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Kwandwe ranks among the best and most exclusive private game reserves in the Eastern Cape or for that matter anywhere in South Africa. The sense of exclusivity here is linked to a very low guest-to-land ratio, with the two lodges and three villas that scatter its 220km²/85mi². A superb Big Five wildlife experience is complimented by luxury accommodations and world-class food.
Best Time to Visit
Kwandwe’s wildlife viewing is favorable all year but is marginally best in the driest months of the year (June through September). This is during the winter season, and it can become very cold at times. It is important to prepare for this with warm clothing, which is particularly important for evening and morning game drives in open vehicles. The warmer summer months (October to April) are more pleasant.
May to September –Winter
October to April –Summer
Scenery
The scenic Great Fish River meanders for 30km/19 mi through Kwandwe GR. The vast rolling landscape seems to go on forever, and forest-like thickets of Euphorbia trees grow on the steep slopes. This habitat is prime black rhino country.
From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day
From: January to December (All year)
From: October to April (High season rates)
From: 220km² / 85mi²
Kwandwe is home to most safari favorites, including the Big Five. Wildlife isn’t as prolific as in some other private reserves, but there is plenty of it about, and the drama of the setting makes up for this. Black rhinos and cheetahs are some of the flagship species you can expect to see. Interesting antelope often encountered are eland, red hartebeest, and gemsbok.
Wildlife Highlights
The endemic black wildebeest, the rare and localized cousin of the blue wildebeest, is one of the special animals common in Kwandwe. The white rhino is also very common, and Kwandwe is one of the best places in South Africa to see the relatively scarce black rhino. Night drives are excellent and offer a chance to see the nocturnal aardwolf, porcupine, and aardvark as well as the elusive and much sought-after pangolin.
Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
Wildlife watching tends to be good all year through. But the Dry season (June through September) has the slight edge since it is when thirsty animals are most likely to congregate at water sources
Kwandwe Game Reserve enjoys a temperate climate. Daytime temperatures are quite comfortable throughout the year, but it does get cold at night in the winter months (May to September). Winter and summer are at the opposite time to Europe and North America. A little rain falls throughout the year, but slightly more in the summer months, from October to March.
Winter –May to September
The winter months are chilly at night and early in the morning. It is essential to bring warm clothing for early morning game drives in open vehicles. Winter skies are clear, with less rainfall than in the summertime.
Summer –October to April
Nights and mornings are generally more comfortable during the summer, with slightly more rainfall.
When visiting Kwandwe Game Reserve, most people fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. From either city you can start your tour on an organized safari, or you could opt for a self-drive package. Kwandwe is located 872km/542 mi from Cape Town and can easily be incorporated into a tour of the popular Garden Route.
Alternatively, the nearest airport to Kwandwe is in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), which lies about 160km/100 mi from the reserve. There are daily scheduled flights from both Cape Town and Johannesburg to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ). From there, it is about 2 hours* by road to Kwandwe.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Airlines & Ticket Prices
Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) or Cape Town International Airport (CPT), and what tickets would cost.
Domestic Flights
Charter flights from Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) to Kwandwe take about 30 minutes. These flights are scheduled to arrive in time for the afternoon game drive. There are several options for booking domestic flights to Gqeberha.
Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements
Please check our Getting There – South Africa page to learn more about passports, visas, COVID-19, and other entry requirements.
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