Need To Know... CLASSIC FACTORS One of the largest private game reserves in the Eastern Cape (54,000 acres/ 22,000 hectares of wilderness), boasting 4 individual game lodges in private corners of the reserve on 30 km of privately owned Great Fish River frontage. Big 5 safari destination (black & white rhino, elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard). Ideal for families malaria-free and the children s play centre at Ecca Lodge can keep the little ones busy for hours. The perfect add-on to an itinerary featuring Cape Town and the Garden Route and an exceptional wildlife experience for the Africaphile. WHERE WHEN TO GO GETTING THERE Situated on the 54,000 acre/ 22,000 hectare Kwandwe Private Game Reserve in the malaria-free Eastern Cape. The Big Five reserve lies approximately sixty five kilometres from the coast and is located in near proximity to the Garden Route. Excellent game viewing all year round. The warmest months are September until April. May to August is cooler. BY AIR: Port Elizabeth Airport is 160 km from the Reserve. The Reserve also has a private airstrip. The coordinates are: S33o08 58.7 and E26o31 35.7. BY ROAD: A chauffeur-driven road transfer can be arranged on request. SELF DRIVES: The distance from Port Elizabeth to Kwandwe is 160 km and can be comfortably covered by road in an hour and 45 minutes. On arrival, guests leave their vehicle at the car park at Heatherton Towers and will be transferred to their lodge by open safari vehicle. Updated April 2013 - Page 1 of 5
HOW EXCLUSIVE Ecca Lodge is made of 6 individually designed suites all with private plunge pools, with Great River Lodge having 9 suites, again with plunge pools. For total exclusivity why not rent Melton Manor or Uplands Homestead only available for exclusive use. HOSTS ROOM TYPES Angus Sholto-Douglas ECCA LODGE: Six spacious suites feature bedrooms with 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. The interior design reflects natural textures in hues of burnt aloe orange, rust and olive. GREAT FISH RIVER LODGE Nine luxurious suites feature bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, separate w.c, twin basins, personal bars, private verandas and plunge pools. The décor is African-inspired, with earth-toned fabrics, indigenous timber and early settler antiques and artefacts. MELTON MANOR: Four bedrooms featuring spacious bathrooms and innovative butler hatches for discreet room service. Available only on an exclusive-use. This is a contemporary Frontier farmhouse. The spacious u-shaped lodge is characterised by high ceilings and deep, cool verandas, each overlooking the central courtyard and its large swimming pool. IN-ROOM FACILITIES & AMENITIES ACTIVITIES UPALNDS HOMESTEAD: Three spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and private verandas are available for sole use only. Two rooms have bathrooms with a ball and claw bath and one room has a bathroom with an oval stone bath. Uplands Homestead, built in 1905, is a restored farmhouse and is for the exclusive use of six guests - perfect for families, friends and small groups. The interior design is based on 1820 s Settler style. Please refer to individual fact sheets of each lodge for detailed information on in-room and leisure facilities. Morning, afternoon/evening and night game drives in private open safari vehicle. Big Game walking safari and Rhino monitoring experience at an additional cost. Rhino darting and research at an additional cost. Guided bush walks, bush sundowners and picnics on the Reserve. Fishing. Bush breakfasts/dinners. Specialist Safaris and Photographic Safaris - all at additional cost. Updated April 2013 - Page 2 of 5
Voluntourism offering sustainable guest/local resident interactions and experiences. Morning visit to the Mgcamabele Community Centre. DINING TOTS OR NOT Guests can dine wherever they choose to at all the lodges all lodges have dining rooms/areas. GREAT FISH RIVER LODGE: Children 12 and older welcome but recommended for families with older teenagers (16 years and older). The lodge is unfenced. ECCA LODGE: The most family friendly of all the lodges - children of all ages are welcome and ideal for families with younger children. Two children under 16 can share with two adults in the separate lounge area; child rate applies. Cots are available for children aged 0 2 years; children 3 16 sleep on individual single beds. Playroom area with games and interactive activities is close to the main pool/ lodge area. Interactive kitchen caters for children, with cooking classes between safari activities. Separate dining can be arranged. Unfenced private plunge pools with each