Rafiki Safari Lodge
16 Km from the Coastal Highway Savegre River Costa Rica
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About
#1 of 11 lodges in Perez Zeledon
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Rafiki is a sustainable adventure lodge located in the Savegre Valley of Costa Rica. The lodge sits on 840 acres of tropical forest. Rafiki specializes in custom white water rafting, horseback riding and hiking trips. Guests sleep in imported luxury Safari Tents which feature hydro electric fans and lights. Each tent sits on a raised hardwood platform, has a deluxe bathroom with glass showers heated with solar power. The units also have a private porch with rocking chairs looking over the Savegre Valley.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Free breakfast
Hiking
Horseback riding
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Shuttle bus service
Electric vehicle charging station
Internet
Hot bath
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Plunge pool
Shallow end in pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Fishing
Waterslide
Massage
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Convenience store
Gift shop
Mosquito net
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
First aid kit
Express check-in / check-out
Laundry service
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Room features
Air purifier
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Seating area
Separate living room
Clothes rack
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Private bathrooms
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Room types
Mountain view
Landmark view
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, Afrikaans
Location
16 Km from the Coastal Highway Savegre River Costa Rica
Getting there
Rental CarsSee all Perez Zeledon car hire
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+1
Rafiki Lodge is worth way more than 5 stars! It is amazing here! Everyone there is so hard-working and incredible. They all took care of my family and me. I felt safe the entire time and did all my excursions through them. All the excursions we did there were unbelievable. We not only did their white-water rafting tour but also went on a long beautiful hike through the rainforest to a waterfall, went horseback riding, went on a night tour in the forest, and kayaked through mangroves to their other location on the beach. I'm probably forgetting some things we did when writing this because there is so much! At the actual lodge, there is a gorgeous view of the jungle. Breathtaking! When you aren't soaking in the view, there is a crazy fast and fun slide to go down. Everything about this place is a paradise. Couldn't recommend enough! The staff is great! They're such a big reason why Rafiki Lodge is the place to be. Kenneth and Randol are such amazing guides! They seem to know everything about the surrounding area and make your visit there magical! From everywhere I've been this vacation has been my favorite! I don't think anything will ever beat this trip! (Even though it says 2023, I went to Rafiki Safari Lodge in May 2021) …
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
4 Helpful votes1 Repost
Helpful
+1
Fantastic 3 night stay, miles from anywhere, fantastic views of the rainforest, tents are great, food good and opportunity to take some great trips - we did white water rafting, horse riding and massages. Staff super friendly and guides very knowledgeable
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: It’s very well informed on the website, lonely planet etc. it the road up to the lodge is 16km of...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
we visited costa rica for a week and planned many excursions but the rafting trip through Rafiki was by far the BEST of our trip! Kenneth, our guide, took us on a short walk through the forest to point out various plants, herbs, and animals. it was fascinating! the rest of the staff was professional, communicative, and FUN...just so pleasant and enjoyable. after the rafting portion we ate lunch at the hotel. my son said it is the best chicken he has ever had! everything about our experience was top notch. we would like to come back and stay at the hotel but even if you just make the trip for the day, it is well worth it. highly recommend!
