Racist Game Reserve

Worst experience ever!!! Will never recommend anyone to this place.

We arrived the 25th Dec- 27th Dec 2021. We were 2 couples. On arrival we were not welcomed with friendly staff . We had to find our own way and eventually someone came to us. We wanted to upgrade our package that very moment to the executive suite. Andrea being the lady that checked us in said she will check and advise. She came back saying there isn’t any available. 10mins later a family of about 6 asked to upgrade to the same suite and all of a sudden there were rooms available for them. We immediately knew they were being racist as we are coloured race and the other family was not.

We were given welcoming drinks in a normal glasses and the rest in champagne glasses with strawberry garnish. At first we thought we were imaging ourselves but when this happened we knew they are being racist. We then checked in to our place and went to have breakfast. We had to ask for the waiters to come to us the entire time and not once did they ask if we are enjoying our meal. We then went for our game drive at 3pm that same day. Innocent the ranger that took us out was amazing however, it started raining and the wind was pumping. We had the worst experience ever as we could not even see much animals. They should have canceled our game drive for when the weather conditions were better. They surely should know the weather forecast before hand. To top it off there were no lions etc. we literally saw one of the big 5. When we mentioned this to Amelia the “manager” she said we are not in a zoo and laughed in my ear on the phone. Which was very disrespectful and unprofessional. They were not just racist toward our colour but toward our religion as well . They had no respect to have our meals made next to pork!!!

We then complained to the front desk about everything being unpleasant from the start and we would actually just want a refund and leave immediately purely because the staff was being racist toward us. They said they will have to call Amelia. She then spoke to me on the phone and said that there’s nothing she can do for us till the morning but another guest that night was attended to immediately ( different race to us ) and left waiting us waiting in the foyer for 2 hours and said we swore at the staff which was never the case as we are not of that caliber . The cleaners on site mentioned the staff at front desk are racist. When we heard this it was confirmed that they are being racist toward us. We then decided to leave for the day to another resort the next day to unwind as we weren’t able to do so at the resort we paid to be at.

The Sunday morning we were called into a meeting with Arnold Neethling ( owner ) , Amelia “ manager” and the general manager. Not sure what her name was but she blatantly laughed in all of our faces at the table as if we were being petty. The owner Arnold which is definitely not passionate about his resort and the service that should be provided said he does not need our money and our business and can in fact call the police to escort us out of the building as we were very stern with Amelia on the phone regarding our bad experience. She should definitely not be a manager. Dr Dirk neethling was the father of Arnold Neethling and he treated people with respect and with equality as we all should. Dr Dirk was passionate about what he started and unfortunately it was handed over to Arnold which is definitely not passionate as it shows by the way he treats his guests. The place was not well maintained. Mould In the bathrooms and spider webs almost everywhere. Even on the beds.

The last day on check out. We were all enjoying our breakfast and chatting about our weekend as usual. The owner Arnold came to us and said that he would like a word with us. No good morning, nothing utterly rude and uncalled for. He then told us we were apparently being abit noisy the night before. However, we have videos of us all together just chilling having drinks and a good laugh with good company as one would do on holiday. Not once were we out of line. They did not say thank for the support when we left. No goodbye nothing!!!

To top all of this off we booked as HALAAL and not once did they cater for us. They made our food on the same hot stove as the pork and bacon. How disrespectful to our religion.

I will nerve return to this place ever again and will make sure I do everything in my power to teach these racist staff at Botlierskop a lesson. We were in meetings the entire duration of our stay as if we’re paid to stay there. They should have any star rating with the pathetic service. Arnold made it his mission to upset on the last day before check out. He did not even allow us to enjoy our breakfast.

We made sure to let let them know it’s my friends birthday weekend and they said they would do something special. Which never ever happened. They wouldn’t let us use certain facilities but would let other guest use it. They told us bo kids allowed under the age of 6years but there was a crying baby in the room next to us but not once did we complain.

Not once did Arnold say sorry for what has happened and he will make sure it doesn’t happen again. I am actually still in shock by the treatment we received especially for the amount of money we paid for 2 nights only.