Luxury Eastern Cape Holidays

Heidi Zakeri

We had the most incredible time at Bukela Game Lodge, and it was truly the highlight of our honeymoon! From start to finish, we were blown away by the outstanding service, the warmth and friendliness of the staff, and the unforgettable experience. The accommodation was absolutely beautiful, offering a perfect mix of luxury and comfort, with every detail thoughtfully taken care of. A big shout out to our game drive guide, B – he was nothing short of amazing! His knowledge, personality, and enthusiasm made each game drive so special. His deep understanding of the wildlife and the environment really enriched our experience, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. The staff went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable. Not only did they make our honeymoon feel extra special, but they also surprised me with a wonderful birthday celebration. A private dining experience on our last night was the perfect touch – it was such a memorable moment. We want to mention Jerry and Zeus too, who were excellent throughout our stay, always ensuring we had everything we needed and more. The food was delicious, with every meal being a treat. Whether it was a hearty breakfast, a relaxing lunch, or a beautiful dinner under the stars, everything was perfectly prepared and served with care. We honestly can’t recommend Bukela Game Lodge enough. It’s an extraordinary place, and we would love to return someday for another unforgettable experience. Thank you to the entire team for making our honeymoon and my birthday so special!

D S

We had an amazing time at Bukela Game Lodge. The Lodge itself is beautiful with such a good eye for decoration. The staff is just wonderful. They are so much fun, very polite and attentive! Food is amazing and a variety of things to choose from! But the best part, was our amazing Ranger Ryan! We had such a great time with him! He answered all our questions and has a really good feeling of when and where to be and amazing tracking ability! We‘d always come back to Bukela Lodge

Ronda Kelley

Our time at Bukela Game Lodge was magical. From the glamping, to the food, to the amazing safaris, it was amazing. Greg found all kinds of animals including a male lion who had just downed a warthog. The food was delicious, and the serving staff went out of their way to make sure all of our meals were lovely. I couldn't believe that Sammy was in training. She along with all of the other servers were great!

Maddie Dals

This game reserve and lodge is stunning and luxurious. We were warmly greeted by Zeus who was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Our beautiful room overlooked a watering hole where we were greeted by elephants roaming around. The food was delicious and we loved the dusk and dawn game drives with our amazing guide Dario who was very knowledgeable. We saw so many animals during our drives and when we came back to the lodge we received hot drinks and food. Highly recommend!

A. Timillero

our stay was absolutely fantastic! Andrea gave us a very warm and informative welcome, the rooms and the lodge are stunning, the views spectacular. we felt so comfortable and enjoyed every minute to the fullest! our greatest thanks and appreciation goes out to Monde, our guide who exceeded all of our expectations. we got to see so many animals and to know so much about them thanks to him. best experience we had during our trip in south africa.

Katy Bolton

Our stay at Settlers Drift was nothing short of extraordinary, made even more special as we were celebrating our marriage. From the moment we arrived, the attention to detail was impeccable, ensuring that every aspect of our experience was perfectly tailored to our needs. The staff was absolutely wonderful—friendly, attentive, and always ready to assist with a smile. We were touched by their thoughtful gesture of arranging a private dinner for two, making our celebration even more intimate and memorable. A special mention goes to our guide, Richard, who truly went above and beyond on each game drive. His deep knowledge of the area, passion for wildlife, and keen eye made every outing one we will never forget. Richard’s dedication to making sure we had the best possible experience was evident in every moment. Settlers Drift is a gem in the Kariega Game Reserve, and we cannot recommend it highly enough.

Paul Wilson

Just came back from the most incredible four days at Settlers drift. We spent a long time searching for the perfect location for our first safari and this passed our hopes and expectations. I can't remember the last time I was genuinely blown away by a holiday like this. The rooms were huge and wonderfully comfortable, we loved being able to view the animals from the terrace and swimming pool. I thought maybe you'd see the occasional antelope but every time we looked there were dozens of animals to sit back relax and watch, ostriches, giraffes, zebras etc. Then there was the drives, Michael was a fantastic expert and we saw big cats on every drive along with a huge variety of other animals. Each drive was different as you explore a different part of the park. Food was excellent, two breakfasts are served (one before and one after your morning drive) and dinners were of the highest quality. All the staff were incredible, with small surprises throughout the trip to make everything feel particularly magical. The massages at the spa was high quality and very decently priced. Thank you to everyone at settlers drift for the most memorable time.

