Kwandwe Game Reserve - South Africa Safaris

Situated at the heart of the malaria-free Eastern Cape, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is within easy reach of South Africa's spectacular coastline and provides the perfect beginning or ending to a journey along the famed Garden Route.

The wide open spaces and tranquil scenery belie the area's turbulent history, and relics of the area's rich historical and cultural legacy can be found both on the reserve and nearby. Kwandwe Game Reserve itself consists of 22 000 hectares (54 400 acres) of a hauntingly beautiful but previously neglected part of the African continent where the area's natural wildlife has been painstakingly restored.

A conservation victory, Kwandwe Game Reserve is home to thousands of animals, including lion, black and white rhino, buffalo, elephant and cheetah, as well as Africa's famous Big Five. Meaning "Place of the Blue Crane" in Xhosa, Kwandwe Game Reserve is a haven for a population of these rare, highly endangered birds (South Africa's national bird).

The Reserve also provides sanctuary for other threatened species, such as the Knysna woodpecker, Cape grysbok, black wildebeest, crowned eagle and black-footed cat. A biological melting pot of various vegetation types, the Reserve boasts a spectacular display of winter flowering aloes from June to August. Kwandwe Game Reserve flanks both the north and south banks of the Great Fish River, which meanders for 30 km (19 miles) through this pristine, private wilderness.

Kwandwe Game Reserve offers an exceptional safari experience in a region steeped in history and culture. The Great Fish River was a hotly contested border during the Frontier Wars of 1779 to 1878 between the Xhosa nation, Dutch farmers and the 1820 Settlers from England. Kwandwe Game Reserve's reception building is a Frontier War-era fortified homestead, and the Reserve boasts its own intimate chapel.

Wildlife Safari & Ecological Experience at Kwandwe Game Reserve

For the first time in over a hundred years, guests can witness lion, cheetah, elephant, black and white rhino, and buffalo wandering free in the valley thicket fringing the Fish River. Species such as kudu, grysbok, aardwolf, aardvark and caracal, which had always existed freely in the area, are now thriving in their natural habitat. In addition, Kwandwe Game Reserve, which means 'place of the blue crane' in Xhosa, has become home to a number of these highly endangered birds, as well as other threatened species, including black wildebeest and the crowned eagle.

Even though 100 km from the coast, Kwandwe Game Reserve is still affected by the ocean, with south-facing slopes capturing moisture from the sea breezes resulting in denser or taller vegetation and gaily coloured lichens. In contrast, north-facing slopes tend to be drier and more open. The north-facing slopes feature extensive stands of aloe, which flower in striking profusion during the winter months.

Forest-like thickets of tree euphorbia grow on steep, south-facing slopes. These spiny species are immune to destruction from most species thanks to the poisonous milky latex they exude. One exception to this rule is the black rhino, which relishes the spiny stems regardless of the toxin.

The Great Fish River meanders through Kwandwe Game Reserve, bisecting the reserve with 30 km of sweeping sandy bars and steep cliffs. The sand banks provide good clues for each game drive, as most of Kwandwe Game Reserve's species come down to the river to drink, leaving behind a jumble of tracks. The River has cut deep gorges through the surrounding rocks, providing the perfect habitat for wildlife, plant and bird species.

Kwandwe Game Reserve's open habitat is characterised by sparse tussocks, creeping grasses and shrubs favoured by springbok, blue wildebeest and white rhino. Nocturnal species such as aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fax and porcupine can be viewed on night drives in this open terrain.

Elephant were formerly widespread in the Eastern Cape and Kwandwe Game Reserve is the ideal habitat for this fascinating species. The old matriarchs make decisions as to where the herd will move or forage, sharing their experience of where the best areas are to feed at specific times of the year. The graceful kudu, with their majestic twisted horns, are one of the most abundant and conspicuous antelope at Kwandwe Game Reserve. Small family groups of females and bachelor herds of males can be encountered moving through their home ranges in search of food.

Blue crane' bird, as mentioned earlier are highly endangered birds can be found on the the reserve. With a number of breeding pairs on the reserve, the fascinating dancing ritual performed prior to each mating season has been observed at Kwandwe Game Reserve. As Kwandwe Game Reserve is a private reserve, night drives are a daily feature and often result in unusual sightings. The reserve is famous for numerous sightings of the generally rarely spotted porcupine. Both the aardwolf and aardvark are frequently seen on night drives.