8 Days in South Africa: Garden Route + Addo or Kruger?
#16
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,395
Quick plug for Kwandwe. Don't have enough time right now for full explanation. But, love the place. Great people. Gotten better over time. Quick search on FT would bring up my other comments re: same. IMHO - Perfect way to end a Garden Route trip. CPT-STB/Franschoek-Garden Route-Kwandwe.
I intended to do a full trip report - but that proved to be more time consuming than I could manage. If you would like some photos and info on Kwandwe feel free to PM and I will answer any questions and share some of our photos.
#17
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, TG Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 8,665
We did Kwandwe Ecca Lodge for Christmas one year. Had a great time there. Do not regret it choosing it.
The luxury level is the close to Singita but is less formal which we prefer. Its more akin the Singita Lebombo. Have said that, the animals (big 5) do throw themselves at you around the Singita area so you cannot beat the experience. Ecca Lodge has good viewing but you have to be somewhat more patient like a good hunter. The scenary of the area is fantastic. We were very fortunate as a Swedish family took up all the villas apart from ours. So we had our own jeep and driver since the family wanted to stay together for their drive.
I did wake up one morning baffled to find a sunbed in the pool and another beyond the decking area. We must have been visited by baboons since we definitely did not party ourselves that night. All outdoor furniture was back in its space when we returned from our morning drive. So yes, you are definitely in the wild despite the luxurious surroundings.
It is drivable from Port Elizabeth or you can fly (we were taken in a 3 seater plane (pilot, my partner in the front passenger seat and me in the back seat). Now that was an experience. We got the lodge to arrange for a private car to take our bags by road from the airport to the lodge.
The luxury level is the close to Singita but is less formal which we prefer. Its more akin the Singita Lebombo. Have said that, the animals (big 5) do throw themselves at you around the Singita area so you cannot beat the experience. Ecca Lodge has good viewing but you have to be somewhat more patient like a good hunter. The scenary of the area is fantastic. We were very fortunate as a Swedish family took up all the villas apart from ours. So we had our own jeep and driver since the family wanted to stay together for their drive.
I did wake up one morning baffled to find a sunbed in the pool and another beyond the decking area. We must have been visited by baboons since we definitely did not party ourselves that night. All outdoor furniture was back in its space when we returned from our morning drive. So yes, you are definitely in the wild despite the luxurious surroundings.
It is drivable from Port Elizabeth or you can fly (we were taken in a 3 seater plane (pilot, my partner in the front passenger seat and me in the back seat). Now that was an experience. We got the lodge to arrange for a private car to take our bags by road from the airport to the lodge.
Last edited by KenJohn; Feb 10, 2015 at 8:51 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Johan
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: GRU, ZRH, LUG
Programs: LX SEN
Posts: 138
Since I started this thread, I thought about giving a brief summary of our 10 days in South Africa:
4 days in Cape Town
1 Night in Swellendam: De Kloof Luxury Estate - Excellent guesthouse
1 Night at Oubaai Golf Hotel
2 Nights in Plettenberg: The Plettenberg Hotel - can't beat the location and service. Luxury Garden Rooms have best value for money.
2 Nights at Amahkala Game Reserve - Bush Lodge: http://www.amakhala.co.za/lodges/2-bush-lodge
About the Safari:
Amahkala is a very large Private Game Reserve only 45 minutes from Port Elizabeth airport along the N2 highway. Bush Lodge is one of the two 5 stars accommodations and while it probably does not get to the luxury of Singita it also comes at one third of the price. We had our own very knowledgeable and fun ranger for the entire stay and got to see all big 5 and then some. I would recommend Amahkala and especially the Bush Lodge for all those looking for an "easy" Safari experience at the end of the Garden Route and for those looking for a very good quality accommodation at a fraction of the price of the most famous locations around Krugar.
4 days in Cape Town
1 Night in Swellendam: De Kloof Luxury Estate - Excellent guesthouse
1 Night at Oubaai Golf Hotel
2 Nights in Plettenberg: The Plettenberg Hotel - can't beat the location and service. Luxury Garden Rooms have best value for money.
2 Nights at Amahkala Game Reserve - Bush Lodge: http://www.amakhala.co.za/lodges/2-bush-lodge
About the Safari:
Amahkala is a very large Private Game Reserve only 45 minutes from Port Elizabeth airport along the N2 highway. Bush Lodge is one of the two 5 stars accommodations and while it probably does not get to the luxury of Singita it also comes at one third of the price. We had our own very knowledgeable and fun ranger for the entire stay and got to see all big 5 and then some. I would recommend Amahkala and especially the Bush Lodge for all those looking for an "easy" Safari experience at the end of the Garden Route and for those looking for a very good quality accommodation at a fraction of the price of the most famous locations around Krugar.