suite and an unfenced communal swimming pool. Due to vehicle restrictions Ecca can accommodate a maximum of 4 children sharing with parents in camp at any one time 2 quad rooms, 1 quad/2 triples or 4 triples. Regretfully, children 5 years and younger cannot participate in game drives unless an exclusive-use vehicle is booked; the cost for the full day use of a vehicle is R 4 500 per day. Children aged 6 to 11 can be accommodated on game drives at the lodge manager s discretion. Childminders are available at no additional cost. The lodge is unfenced. MELTON MANOR: 4 suites exclusive use only. Children of all ages are welcome and ideal for families with children older than 6 Updated April 2013 - Page 3 of 5
years. One child under 2 (in cot) can share with two adults at any one time. Limited to 1 room in camp at any 1 time. No charge for the child. Children 3 16 can be accommodated in their own room (right next door to parents room). Lounge offers TV with a library of DVD s. Unfenced communal swimming pool. Melton can accommodate a maximum of 8 guests + 1 infant under 2 (in a cot). Perimeter fencing (unseen to the eye) to keep wild animals out. UPLANDS HOMESTEAD: Children of all ages welcome and ideal for families with children of all ages. For exclusive use only, Uplands can accommodate a maximum of 6 guests + 1 infant under 2 (in a cot). A private safari home with perimeter fencing (unseen to the eye) to keep wild animals out. Play areas include large lawns for children to run around, unfenced swimming pool and shaded tsala area. Lounge offers TV with a library of DVD s. Private vehicle and guide offers tailor-made flexibility for safari activities. CHILDREN ACTIVITIES Children receive Rangers in Training backpacks with bug collectors, magnifying glass, booklet for identifying wildlife, craft pack made by the community centre for the girls a journal making kit and for the boys a door sign making kit. On the last day the ranger signs a certificate confirming that he/she is now a Ranger in Training. Activities for children include poo safaris and spoor tracking with the ranger and tracker, Minno s fishing trip with the ranger, finger painting, making animals from clay, daily treasure hunts, special game drives outside of normal times where available, baking, pizza making competitions, DVDs and popcorn, chocolate mould making, creature cookie baking, bedtime stories with milk and cookies. Regretfully, children 5 years and younger cannot participate in game drives unless a sole use vehicle is booked. When available this will be provided at no charge - ideally during the day so as not to clash with scheduled game drives (early morning and evening), otherwise a charge will apply. Children aged 6 to 11 can be accommodated on game drives at the lodge manager s discretion. Children of all ages are welcome to join a Hooves & Stripes adventure which is a daily one hour morning game drive after breakfast with or without their parents to view nonaggressive game such as giraffe, zebra, monkeys, warthogs etc at no additional Updated April 2013 - Page 4 of 5
cost. Sole-use bookings for Uplands Homestead and Melton Manor can design their own family safaris, with no minimum age restrictions and game drives at flexible times to suit their needs. A special children s menu is sent to parents to choose meals in advance. Child minders are available with prior arrangement at no additional cost. All child minders are first-aid trained. GIVING BACK Kwandwe seek to maintain a low impact on the land while deriving high yield for their conservation initiatives by creating very small luxury lodges that support enormous tracts of bio diverse land, which remains untouched. At every lodge Kwandwe seek out small (and sometimes not so small) but meaningful ways of putting their values into action every day. Kwandwe s community development initiatives are facilitated by the Angus Gillis Foundation, which works on economic development, education and health initiatives in eleven villages surrounding Kwandwe, for more information, please see www.angusgillisfoundation.co.za GOOD TO KNOW MALARIA: Kwandwe is within a malaria free zone. ELECTRICITY: All camps are supplied with electricity at 220v, a South African adaptor will be needed. DISABLED ACCESS: Yes with assistance (except Great River Fish Lodge). CREDIT CARDS: Visa Cards, Master Cards & American Express accepted. VISAS: Citizens from certain countries require visas, with requirements changing from time to time. Best to check in advance. Updated April 2013 - Page 5 of 5
KWANDWE ECCA LODGE Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Updated December 2011 - Page 1 of 1