Valerie Dawson

What a fantastic place to stay. I travelled with my Daughter and friends early April. Thank you to all the staff and especially Wayne who has so much knowledge of the animals. He made sure we saw the big 5. Also loved the boat trip up the Bushman’s River with sunset drinks. Thanks again to everyone who made our stay fabulous.’ Valerie Dawson. (Australia)

Aria P-S

Exceptional hotel - room, staff, food, service, views, safari and happy place to be. Thank you for an amazing stay! This was our first safari and we would highly recommend the reserve to anyone :) thanks to our guide Richard who was so fun, knowledgeable and looked after us on the drives and to the restaurant staff and manager who went above and beyond to make sure we had what we needed during the visit - including the many exceptional surprises! We will do our best to come back!

Josh Phillips

Just wow. What an amazing Safari experience this is/was. Staying at Settlers Drift is worth every cent. The experience we had was something we will never forget. I cannot speak highly enough of the staff. Aurelie is amazing and very friendly, and our guide Gladman was so knowledgeable and passionate about the animals. The luxury tents are so cool and views are awesome. Food is delicious and staff very attentive. We saw all the amazing animals and had a special experience with the elephants. We didn’t see the elusive leopard but this was inconsequential. Aurelie and the staff even set up a surprise romantic dinner for myself and my partner - just next level service. I recommend anyone who wants to do a safari to go here!

James Skinner

We stayed at Shamwari for 2 nights in December 2024 and it was nothing short of a fantastic experience. The staff were absolutely incredible and always happy to make our stay as wonderful as possible. For the safari tours, nothing else can compare. Shamwari, by far, offers the best experience. During our tours, we were able to see incredible wildlife - from lions and cheetahs, to an obese elephant named Cillian. The rangers were also incredibly knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor on our drives (special shout outs to Ray, Leon and Dale!). If you are looking for a true safari experience in the Eastern Cape, look no further than Shamwari - you will not be disappointed. 5*.

Victoria P

This was the best short vacation of my life. Everything was perfect from the moment of arrival, the transfer from the airport to the safari lodge, and back to the airport. We stayed at Bayethe Safari Lodge for 4 nights. The tent, interior details, bed, pillows, and linens were all of the highest quality. The food was excellent, even exquisite. The lodge is surrounded by greenery with a beautiful view of the river. There are 12 tents in the lodge, each situated at a considerable distance from the others. This means that your privacy is not disturbed, even by sounds. It’s a marvelous place for those who want to recharge and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. If you love silence and the sounds of nature, this is the place for you! And, of course, the game drives. We stayed at the hotel for 4 nights, and initially, I wondered if that might be too long. That’s 8 game drives, each lasting 3 hours. Would such an activity become monotonous? How mistaken I was! If it were possible to extend our stay at the lodge, I would have done so. We went on game drives every morning and afternoon with our wonderful ranger, Ruan. We were incredibly lucky to have Ruan with us, as our interests and temperaments matched perfectly. It was fascinating to listen to him talk about the animals and, of course, to observe them. We saw all of the Big Five except for the leopard. However, we were fortunate to see two cheetahs at once. We were amazed at how the rangers managed to find the animals. It seemed as though they were deeply hidden in the bushes, and mountains, far from the road, yet the rangers managed to locate them each time. This was our first time in South Africa and on a game drive, so every new animal we saw brought a lot of emotions and admiration. Our ranger always repeated: "Sit quietly and nicely." We were impressed by the immense respect for nature, flora, and fauna. It was remarkable how knowledgeable the ranger was about all the birds, plants, flowers, and even insects. This was our first trip, but we know it won’t be our last. It was amazing and unforgettable; such a journey stays with you for a lifetime!

