Eastern Cape Private Reserves in no particular order with contact information as supplied. Scenic diversity is one of the most striking characteristics of the Eastern Cape region, ranging from the lush, evergreen Tsitsikamma Forest to the rugged Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, the southern slopes of the Drakensberg and the arid Great Karoo. Alternating between sweeping sand, river mouths and rocks, the 800 kilometer coastline is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. Among them, surfers ride the perfect waves, anglers reel in king-size catches, and board sailors revel in the challenge of the wind. Sunshine all year round, fine leisure resorts and splendid facilities ensure that the great outdoors is always in style. Find all the information on Eastern Cape Private Reserves.
Amakhala Game Reserve
Safari Lodges And Tented Camps
Amakhala Game Reserve is located in the malaria-free Eastern Cape of South Africa. The Game Reserve offers a wide variety of 3, 4 & 5-star owner-managed experiences. The private Game Park offers guests accommodation in a selection of 10 Luxury establishments made up of restored Country houses, Safari Lodges and Tented camps located in different areas of the large 18 000 acres Safari park.
Some dwellings are owned and managed by fifth generation Frontier Settlers families.
Wildlife Viewing And Safari Trips: Day and night game viewing trips under guidance of professional game rangers are available. Wildlife likely to be encountered during the game drives in the Game Reserve are: the “Big Five”, lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and plenty of antelope species.
Visits to the nearby Addo Elephant National Park can be arranged at request.
Conference And Wedding Facilities On The Game Reserve: Some of the lodges on the Amakhala Game Reserve offer Conference facilities and luxurious Wedding venues.
Become part of Africa as you experience our Big 5 Safari Adventure on malaria free Amakhala Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
Included in your stay are morning and evening game drives leaving from your lodge. You will be guided by informative, professional rangers through Amakhala Game Reserve in open Land Rovers. Here you can return to nature and explore the abundant wildlife, the diverse vegetation and the dramatic landscape of the Eastern Cape.
Wildlife you are likely to see: On Amakhala Game Reserve’s 18 000 acres the animals that you are likely to encounter are: lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, monkeys, tortoise and plenty of antelope species. You might be lucky and see some of the more elusive and shy animals like hyena or bat eared fox.
This is your chance to be privileged enough to see the world famous African animals close up in their own habitat .The focus of the game drives is not only the large majestic beasts but also the humble smaller mammals, birds and insects which will leave you in awe.
The reserve hosts five of South Africa’s seven biomes, bushveld to savannah.
Refreshment breaks have been included to make your safari experience that much more enjoyable. This safari experience will create memories which will linger for a life time.
Other excursions to neighbouring Addo National Elephant Park are available when staying 3 nights or more at The Safari Lodge.
Lodge Inquiries & Reservations:
reservations@amakhala.co.za
centralres@amakhala.co.za
+27 (0)41 502 9400
+27 (0)73 060 1934
+27 (0)86 694 6895
144 Main Road, Walmer, 6070, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
General Inquiries:
+27 (0)41 502 9400
+27 (0)86 694 6895
144 Main Road, Walmer, 6070, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Kichaka Game Reserve
Kichaka Lodge is an exclusive five star lodge located within a Big 5 game reserve, in the Eastern Cape, set between two streams in a lush bushveld valley. It is ideally situated just over one hour from Port Elizabeth airport.
It is the perfect romantic getaway or honeymoon destination in the Eastern Cape. The lodge is small with only 10 very spacious and luxurious suites. The main building at Kichaka is decorated in a modern African safari style.
Situated in a private game reserve in the malaria-free Eastern Cape, Kichaka is the perfect place to enjoy a Big Five safari experience in quiet luxury.
Feel instantly at home – the lounge and dining areas are positioned to offer uninterrupted views across unspoilt bush.
Large terraces provide a magnificent viewing deck to witness the passage of game to the banks of the adjacent waterhole.
