Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is situated in the heart of the Eastern Cape, within easy reach to South Africa's awe-inspiring coastline. It is a reserve that offers a perfect beginning or ending of a South African safari along the famous Garden Route. The area's history is told in the wide open spaces and tranquil scenery through all the battles fought on and around Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. This land has been desired by many men and cultures and now people live in and around the reserve in peace and harmony.

The reserve consists of 22,000 hectares (54,400 acres) of an incredibly beautiful but previously neglected part of the African continent where all the natural wildlife has been reintroduced and restored to the land. 30km of uninterrupted river frontage along the Great Fish River offers a welcome source of water for all the game species. Thousands of animals roam this Reserve including the famous Big 5, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Rhino and Elephant. The reserve is also home to a group of endangered birds which the reserve is aptly named after, the "Blue Crane".

When guests arrive at Kwandwe they are welcomed at Heatherton Towers which in fact is an old Frontier War-era fortified homestead that is now the reserve reception building. It still has the dramatic gun turrets and private chapel and is situated 40 minutes from the Great Fish River Lodge. Guests are transferred from here to their lodge by the designated ranger.

The Great Fish River Lodge has been furnished around an old colonial settler history mixed with African culture décor with elegant thatched stone and glass suites. These suites feature floor to ceiling doors that fold back to reveal the incredible wilderness vistas. Delicious Pan-African cuisine is served on the private decks, in the candle lit dining room, or in the outdoor boma dining area. Kwandwe is renowned for its spectacular bush dining experiences.