leader whom we can admire for many achievements but at the same time he did his people much harm and was exceptionally cruel towards those who did not toe the line. We need to know all the facts about this great king who was at the same time described by some of his peers as a tyrant. We study too little history in South Africa so this is a step in the right directions, but please try to be less biased. A visit to Shakaland should be made compulsory for all highschool students.

8/10 Good

Eithne, Dublin Ireland

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Well worth an overnight stay
This is a Zulu cultural experience rather than an hotel. It was built as a movie set for a TV series on Zulu tribal living and converted to a tourist venue. The accommodation is very comfortable, the food was good and the staff very pleasant. The Zulu tribes people who demonstrated tribal daily life and customs along with the dancing and singing were terrific. Well worth an overnight stay

10/10 Excellent

Helen, England

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
EXCITING VENUE
The traditional Zulu experience was amazing (out of this world!) and I had a thoroughly marvelous time. I have recommended Shakaland to my (adult) children already!

8/10 Good

Pascal, Cape town, SA

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Exotic, cultural and friendly
Excellent stay

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia, Santa Fe, NM

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Authentic Zulu Village
We enjoyed our experience at Shakaland very much. It was a highlight of our trip to South Africa.

8/10 Good

shabalala, Pietermaritzburg

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
pathways within the hotel could do with some levelling. The tone might be made flatter, especially if one i walking in the evening.

8/10 Good

Stefan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2019
Response from General Manager (Gabriel Mnguni) on Nov 5, 2019
We would like to thank you for such positive feedback. It is always a great pleasure to see that our guests enjoyed staying in our property. Thank you so much for choosing Shakaland as your place of destiny and great experience. We as a TEAM strive to give our BEST to our clients and we are looking forward to host you again in the near future.

8/10 Good

Guéna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2019
Response from General Manager (Gabriel Mnguni) on Mar 25, 2019
We would like to thank you for such positive feedback. It is always a great pleasure to see that our guests enjoyed staying in our property. We as a TEAM strive to give our BEST to our clients and we are looking forward to host you again in the near future.

10/10 Excellent

Joyce

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Super leuk
Een geweldige ervaring met vriendelijke mensen!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018

6/10 Okay

Marcel

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2017

6/10 Okay

miep, veghel

Liked: Staff & service
Leuk om een idee te krijgen hoe een Zuludorp er ui
We kwamen in de middag aan en zagen in de avond en de volgende ochtend een culturele show en kregen een rondleiding door het "dorp" waarbij uitleg werd gegeven over verschillende gebruiken.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2017

8/10 Good

Dan

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
楽しい１泊
私が本当は行く前に知りたかったのことを参考としてまず書きます。 日帰りで行く人のためのナンディプログラムは１１時スタートで約３時間（ランチ付き）。 宿泊者は、１４時～チェックイン。１６時からシャカプログラムがスタートします（朝夕の２食付）。 次に、ホテルの場所についてですが、看板が着くまでは無く、本当にここにあるのか？とどきどきしながら車で行きました。ナビに名前を入れても出ず、GPSを入れて行きました。ダーバンから向かってのですが、注意としては、ナビはオフロードの道を選択していきます。だから、それを無視し、次のコンクリートで舗装された道を行った方がよいです。私はオフロードで行ったので、余計不安になりました。ホテルの周りには本当に何もありません。 ホテルに着くと、ズールー族の人がバックを運んでくれました。チェックインをして伝統的な家の部屋に行きました。中に入ると、想像とは違って、きれいな内装でした。液晶テレビまで壁にありびっくり。不便のない快適な部屋でした。 プログラムの中で、一番よかったのは、夕食の前に行われる第2部のダンスです。ズールー族の方たちが楽しそうにやっていたのもよかったです。 文化を知るために行ったので、食事は期待していなかったのですが、予想に反しておいしかったです。２食ともビュッフェでした。 私としては、泊まってよかったなと思います。

4/10 Poor

Pepe

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Picsou
Prix trop cher pour prestations offerte. Piège a touriste

8/10 Good

Manuela, Bochum

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Tolles Erlebnis
Leider erst 5 Minuten vor Tanzaufführung angekommen. Diese war dann aber ganz gut. Anschl. gutes Abendessen in Buffetform. Angenehme Preise an der Bar. Die Unterkünfte waren sauber und für eine Nacht ok. Der Service war gut.

