Description
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve stretches along 42 kms of the Great Fish River and the 22,000 hectare reserve is set on the edge of the former Karoo Basin, where several of Africa’s vegetation zones converge and biodiversity is extremely rich. The Kwandwe landscape is dominated by valley bushveld on open plains and rolling hills, with succulent euphorbias, aloes and spekboom among the characteristic plants. Thousands of animals, including the ‘big five’ (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) have been reintroduced to roam the reserve, which is also a haven for endangered animals and birds and numerous programmes to support them have been introduced.
Ecca Lodge offers a unique safari experience on the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. It is very modern in style with funky design touches throughout. Six luxurious suites rooms, which can be fenced for children, feature walls of wood panelling interspersed with mesh-covered stone gabion, and pagoda-style corrugated iron roofs. The suites offer spacious living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms. Glass doors slide back onto wraparound wooden decks, private plunge pools, outdoor showers and fabulous views of the bushveld.
Overlooking rolling spekboom valleys, guest areas comprise a spacious sitting room with fireplace, dining room and bar area and deep veranda with expansive viewing decks. Delicious fresh farm cuisine is prepared in the modern, open-plan kitchen and an interpretive centre provides hours of entertainment for children of all ages.
Accommodation
Ecca Lodge offers guests 6 luxurious suites. Rooms feature walls of wood panelling interspersed with mesh-covered stone gabion, and pagoda-style corrugated iron roofs. The suites offer spacious living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms. Glass doors slide back onto wraparound wooden decks, private plunge pools, outdoor showers and fabulous views of the bushveld.
Childcare
Children are welcome at the lodge and there is a kid's play centre. The recommended minimum age is 6 years.
Facilities
Facilities at the lodge include private plunge pools, computer room, children's playroom and guest area featuring an open interactive kitchen, a gorgeous infinity lap pool lined with shaded decks and teak loungers, and library where you relax and unwind with a good book. Ecca Lodge is also a 15-minute drive from the historic Heatherton Towers, which houses a well-stocked safari shop.
Activities
Game drives, guided walks, fishing, canoeing, bush picnics and rhino tracking are all complimentary at the lodge. Archaeological drives, scenic flights, helicopter trips and trips to local community are charged additionally.
When to travel
Game viewing is excellent all year round. Summers (October to March) are hot and wet, were as winters (May to August) are cool and dry. Daytime temperatures in summer are high and may soar above 36°C/97°F. Winter is known to produce beautiful warm days, though the evenings and early mornings can be quite chilly.
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Average time to visit
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Location and directions
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Nestled in the heart of South Africa's unspoilt Eastern Cape province lies Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, a world-class Big Five safari experience in 22 000 hectares (54 000 acres) of pristine private wilderness and featuring 30 km of privately owned river frontage of the Great Fish River.
How to get there
Guests are advised to fly to Port Elizabeth and proceed to Kwandwe by road or air transfer. A flight from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth takes about 1h40m. The distance from Port Elizabeth to Kwandwe is 160km (100 miles) and can be comfortably covered by road in 1 hour and 45 minutes. A flight from Port Elizabeth directly to the Kwandwe Airstrip takes approximately 30 minutes. Transfers to the Lodge from the airstrip or Port Elizabeth can be arranged by Kwandwe.