Relax and enjoy the scents and sounds of the African bush in 10 beautifully appointed and spacious luxury chalets, each with private deck, plunge pool and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Experienced guides ensure fascinating game-viewing from open vehicles or on guided walks; enjoy a relaxing massage in the safari-styled wellness-suite, outstanding cuisine complemented by premium wines, and our friendly staff, who are key to Kichaka’s commitment to service excellence and a 5 star experience, tailor-making each guest’s stay to suit individual tastes, interests and moods.
Attention to detail ensures unrivalled levels of sumptuous opulence.
Each unique luxury chalet is named after the indigenous bush that surrounds it. Built of stone and thatch, the chalets are situated in secluded settings ensuring total privacy and a real sense of space.
The luxury chalets are connected to the main lodge by walkways which wind through the natural bush.
Activities at Kichaka & Surrounds
At Kichaka Lodge you can enjoy private game drives, game viewing from the main lodge, bird watching, swimming, massage therapies as well as the rest & relaxation provided by our first class service and facilities.
Arrange a Cosmic Safari with your ranger, and view the wonders of space with our high powered telescope. With little or no light pollution, a Cosmic Safari at Kichaka is an opportunity to star gaze in wonder at the Southern Hemisphere’s Milky Way and identify Orion’s Belt, the Southern Cross and Scorpio.
Within the immediate vicinity, we can offer a range of additional activities including golf, hiking, horse trails and fishing.
Due to its prime location, Kichaka Lodge is also well placed as a base to explore the stunning & historic Frontier Country & Sunshine Coast.
EMAIL res@lalibela.co.za
TELEPHONE +27 (0)41 581 8170
Pumba Game Reserve
Pumba Private Game Reserve provides an exceptional bush retreat in an easily accessible setting. Guests arriving at Port Elizabeth airport can reach the reserve in one hour by car. The beach and a Gary Player designed golf course are in close proximity.
It features Big Five game and the mystical White Lion. Two intimate safari lodges offer 5-star accommodation and cuisine. This game reserve is run according to the Green Leaf Environmental Standard.
Pumba is characterized by unique and dense Eastern Cape Valley Bushveld favoured by Elephant and browsing antelope. The open plains host an abundance of grazing antelopes and the endangered White Rhino. There are more than 250 bird species in this region.
This quaint, secluded self-catering camp lies deep in the heart of the Dinokeng North bushveld. In about an hour’s time, you could be far from the city, relaxing in the quiet of the bush, breathing the fresh air in a malaria free area and be entertained by birds in abundance. Enjoy total privacy and tranquility and laze at the rock pool. Sitting in the lapa at night under a star studded sky, you will almost surely hear a jackal, calling its mate or the roar of a lion. This privately owned camp forms part of the Dinokeng Big 5 Reserve. The game that roams on this 18000 Ha malaria free area includes Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Buffalo, Leopard and all the other species you would expect to find in a Big5 Reserve, like Njala, Gemsbuck, Giraffe, Eland, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Waterbuck, Zebra, Kudu, Jackal, Red Hartebeest and Warthog. Pumba Camp is perfect for groups of friends, family get togethers, bush getaways or just a well-deserved break!
Contact us
Contact Karien at 0823741582
karien@pumbacamp.co.za
Pumba Facebook page
GPS coordinates: S25° 16′ 976″ E028° 23′ 550″
Kwandwe Game Reserve
AWARD WINNING BIG FIVE SAFARI DESTINATION
Nestled in the heart of South Africa’s unspoilt Eastern Cape province lies Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, a world-class Big Five safari destination.
The 22,000 hectares of pristine private wilderness stretches either side of the Great Fish River which meanders for 30 kilometres through scenic landscape and comprises just twenty-six rooms split across five very individual and distinct safari lodges and villas, according it one of the highest land to guest ratios in South Africa.
Renowned for quality guiding, understated luxury and the thousands of animals and wildlife that call the Reserve home, Kwandwe offers a range of safari activities and accommodation options to make every African Dream come true.
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is a renowned conservation and community success story. Comprising just 26 rooms split across five intimate and award-winning safari lodges and villas, Kwandwe provides understated luxury and one of the highest land to guest ratios in South Africa’s spectacular Eastern Cape region.