8/10 Good

sylvain, Québec

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Expérience a vivre pour touriste averti !
Expérience a vivre. Le spectacle de danse est divertissant et nous transporte dans les rythmes tribaux. Les chambres sont tout de même confortables pour des huttes mais nous avons du nous faire changer de chambre car certaines ont été traitees au goudron ( les poutre de bois au plafond) et l air y était irrespirable ! Les chambres qui n ont pas été traitees sont très bien et propres. La visite du site zoulou n est pas vraiment intéressante car ce sont des personnages actés. La salle à dîner (buffet) est beaucoup trop éclairée donc pas d ambiance!! Mais la nourriture est correct.

2/10 Terrible

Simi, Lichtenau, Sachsen

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Enttäuscht vom Hotel
Das Hotel kann man sich auf einer Rundreise ersparen. Dürftige Ausstattung besonders der Bäder. Die Vorführung im Zuludorf war sehr schön, aber das kann man auch im Rahmen eines Tagesbesuches machen.

10/10 Excellent

Ute, Schwäbisch Gmünd

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Empfehlenswert!
Wer eine Reise nach Südafrika plant und etwas über die Geschichte,Traditionen, Bräuche und Leben dort und des Zulu-Volkes erfahren möchte, sollte sich unbedingt eine Nacht im Shakaland gönnen! Die Übernachtung mit Kulturprogramm sind ein abwechslungsreicher Programmpunkt. Die exponierte Lage auf einem Hügel mit tollem Ausblick, sowie die farbigen Rundhütten und andere Gebäude des Kulturdorfes versprechen eine besondere Atmosphäre. Wir wurden sehr freundlich empfangen und fanden die Vorführungen von Handwerk, Speisezubereitung und die traditionellen Tänze mit Erklärungen absolut interessant. Ebenso der zu Beginn gezeigte Film über das Leben des berühmten Zulu-Königs Shaka. Am besten gefiel jedoch unseren Teenagern, sich im Speerwurf-Wettkampf zu messen! Das Abendessen und Frühstück in Form von Buffet bot eine sehr große Auswahl und war ausgezeichnet. Die Rundhütten sind geschmackvoll dekoriert und komfortabel ausgestattet - ein Erlebnis so zu übernachten ! Lediglich im Bad machten es sich ein paar Krabbeltierchen (Ameisen) gemütlich...was aber das Feeling absolut nicht beeinträchtigte. Im Souveniershop findet man eine sehr große Auswahl zu guten Preisen, wir haben einige schöne Erinnerungsstücke und Mitbringsel erstanden. Fazit:

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Room comfort
posizione panoramica
in linea con le apettative, la cosa più interessante sono stati i balli folkloristici

8/10 Good

Richard, Reunion

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Dépaysement total
Très sympa bel endroit beau spectacle très pittoresque !

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Originelle Unterbringung in typischen Rundhütten
der Aufenthalt empfiehlt sich in erster Linie für diejenigen, die sich für die traditionelle Zulu-Kultur interessieren. Untergebracht ist man in typischen Rundhütten, wie man sie in Dörfern in Kwazulu Natal hier und da noch vorfindet und die sich um einen Komplex mit Bar und Restaurant scharen. Die Lage auf einer Anhöhe mit fantastischen Blick auf einen Stausee lässt nichts zu wünschen übrig. Im Übernachtungspreis sind die sehr umfangreichen Vorführungen der Zulu- Kultur enthalten und Versorgung in Form einer Vollpension(umfangreiches Frühstücksbuffet und ebenso umfangreiches Abendbuffet).

10/10 Excellent

דוד וכרמלה, ישראל

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
חווית זולו ראויה
היינו שני האורחים היחידים בשאקאלנד לא חסכו מאיתנו דבר "וההצגה נמשכה במלואה"!!!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities