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Kwandwe Melton Manor at the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Eastern Cape Accommodation
Relais & Chateaux Lodge
Situated at the heart of the malaria-free Eastern Cape province, the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is located within easy reach of South Africa's magnificent coastline and provides the perfect beginning or ending to a journey along the famous Garden Route. The wide open spaces and tranquil scenery are unique to this reserve and nearby. The game rich Kwandwe Game Reserve consists of 22 000 hectares and is home to thousands of animals, including lion, black and white rhino, buffalo, elephant and cheetah, as well as Africa's famous Big Five.
Meaning "Place of the Blue Crane" in Xhosa, Kwandwe is a haven for a population of these rare, highly endangered birds. The Kwandwe Reserve also provides sanctuary for other threatened species, such as the Knysna woodpecker, Cape grysbok, black wildebeest, crowned eagle and black-footed cat. A biological melting pot of various vegetation types, the Reserve boasts a spectacular display of winter flowering aloes from June to August. Kwandwe flanks both the north and south banks of the Great Fish River, which meanders for 30 km (19 miles) through this pristine, private wilderness.
Wildlife at the Kwandwe Game Reserve
Kwandwe is a sanctuary to the Big Five as well as to rare and more seldom found wildlife. Guests can witness lion, cheetah, elephant, black and white rhino, and buffalo wandering free. Species such as kudu, grysbok, aardwolf, aardvark and caracal are thriving in their natural habitat. Kwandwe offers some of the most magnificent cheetah sightings in Africa and is also home to the black rhino, one of the world's most endangered large animals.
Elephant were formerly widespread in the Eastern Cape and Kwandwe is the ideal habitat for this fascinating species.
A day at the Kwandwe Game Reserve
Guests staying at the Kwandwe Game Reserve have the opportunity to explore the untamed African bush with its diverse wildlife and flora.
- Morning Game Drive - As dawn breaks over the African bush, guests are awoken for their early morning game drive. After tea, coffee and morning biscuits or rusks, one sets out in an open 4x4 safari vehicle with a ranger and tracker team.
- Breakfast - After the early morning game drives, guests return back to the Lodge for a delicious breakfast, with platters of fruit and cheese followed by a selection of hot breakfast dishes. Choose from eggs, oats, waffles or a number of other options.
- Lunch - After breakfast, visitors may go on a short walk near the lodge, accompanied by the ranger, who shares his insight into the smaller animals and vegetation in the area. When returning back to the lodge, lunch is served.
- Afternoon Tea - Cool off with a refreshing dip in the swimming pool or indulge in an afternoon siesta.
- Evening Game Drive - The evening game drive begins in the late afternoon and lasts until after dark, when spotlights are used for a glimpse into the nocturnal bush life. Spot the rarely seen porcupine, aardwolf or aardvark. Enjoy sundowners in a scenic location as the sun slowly sinks beneath the horizon.
- Dinner - Return to your lodge for a mouthwatering dinner around a blazing fire in a boma or in your lodge's dining area.
Accommodation at the Kwandwe Melton Manor
The welcoming U-shape of the Melton Manor enfolds up to eight guests in a warm and humorous embrace. This sole-use safari villa, where the smallest detail of the guest's stay is planned according to specific wishes and requests, is perfect for family holidays or groups of friends.
The Kwandwe Manor's inner courtyard provides a focal point for shared hours, while the deep verandas of each bedroom suite offer stunning views of Kwandwe's blue-lit hills.
The Manors private safari vehicle, together with a tam of tracker and ranger, stand waiting to begin the guest's adventure.
- The Melton Manor is a sole-use safari lodge.
- A 4x4 safari vehicle is available to its guests at anytime for game drives together with a team of ranger and tracker.
- A butler and chef ensure that all requirements are assisted to.
- The Kwandwe Lodge is part of the exclusive Relais & Chateaux hotel group.
With sweeping views of the river and mountains in three different directions, the Melton Manor Safari Villa at Kwandwe is a mix of old and new, a contemporary frontier farmhouse with a modern touch. Antique settler furniture is given fresh life with a coat of colourful paint and quirky touches combine familiar objects with unfamiliar uses, shades or locations. High ceilings and deep verandas produce a sense of space, while deep couches, warm fireplaces and casual touches invite you to kick back and relax.
The interactive farm-style kitchen invites guests to try their hands at combining flavours under the cheerful guidance of their personal chef or simply to watch as meals or snacks expertly take shape whenever you want. Visitoris are invited to share meals and laughter at the manor's dining room table or around the enormous farmhouse table in the fresh air of the terrace.
One may spend the afternoon hours in the library, enjoying a quiet session with a book, or while away some hours with the large collection of board games. The villa's bedroom offers a private refuge with a deep veranda, enormous bed and butler hatch for unobtrusive morning service. Sandstone walls and crocheted blankets in funky shades mingle for a nostalgic yet cosy atmosphere. The deep bathtub invites guests for a soak and the large windows mean the bushveld view competes for your attention with the immense handmade crystal, wire and clay-bead chandelier. |
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