Dedicated to providing a superior and authentic safari experience, led by an award-winning team of highly qualified and experienced rangers, activities on the reserve are diverse and offer both young and old the opportunity to create lifelong memories.
+27 46 603 3400
reservations@kwandwe.co.za
Samara Private Game Reserve
Situated in a place where time stands still, Samara Private Game Reserve offers unique wildlife and spectacular Karoo Mountain scenery. This reserve provides a tranquil escape to soothe the soul and uplift even the weariest traveller as they gaze across the vast open spaces and arresting terrain to distant horizons. It is a home to an abundance of African wildlife, including a large diversity of game and endangered wildlife.
Samara Private Game Reserve is a passionate conservation undertaking, the leader in its area and a catalyst for change in the Great Karoo region of South Africa. A 2.5-hour drive from Port Elizabeth, Samara is ideally situated at the end of the Garden Route and just 40 minutes from the historical town of Graaff-Reinet, rich in culture and heritage. Described as ‘heart-stoppingly beautiful’, the award-winning malaria-free reserve encompasses tens of thousands acres of wilderness in the Great Karoo – South Africa’s magical heartland and a must-visit destination in the Eastern Cape.
Luxury Safari Accommodation
Safari accommodation is provided in two intimate five-star luxury game lodges. Karoo Lodge, a homely and comfortable renovated farmstead overlooking an amphitheatre of mountains, sleeps 18. The Manor, a striking yet understated villa, sleeps 8, and can also be rented on an exclusive-use basis for families and small groups.
Samara forms part of a greater vision to create South Africa’s third largest protected area in a global biodiversity hotspot in the Eastern Cape. In staying with us you help achieve this vision.
A place of great diversity
200 years ago, the Great Karoo was a haven for wildlife – Vast herds of eland and Cape buffalo roamed the grasslands, black rhinoceros thrived in the dense thickets, and herds of elephant meandered up from the coast to feed along the green mountain slopes. The abundance of Cape lion, a fearsome beast with a black mane, made travelling by oxwagon at night an impossibility. Most impressive of all, however, was the springbok migration, when up to a million of these trekbokke – ‘migrating antelope’ – converged into a single herd 3 miles wide, traversing the Karoo and leaving clouds of dust in their wake.
Today, this wildlife has largely been eliminated. Fences and guns stopped the springbok in their tracks. The Cape lion is now extinct, as is the quagga, a type of zebra with a brown rump. Much of the Karoo has been converted to livestock farms, with sheep and goats replacing the past abundance of antelope.
Recreating what once was – Samara’s vision is to recreate the Karoo of old – restoring the degraded habitats and reintroducing the full complement of wildlife in this hauntingly beautiful semi-arid land. Since our journey began in 1997, we have engaged in an ambitious programme of animal reintroduction, with the first wild cheetah back in the region in 125 years, the first desert-adapted black rhino, the first endangered Cape Mountain zebra on private land, and many other indigenous species. Most recently, we reintroduced the first elephants back into the Plains of Camdeboo in over 200 years.
Our dream is for Samara to one day be part of a conservation landscape large enough to sustain the abundance and diversity of wildlife documented by early explorers – from herd of buffalo 200-strong to packs of Wild dog.
Call us: +27 (0) 31-262 0324
Email: reservations@samara.co.za
Shamwari Game Reserve
This game reserve offers luxury accommodation in 6 different lodges, all of which are 5 Star graded. It has been voted the World’s Leading Safari and Game Reserve and Conservation Company for many consecutive years.
This privately owned 25 000 hectares of prime natural terrain has received numerous international awards. Shamwari is an exploration of nature with close encounters of free roaming wildlife and the coveted big five with a choice of unique lodges, an exclusive private villa and the adventurous.
PRIDE OF THE EASTERN CAPE
Shamwari Game Reserve is one of the most successful private conservation initiatives in Southern Africa coupled with responsible tourism and the most luxurious means of experiencing your African safari adventure. Situated in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, Shamwari Game Reserve is the malaria-free, safari holiday you’ve been searching for. Accommodating family, friends or business associates, our facilities, coupled with our spectacular location and passion for the environment, make this an unforgettable destination.
