The House

Location: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Number of Rooms: 4 (this is a private lodge for up to 8 guests)

Peering out over the rolling green grasslands of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, the Fort House sits atop a hill with a private veranda and rim-flow swimming pool overlooking a protected lawn where children can play. A private, sunken boma invites you to share al fresco dinners beneath the stardust of the Milky Way. The house has four luxurious, en suite bedrooms—including two larger master suites with additional outdoor showers. Each bedroom has a small private patio, and rooms and corridors are punctuated with beautiful rugs and distinct furnishings that are Africa chic. At the center of the house, an open chef's kitchen is accompanied by a long family-style dining table and a beautifully designed living area with a stone fireplace and television. An enclosed patio includes a summer kitchen for barbecues.

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Facilities & Amenities

• 4 en suite bedrooms
• En suite bathrooms with tub and indoor shower (outdoor showers in the two master bedrooms)
• Shampoo, conditioner, soap and lotion
• Hair dryer
• Air conditioning
• Room fan
• Fireplace
• Mini bar
• Tea/coffee in room
• Full kitchen
• Television
• 220v charging outlets throughout
• In-room safe
• Heated swimming pool
• Wi-Fi throughout
• Spa (extra cost)
• "Gym in a bag"
• Private safari vehicle, guide and tracker
• Laundry included
• Local alcoholic beverages (house wines, beers, spirits)
• Credit cards accepted (Visa, MasterCard and American Express)

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Private Lodge

Kwandwe Fort House is sold exclusively to single private groups, including families of up to four adults and four children. The adjacent lodges, Kwandwe Ecca and Kwandwe Great Fish River, can be booked for individuals seeking accommodation for smaller parties. Pricing for Kwandwe Fort House is based on a minimum of eight guests sharing the home.

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Wildlife Viewing & Activities

The 54,000-acre Kwandwe Private Game Reserve sits in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province—a stretch of wilderness that creates sanctuary for the Big Five and habitat for cheetah, kudu, springbok, eland, red hartebeest, giraffe, black wildebeest, gemsbok and other wildlife. With private access to 19 miles along the Great Fish River, birders will enjoy seeking out the fish eagle and endangered blue crane along with a wide variety of other birdlife. Nocturnal sightings of aardvark and aardwolf are frequent, and rhino conservation is at the forefront within the reserve. A hands-on rhino conservation safari can be arranged at additional cost in advance of your arrival, if availability allows. Daily activities include dawn wildlife drives with a naturalist guide, and afternoon wildlife drives that linger past sunset with opportunities to see nocturnal creatures. Guided large mammal tracking is also available for an additional cost. Kwandwe is malaria-free, making it an ideal destination for families.

The Eastern Cape's most common large mammal and predator sightings are illustrated in the chart below. Because each of the private game reserves of the Eastern Cape is fenced and unique, there may be some variations. Other typical sightings may include warthogs, baboons and monkeys, a variety of birds, and small carnivores such as jackals and caracals. Exact sightings will depend on the actual reserve you are visiting.

Climate