https://travelground.imgix.net/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAA05obEs8kSTaRxWCkCeeo9gDaIuVw39puVtjUDEAd6QKIYqtYlk?w=1440&h=960&fit=crop&auto=enhance,format,compress&q=80
From R300 per night, for 2 ppl
69
5
1
4
1 Main Road
Sodwana Bay
3974
KwaZulu-Natal
021 344 2440
14:00-19:00
10:00
-27.512104
32.656321
Maak 'n Jol
Maak 'n Jol
Maak 'n Jol
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On-site facilities include a large bar, restaurant and a swimming pool with a pool bar as well as a function- and wedding venue. Please note that the bar is open till late and could be noisy at times.
Budget accommodation is provided in chalets, en-suite rooms, cabins, and campsites. There are 4 self-catering chalets each with their own air-conditioning, kitchen, and en-suite bathrooms. The en-suite rooms have their own kettle and en-suite bathrooms. The cabins offer basic overnight accommodation in an open-plan room with an ablution block. Each campsite has a built-in braai area. There are power plugs and water taps located nearby to each of the campsites.
Activities include the area includes horse riding on the beach and in the reserve, birding on the 5 km walking trail through the forests and sand dunes, exploring the rock pools, and swimming.
On-site facilities include a large bar, restaurant and a swimming pool with a pool bar as well as a function- and wedding venue. Please note that the bar is open till late and could be noisy at times.
Budget accommodation is provided in chalets, en-suite rooms, cabins, and campsites. There are 4 self-catering chalets each with their own air-conditioning, kitchen, and en-suite bathrooms. The en-suite rooms have their own kettle and en-suite bathrooms. The cabins offer basic overnight accommodation in an open-plan room with an ablution block. Each campsite has a built-in braai area. There are power plugs and water taps located nearby to each of the campsites.
Activities include the area includes horse riding on the beach and in the reserve, birding on the 5 km walking trail through the forests and sand dunes, exploring the rock pools, and swimming.
Features
Reviews (69)
69 guests' feedbackDefinitely the best place in Sodwana Bay.
Affordable.
Elize, the managers, is very cute and for sure the right person for the job. Hope to see her there for years to come.
Very friendly reception, restaurant on the premises of the accommodation. With load shedding in our midst, we didn't even know about it at the weekend! Place provided with generator. Would definitely recommend the place.
Parking space was great! Bathrooms are pretty basic but always clean. There is a hangout nearby so the music in the evenings was understandable. If you are looking for silence this is not the place for you. But every stand is swept for you daily, staff friendly and helpful. The generator was a bonus. We will go again!
Had a great stay at Maak 'n Jol. Nice people.
Satisfied with the setup, only theft from tent on day one. Management very helpful.
Very bad stay. The woman you have to help there does not want to help. I did not get my deposit back. They don't care about your safety.
The services given on the app were not accurate to what was provided at the unit. There was no WiFi, no fun activities, and the restaurant closed way earlier than it was supposed to. We had to find other places to eat.
For the more exclusive traveler, there are some drawbacks.
Dirty place. Rat poops everywhere, even in the beds. They advertise that there is a fridge and freezer, there is nothing. Not friendly people at all.
No, it's the dirtiest place we've ever stayed. There is rat droppings everywhere in the rooms, even in the beds. It is advertised that there is a fridge, there is no fridge. Not friendly service at all.
We have always used websites to book our holidays, but the place is definitely not for websites. Every evening there is a visit until late, people reverse into other guests and then you lie awake all night worrying about your own vehicle, because there is no parking space at your own campsite. I would not recommend the campsites to anyone with a camper van or caravan, the entrance is very small when you stand and therefore you have to push yourself into the thick sand. There are far too few bathrooms and shower facilities for the amount of campers there. In addition, we had to pay a breakages deposit to camp, which was not mentioned when we booked. After almost two months of calling and texting, there are still excuses for not paying it back, and this after we only camped there one night of our week that was booked. So we instead went camping at Sodwana Bay itself where we could find rest and peace for our souls.
Definitely the place to be in Sodwana Bay. Worth every second of my experience!
First time in chalet and for sure not last time at Maak 'n Jol.
Assisted us with electrical issues in chalet, cleaned chalet everyday, close to the beach and walking distance to all shops/ restaurants, friendly staff.
Friendly staff. Access to a pool, bar and pool tables. Great value for money.
Very basic living arrangement, especially the wood cabins, but the chalets have everything you need and is good value for money accommodation. Accommodation was satisfactory and the children had great fun while we were there.