Shamwari Game Reserve incorporates 6 luxury lodges, all of which are 5 star graded. Each one has its’ own unique energy and essence, designed in harmony with their surroundings, where guests can experience nature in supreme comfort.
Eagles Crag Lodge –Surrounded by imposing mountain cliffs, this lodge boasts elegant ambience amid nature’s beauty. Each suite, a secluded haven to unwind in sheer comfort.
Lobengula Lodge – An exclusive Villa tucked away in the valley bushveld, ideal for a private tailor-made safari experience.
Bayethe Tented Lodge –Offering the ultimate in luxury tented accommodation, these designer tents are shrouded by rich vegetation providing privacy and seclusion.
Long Lee Manor –Refined elegance from a bygone era, offering colonial style accommodation and overlooking magnificent plains teeming with wildlife.
Riverdene Family Lodge – Warm and welcoming child friendly accommodation, which includes luxury amenities and our ‘Kids on Safari’ programme.
Sarili Family Lodge – Overlooking the Bushman’s River and scenic plains, this lodge offers contemporary comfort, ideally suited to families, groups and friends.
Conservation Principals
We pride ourselves and our actions in conserving a vanishing way of life. Join us for a once in a lifetime experience to empower, engage and educate yourself with our conservation efforts at one of our awareness centres.
Ian Player Rhino Awareness Centre – An educational awakening about the plight of a rapidly depleting species, and what we can do to help.
Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary – A public awareness and rescue effort aimed at shining a light on the circumstances of wild animals confined in impoverished, captive environments.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre – A first-hand encounter with our passionate on-site vets, who care for young, injured and abandoned animals, which are to be re-released back into the wild.
+27 (0) 42 203 1111
reservations@shamwari.com
Lalibela Game Reserve
Lalibela Game Reserve is only one hour’s drive from the “Friendly City’, Port Elizabeth, which is also the gateway to the Garden Route. Visitors to this game reserve can enjoy a Big Five safari before or after a tour along the famous Garden Route, without having to fly elsewhere. Lalibela Game Reserve offers family friendly safari accommodation and fantastic activities for children.
Covering 10 500 hectares, this game reserve comprises 5 different biomes. The valley bushveld biome occurs only in the Eastern Cape and has the highest carrying capacity of game in South Africa. Lalibela Game Reserve is therefore able to sustain a dense population of African wildlife. Big game sightings occur regularly and other game such as Zebra, Giraffe, Hippo, Cheetah and Hyena are abundant.
Lalibela Big 5 Game Reserve & Safari Lodge
SOUTH AFRICA, EASTERN CAPE, PORT ELIZABETH & ADDO – Lalibela Game Reserve and Safari Lodge is located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, close to Port Elizabeth and Addo, which means it is not only malaria free, but spans 5 ecosystems, resulting in a breath-taking diversity of flora and fauna.
Lalibela consists of approximately 26,000 acres and is home to the Big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo & leopard) as well as other predators like cheetah, hyena, jackal & lynx.
We are blessed with vast African plains and this is why we have multitudes of zebra, giraffe, warthog, impala, wildebeest, blesbuck and various other antelope species.
Only an hour away from Port Elizabeth and Addo, Lalibela is unique in the Eastern Cape in that we have no public roads running through our property.
This means that only Lalibela guests have access to the wildlife area and you will never encounter a member of public whilst on safari as there are no public roads on Lalibela.
In addition, all of the animals at Lalibela, including the predators, are free-roaming throughout the entire game reserve – we do not have different areas for different species.
Lalibela brings you the charm of authentic Africa and is a perfect blend of the formal and informal.
The 3 main aspects of any African safari are the game-viewing, the accommodation and the food – at Lalibela we take special care to ensure that heartfelt service combines with these three “ingredients” to make your Big 5 African safari experience a memorable one.
