Kwandwe Private Game Reserve Reviews & Information
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Restaurants
Dining at the Kwandwe Lodges
At the exclusive Kwandwe Game Lodges, days are designed to thrill guests with extraordinary wildlife encounters and the evenings to delight guests with the indulgence and romance of the African night.
A delicious breakfast with platters of fruit and cheese can be combined with a selection of hot breakfast dishes including eggs, oats, and waffles. Lunch is followed by afternoon tea and sundowners are followed by a scrumptious dinner around a blazing fire in a boma or in the lodge’s dining area.
Activities, Sports & Leisure
Game Drives and Walking Safaris
Guests have the opportunity to explore the natural splendour of the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve on game drives in open 4×4 safari vehicles. They may track the "Big Five", as well as a variety of other wildlife and enjoy a boat ride on Galpin Dam to the moored floating deck for a drinks stop. During the thrilling night drives, some unusual sightings can be observed, including aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox and porcupine.
Interpretive bush walks to take a closer look at the unseen wonders of the bushveld. Various birds of prey and other species can be seen, and guests can get up close sightings of occasional buffalo herds, elephant bull, black and white rhino, bushbuck and bush pigs.
Trip to Angus Gillis Foundation
The Angus Gillis Foundation is an independent, non-profit, charitable trust which currently invests in the development of nine rural communities. A range of self-help and income generating activities have been implemented through the foundation.
These activities include soap making, doll making, weaving, beading, bee-keeping and ‘spaza’ shops. An informative and enriching visit to the Foundation site includes a tour of the Mgcambele Community Centre to see community empowerment in practice and meet some of the local people.
Facilities
Baby Facility
Experienced childminders are available by prior arrangement, at no additional cost. All childminders at the Kwandwe Private Reserve are first-aid trained.
Services
Check in and Check Out Times
- Check in: 12:00
- Check out: 11:00
General Services
- Airport transfers
- Butler service
- Housekeeping service
- Kid's entertainment
- Safari drives
- Wake-up call
- Walking safaris
Children Activities
The Kwandwe Private Reserve in South Africa offers a host of tailor-made activities on-site which are designed to keep little ones entertained. Children of all ages are welcome at the Kwandwe Ecca Lodge, the Kwandwe Uplands Homestead and the Kwandwe Melton Manor while children older that twelve years are welcome at Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge.
Children receive ‘Rangers in Training’ backpacks with bug collectors, magnifying glass, booklet for identifying wildlife, an individual craft pack, a journal-making kit for the girls and a door sign making an outfit for the boys. On the last day, each child receives a Ranger in Training certificate.
For safety considerations, children five years and younger may join drives only when a single use vehicle is booked. A special children’s menu is available on arrival at the lodge.
Activities for children:
- Spoor tracking with the ranger and tracker
- Minnow’s fishing trip
- Finger painting
- Clay moulding
- Daily treasure hunts
- Special youth drives
- Baking
- Pizza-making competitions
- DVDs and popcorn
- Chocolate mould making
- Creature cookie baking
- Bedtime stories with milk and cookies
Social Responsibility
The meaning of Kwandwe in isiXhosa is “Place of the Blue Crane”, and the Reserve is home to a population of these highly endangered birds. The Reserve is also a sanctuary for other threatened species including the Knysna woodpecker, Cape grysbok, black wildebeest, crowned eagle and black-footed cat.
The reserve also makes significant contributions to the development of the surrounding communities in the region. The Angus Gillis Foundation employs over 100 people from rural communities, at least, half of whom are women.
Kwandwe also funded the construction of a formal primary school. Lodge guests have the unique opportunity to participate in volunteering towards the Angus Gillis Foundation by donating items, getting involved in activities and financial donations.
Available Rooms
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Great Fish River Lodge Suite
- # Rooms:
- 15
The game rich Kwandwe Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa features the exclusive Fish River Lodge and Ecca Lodge both of which provide world-class sophistication and style in the African bush.
