KWANDWE ECCA LODGE
PLACE OF THE BLUE CRANE
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is located in the heart of the beautiful and historically rich Eastern Cape, surrounded by exclusive, malaria-free wilderness and featuring 30 kilometers of privately owned river frontage of the Great Fish River. Kwandwe means “Place of the Blue Crane” in the local Xhosa language, and is home to a population of this majestic, but highly endangered species, which is also South Africa’s national bird.
Kwandwe is a natural finale to a journey featuring Cape Town and the world-famous Garden Route. Kwandwe Ecca Lodge is a vibrant, funky, modern safari lodge set in an area of thick vegetation, overlooking a dense valley with a breathtaking view onto an escarpment of steep shale cliffs.
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge is open year around.
ACCOMMODATIONS
This cheerful lodge with its youthful, relaxed vibe is the perfect setting for a wildlife experience for the young at heart. Six spacious, minimalist chic, modern suites with surrounding wooden decks, and private sitting rooms with polished concrete floors combine with shades of olive and burnt orange, offers a warm yet modern appeal. The en-suite bathroom has mosaic mirrors, baths and glassed-in showers. Plunge pools with solar heating create a dash of color on the wooden deck to each suite.
Dining
Back at the lodge, after a safari, expansive wooden viewing decks provide the ideal setting to soak up the “bushveld” atmosphere with a leisurely lunch or sundowners. Funky touches in décor and fittings surprise, delight and add a touch of fun and fantasy. Innovative, stylish and intimate, Kwandwe Ecca Lodge is a safari lodge with a modern attitude, but the night noises at Kwandwe are as ancient as time, with howling jackals and the crazy chorus of frogs in the reed beds along the Great Fish River can be heard under the Stars of South Africa while enjoying a delicious dinner from the open interactive kitchen.
CONSERVATION
A victory for far-sighted conservation, 20 000 hectares, 49 000 acres, of farmland in the Great Fish River region were restored and restocked with African wildlife which had previously always roamed free in the area and are now thriving in their natural habitat. Among the many projects is the black rhino introduction program that currently has 11 endangered black rhinos, with more animals to be re-introduced in the near future. Extensive research are being conducted of the nine cheetahs that were re-introduced to Kwandwe Reserve, focusing primarily on the feeding biology of these animals.
ACTIVITIES
At Kwandwe, the guides are passionate about sharing their knowledge and understanding of the bush and its fascinating inhabitants. The highly trained rangers and trackers do their utmost to delight guests with a choice of the following wildlife adventures:
Driving Safari
Twice daily game drives – provide the perfect opportunity to explore the natural diversity of Kwandwe in open four-wheel drive safari vehicles. A ranger and tracker team is on hand to share their extensive knowledge of the bush with you and track the big five, as well as a variety of other wildlife. Night drives are a daily feature and often result in unusual sightings such as of the generally rare spotted porcupine. Both the aardwolf and aardvark are frequently seen on night drives.
Walking Safari
Bush walks, offered in between game drives, give guests a chance to take a closer look at the intricate details of the bush within easy reach of the lodge. An armed ranger will guide you through close-up, personal sightings. Rhino monitoring and big game walks are also offered at an additional cost.
WILDLIFE
Here one can find black and white rhinos, elephants, lions, buffaloes and leopards as well as a remarkable variety of predators and general game, including cheetahs, kudus, springboks, elands, red hartebeests, giraffes, black wildebeests, gemsboks, grysboks, aardwolves, aardvarks and caracals.
PHOTOGRAPHY
The Fish Eagle and endangered Blue Crane are among a wide variety of birds found on the Reserve. It is also possible to spot black and white rhino, elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard as well as remarkable variety of predators and general game, including cheetah, kudu, springbok, eland, red hartebeest, giraffe, black wildebeest and gemsbok.
At an additional charge specialist, private photographic safaris and tutorials are offered to Kwandwe guests by locally based, award-winning professional photographer Mike Dexter. A private safari vehicle with ranger and tracker are provided to tailor-make each experience according to guests’ individual needs.
