SOUTH AFRICA
GRAHAMSTOWN

PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Set in the heart of the Private Reserve in thick vegetation overlooking a dense valley, Ecca Lodge offers breathtaking views onto an escarpment of steep shale cliffs.
  • With only 6 suites, of which 3 are dedicated to families, the lodge is intimate, relaxed and trendy, with decor inspired by the vibrant colours and textures of the African people.
  • Highlights of the guest areas include expansive wooden viewing decks with exceptional views, open interactive kitchen and a rim-flow lap pool. Airy and open, Ecca Lodge offers an indoor-outdoor lifestyle embracing the African wilderness.
  • 22,000ha private game reserve in malaria-free Eastern Cape.
  • Rim-flow swimming pool, interactive kitchen and interpretive library on site.
  • Suites at Kwandwe are particularly luxurious with your own private plunge pool.
  • Four distinct habitats on reserve showcasing varied flora and fauna.
  • Choice of activities from game drives, walking, bird watching and fishing.

EXCLUSIVE LUXE VOYAGER VIP BENEFITS & BEST PRICE

We negotiate rates & benefits for our clients directly with the hotels’ senior management. Our rates match or in many cases are lower than the best online rate for the property. Our clients also enjoy a suite of extra VIP privileges and recognition while staying at a partner hotel.

  • Complimentary room upgrade on arrival.
  • Daily complimentary buffet breakfast for two.
  • Up to $100 dining or spa credit per stay, and or in-house dining / spa discounts.
  • Welcome amenities (wine/chocolates/fruit) and card from the GM.
  • Complimentary private airport transfers.
  • Complimentary roll-away bed if required.
  • Early check-in and late check-out.
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi.
  • Enhanced recognition through VIP status at all touch points in the guest experience.

A complete or partial suite of VIP benefits will be offered, subject to the property T&C, including availability, category of room & length of stay.

ACTIVITIES:


Fishing

Kwandwe offers a variety of catch-and-release fishing options, either in still water or in the Great Fish River. Try your hand at catching Large Mouth Bass on artificial lures or fly rod in the reserve’s largest dam. A fun activity for children as well as adults.



Interpretive Bush Walks

In between game drives, take a closer look at the subtle, unseen wonders 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 various antelope species, giraffe, warthog or zebra. Not suitable for children under 12 years of age.



Big Game Walking Safari

Experience the thrill of tracking big game (white rhino, black rhino, elephant and buffalo) on foot in the wilderness, accompanied by an armed specialist ranger and tracker team. The walk lasts 3 to 4 hours; not suitable for children under 16 years of age.



Twice daily game drives

Explore the natural splendour of Kwandwe on early morning and late afternoon / evening game drives in an open 4×4 safari vehicle. An armed ranger and tracker team share their extensive knowledge of the bush with you as you track the Big Five, as well as a variety of other wildlife. Morning drives begin as dawn breaks over the Great Fish River, providing the opportunity to see 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 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 subtle, unseen wonders 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 various antelope species, giraffe, warthog or zebra. Not suitable for children under 12 years of age.



Save the Rhino Drive

Spend 3 – 4 hours tracking rhino with a specialist ranger and tracker team. Learn about the habits of this threatened species, the issue of rhino poaching as well as Kwandwe’s own conservation efforts. The experience ends with refreshments at a scenic spot in the bush.



Private Safari

Tailor-make your own safari led by a dedicated specialist ranger and tracker team, ensuring a private game viewing experience (subject to the availability of a private vehicle being available at the time of booking). A private safari vehicle has to be booked for the duration of a stay; a safari day runs from 12h00 (check-in time) to 12h00 the following day.



Rhino Conservation Safari

A recommended three night, four-day safari offers you the opportunity to participate in Kwandwe’s exciting rhino-darting and notching programme. Under the supervision of experts, the rhino is darted in order to plant microchips into the horns and perform ear-notching for future identification – an essential task to ensure the preservation of this endangered species



Private Fishing Safari

Kwandwe offers a variety of fishing options, either in still water or in the Great Fish River. Try your hand at catching Large Mouth Bass on artificial lures or fly rod in the reserve’s largest dam. Coarse (bait) fishing can also be tried in either the Great Fish River or one of the other large dams to target Yellowfish, Carp, Sharptooth Catfish and more.



Private Photographic Safari

Tailor-made to suit the experience level of participants, the photographic guide advises guests of appropriate camera settings at different scenarios, providing compositional ideas and to answer any questions relating to photography. Alternatively simply sit back and enjoy the connected experience of your safari while your specialist guide takes the pictures for you. Includes a private vehicle, edited photographs in electronic format along with a complimentary Kwandwe digital photobook.



Private Walking Safari

A professionally qualified and experienced trails guide will enable you to experience Kwandwe on foot. Choose whether to view large game such Black and White Rhino, Elephant or Buffalo on foot, or simply absorb the beauty of nature while walking through the fascinating environments with your armed guide. You decide when to walk, or when to drive as your heart desires. For a fully private experience this must be booked for the duration of your stay.



Private Birding Safari

Spend as much time as you like looking for those elusive specials and add to your knowledge of South Africa’s birdlife. Your specialist guide has detailed knowledge of where, when and how to find what bird you are after with their intimate knowledge of Kwandwe’s 315 recorded species of bird.



Children's Activities

Children receive a welcome gift on arrival which includes an Eco-nect Guide comprising animal checklists, themed games and activities, and a pledge to ‘live green’ (‘Junior’ for under 6’s and ‘Senior’ for ages 6 and up), crayons/ pencils, and an age appropriate gift from our gift shop.



