Uplands Homestead

PLAN MY TRIP

A luxurious, sole-use property, Uplands Homestead is a restored 1905 farmhouse in the game-rich Kwande Private Game Reserve.

Perfect for families or small groups, the homestead has accommodations in three spacious en suite bedrooms. A blend of contemporary and 19th c. settler style, the bedrooms feature original antiques and comfortable furnishings. The en suite bathrooms come with a shower and either a ball and claw bath or an oval stone bath. The private veranda is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy views of the bush. Other amenities include air-conditioning, safe, mini-bar, bathrobes, under-floor heating, complementary Wi-Fi, and hair dryer.

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 way of exploring 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 intimate, colonial-style home is elegant and refined as well as homey and inviting. It houses a contemporary farmhouse kitchen that cooks up delicious home-cooked meals and even lets the kids help with the junior chefs program. Meals are served in the dining area as friends and family gather together to eat and talk about their adventures or alternatively under the expansive, African sky in the boma. There is also a full-size swimming pool and gazebo set amongst rolling lawns and surrounded by sweeping slopes dotted with hundreds of aloes. The homestead is set in a malaria-free area.