Wood Cottage for 4 people roof leaked, fan didn't work, communal toilets didn't have water and the shower was blocked. We only slept here one night, I can't let my wife and children struggle like this.
Cleaners were faithful and friendly every day. Chalets are cleaned daily. Make a Jol is more for people who visit a lot and is not particularly recommended for people with children. There is a party every night and the music is quite loud. You can be sure there will be a boxing match in the evening. We felt that Maak 'n Jol accommodates too many campers and the place is overcrowded that one is limited with parking and also one's view is limited with all the campers who set up camp in front of the chalets. Sodwana has frequent power outages and our power was often off. They do have a generator but while it is in use, the geysers and air conditioners are turned off so they can assist the campers with power. We just feel that one pays a lot for the chalets and our power should be divided. There were also a few days when water was cut due to the water tank that was empty. We booked for 3 weeks but cut the holiday short by 1 week due to the circumstances.
It's a wonderful place.
Reception was good, staff good. Maintenance team can improve a lot. No water, no power and clogged toilets are a common problem. Only 1 ablution block for 150 campers: 3 showers and 3 toilets for women, showers, 3 toilets and 2 cribs for men. No hot water, only 2 people shower then the hot water is finished.
Ceilings were taped with masking tape and the roofs very dirty. Accommodation hopelessly overpriced for what you get.
See stars.
Would go back anytime.
Great stay with our friends & an amazing party area to rent out! Very impressed & will definitely be back.
An overall enjoyable stay, close enough to enjoy the set up but also quiet enough to enjoy your time at the chalet.
We had a wonderful time, the kids thoroughly enjoyed it. The only concern is that there is no management with regards to the speed limit in the camping grounds as I had to moan at a couple of the youngsters speeding in and out that there were kids running around. Other than that we had a wonderful time and the staff and Management are very helpful and friendly. We will go back in the future.
Maak 'n Jol en die eienaars is puik.
Sometimes something can be done about the loose sand at the gate entrance.
I didn't expect that they would give us rooms instead of a chalet and it was a self catering but there was no kitchen.
Although accommodation was up to standard, we feel that attention could be paid to maintenance, especially outside buildings and grounds.
Nice bar facilities. Nice food with great quantity for the price. Friendly staff. Nice pool.
Camping sites are very close to the chalets and have little or no privacy. Access to chalets and camping pitches - 4x4 recommended - little space for cars to park and must sometimes be able to drive through thick sand. The Chalets need some TLC but offer the necessary basic amenities.
No improvements in 13 years - was there in 2007 and again in 2021 - no changes/improvements made. Pitches not ideal for caravans or caravans. Ablutions were in terrible condition.
Go and enjoy yourself.
The place is neglected. The toilet at reception was dirty, on the way to our chalet there was rubbish lying in a corner, the chalets need new paint and general maintenance. Our friends' crockery was dirty and full of grease which tells us that the place is not properly cleaned before new guests arrive. The camping pitches look battered and the walls around the pitches are falling apart. We were the only guests and now I know why. They will never see us again!
Not much going on. Beach access is very expensive and restaurants are few and far between.
Also, they advised that it has a fully equipped kitchen. For a family of 4, there was 1 coffee mug, 1 teaspoon, 3 forks and the list goes on. Sodwana is renowned for being able to drive on the beach with your vehicle but we did not know that this is not allowed in out-of-season periods. We were not advised by anyone that you cannot drive on the beach out of season. Won't recommend at all.
We went shopping for cleaning supplies to clean shelves and shower and others before we were ready to go on vacation. Rubbish piles are open and redundant, when the wind turns there is an even bigger problem. Auction goods are blowing around and of course there is a smell hanging around. No braai areas for the rooms, also insufficient cutlery. Dirty under mattresses and not sure if bed linen had been changed. Geyser trip etc etc etc Extremely, extremely weak.
We had a very nice stay.
Well located near the restaurant and pool. Definitely recommend it for younger groups of people who will not be bothered with music from other campers.
Bed sheets were stained, power kept on tripping, we had a tiny bar fridge instead of a proper fridge and freezer. Toilet water kept running.
On arrival the apartment's fridge was not working. We only had a working fridge in the apartment the next day. Then the staff in the kitchen at the restaurant tripped the power in the afternoon. Are the apartments without power until about 8pm in the evening. My husband had to go and help them solve the power problem. The place really has a lot of potential, but is very poorly managed, which is a great shame.
