Lopesan Baobab Resort

★☆☆☆☆ (1/5) | Heartbreaking drop in standards—not a 5-star hotel anymoreWe first stayed here 8 years ago and were absolutely blown away, so we were incredibly excited to return and introduce our son to a place we had raved about for a decade. What a massive disappointment. This is no longer a 5-star hotel; it barely passes as a 3.5-star. The property is in desperate need of serious investment, and we will never be returning.The Bad:Shocking Reception: The front desk staff were unfriendly, unwelcoming, and completely unhelpful. No one speaks to you or even acknowledges your existence unless you speak to them first.Dirty Grounds & Pests: The general upkeep is poor. The pool areas were completely overrun with bees, wasps, and hornets, and nothing was done to clear them. To sum up the staff's attitude: I watched a waiter literally step right over a piece of discarded tissue on the floor and completely ignore it instead of picking it up.Terrible Food & Queues: You have to queue just to get into breakfast. Once inside, the morning food is cold and repeatedly the exact same things every day. The evening meal was absolutely shocking for a luxury hotel.Not Disabled Friendly: For a resort of this caliber, accessibility is surprisingly poor with clear obstacles for anyone with restricted mobility.The Only Good Thing:The absolute sole highlight of our entire stay was a waiter named Mvdean He was absolute magic, a complete joy, and is a massive asset to this hotel. It is just a shame that management and the rest of the staff don’t share his incredible work ethic.Save your money. The luxury we remembered is completely gone.

Lopesan Baobab Resort — This Is What Five-Star Luxury Should Feel Like ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an absolutely phenomenal hotel.

From the moment we walked through reception, I knew Lopesan Baobab was going to be something special. The beautiful surroundings, the incredible attention to detail and even the divine fragrance from the incense burners immediately create a sense of luxury. You don’t simply arrive at this hotel — you feel as though you’ve entered another world.

And somehow, it only gets better.

The resort itself is breathtaking. Every corner has been beautifully considered, and wherever you point your camera, there is another spectacular view. The architecture, tropical gardens, pools and overall African-inspired design make this one of the most distinctive and picturesque resorts I have visited.

SERVICE THAT ACTUALLY FEELS FIVE-STAR

The staff deserve enormous praise.

Friendly, attentive and genuinely welcoming, they consistently went above and beyond for us. Nothing felt like too much trouble. The lifeguards were also absolutely fantastic and provided an exceptional level of care and attentiveness around the pools.

This is what separates a hotel that simply calls itself five-star from one that actually delivers a five-star experience.

THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE — WORTH EVERY PENNY

We had the Unique experience, Lopesan’s premium service, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The poolside experience was superb: wonderfully soft, comfortable sunbeds, fresh towels and attentive service throughout the day.

Then there are all the little extras.

You can be relaxing beside the pool and suddenly be offered fresh fruit, sorbet or a smoothie. 🍓🥭🍹

They may sound like small touches, but this is exactly what luxury is about — anticipating what a guest might enjoy rather than waiting for them to ask.

It made relaxing beside the pool feel genuinely indulgent.

THE FOOD ❤️

The food was another highlight.

From beautifully cooked steak to caviar and other premium choices, we thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience. Our steaks were cooked perfectly, and the quality and variety were exactly what I would expect from a resort of this calibre.

ENTERTAINMENT — 10/10

The entertainment was absolutely fantastic.

A genuine 10/10 from us.

There was an atmosphere and energy throughout the resort whilst still retaining the feeling of being somewhere sophisticated and high-end. As a family resort, I thought they struck the balance brilliantly.

It felt lively without feeling cheap, and luxurious without feeling stuffy.

WORTH PAYING MORE FOR

Yes, Lopesan Baobab can be more expensive than other hotels.

Would I pay the difference again?

Without hesitation.

There are hotels where you leave wondering what exactly you paid the premium for.

This isn’t one of them.

Here, you can actually see and feel where your money has gone — the surroundings, the service, the staff, the food, the facilities and, most importantly, the attention to detail.

The entire experience feels polished.

The rooms were fantastic, the resort was immaculate and the atmosphere throughout our stay was wonderful. We also encountered such a lovely mix of guests, which contributed enormously to the overall experience.

WOULD I RETURN?

Tomorrow, if I could.

Lopesan Baobab hasn’t simply created a beautiful hotel. They’ve created an experience.

It’s luxurious without being pretentious, family-friendly without sacrificing sophistication, and spectacular without relying purely on appearances.

From that first beautiful fragrance as you enter reception to the service beside the pool, the perfectly cooked steak, the fabulous entertainment and the extraordinary surroundings, the attention to detail continued throughout our stay.

I have stayed in hotels that photograph beautifully but fail to deliver once the camera is put away.

Lopesan Baobab is the opposite.

The photographs are stunning.

The reality is even better.

An exceptional resort, exceptional staff and a genuinely memorable holiday.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five stars from me — and one I will absolutely return to.

This is what a luxury holiday should feel like.