LALIBELA GAME RESERVE
+27 41 581 8170
stay@lalibela.co.za
Sibuya Private Game Reserve
Malaria-free Sibuya Game Reserve is an Eco destination which is positioned on the Sunshine Coast of the Eastern Cape, approximately 130 kms from Port Elizabeth or East London. Guests are welcomed at Sibuya’s Reception which is situated near the Kariega River mouth in the small seaside town of Kenton-on-Sea, where safe parking is provided. The adventure starts with a gentle meandering 11km boat transfer from the River mouth and Kenton’s idyllic Blue Flag beaches, up the stunning Kariega River Estuary to the Reserve. This setting the tone for the unique experience to follow – from the Ocean to the Bush.
The Sibuya Private Game Reserve along the Sunshine Coast has it both – beach and bush! Sibuya’s reception is in the seaside holiday village of Kenton-on-Sea and a 30 minute boat transfer up the Kariega estuary takes safari travellers to either the River or Forest Camps. Turtles, dolphins or whales might be seen along the cruise leaving the beach.
The awe-inspiring game reserve is home to a wealth of wildlife, including the Big Five.
Guests are either based at one of the two solar-powered, secluded luxury tented Camps tucked away in the forest on the banks of the Kariega River or at stunning Bush Lodge situated just outside the main Reserve in a pristine, densely forested valley.
Sibuya Game Reserve incorporates the unique East Cape Valley Bushveld, Grasslands and Coastal Forests. Antelope abound, including the rare Bontebok and Oribi. Elephants, Giraffe and Zebra silhouetted against an Indian Ocean backdrop complete a truly memorable picture.
The ancient floodplains and pristine coastal forest host an abundance of wildlife: nearly 400 bird species and 45 species of wildlife including the “Big Five”. The lush vegetation ensures a high density of animals and one of the best game-viewing experiences in the country is guaranteed.
The following three Accommodation options are available – each one with its own unique unforgettable ambience: River Camp, Forest Camp and Bush Lodge.
reservations@sibuya.co.za
+27(0)46 648 1040
Kariega Game Reserve
The Kariega Game Reserve is set high above the spectacular Kariega River Valley, in the heart of 1820 Settler Country. The Kariega Private Game Reserve spreads over 10 000 hectares and is convenient to Port Elizabeth Airport with tarred roads all the way. This game reserve is less than 15 minutes drive from beautiful beaches in Kenton-on-Sea on the Indian Ocean. Many bird species can be spotted in landscapes incorporating two lush river valleys and five different eco-systems.
Kariega Game Reserve is a family-owned and operated Big 5 private safari reserve located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The reserve is situated along the Garden Route, making it the perfect South African safari destination to compliment a Cape Town visit and a trip along the country’s beautiful coast.
This malaria-free game lodge incorporates many hectares of pristine African wilderness, as well as two abundant rivers – the Kariega and the Bushmans rivers. The reserve offers five safari lodges to suit all needs. Experience close up game viewing of the Big 5 – lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard – as well as multitudes of other South African wildlife from the comfort of an open game drive vehicle.
Game Viewing
Experience the ultimate in luxury safari holidays at the beautiful 10,000 hectare Kariega Private Game Reserve in malaria-free Eastern Cape, South Africa. Prepare to be captivated by close-up viewing of the Big 5 – lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard as well as a multitude of other African wild game and bird species.
Stunning Safari Drives
At Kariega, everything revolves around our twice-daily safari drives – the close-up encounters with African wildlife are the centre of guests’ unforgettable safari holiday. Our experienced game rangers will drive you out on safari every morning and afternoon/evening in open game-drive vehicles, traversing the valleys, grassy plains and African bushveld to bring you close to the Big 5 and other game roaming freely in their natural habitat. If you are fortunate, you may witness the lion hunting or feeding, or even the heartwarming social interactions of an elephant herd.
