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After the lockdown: Rhulani achieves the best 5-star score ever

  • November 10, 2020 | Rhulani Safari Lodge

We are particularly pleased with this result. After a long COVID-19 lockdown period, Rhulani Safari Lodge achieves a top result in the annual Star Grading assessment by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA). With a score of 96%, Rhulani confirms its ranking in the upper segment of the 5-star Game Lodge category. In addition, we are assigned one of the rare accolades for "Birding" as an additional quality mark and recognition for the new observation hide at the waterhole.

Rhulani Safari Lodge: 5 Star Grading confirmed with best score ever

Rhulani is a destination for Bird Lovers

“Your establishment, Rhulani Safari Lodge, has been awarded Five star grading in the Game Lodge category. Similarly in recognition of the additional and tailored services offered by your establishment the following Accolades have been confirmed: Birding Award.” With these words TGCSA summarizes the assessment result, which was determined on the basis of an analysis in mid-October. This was only a few days after we reopened.

"We have always been solidly positioned in the 5-star segment and have steadily increased the score over the years," says Rolf Steiner, owner of Rhulani Safari Lodge. "Nevertheless, we are very pleased to confirm this award. Like other hotels, we have been closed for more than six months due to the pandemic. Keeping the quality at high level, the confidence of the staff, doing everyday maintenance, and then returning to business was a special challenge for us too.”

Thanks to solid financing and careful planning, Rhulani did not have to take on debt even in difficult times and continued to invest in quality. This has now paid off. “Our company is very healthy, which is a good starting position for our future,” says Rolf. 

The TGCSA describes us as a perfect destination for bird lovers. It was certainly taken into account that Rhulani's rangers are walking encyclopedias about birds, and that there are over 400 bird species to be seen in Madikwe Game Reserve. "But our Tshembo Hide at the waterhole was also considered and valued,” says Rolf. “You can certainly watch birds there, but the waterhole is primarily a magnet for the large mammals of the African bush, including the Big5."

5 Star Certificate, valid until 30 November 2021

Star Grading Score at Rhulani: a path of continuous improvement