Kwandwe Fish River Lodge
Located along the aloe-studded banks of the Great Fish River, the nine suites at the Kwandwe Fish River Lodge feature private plunge pools and spacious thatched game viewing decks with magnificent views of the wild yet gentle landscape. Beautiful thatched guest areas, and expansive viewing decks overlook the river.
All suites feature:
- En-suite bathrooms
- Indoor and outdoor showers
- Mini bar
- Private veranda
- Plunge Pool
- Air-conditioning
- Hairdryer
- Electronic safe
- Telephone
- WiFi.
Ecca Family Suite
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Innovative, stylish and intimate, the exclusive Kwandwe Ecca Lodge embodies a “funk-meets-futuristic-farmhouse” ambience and features only six beautiful suites with spacious living areas and en suite bathrooms. Overlooking rolling spekboom valleys, main guest areas include a spacious sitting room, dining room and bar area, communal kitchen, sparkling rim-flow lap pool, and children's play centre.
All suites feature:
- En-suite bathrooms
- Indoor and outdoor showers
- Mini bar
- Private veranda
- Plunge Pool
- Air-conditioning
- Hairdryer
- Electronic safe
- Telephone
- WiFi.
Ecca Lodge Double Suite
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Innovative, stylish and intimate, the exclusive Kwandwe Ecca Lodge embodies a “funk-meets-futuristic-farmhouse” ambience and features only six beautiful suites with spacious living areas and en suite bathrooms. Overlooking rolling spekboom valleys, main guest areas include a spacious sitting room, dining room and bar area, communal kitchen, sparkling rim-flow lap pool, and children's play centre.
All suites feature:
- En-suite bathrooms
- Indoor and outdoor showers
- Mini bar
- Private veranda
- Plunge Pool
- Air-conditioning
- Hairdryer
- Electronic safe
- Telephone
- WiFi.
Uplands Homestead
- # Rooms:
- 1
This gracious Kwandwe Uplands Homestead is a sensitively restored 1905 farmhouse comprising three spacious en suite bedrooms with private terraces, available for sole use by guests. The Kwandwe Uplands Homestead features a large swimming pool and gazebo, and guests enjoy their private ranger, tracker, chef and open 4x4 safari vehicle.
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead features:
- Farmstyle kitchen
- Air conditioning
- Sitting room
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle
- Private veranda
- Full size swimming pool with gazebo
- Dining area
- Hairdryer
- Electronic safe
- Telephone
- WiFi.
Melton Manor
- # Rooms:
- 4
The Kwandwe Melton Manor is a contemporary frontier farmhouse with modern touches. The Manor can be booked on a per-suite or sole use basis and is ideal for family holidays or parties of friends.
Four en-suite bedrooms are designed around the central courtyard with its large, inviting swimming pool. A private safari vehicle (booked exclusively on request) comes complete with a tracker and ranger.
Melton Manor features:
- Private butler, chef and guide
- Central courtyard with pool
- Farmstyle kitchen
- Air conditioning
- Sitting room
- Bar area
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle
- Private veranda
- Dining area
- Hairdryer
- Electronic safe
- Telephone
- WiFi.
Directions
GPS Co-Ordinates
Latitude: -33.146431
Longitude: 26.525680
Directions
Direct flights from Port Elizabeth to the Lodge's Airstrip takes around 30 minutes. Flights directly to the Game Reserve are scheduled for early afternoon, to allow arriving guests to enjoy an afternoon game drive on their day of arrival.
Guests are advised to fly to Port Elizabeth and proceed to Kwandwe by road or air transfer. The distance from Port Elizabeth to Kwandwe is 160km (100 miles) and can be comfortably covered by road in 1 hour and 45 minutes.
On arrival, guests will leave their vehicle at the car park at Heatherton Towers and will be transferred to the Lodge of their choice by an open safari vehicle.
Parking
On site parking facilities are provided for guests.
Star Rating
5 Star
Memberships
- Relais & Chateaux Hotels
Hotel Group(s)
- Relais & Chateaux