Liam McDowell

One of the best Game Reserves in SA. Top quality accommodation and food with excellent and friendly staff. Two 3 hour game drives a day lead by very experienced and knowledgeable rangers

stephen de beer

It was an amazing experience everyone was truly excited 😊 and very friendly to be with us , the staff are so eager to be of acitance and very friendly. We emediatly felt at home arriving at Mantis Founders Lodge, I would highly 😀 recommend 👌 a visit to this fine establishment, 🙂 and discover, Where it all began. 🐘🦒🦏

Beth Meany

We had the most magic three days in Bayethe at shamwari on our Honeymoon. Hands down the best experience of our lives ,thanks to our incredible ranger Sihle! His enthusiasm, knowledge , passion, warmth and great humour made every drive unforgettable, so enjoyable and exciting ! It is hard to explain how incredible our stay was …The service was exceptional. All of the staff in particular Mauveen, Sedonia and Sino went above and beyond to make our stay a trip of a lifetime. The food, staff , game drives and accommodation was 10/10 . Couldn’t recommend enough !!

Rebecca Isaacs

I cannot talk highly enough about this place. We just stayed last week from September 12-17th, and let me tell you it was the most amazing, magical experience. I can’t tell you what I loved the most. From the second you walk in, the service is outstanding! Everyone at the lodge treats you like family. The room was so comfortable and clean and the views were incredible. We loved just sitting on the back patio watching the warthogs, giraffes, and lions pass through the bush. They give you everything you could need from shampoo and conditioner, to body wash and even a hairdryer. There is wifi in all the rooms and even a TV in the lodge that other guests used to watch their home based sports. The food was absolutely incredible! Breakfast lunch and dinner were delicious and they had great options for everyone to choose from. The wine was amazing! We decided to do the bush walk with Reon and Steon and their knowledge of the bush and the vegetation was out of this world. We felt very safe with both of them guiding us! They even let us taste safe vegetation and even a termite! We also added in a private in room massage and it was such a relaxing experience with the complete silence around us besides the birds singing. The cleanliness of the lodge and our room was top notch. The staff is always cleaning and we came back to our room made up every single day. Now while the lodge and the staff were incredible, the highlight of our trip was our outstanding game guide, B. B welcomed us like family day 1. His knowledge and expertise of the animals and locations they would be was amazing. His humor, his happiness, and his friendliness is something we will never forget. We spent many morning and afternoon drink stops just chatting with him about life and the reserve. He would always stop if we needed anything or wanted to take a picture of the animals. We would come back to Hlosi lodge to see B again in an instant. We cannot thank everyone enough at Hlosi lodge but want to give a special thank you to Elvis, Nollie, Amanda, Tambi, and the upmost gratitude for B. We felt like we left a piece of our heart in South Africa with all of these amazing human beings! We cannot wait to come back!!!

Jon

Stayed here in April 2024, 2 adults 2 children. Really good Safari lodge, saw 4 of the Big Five with only the Leopard escaping us. The weather was poor and that had some impact on the trip as less the 50% of the trails were open, but our guide worked hard to find the animals. We booked direct, and booked a two bedroom lodge. On arrival we were allocated a two bedroom tent, which obviously wasn't what we had booked. Apparently room allocation is handled by the central booking team, but the General Manager was quickly on the case and we agreed to stay in the tent for one night and then move to the two bed lodge. From our perspective the two bed lodge was MUCH better, you have a large lounge with fireplace and two bathrooms. They are also nearer the main lodge which as the weather was bad was useful. The tents share a bathroom between the two bedrooms and that is a pain if you have children as if someone is using the bathroom you have to go outside and round to get to the other bedroom. Food was of a good standard, and no shortage of drinks too.

