Africa's Zoo Lodge Backpackers Reviews

To summarise your stay. Your first portion of the group arrived at 16h10 and second portion arrived about 15 minutes later. You had booked 7 dorms in crocodile dorm (Shared bathroom), Lion Room (shared bathroom) and Elephant en suite. When the group was shown the lodge, they unanimously agreed that they all wanted to change and stay in the top two dorms being Buffalo Dorm (2 x bathrooms en suite) and Meerkat dorm so that the group could be together. The couple still stayed in Elephant room (En-suite bathroom.) As the group had now changed their rooms and the top section had not been used for 3 to 4 days, Derek, the lodge manager had the rooms serviced for your group (The bedrooms and bathrooms were cleaned, floors swept and moped and all beds rechecked. All toilet paper and spare rolls were checked and rechecked by Derek as is the norm at the lodge.) while the group leaders (Only members of group able to speak English fluently.) booked in and rest of your group waited in the lounge. Your entire group then showered and refreshed themselves and at about 17h30 you all went to the mall. You returned at about 19h40 and had a small birthday celebration at the pool area. Your entire group all had an early night and left the Lodge the following morning to go on tour before 07h00. All our rooms, dorms and bathrooms, kitchen and garden are cleaned daily and we pride ourselves on the upkeep and cleanliness at the lodge. Your group only stayed at the lodge from 16h30 to 06h30 the next morning. While you waited the rooms were cleaned in front of your own eyes and the entire group gave Derek and Misha compliments about the lodge so you can imagine the shock the cleaning staff got when this baseless review/complaint of yours was shown to them. Rooms are serviced daily and all used bedding etc. is changed and washed. The cleaning staff only arrive at 07h00 in the morning and clean the lodge all day until 17h00. When this review was shown to Mike Dubazane, Lizzy Nkosi and Misha Malepo (The cleaning staff and Mike being the guy who actually cleaned Buffalo and Meerkat dorms for your group the day you arrived.) they where shocked. You say in your review, "but is constantly dirty" How can you make a statement like this when, firstly you have only actually been at the lodge for a total of thirteen hours, eight of which the group slept and 2 and a half hours spent at the mall. This leaves you with less than three hours in which you showered, packed your bags and had a small party for your friend's birthday and had time to see that the lodge was constantly dirty. Again as all the signs in all the bathrooms/kitchen/rooms state that you are responsible to clean up after yourself and leave the room the way you found it. If you dirty the bathroom at night and leave before the rooms are serviced in the morning, it is your own responsibility to clean up after yourself and to leave the bathroom the way you found it. If members of your own group leave the bathroom dirty after using it, you should ask them to clean up after themselves. The staff also commented on the state that you guys left the room in, which is another reason we cannot believe that you have made this comment. All the cleaning staff want to know from you, which room or part of the lodge was dirty. They all reject your comment with contempt and as being totally untrue and baseless. Again your rating gives the lodge a 3 for fun. On Wednesday when you arrived back from the mall the other guests were swimming and having a braai and later most listened to music, played pool and darts in the bar area 'til late, all of which the group had been invited to join in with. However most of the group spoke no english and your group was tired after the flight and after a brief birthday celebration at the pool area went to bed and were sleeping by 21h00 as your group had to get up early the next morning to depart on your Safari. Added to this, as often happens with larger groups, they stay together and tend not to mix with locals as they stick together in the group. Zoo Lodge is known as a party lodge. How do you get to a rating of 3 for fun? You also rate the staff at the lodge at a 3. Derek went out of his way to accommodate your booking change and rearranged your entire group booking. The group was assisted with all their needs and requests so again where does this rating come from and based on what do you make this rating? Your also rate the location at a 3. The northern suburbs are regarded as the best in Johannesburg with Rosebank / Parktown being amongst the top prime areas. Your group where dropped off and picked up at the lodge with no problem. How can you make this type of assumption when you obviously know nothing about Johannesburg and surrounds? Your comment that the lodge rooms are too crowded. You had a 8 bed dorm and a 10 bed dorm to use for 9 people and you chose to stay in these rooms. This is standard to all backpack accommodation across South Africa. You comment as if you were a guest at a 6 start hotel paying thousands, but seem to forget that in fact you stayed at a backpackers and only paid R90.00 per night. For the reasons above, the cleaning staff and management request that you retract your statement. Mike, the cleaner also asks for an apology as he insists that he had just cleaned the rooms and that the rooms and bathrooms were spotlessly clean.