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: pay attention to the signs along the way. its a long drive through the mountain trails but the...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Absolutely beautiful; perfect location. Hiking and white water rafting was amazing. Everyone was super nice . Highly recommend Rafiki lodge to all travelers. Best part of the trip. The slide to the pool was so fun, a must do!!Thank you so much for hosting us. Can not wait to return
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We had the best stay here. The accommodations are yurt-like with amazing views of the forest. Our favorite part of the trip were the guides, all from the local village, they had such great knowledge of the surrounding environment and it was clear they enjoyed sharing it. Highly recommend the waterfall hike and rafting. June was a great time to go - not too much rain and less tourists.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
We stayed here for our honeymoon and had the best experience! We went rafting with Kenneth and Alan who were both amazing people. Kenneth shared some great knowledge with us about the environment surrounding us and we learned so much about the native plants and animals! He also brought us up to a gorgeous waterfall where he cut fresh fruit for us and brought homemade snickerdoodles. We really really enjoyed spending the day with him as he had so much insight to share! We also went on a night hike with Randall where we saw so many frogs, spiders, scorpions, snakes, etc. Randall took great pictures on my phone of the animals and was also very knowledgeable about them. All the staff was really nice and we loved the food! Everyone spoke great English and lived in the local community about 10 minutes from the lodge. They had the best plantains of anywhere in Costa Rica and they made delicious fresh juice daily. We especially loved the hot tub hanging from the side of the lodge with a gorgeous view overseeing the property. The tents do an amazing job at keeping bugs out! If you are looking for a secluded, relaxing getaway Rafiki is perfect for you! You will see so many plants and wildlife like lizards, birds, and frogs on the property! Not to mention they have this yummy apple tree where you can pick them fresh. We loved it here!!! Thank you everyone at Rafiki for being so great! …
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Rafiki was an amazing experience for our family. The food was outstanding and prepared fresh for every meal; the accommodations were comfortable; the excursions were unforgettable. We went on a nature and waterfall hike with Randol and a rafting adventure with Kenneth and Alan. Both were phenomenal. Given the size of the nearby town of Santo Domingo (pop. ~120), all of our guides spoke inexplicably good english. The hike was strenuous, but the payoff was well worth it: we enjoyed stunning views with fresh-cut sugar cane as a snack, and we got to see an amazing anount of flora and fauna along the way. After the tough part (the climb), a typical Costa Rican lunch was waiting for us, and it was delicious. We toured a vanilla farm and learned about local agriculture. Rafting was super fun as well. Our guides walked us through safety and “how-to,” and then took us on a delightful trip down the Savegre River. We stopped at a waterfall and ate a snack of fresh pineapple and watermelon. Our guide Kenneth created a small “dam” of rocks in the shallows to collect small fish, then literally lay down across the opening, causing them to leap over him to retreat back to the larger body of water. (Hard to convey how enormously entertaining this was.) The rooms were comfortable, but you should know that if you’re going to the remote jungle of the central pacific coast, you won’t have air conditioning—it’s just part of the deal. All in all, a phenomenal couple of days. One of the better stops on one of the better trips we’ve taken.…
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
This experience and the excursions were an incredibly unique. The people, the location, the animals and food all made this so special. The water slide with natural fed springs and warm bath was so fun with great views of the sunset. We loved the whitewater rafting. Kenneth was an excellent guide for families with kids who love nature and are curious.
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Date of stay: March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Incredible experience off the beaten path! Prepare yourself for a bumpy, windy drive up the mountain (4x4 an asset). The kids loved the waterslide (note that it is very fast) and we had some great meals as well. Highly recommend the horseback ride with Kenneth - he was a fantastic guide and showed us wild cinnamon, allspice and a perfect spot to return to for a swim in the river. Kenneth helped our kids (ages 4, 7, 9) feel comfortable and in tune with their horses and gave them an experience that they definitely won't forget!
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: There is a mid point spot on the waterslide that can be a bit gentler :) Make sure you bring...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
Spending three days at Rafiki Safari Lodge was the perfect way to begin our two-week adventure in Costa Rica. The platform tents provide an authentic, immersive jungle experience complete with the 5:45 am jungle birds alarm clock. A reasonable level of physical fitness is helpful to fully enjoy the offerings, though even families with small children found plenty age-appropriate activities. The guides, who are mostly raised and trained locally, are highly knowledgeable and eager to joyfully share the secrets of their beautiful bit of paradise. The “waterfall hike” has several options from rigorous to easy, so you can tailor your experience to your interest, experience, and level of fitness. Our mountainous 9 km hike was much more than just a waterfall experience; we loved it. The long, rough, and winding access road to Rafiki ensured extreme isolation for our time there, and made us thankful that we had hired an expert driver (using Costa Rica Vacations) to navigate the road. We went in February during the dry season; during the rainy season that road would be even more daunting. …
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Be prepared to haul your own baggage here. The bellman services are limited. Take advantage of...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
US$205 - US$207 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
rafiki safari hotel province of puntarenas
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of San JosePerez Zeledon
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
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Claim Your ListingRafiki Safari Lodge - UPDATED 2023 Prices, Reviews & Photos (Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Rafiki Safari Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to Rafiki Safari Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Villa Vanilla Spice Tour & Shop (7.9 km) and Los Campesinos Reserve (2.0 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Rafiki Safari Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Rafiki Safari Lodge?
Top room amenities include a view of a nearby landmark, a mosquito net, and a view of the mountains.
What food & drink options are available at Rafiki Safari Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Rafiki Safari Lodge?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Rafiki Safari Lodge have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Rafiki Safari Lodge offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Rafiki Safari Lodge?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Afrikaans.
Does Rafiki Safari Lodge have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.