Ecca Lodge

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Kwandwe Ecca Lodge is located in malaria-free Kwandwe Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa.

Accommodations consist of six stylish suites. Each suite comes with a super-sized king bed and includes a spacious en-suite bathroom with both an indoor and outdoor shower, twin vanity, a flush toilet, and wood-paneled walls. A separate lounge area is furnished with funky bean bags and day beds that can be reconfigured to accommodate children. The chic décor celebrates the vibrant colors of the African people. For added privacy, the suites enjoy their own wraparound wooden deck and plunge pool for a relaxing afternoon of swimming or just admiring the beauties of the bush.

Kwandwe means “place of the blue crane” in the local Xhosa language. The lodge is located in the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve which comprises over 54,363 acres on the edge of the former Karoo Basin, where several of Africa’s vegetation zones converge, and biodiversity is extremely rich. The landscape is dominated by bushveld on open plains and rolling hills, with succulent euphorbias, aloes, and spekboom among the characteristic plants. Thousands of animals, including Africa’s big five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo have been reintroduced to the reserve. And it also serves as a haven for endangered animals and birds. Along this stretch of the Great Fish River, the famous battle between the 1820 settlers and the indigenous black population was fought.

The primary activity at Kwandwe Ecca Lodge is the daily game drives. These take place in specialized vehicles and are led by experienced guides. Guided walks allow guests to experience the terrain at a slower pace. Anglers will enjoy fishing on the Great Fish River. While, canoeing is another great way to explore the river. For an additional fee, guests can spend two to three hours tracking rhino with a member of Kwandwe’s rhino monitoring team and a chance to learn about the habits of this threatened species as well as Kwandwe’s conservation efforts. Other activities include archaeological drives, photographic safaris, helicopter flights, and visits to the local communities.

The main lodge houses several different outdoor and indoor lounging areas and dining spaces including a spacious sitting area with a fireplace. The lodge’s deep veranda includes expansive wooden viewing decks overlooking rolling spekboom valleys and a backdrop of the cliff-faces of ecca shale. A family friendly lodge, there is a play center for kids and a shared rim-flow lap pool. The lodge’s interactive kitchen tempts guests as they watch culinary masterpieces being created. There is also an interpretative library. For even more relaxation, in-room massages can be arranged.