Plentiful African Game
Kariega Game Reserve is the perfect setting for exciting safari holidays, with abundant game and spectacular viewing. Apart from lion and elephant, the game reserve is home to the other three members of the Big 5 – rhino, buffalo and leopard. Other species abound such as hippo, hyena, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, eland, kudu, waterbuck and a variety of other antelope, as well as a myriad of bird species including the nesting crowned eagle, martial and fish eagles.
Dramatic African Bush and Landscapes
The game reserve is bordered in the east and west by the vast and dramatic Kariega and Bushmans river valleys. On safari drives you will explore many different habitats highlighting five different ecosystems – valley bushveld, savannah grasslands, fynbos, riverine forests and acacia woodland. The awe-inspiring African landscape will captivate your senses and the trees, grasses and plants of the Eastern Cape will divulge their secrets. Sometimes it is the hidden secrets of the bush which guests most treasure as memories of their safari holidays, the amazing intricacy of a spider’s web or the monumental work of a dung beetle. There is never a dull moment on safari drives; you never know what African bush experience awaits around the next corner.
There is much to do and see at Kariega Game Reserve. As a result anything from two to seven nights can be enjoyed, however, a minimum three night stay is highly recommended for your ultimate safari experience.
Private bookings
e: reservations@kariega.co.za
t:+27 (0)41 581 2606
Tour operators
e: res1@kariega.co.za
e: res4@kariega.co.za
t: +27 (0)46 636 7904/5/6
Ibamba Game Reserve
Ibamba Private Game Reserve is home to a range of African wildlife including majestic Sables, Black Impala and Yellow Blesbuck in the unspoilt Karoo. Visitors can enjoy guided game drives as well as guided sunrise safaris on foot in this 17 000ha reserve situated in the Karoo.
Ibamba is a Deluxe and Elegant destination with highly trained staff and warm hospitality.
The cuisine at Ibamba echoes this process in a harmonious fusion of international, continental and South African influences into a Karoo Cuisine.
The settings of the meal can be in one of the 4 different lodges each with its own atmosphere and luxurious settings with view’s over the African wildlife…
Ibamba Private Game Reserve is set in the heart of the malaria free Oudeberg Mountains, known as Noorsveld in the Eastern Cape Karoo, only 200km from Port Elizabeth Airport.
Ibamba is haven to African prolific birdlife, over 45 species of exotic and rarity species of animals like the Golden, Arabian, Scimitar and Painted Oryx, Golden Gnu and for night viewing game drives exclusive ant-bear, lynx, porcupine, black-back jackal, bat-eared fox and brown hyena can be seen.
+27 42 2461539
info@ibamba.com
Bucklands Game Reserve
Bucklands Private Game Reserve offers both self-catering and fully inclusive holidays with a great range of activities to suit all ages. Conferences, team building and breakaways in this Reserve are a personalised affair with all your needs taken care of.
Each day at Bucklands is a chance to explore this beautiful area in a new and exciting way and appreciate the wide blue skies and rolling landscapes.
Bucklands Private Game Reserve, a Stewart Family conservation initiative which was launched in 2007, culminating from the families deep love of the African continent’s splendid diversity and natural beauty found within its wildlife and nature reserves.
Bucklands is a 5500 hectare reserve situated in the heart of Frontier Country and is home to a various antelope, mammal species, reptilian and avian species. Prior to 2007 Bucklands was a stock farm and since then the Stewart family has transformed Bucklands into a game reserve with the introduction of antelope and game species through game releases and with the introduction of our Buffalo and Sable breeding initiatives. Guests visiting Bucklands can be accommodated at the Bucklands Lodge at a self catering basis which is completely solar powered in our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.
Through the Stewart Family’s ownership of Bucklands Private Game Reserve a part of this beautiful and diverse area in the Eastern Cape will be conserved and protected, its wide spectrum of vegetation, spectacular scenery and natural diversity kept intact for future generations.
CONTACT INFORMATION
+27 (0) 72 736 3681
reservations@bucklandsreserve.co.za
Visit the Eastern Cape Provincial Reserves page or maybe you would like to return to the Eastern Cape page.
For more information on Eastern Cape Tourism please click HERE.