Kwandwe Private Game Reserve - Great Fish River Lodge

This is a long review but worth the read if you want to hear how amazing this place and it’s people are. We would choose this reserve 10/10 times every day of the week and twice on Tuesday! If you are lucky enough to have found this special place in your search for a game lodge, book your stay at Kwandwe now! Arrival: We booked transport from Port Elizabeth airport which does cost about R12,850 round trip. The lodge is roughly 2 hours from the airport and the company used for transportation was amazing. We arrived mid morning and were greeted at the reception warmly and with water. We were then driven to our lodge, The Great Fish River Lodge, by Luke who was a pleasure to talk to on our 15 minute drive from reception to our lodge. When we arrived at the lodge we were greeted with cold towels and the warmest welcome by Stacy, one of the lodge managers. We were offered drinks and then brought to our suite. Suite: The suites are roomy, luxurious and possibly the nicest accommodation we had ever stayed in. Everything was spotless, beautifully designed, and made us feel at home. After every game drive or meal we came back to the suite tidied, bed made and fresh water bottles. The fridge located in the suite contained 2 bottles of wine, some fizzy drinks, beer, milk and additional water. Also located near the fridge is the kettle for tea / coffee for you to make on demand. The outdoor lounging area is perfect for a lunchtime nap followed by a dip in the pool also located just outside the suite. If you would like to book a massage they offer in suite massages where they come to you! Food and Drinks: The quality and flavors of the food blew us away. Every meal (Breakfast served after your morning game drive ~9:45AM, lunch served 12:30-2:30PM, dinner served after your afternoon game drive ~8:15PM) had 3 main options and additional starter and dessert options for lunch and dinner. The chef(s) being the rockstars that they are accommodating to guests asking for tweaks to the food going off menu. The full bar at the lodge has anything you could ever want to drink made by a very talented bartender. The server team that we were most lucky to have been served by at the great fish river lodge was outstanding. Was able to joke with us, teach us words in Xhosa, make us laugh and have every meal that much more enjoyable. Game drives: Every day you are given a wake up call at 5AM as a reminder to be at the lodge by 5:30AM for some light breakfast and coffee and then on to the game drive. We cannot recommend our ranger, Niso and tracker, Yongama, enough they are incredible people. We were able to find all of the big five and then some. Yongama has eyes like a hawk and a knack of where to look for animals in the given area. Niso took us to all the best areas to search for the animals and taught us all interesting facts regarding the animals we found. Niso and Yongama were great to talk to and felt like friends at the end of our trip. The land cruisers are stocked

It was an amazing experience to stay at Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge. Everything was perfect, the facilities and all the staff The twice daily safari drives were wonderful, our Ranger had an encyclopediac knowledge of animals, birds and plants. Truly a remarkable place to stay for that very special occasion.

There was never a dull moment for my family at Kwandwe, the reserve is filled with wildlife! From majestic giraffes strolling right past the vehicle, to young lions curiously playing with porcupines, to a leopard joining our safari following a herd of elephants, this place has it all; including stunning amenities and talented, warm staff that make you feel not just welcome, but at home. The natural beauty of this spot soothes the soul, and we were more than excited to start each day knowing that new adventures awaited us. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime, magical experience. Special thanks to our expert(ly funny) ranger Ryan and superhuman tracker Dennis- we had a great time with a very candid, relaxed, but engaging atmosphere. We were given special care the whole time- treated to heated water bottles and blankets to keep us warm in the evening, wool-lined ponchos if it rained, and snack stops to enjoy the scenery at sunset. The staff added such a personal touch to all aspects of our stay while respecting our voice and decision in every matter, from dietary requests to stopping the vehicle when we thought we had spotted an animal. The facilities of the Ecca Lodges are also incredible; the gorgeous habitat and animals are just a bonus! Finally, know that your stay will not just benefit you, but also Kwandwe’s partnership with the Ubunye Foundation, a NPO which supports local businesses, women in the community, and children’s education in the region. It was our first time seeing so many stars in the night sky, with no light or air pollution nearby. An unforgettable experience in every way. Enkosi kakhulu!