No action is taken by management against campers who play rock-hard music until the early hours of the morning. Our first week was acceptable and we camped peacefully. The music from the bar area did not bother us at all. The bathroom facilities were cleaned regularly. The condition of the bathrooms (taps not working / torn shower curtains) is not acceptable. After Christmas we got new camp neighbors (10+ young men and women). When they arrived, they turned on their music rock hard and didn't turn it off until 3 in the morning. It continued like this every day. We reported it to management but it didn't help. We then decided to come home 3 days earlier as we were dead tired during the day and it was no longer pleasant to camp there.
During our stay the staff were striking.
Bathrooms were in a terrible condition. The maids only put in toilet paper every day, didn't sweep or wash at all, only had hot water one night and the shower was full of water, plumbing was bad. The litter blew all over the campsite and not a single piece of paper was picked up in the 2 days we were there. We only stayed 2 out of our 4 days. One of the guests kicked in a door of another, it's just rough people who camp/stay here. Not suitable for families with small children, the pool is cute, but has a bar attached, so you often hear foul language and the people smoke around. Maybe for a younger group of people better suited. I will not camp here again.
This was by far the worst and worst accommodation I have ever slept at. The lady we checked in with was impatient and unhelpful, it was our first time in Sodwana Bay we requested from her what all the fun things to do there she replied to us that she only works there and that we should ask the young people. The bathrooms were an absolute nightmare, we slept there for 8 nights of which I only had hot water for 2 nights. My boyfriend in the men's bathroom had no hot water! The toilet paper was all over the place and had not been cleaned at all. Every single time I took a shower, I stood ankle deep in the water because the water didn't drain. The men's bathroom has two toilets, one of which was clogged the entire 8 days we were there, the other toilet did not have a toilet seat. There there was no check at the hangout, the young people hanging out up there were not gone before 05:00 a day. Would not recommend Maak 'n Jol to anyone, but Sodwana Bay did not disappoint at all!
Was pleasant, best bar people too. Especially Sky and Linton! Was great, thanks.
Value for money, good campsites, poor ablution with hot water coming and going. Noise every night.
Our holiday at Maak 'n Jol was really nice! Enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend it to others!
The pool is very nice and has received good service. Just sat in the pool at the bar and ate. The owner was very helpful when we asked for something. They play nice music at the bar in the evenings so it was nice for us. If you want you can go dancing and play pool. The room wasn't too bad either, but I just don't think it works as well if other people also sleep there because the 3 rooms are facing each other and you have to share one braai with the other people. The bathrooms are not very clean. If we were to go to Sodwana again we would stay there again but would then stay in the bigger house which has a bathroom.
The camp sites are small, and not all are accessible for camping trailers. If you have a camping trailer, make sure it is mentioned before you make a booking. The camp sites are very close together and there is not really privacy. Maak 'n Jol is famous for its bar, and therefore there are always loud students in and out until midnight. We almost had a drunk student drive through our campsite. Showers can be maintained better, however was always clean. If you want a quiet getaway, this is not the place. However if you're up for a jol, I would definitely recommend this place.
Drains are clogged, spilling into other people's garbage. Loud music until 2 in the morning. Drunk people walking through your camp and urinating next to your tent. Will never go again.
Not bad, basic accommodation. There are plenty of cock roaches in the kitchen, which is disgusting.
The accommodation was standard but there were power problems and the water was occasionally cold for showering. Cracked cups and rusty forks at cutlery were unpleasant.
We were on holiday at Maak-'n-Jol in 2015 and had a fantastic time. We camped and had no problems with the facilities. This December we booked their rooms and the place was not the same at all. It was dirty and the management was very confused. We had to pay a deposit which we still haven't received back and every time we follow up it says it will be paid today. The drains were blocked and there was sewage coming up in the shower, as well as through the pipes outside onto the grass. On this second visit, I would not recommend Maak-'n-Jol to anyone. The place has deteriorated a lot since my last visit.
It is a dirty place and very noisy. Showers and toilets are filthy. Would not recommend to anyone. Swimming pool smells terrible.
The people are very friendly, the pool is clean, the bathrooms are cleaned well every day. Lovely, would go again and highly recommend. Not for the quiet quiet people.
The rooms are comfortable. There just wasn't a fridge in our unit as the advertisement said. The drains of the showers were also clogged, but since it was December, one can certainly understand. After we complained, it was not fixed either.
Pool/bar area is the local hangout for most who are at Sodwana. The food and the drinks are exorbitantly expensive. It is and was more expensive than most top restaurants in the area we visited.
Loud music from bar/pool area from early morning until well after midnight. No respect or mercy for campers, you can't chat with your friends or rest/sleep, it's the same continuous music over and over. Gate is also not closed as said, one does not feel safe at all even if there is a guard in the evening. He doesn't understand people either.
