Situated at the heart of South Africa's malaria-free Eastern Cape province, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is within easy reach of South Africa's spectacular coastline and provides the perfect beginning or ending to a journey along the famed Western Cape Garden Route.

The wide open spaces and tranquil scenery belie the area's turbulent history, and relics of the area's rich historical and cultural legacy can be found both on the reserve and nearby. Kwandwe itself consists of 22 000 hectares (54 400 acres) of a hauntingly beautiful but previously neglected part of the African continent where the area's natural wildlife has been painstakingly restored.

There are 4 different types of luxury, all-inclusive accommodation available in the reserve.

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge - Set along the banks of the river boasting uninterrupted wilderness vistas.

Set high up on a steep bank of the Great Fish River, the Lodge overlooks a majestic vista that stretches far into the horizon. With expansive viewing decks, every moment offers an opportunity to explore more of the wonders of the bush - a majestic kudu picking its way to the water's edge or a pair of Cape clawless otters cavorting in the river. The rugged landscape is reflected in the materials and frontier style of the lodge, while the gleaming antiques and warm rugs of the interior mirror the magnificence of the scenery.

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge - Funky, yet intimate, situated on rolling slopes overlooking the lush valley.

Funky touches in decor and fittings surprise and delight at every step, while life sized animal photographs re-tinted in psychedelic colours add a touch of fun and fantasy. Plunge pools with solar heating create a dash of colour on each suite's wooden decks. A play centre for children keeps little hands busy for hours and a shared lodge pool provides the perfect place for a communal splash.

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead - A gracious homestead situated in a remote and tranquil valley. Available for the sole use of families and parties of up to six, Uplands will soon have you feeling master of all you survey. With a full contingent of friendly staff, including a private chef and butler, you'll experience all the comfort and convenience of a genuine home.

Three suites with private bathrooms create an intimate haven for personal moments that combines modern comfort with old-fashioned trimmings. Antique mirrors and claw-foot tubs in the bathrooms, along with yellowwood chests and wardrobes in the bedrooms, blend seamlessly with air-conditioning, in-room safes and hairdryers. Your dedicated 4x4 safari vehicle awaits outside, ready at any time to take you on a voyage of discovery through Kwandwe's wild spaces and return you to the warmly lit comfort of Uplands Homestead.

Kwandwe Melton Manor - A sole-use safari villa with sweeping views of the afromontane forests. The welcoming U-shape of Melton Manor enfolds up to eight guests in a warm and humorous embrace. Both open and welcoming, the Manor's inner courtyard provides a focal point for shared hours, while the deep verandas of each bedroom suite offer stunning views of Kwandwe's blue-lit hills.

Your private safari vehicle, complete with team of tracker and ranger, stand waiting to begin your adventure as and when you please.

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge: Meal times are arranged to surprise, with thoughtful delicacies served on the viewing decks, in the dining room, by lantern light in the cosy walled boma or in any of a number of unexpected locations. Soaring ceilings and huge stone chimneys dominate the guest areas, creating imposing spaces filled with comfort and light. But not everything is arranged to impose, with cosy spaces created from the warm rock walls, dark leather armchairs and deep coloured rugs.

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge: An interactive kitchen tempts and tantalises with colours and aromas, while the deep chairs in the open dining areas invite you to linger over flavours and textures.

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead: The heart of any farmhouse is its kitchen and Uplands is no exception. With its wrought iron chandeliers and pristine tiled walls, the room is a quaint and welcoming core. Modern catering equipment masquerading as a traditional cooking range, manned by a skilled chef, creates both old family favourites and new dishes. Delectable meals are served in the dining area, where friends and family gather to share the day's adventures. Clusters of comfortable chairs in the sitting room invite hours of relaxation, while the green lawns and sparkling pool create a perfect outlet for youthful energy.

Kwandwe Melton Manor: The interactive farm-style kitchen invites you to try your hand at combining flavours under the cheerful guidance of your personal chef or simply to watch as meals or snacks expertly take shape whenever you want. Share meals and laughter in the dining room table or around the enormous farmhouse table in the fresh air of the terrace. But there's no need to be formal - fresh, generous cuisine goes just as well in the ox wagon boma or at a casual picnic site in mid-game drive.

A conservation victory, Kwandwe is home to thousands of animals, including lion, black and white rhino, buffalo, elephant and cheetah, as well as Africa's famous Big Five.

Meaning "Place of the Blue Crane" in Xhosa, Kwandwe is a haven for a population of these rare, highly endangered birds (South Africa's national bird). The Reserve also provides sanctuary for other threatened species, such as the Knysna woodpecker, Cape grysbok, black wildebeest, crowned eagle and black-footed cat. A biological melting pot of various vegetation types, the Reserve boasts a spectacular display of winter flowering aloes from June to August. Kwandwe flanks both the north and south banks of the Great Fish River, which meanders for 30 km (19 miles) through this pristine, private wilderness.

Twice daily game drives - explore the natural diversity of Kwandwe on early morning and late afternoon / evening game drives in an open 4x4 safari vehicle. An armed ranger and tracker team will share their extensive knowledge of the bush with you and will track the Big Five, as well as a variety of other wildlife. Morning drives begin as dawn breaks over the Great Fish River, and guests have the opportunity to see the predators winding up their nocturnal hunts and settling in for the day. Many animals take advantage of the cool morning hours to graze before the heat of the day. In the late afternoon the wildlife can often be spotted coming down to the river to drink. Night drives produces some unusual sightings, including aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox and porcupine.

Interpretive bush walks - in between game drives, take a closer look at the intricate details of the bush on a leisurely walk within easy reach of your lodge. Dense euphorbia thickets are best explored on foot, revealing a secret world of lichen, mosses and ferns. Various birds of prey and other species nest in the taller trees or in the spiny canopy. An armed ranger guides guests through up close and personal sightings of an occasional buffalo, bushbuck or bushpig.

Rates include:

• Accommodation
• Three meals daily
• Soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers
• Teas and coffees
• Refreshments on game drives
• Laundry
• Scheduled safari activities
• Nature walks (1 hour) accompanied by experienced armed trackers, subject to availability
• Emergency medical evacuation insurance
• VAT
• Transfers to and from the airstrip.

Please don't forget:

• Rates are quoted per person per night sharing except for our sole-use safari villas, where the rate quoted is per villa per night.
• Rates quoted above for Kwandwe Uplands Homestead and Kwandwe Melton Manor are based on 1 - 4 guests, please contact us for the rate for additional guests.
• No single supplement is charged for the first two single rooms of a booking. Any additional rooms will be levied with a 50% supplement.