Kwandwe Ecca Lodge, South Africa

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Kwande ‘Big 5’ Private Game Reserve is situated along South Africa’s eastern coastline in the Eastern Cape Province, renowned for being a world-class, malaria-free safari destination. It is a conservation victory boasting 22 000 hectares (54 400 acres) of former farmland that has been restored and restocked with wildlife. Thousands of animals including lion, black and white rhino, buffalo, elephant and cheetah roam the diverse landscape. It is the perfect start or end to a journey along the breathtakingly beautiful Garden Route.

Innovative, stylish and intimate, Ecca Lodge embodies a “funk meets futuristic farmhouse” ambience. Emblazoned with giant Warhol-like prints, retro light fittings, and shades of olive, rust and burnt orange, it is witty, welcoming and skilfully appointed.

Banish all thoughts of moustached men in safari suits, cork hats and knee-high socks - a safari lodge with an attitude, Ecca Lodge is seriously modern and trendy. Shut all the doors and draw all the drapes, and you could be in a funky cosmopolitan penthouse, except that night noises at Kwandwe aren’t traffic and sirens but yipping jackals and the crazy chorus of frogs in the reed beds along the Great Fish River.

Location

Kwandwe is a 2-hour drive from Port Elizabeth Airport (chauffeur service available). Kwandwe is also perfect for selfdrive guests due to excellent roads. Kwandwe is easily accessible by private charters into Kwandwe airstrip.

Meal Basis

Fully inclusive accommodation including all meals, selected beverages, game drives and interpretive bush walks.

Child Policy

Children are welcome (maximum 2 children 16 years and younger in triple accommodation at any one time). Regretfully, children 5 years and younger cannot participate in game drives. Childminders at an additional cost. Only 2 triples in camp at any one time. Children age 6 to 11 can be accommodated on game drives at the lodge manager’s discretion.

A play centre for children keeps little hands busy for hours and a shared lodge pool provides the perfect place for a communal splash.

Rooms

6 spacious suites feature bedrooms with ensuite bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower, separate w.c, twin hand basin, large veranda and a private deck and plunge pool. Interior design reflects natural textures in hues of burnt aloe orange, rust and olive. Furnishings combine clean, contemporary sofas with venerable old collectables from the area.

Guest Areas

Highlights of the guest area are the open interactive kitchen, a gorgeous rim-flow lap pool lined with shaded decks and teak loungers, and the nearby interpretive library.

Activities

Twice daily game drives and interpretive bush walks are included activities.

For an additional cost you can do the following:
A private tailor made walking safari
Participation in a 3 day 4 night rhino darting programme
An historical tour of the area
A tailormade safari guided by Dr. Charlene Bissett where you will learn about the fascinating carnivore programme and ongoing research at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Flight of the Blue Crane - An hour long flight in a fixed wing aircraft over the frontier region and the coastline.
Tracking at Kwandwe - experience the thrill of tracking wildlife on foot in the wilderness, accompanied throughout by an armed specialist ranger and tracker team in a private open 4x4 safari vehicle.