If you’re here then you most likely have an excellent understanding of the concept of self-catering and what to pack for a self-catering getaway. What you might not know about is the ‘unwritten rules’ of a self-catering lodge, the behaviours, etiquette and general do’s and don’ts that most owners of self-catering lodges might wish to exclude as part of their welcome rituals. ‘Hello, welcome to our lodge. Please have a refreshment, warm hand towel and long list of rules we wish for you to follow’ – might not be a great welcome speech and could earn a couple poor reviews on TripAdvisor…
When embarking on a remote, recalibrating getaway to a lodge such as iKhaya LamaDube it’s easy to skip on the pleasantries, ignore social graces and forget that every extra touch in your unit was delicately placed there in anticipation of your arrival.
Our goal is to manifest a culture of mutual respect – for nature, our staff and our guests where relationships blossom under the African sun and on the grounds of iKhaya LamaDube.
When embarking on a remote, recalibrating getaway to a lodge such as iKhaya LamaDube it’s easy to skip on the pleasantries, ignore social graces and forget that every extra touch in your unit was delicately placed there in anticipation of your arrival.
Our goal is to manifest a culture of mutual respect – for nature, our staff and our guests where relationships blossom under the African sun and on the grounds of iKhaya LamaDube.
Self-catering getaway etiquette:
Your unit
Housekeeping expectations
We aim to create a peaceful, tranquil stay for our guests which prioritizes the highest levels of privacy, cleanliness and convenience.
Guests staying in our luxury units (The Hideaway Cottage or Luxury Villa) have the option to specify when they would like their unit cleaned. All other units are serviced on a schedule. Should you not wish to be disturbed during your stay, please inform our team.
Due to the abundance of utensils and cooking apparatus our units are exquisitely furnished with, housekeeping services do not extend to washing dishes.
Music
We understand the appeal to creating an atmosphere within your unit. However, we ask that should our guests feel the need to play music that it remains as soft background noise which does not interfere with the tranquility of other guests or disrupt the peace and quiet of the natural surroundings.
Guest allowance
All of our units sleep a maximum of 2 people. We do not allow an extra guest to sleep on a blow-up mattress or squish into a unit.
Wondering
Our guests are encouraged to explore the lodge, visit our newly renovated guest lounge and enjoy their private boma but we have to remind our guests to also respect the privacy of other guests staying at the lodge during this time.
Inclusions
As a self-catering lodge we do not provide any catering services. What we do pride ourselves on, however, is how well-equipped our units are for our guests to have a true home-away-from-home experience. This means that all units are furnished with cooking utensils and appliances.
You will not find any consumables (mosquito repellent, fly spray etc.) this also extends to tea, coffee and milk. With so many different preferences amongst our guests and our status as a ‘self-catering lodge’ these are not found in the units. Please be sure to bring your own and familiarize yourself with what to pack
The staff
Tipping
Intense COVID cleaning protocols, delicate touches and cheery dispositions require energy and passion. For our staff, receiving a tip/token of appreciation is most gratifying and motivates them to keep striving to create the best experience for our guests. If there have been special arrangements made for our staff to light your evening fire, lay a romantic table setting or assist you with keeping your unit extra clean, a gesture of gratitude is always whole-heartedly appreciated by the staff and boosts morale.
Lodge grounds
No-kill policy
A secluded getaway immersed in nature is what you’ve opted for while staying at iKhaya LamaDube. One where you’ll find yourself living amongst a host of wonderful creatures. At the lodge we are extremely strict on a ‘no kill policy’ in our efforts to do no harm to the land of which we are just guests and live in absolute harmony with nature.
Any snakes, spiders or creepy crawlies found in your unit will be safely removed by a staff member upon request.
Private Property
No trespassing
As a self-catering lodge within a private reserve, all surrounding properties belong to private landowners – some using the land for commercial and personal use. Trespassing on their property has severe implications for the staff and owners of iKhaya LamaDube. It’s imperative that guests stay within the bounds of the lodge and remain on the self-drive roads designated within the reserve.
Reviewing
It’s never an expectation of our guests to rave about us on social media and other reviewing channels, however when our guests do decide to share their experience at our lodge we ask that their reviews are:
- Honest
- Factual
- Not made in haste or ‘the heat of the moment’
- A true reflection of their stay
- Written with an awareness of the implications their words could have on a small business.
Electricity
iKhaya LamaDube runs off a phased power system which has to be closely monitored to ensure each unit receives adequate and consistent power supply.
We ask that guests do not bring any appliances from home that draw excessive amounts of power or that could pose a serious hazard to the lodge.
During the winter months we ask that our guests do not bring their own heaters or electric blankets. All units use safe and energy-efficient heaters which will not pose any fire risk or disrupt other guests’ power usage.
As avid safari goers, we at iKhaya LamaDube have frequented our fair share of self-catering safari lodges around the country where we too have been guests and at the mercy of the service industry, putting us in a position to truly internalise our message and findings of what it means to be a respectful and mindful guest at a self-catering lodge.