Happy Jackal

Amazing establishment. Just been sold and they are busy with renovations, without bothering anyone. We will most definitely go back, as we are also excited with them for the changes. Lovely Manageress, Ranger and staff. Breakfast was absolutely delicious with home baked bread daily. The whole ambience from when you meet management right to when you leave, is just something else! Magnificent! Looking forward to our next stay.

Super nice! The rooms were very clean. Everything was more than fine! Breakfast was the best we had! The owners are super friendly and kind! Definitely recommend this stay! The woman's kindness gave me goosebumps!

Our recent stay at the Happy Jackal was just amazing! Suzette and her team made us feel very welcome after a traumatic journey from the UK! Even though we missed our first evening with them due to missed flights and baggage handling issues, we arrived at 9am the following morning - Suzette still made us a lovely breakfast with hot, fresh bread, which was very well received - after travelling for more than 30 hours! Nothing was too much trouble during our 5 night stay and they made us feel very welcome, hosting a braai (bbq) for us and other guests, making bookings at local restaurants, as well as liaising with other excursion companies on our behalf. Tim took us on our own private safari into the Addo Elephant Park which is very close by, and was very informative and knowledgeable about the animals, birds and fauna within the park, even so far as explaining the behaviour and antics of individual family groups of elephants, which was amazing. Hubby loved fishing from their jetty on the Sundays River, and was watched over by monkeys every time from the nearby Mackay Bridge! They made every guest feel special and it was lovely to see their joy and enthusiasm in everything they did.

I feel beholden to future guests to alert folk to exactly what they are getting. This is advertised as luxury and in SA terms reasonably costly. We were there to celebrate 36 years together. It is clear from the website that there is no catering on the premises in the evening - fair enough. The guest house made arrangements for us to eat next door - the elephants footprint. We duly departed, equipped with a light from the Happy Jackal, to be told no the kitchen was not open at the elephants footprint. There is absolutely nowhere else to eat, no delivery service, no reliable taxi. I had a drink so would not drive. The response to our situation at the Happy Jackal was underwhelming - no offer to prepare sandwiches in their kitchen which let us not forget serves breakfast. If I had said I had arranged something and it failed I would act to remedy not shrug my shoulders, really very poor! I am British I do not complain but I do warn so be warned. I finally summoned the "gumption" to ask for a bottle of wine - for which I was billed 90R. After meal of packet of crisps had bath. Plug would not open to let water out - we reported this at breakfast by the time we left the next morning still not fixed and starting to smell. No milk in the rooms. To be clear the hosts were lovely, the property beautiful and the room excellent but the attention to detail woeful. When traveling to a foreign country and shunning hotels for private guesthouses you need to be confident and I truly hope this feedback is acted on and maybe reassurance provided on the website. Until then fellow traveller book elsewhere but seek out Captain Beau - worry not about finding the park if you stay a little out it is very easy.

Our family stayed 1 night at the Happy Jackal while visiting Addo National Park. Our rooms were well appointed and more than comfortable. The hosts were amazing, hosted us for dinner at a local restaurant and ensured our short stay was coordinated, comfortable and memorable. The breakfast was the best we had in our 3 week vacation.

Very nice stay with a very friendly and helpful host. Beautiful view and the rooms were very clean. The beds were very good and the breakfast was complete and delicious! Would totally recommend it! Super close to the addo elephant park so perfect location.