Private Campfire Cooking

Learn to master the art of barbequing while on safari! Kwandwe provides an exciting opportunity to learn about preparing and cooking authentic South African ‘braais’ and favourite dishes with local ingredients. A well established social custom and a traditional way of outdoor cooking in South Africa, a ‘braai’ involves barbequing meat over an open fire.



Volunteering at Kwandwe

The Ubunye Foundation is our social development arm. Established in 2002, the Foundation is an independent, non-profit, charitable trust that currently invests in the development of nine rural communities, two of which are located in the Kwandwe reserve. Guests at Kwandwe have the unique opportunity to participate in volunteering towards the Ubunye Foundation by donating items, getting involved in activities and/or financial donations.

Chat with one of our expert travel designers today to begin planning your perfect vacation

Call: +852 9465 4577

Email: travel@theluxevoyager.com

OVERVIEW

Set in the heart of the Private Reserve in thick vegetation overlooking a dense valley, Ecca Lodge offers breathtaking views onto an escarpment of steep shale cliffs. With only 6 suites, of which 3 are dedicated to families, the lodge is intimate, relaxed and trendy, with decor inspired by the vibrant colours and textures of the African people. Highlights of the guest areas include expansive wooden viewing decks with exceptional views, open interactive kitchen and a rim-flow lap pool. Airy and open, Ecca Lodge offers an indoor-outdoor lifestyle embracing the African wilderness.

Featuring six suites, of which three are dedicated to families. Family suites also include a private vehicle and ranger. Ecca Lodge is an intimate retreat complete with private plunge pools and outdoor showers to enhance the connection with nature. Twice daily game drives, nature walks accompanied by an armed ranger, big game walking safaris (tracking white rhino, black rhino, elephant and buffalo on foot, accompanied by an armed specialist ranger and tracker team) are all included in your stay. Back at the lodge a play centre for kids keeps little hands busy for hours and a shared lodge pool provides the perfect place for a communal splash. Family activities include kite building, board games, scavenger hunts & more.

ROOMS

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is home to five award-winning safari lodges and villas, each with its own distinctive charm and character. Couples can enjoy the tranquility that Great Fish River Lodge and Ecca Lodge offer, where stand-alone suites are privately located away from each other as well as central guest areas. Families of up to four can enjoy the flexibility that a Family Suite at Ecca Lodge offers, complete with a private safari vehicle. Alternatively families or small groups of friends can choose to enjoy an entirely intimate and exclusive safari experience at one of Kwandwe’s three gracious sole-use safari villas, Fort House, Uplands Homestead and Melton Manor.

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Couple Suite
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Bathroom

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Couple Suite

Set in thick vegetation overlooking a dense valley, Ecca Lodge offers breathtaking views onto an escarpment of steep shale cliffs. Six spacious and private suites are located a short distance away from the main lodge area, each in its own position away from the other suites. Each suite features a bedroom with en-suite bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower, separate w.c, twin hand basin and a private deck with plunge pool. Interior design reflects the vibrant colours and textures of Africa. Main guest areas feature a spacious sitting room with fireplace, dining room and bar area as well as a deep veranda with expansive wooden viewing deck overlooking rolling spekboom valleys.

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Family Suite
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge suite exterior

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Family Suite

Family Suites accommodate 2 adults and 2 children and includes a private vehicle and ranger. Each suite features a bedroom with en-suite bathroom,a lounge with two day beds which are turned into beds for the kids, indoor and outdoor shower, separate w.c, twin hand basin and a private deck with plunge pool. Interior design reflects the vibrant colours and textures of Africa. Main guest areas feature a spacious sitting room with fireplace, dining room and bar area as well as a deep veranda with expansive wooden viewing deck overlooking rolling spekboom valleys.

DINING

Dining room and bar area and a deep veranda with expansive wooden viewing decks overlooking rolling spekboom valleys with a backdrop of the distant cliff-faces of ecca shale.

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Dining Room
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Dining Deck

Dining Room

Delicious fresh farm cuisine is prepared in the modern, open-plan kitchen and an interpretive centre provides hours of entertainment for children of all ages.

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Private Dining

Communal Dining

Few countries are as renowned for their barbeques as South Africa. Kwandwe provides an exciting opportunity to learn about preparing and cooking authentic South African ‘braais’ and favourite dishes with local ingredients. Spend time with one of Kwandwe’s head chefs cooking over an open flame and learning about this local tradition that unites South Africa.

FACILITIES

Facilities at the Ecca Lodge include private plunge pools, computer room, children’s playroom and guest area featuring an open interactive kitchen, a gorgeous infinity lap pool lined with shaded decks and teak loungers, and library where you can relax and unwind with a good book. Ecca Lodge is only a 15-minute drive from the historic Heatherton Towers, which houses a well-stocked safari shop.

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Pool

Pool

Airy and open, Ecca Lodge offers an indoor-outdoor lifestyle embracing the African wilderness. Wrap around wooden decks are complete with private plunge pools and outdoor showers to enhance the connection with nature. Guests are cocooned within their comfortable surroundings featuring super-king beds, spacious bathrooms and individual lounge areas which offer plump bean bags.

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Spa

Spa

A variety of wellness treatments is available to be enjoyed in the privacy of your suite. Our product of choice is TheraNaka™, meaning ‘Beauty of Africa’. TheraNaka™ incorporates only the finest natural ingredients from the best selection of African plant extracts supporting organic certification, sustainability and Fair Trade. Products do not contain harmful alcohols, artificial fragrances, colorants, harmful petrochemicals or mineral oils, and they have not been tested on animals.

Area & Location

Area, Country
Grahamstown, South Africa
Nearest Airport
Port Elizabeth Airport, Grahamstown
Local Currency
South African Rand (ZAR)
Time Change
GMT +2:00
Language
Afrikaans, English
Best time to go
Best visited between October through April

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