It's all about expectations... My mother had stayed here and raved about it. She told me that the water hole was worth the splurge alone, and when I saw I could have a room for ~$160, I jumped at the chance.... Turns out the S&L is really two separate hotels. One (the lodge) is a 5-star experience, with gorgeous rooms and a beautiful lodge, and the other, the Ursula (where I stayed) is more like 3.5 stars. I should have known that ahead of time, but the website doesn't really make it explicit. My little bungalow was very basic -- no TV, basic carpeting, hostel-style shower, etc. I even had the impression I could mosey between the two properties and experience some of the lodge (meals, pool, etc) despite being a guest at Ursula. That's not the case (they don't even let you walk between the two -- you have to schedule a shuttle even though it's only about 100 meters). The other thing the website should mention is that the animals aren't at the water hole half the year. So, I paid largely for the chance to gaze out my veranda at elephants & giraffes, but turns out that only happens during the dry season... All that said, this is a classy place with great service. A few of the staff members haven't quite nailed the concept of "Western" service, but they'll mostly go out of their way to accommodate you and make sure you're having a great stay.