Coronavirus is covered by the "package travel law", just like other natural disasters, epidemics, etc. The package travel law ensures that as a consumer, you do not incur losses when you have purchased a package trip if it is changed or canceled due to the reasons above.

In other words, if you have purchased a package trip to a country where the journey can no longer be carried out, you as a consumer are entitled to a refund of the travel price, provided that the entire trip has been paid for. However, there will be no possibility of a refund for any personal expenses such as train tickets, purchase of medicine, lost vacation days, etc.

How are you covered?

You have purchased a trip to a country where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all non-essential travel, what do you do?
As a starting point, you have the right to cancel without a fee if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against traveling to your destination at the time of departure.

This is a precautionary principle, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will update their travel guidelines every Thursday. Our cancellation of trips will therefore take place 1-2 weeks before the planned departure date for flights and about 1 week before for self-drive vacations.

You have purchased a trip to a country where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allows travel
If a travel destination is removed from the list of countries that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against traveling to, the trip will have to be carried out. As a general rule, there is no exception to this rule. If you have health-related problems with traveling, the cancellation insurance should be used.

How quickly will you get your money back?
We strive to refund the deposited amount as soon as possible and no later than around the time you were supposed to travel.

You have purchased a trip to a country where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all non-essential travel, but there is more than 3 weeks to go, what do you do?
This is still a precautionary principle. That means you have to wait and see how the situation developes. You cannot cancel your trip and get a refund.

If you still want to cancel the trip, there will be a cancellation fee. You should contact your travel consultant to find out the amount of this fee, as it depends on the possibility of getting a refund for accommodation, flights, etc.

The recommendation is therefore to await information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

When the best time for traveling to Balule River Lodge is depends on several factors. The opportunity to see animals exists throughout the year, but the optimal time is during the period of June to October when the trees are leafless and the grass is scorched, making it more challenging for animals to hide. However, if you are also traveling to Balule River Lodge to enjoy a true African 'tropical vacation where the nights are wonderfully warm, you should choose the period from December to March

If you combine your trip with a stay in Cape Town or the Garden Route, you should also be mindful of the weather conditions in the Western Cape province. Cape Town and the Garden Route experience a Mediterranean climate with dry summers from November to February featuring many hours of sunshine and warmth. The winter months from April to August bring some rain but also many sunny hours. July is the coldest month. Additionally, be aware that the best chance to observe whales is from August to November.

Victoria Falls can be visited year-round, but the experience varies depending on the season. During the dry season between May and October when the water level is at it´s lowest, the view of the cliffs and geological formations is at it´s peak. The temperature ranges from 25-27 degrees Celsius during May to August, and between 32-34 degrees Celsius from August to October. In the rainy season between November and April, the water masses are intense and dramatic with weather alternating between heavy rain showers and blue skies. Towards the end of the rainy season, the waterfall is most impressive as the water level is at its highest. However, the water clouds at this time can be so intense that it may be difficult to see the waterfall clearly.

Mauritius has two seasons. Summer extends from December to April and is warm with temperatures ranging from 25-30 degrees Celsius. The most rainy months are January to March, but the majority of the rain falls in the central part of the island rather than the coastal areas. Winter in Mauritius lasts from May to November and is slightly cooler with temperatures ranging from 20-25 degrees Celsius. The water temperature is consistently between 22-27 degrees Celsius throughout the year. Cyclones can occur in the months of January to April.

You can pay with a credit card at the lodge, so you don't need cash for payments here. However, it's always good to have some cash on hand, for example if you want to buy souvenirs from a street vendor. South African currency (rand) can be withdrawn using an international credit card such as VISA or MasterCard when you land at Johannesburg Airport. If you run out of cash, there are several ATMs in Phalaborwa.

Tipping: There are 3 envelopes in the office, and it is recommended to put 500 rand per room per week in each of these envelopes. Tips should be paid with cash. 

Many of the news stories from South Africa that reach Western media focus on crime and social unrest. This can mistakenly lead one to believe that the country is dangerous to travel to, which is unfortunate because South Africans, in general, are incredibly friendly and hospitable people with a very welcoming attitude towards the many tourists who visit the country each year. However, it is also true that there is significant poverty in South Africa, leading some to unfortunately resort to theft to get by in their daily lives.

When traveling to Balule River Lodge, there is no risk of crime. Firstly, the lodge is located far away from major cities where crime is more common. Secondly, guests always move around with our local guides that all have high knowledge of the areas.

If you have chosen our combination trip to Cape Town, you will be with our guide during the daytime. In the evenings you will typically be in the area around the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where the hotel is located and where there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, shops, etc. This area is completely safe to navigate. On the combination trip to the Garden Route you are always with our locally knowledgeable guide who guides the tours during the day and stays overnight at the same hotel as the guests.

We occasionally have guests who after their stay in Balule, travel on to Cape Town and/or the Garden Route on their own. This is entirely possible, as long as one exercises caution and follows some simple safety guidelines. First and foremost, one should not venture into a township on their own. Only in the company of an authorized guide. Additionally, it's advisable not to walk alone after dark. We also dont´t recommend driving alone in the dark. 

Balule River Lodge is situated in an unfenced wildlife reserve in the midst of the beautiful South African bush. This provides the most authentic safari experience but also imposes certain safety requirements. To ensure that our guests have a safe and secure stay, we have established some simple safety rules that one must agree to follow.

• Always listen to good advice: The instructions of the lodge staff must always be followed.
• Movement in the lodge: For safety reasons, it is not allowed to venture outside the lodge's area. The area one can move within is marked with boundary posts which will be indicated upon arrival at the lodge. After sunset it is only allowed to walk on illuminated paths. It is not permitted to go to the pool or the fitness room when it is dark. Guests will always be escorted to their rooms after dark. Running on the lodge's premises is not allowed as this can scare the animals.
• Watch your children: Children under 12 years old must always be supervised by an adult.
• Always close doors and windows: When staying in the room or on the terrace, the sliding doors with screens must be closed. When leaving the room, doors and windows should be closed.
• No feeding allowed: It is not allowed to feed the animals.
• Monkeys are curious: The many monkeys around the lodge are very curious! Therefore, always take your personal belongings, bags, camera, sunglasses, etc., when leaving the terrace or pool area.
  Walkie Talkie: Walkie talkies are available in all rooms. In case of an emergency, you can call for help using this.
• Footwear: Always wear appropriate footwear.

Children are welcome at the lodge. During school holidays we have many families visiting. For guests that prefer a holiday without children at the lodge, we recommend avoiding school holiday weeks. If you choose a week outside of a school holiday period, there is only a very small chance that there will be children at the lodge. In any case, you are always welcome to ask about the composition of the other participants before booking your trip to Balule River Lodge.

If you travel to Balule River Lodge with children, please be aware that children under 12 years must always be supervised by an adult. Additionally, there are some specific rules for children on certain tours. Full-day trips to Kruger National Park and the Drakensberg Mountains last approximately 14 hours and take place in a car. Children under 3 years old cannot participate in these tours. For children between 3 and 6 years old, it is the responsibility of the parents to assess whether it is appropriate to bring such young children on these long trips. Children under 14 years old cannot participate in bushwalks.

There are general practitioners and dentists in Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa, both of which are a 1-hour drive from the lodge. In Hoedspruit, there is a 24-hour clinic that can handle common injuries and illnesses. Phalaborwa has a private hospital.

The lodge's first aid kit contains commonly used over-the-counter medications. Additionally, there is an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) available.

As part of their training, our rangers have completed an advanced first aid course.