Place does not look like the pictures. Neglected, dirty and untidy. Reception was not very welcoming. On the contrary, we arrived in the rain and the lady constantly complained that she had to take us to unit in the rain. We were so disappointed in the place that we booked that we booked into an amazing place the next morning. We never expected or asked to be refunded and accepted it. We just wanted to get our breakage deposit back but Andre, the owner, did not even want to give that back. They eventually did. Would not recommend it at all.
Map
Rooms
Campsite
4 Sleeper Cabin Room
More photos
before check-in
before check-in
before check-in
Calendar
Tap any rate to see more detailed pricing.
Price Includes
Breakage Deposit
A refundable breakage deposit of R500 is payable directly to the property.Check-in/check-out details
House rules
An R 500.00 refundable breakage deposit fee is payable before arrival. The breakage deposit will be refunded within 5-7 days after departure, less any deductions for breakages.A fridge can be provided if needed.
Campsite
More room/unit pictures
Description
Each campsite has a built in braai area. Power plugs and water taps are located nearby to each of the campsites.
Rates
Price Includes
Rates displayed are on a camping basis, and guests are required to bring along their own equipment.
House Rules
An R 500.00 refundable breakage deposit fee is payable before arrival. The breakage deposit will be refunded within 5-7 days after departure, less any deductions for breakages.
A fridge can be provided if needed.
Cancellation policy
before check-in
before check-in
before check-in
Description
Each campsite has a built in braai area. Power plugs and water taps are located nearby to each of the campsites.
4 Sleeper Cabin Room
More room/unit pictures
Description
The cabin is a room with 2 bunk beds only. All cabins make use of the ablution block. All bedding is provided.
Room Arrangements
Rates
Services
Room Facilities
Price Includes
Rates displayed are on a room only basis.
House Rules
An R 500.00 refundable breakage deposit fee is payable before arrival. The breakage deposit will be refunded within 5-7 days after departure, less any deductions for breakages.
A fridge can be provided if needed.
Cancellation policy
before check-in
before check-in
before check-in
Description
The cabin is a room with 2 bunk beds only. All cabins make use of the ablution block. All bedding is provided.
En-suite 2 Sleeper Rooms
More room/unit pictures
Description
The room is furnished with 2 single beds and an en-suite bathroom with a shower, basin, and toilet. The room also features a fridge and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Bedding is provided.
Room Arrangements
Rates
Price Includes
Rates displayed are on a room only basis.
House Rules
An R 500.00 refundable breakage deposit fee is payable before arrival. The breakage deposit will be refunded within 5-7 days after departure, less any deductions for breakages.
A fridge can be provided if needed.
Cancellation policy
before check-in
before check-in
before check-in
Description
The room is furnished with 2 single beds and an en-suite bathroom with a shower, basin, and toilet. The room also features a fridge and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Bedding is provided.
Self Catering 4 Sleeper Chalets
More room/unit pictures
Description
The chalet comprises 2 en-suite bedrooms. The first bedroom with a double bed and the second bedroom with 2 single beds. Both bathrooms are fitted each with a shower, a bath and basin. The kitchen is equipped with a fridge- freezer, a mini-over with 2-plate stove, microwave, crockery, and cutlery. The chalet also features air-conditioning.
Room Arrangements
Rates
About This Room
Services
Bathroom
Room Facilities
Appliances
Price Includes
Rates displayed are on a self-catering basis.
House Rules
An R 500.00 refundable breakage deposit fee is payable before arrival. The breakage deposit will be refunded within 5-7 days after departure, less any deductions for breakages.
A fridge can be provided if needed.
Cancellation policy
before check-in
before check-in
before check-in
Description
The chalet comprises 2 en-suite bedrooms. The first bedroom with a double bed and the second bedroom with 2 single beds. Both bathrooms are fitted each with a shower, a bath and basin. The kitchen is equipped with a fridge- freezer, a mini-over with 2-plate stove, microwave, crockery, and cutlery. The chalet also features air-conditioning.
On-site facilities include a large bar, restaurant and a swimming pool with a pool bar as well as a function- and wedding venue. Please note that the bar is open till late and could be noisy at times.
Budget accommodation is provided in chalets, en-suite rooms, cabins, and campsites. There are 4 self-catering chalets each with their own air-conditioning, kitchen, and en-suite bathrooms. The en-suite rooms have their own kettle and en-suite bathrooms. The cabins offer basic overnight accommodation in an open-plan room with an ablution block. Each campsite has a built-in braai area. There are power plugs and water taps located nearby to each of the campsites.
Activities include the area includes horse riding on the beach and in the reserve, birding on the 5 km walking trail through the forests and sand dunes, exploring the rock pools, and swimming.