South Africa Accommodations: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve ~ Three Vintage 5 CC AFRICA Lodges

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve lies in the heart of South Africa's malaria-free Eastern Cape near Grahamstown, and is a natural conclusion to a journey along the world-famous Garden Route. A victory for far-sighted conservation, 20 000 hectares (49 000 acres) of farmland in the Great Fish River region were restored and restocked with African wildlife. Today, thousands of animals including lion, black and white rhino, buffalo and elephant roam this diverse and fascinating reserve.

Operated by CC Africa, Kwandwe aptly means "Place of the Blue Crane" in Xhosa (South Africa's highly endangered national bird) and is home to a population of these rare birds. It offers an exceptional safari experience in a region steeped in history and culture. The Great Fish River was a hotly contested border during the Frontier Wars of 1779 to 1878 between the Xhosa nation, Dutch farmers and the 1820 Settlers from England. Kwandwe's reception building is a Frontier War-era fortified homestead, and the Reserve boasts its own intimate chapel.

Kwandwe Main Lodge:
Set along the aloe-studded banks of the Great Fish River, nine suites 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. Nine air-conditioned suites with en-suite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, private plunge pools, expansive game viewing decks, and an African gift gallery.

Uplands Homestead:
This gracious homestead is a sensitively restored 1905 farmhouse comprising three spacious en-suite bedrooms with private terraces. Uplands Homestead has a large swimming pool and gazebo, and guests enjoy their own private ranger, tracker, chef and open 4x4 safari vehicle. This intimate lodge is set in a remote and tranquil valley, offering the ultimate personal safari in Kwandwe's extraordinary African wilderness. There are three air-conditioned, spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and private terraces. Perfect for the sole use of a group or family of up to six guests, Uplands Homestead is situated half an hour from Heatherton Towers (Kwandwe's reception building) and 45 minutes from Main Lodge.

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge:
Set in spectacular African wilderness surrounds, this unique safari lodge boasts a revolutionary design - stone-and-mesh gabion walls, sliding glass, timber and gauze doors and corrugated iron roofing. Nestled into a gently sloping, densely vegetated hillside, the Lodge is airy and open with barely a barrier between indoors and the African bushveld. Overlooking rolling spekboom valleys, main guest areas include a spacious sitting room, dining room and bar area, interactive kitchen, sparkling rim-flow lap pool and unique interpretive centre. Kwandwe Ecca Lodge features just six intimate suites with spacious living areas and en-suite bathrooms with plate glass-enclosed shower, bath, private W.C. and twin hand-basins, as well as a sitting area which can comfortably convert into accommodation for children 11 years and younger.

All photos courtesy of CC AFRICA