Sebastian Scheipers

Our very first Safari stay. Absolutely outstanding accommodation and full board service. The staff always had a surprise at hand such as refreshing drinks and snacks with a stunning view during the Safari tours. During the game drives you quickly noticed that they want their guests to experience as much as possible but the animals and their wellbeing are still their priority number one. The staff on site made every wish come true, worked very decently but were always just next to you. Absolutely recommendable.

Clodagh Shields

This lodge should be a ratting of 5 star. What can we say such an amazing experience we will have in our hearts 💕 forever. We both arrived to Hlosi after getting lost in stormy conditions and we were greeted by big smiles, hot towels, and a welcome drink which made up for the extra scenic route 😀 😄. Our game drives were simply spectacular and great fun. Our guide Greg was so witty, knowledgeable and passionate about his work and the wildlife. Greg went out of his way to make sure we saw many magical moments such as Giraffes 🦒 having munchies, mama Cheetah🐆 having a BBQ with her babies, a Zebra crossing, a herd of Elephants 🐘 with mama and her baby having an evening stroll. There are not many places where you can have breakfast looking at Hippos having a jacuzzi in the morning which brought a smile to both of our faces. The staff were simply amazing, full of smiles, so attentive to our needs and made our experience so memorable which we will always have in our hearts 💕. The food was amazing and the "Summer salad" evening which consisted of delicious local food with music and 💃 dance which was a truly memorable event. We both left the lodge with a sadness in our hearts as we wished we could stay for many more weeks with these amazing people and unique wildlife. Thank you Hlosi. Love Clodagh and Dolores, Aka Room 2

David Suitor

We had a great experience here. The service, rooms were great and the food excellent. We had an exceptional safari guide Bonakele, who was able to track the animals amazingly and make sure we were well informed and entertained. Just be a little careful when he offers to make you a G&T from Mr B!!!

ben mitchell

Stayed for our honeymoon. Our ranger JJ was simply the best and really knowledgeable. Couldn't fault the facilities or cleanliness of the hotel. The staff were lovely and catered really well for our dietary needs. Would recommend to anyone. Thank you so much for an amazing stay.

Ellie Thackway-Macdonald

We had the most incredible time here to end our honeymoon - what a wonderful place. The lodge itself was stunning, with fantastic staff. The rooms were very comfortable and spacious. The twice daily game drives were fantastic, and a massive thanks to JJ - his knowledge, driving and and commitment were all spectacular. Could have stayed forever!

Adrian Hirsh

Cannot speak more highly of Ukhozi Lodge. The rooms are large and clean. Plenty of storage space for laguage and bags. The open style bathroom was brilliant. A deck and your own private small pool tops everything off. As soon as we walked in we felt at home. The grounds are beautiful and the reception/dinning space is incredible. There are multiple lounge areas each with a fantastic view. Our guide, Richard was brilliant. Very knowledgeable during the game drives as well as polite and accommodating. We had to leave early on our last morning to catch a flight and he allowed us to join the drive and be dropped off early. The staff accommodated an early breakfast to ensure we were able to leave on time with no problems. Overall one of the most remarkable experiences we've had.

Robert Colley

An incredible private game reserve with dedicated staff who made us feel so welcome. The game drives were amazing and enabled us to see the animals in such a natural and beautiful environment. The service within the lodge was exceptional. The staff provided the guests with wonderful meals, welcoming fires when the cooler evenings started to set in. Nothing was too much trouble. The Spa experience was excellent and just so relaxing following a game drive. The rangers were very professional, knowledgeable and dedicated to their conservation projects. The vehicles well maintained and comfortable as can be expected during the drives. I would recommend this safari game reserve wholeheartedly. The highlight being the baby rhino, hippopotamus and giraffes. An indication of a thriving reserve. Each of the calves less than a month old when we visited. All of the big 5 are in this reserve.

Sara Ronzero

Stayed there for 3 days and the experience was unforgettable. The two daily game drives were amazing, with our ranger (Allen) teaching us so much not only about the animals but also about the vegetation in the area. The food and selection of wines was great, as were the spa treatments. 100% will come back.