Eastern Cape Photo Safari
Avoid the national parks by visiting this private game reserve in the Eastern Cape for your photo safari. This luxury lodge is a uniquely South African photo safari experience off the beaten path. It is a fabulous stop if you are spending time in the southeastern area of South Africa.
This 60,000+ acre Eastern Cape photo safari property is a mix of beautiful open savannas and mountains with dense greenery. It is home to the big 5 (Elephants, Rhino, Lion, Leopard, and Cape Buffalo) as well as cheetah, giraffe, kudu, and more! Seeing elephants fighting, full maned lions prowling their kingdom, and the brother cheetahs are not unusual sightings.
During your visit, you will stay in one of two accommodations. The first is the original homestead from the property which has been transformed into a beautiful 7-suite lodge. It has a dining area, lounge, workout room, pool, library, one-room museum, and beautiful gardens.
The second is one of the most unique lodging options we have ever seen: a renovated Railway Carriage from the 1900s! This would be an amazing vacation spot for a family with kids. You will have a private pool, boma (firepit area), private staff and porch with a view of the valley.
The staff here are some of the most hospitable, kind people we have ever been around. Your hosts will consistently check on you to make sure you have everything you need and more. Their welcoming smile will be the first thing you see, and their teary goodbye will leave you wanting to come back soon!
Accommodations & Meals
The main lodge is the original homestead which has been passed down through the generations. It has been refurbished and expanded to house 7 suites which are filled with beautiful dark wood furniture which transports you back to the 1800s. Everything about this lodge is beautiful, comfortable, and welcoming. You can stay in any of the 7 in-building suites or have more privacy in the honeymoon suite.
The restored Railway Carriage is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Beautifully decorated with period-specific furniture and rich fabrics, this railway carriage is small but luxurious. During your stay, you will have a private butler and staff to take care of your every need or leave you to have some privacy. The carriage has 3 bedrooms and one in-carriage bathroom. But don’t worry, another bathroom has been built right outside of the carriage, and you have never seen a “loo with a view” like this one! There is a private deck with a stunning view over a valley, a pool, and a boma area. This is the perfect spot for a small group or family to have their privacy and an unbelievably unique experience.
The food at both is exquisite. You will never be lacking because the next course is just as amazing as the one before. For breakfast, you have the choice to order off the menu or have continental options. Lunches are hearty and delicious meals that will have you asking the chef for his recipes. For dinner, you will be served three-course meals with soups, salads, meat or seafood entrées, and desserts.
Length of Stay / Itinerary
Typically, you will spend 1-3 nights here.
Your stay at this safari lodge is typically planned in addition to other touring.
When we design your African photo safari you can expect the following: We will listen as you share your vision of what your African Safari Experience should look like. We then begin designing your safari with lodge and destination selections, activities selection, flights, meet & greet services, travel insurance, clothing & equipment list, a countdown to Africa (this assists you with detail preparation leading up to trip time), detailed pricing with all included/not included items, and more.
As full-service African Safari specialists, we have visited over 100+ safari lodges in Africa over the last 35 years. We selected only a handful of those for you that have met our strenuous criteria. A combination of big game hunting, bird hunting, photo safari, Cape Town, and Victoria Falls safaris are our specialty.
Trip Insurance & Cancellation Info
Trip insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment on this trip. We will assist you with trip insurance upon booking. See links at the bottom of this page for the two providers we suggest for our clients.
Family Expeditions, LLC confirmation and refund policy:
If your trip is more than 90 days out from date of departure, a 50% non-refundable deposit confirms your reservation and must be received within 10 days of booking to confirm your dates. All trips must be paid in full at least 90 days prior to the departure date. If your trip date is within 90 days, FULL payment for the trip is required. All payments to Family Expeditions are non-refundable. Should you need to reschedule or cancel your trip, we will do everything in our power to assist you in finding a suitable substitute or transferring your dates per the lodge/providers/government requirements. Trip insurance protects your investment!
