The Eastern Cape is a beautiful part of the country that is often linked to Garden Route Itineraries and malaria free and therefore family friendly safaris. It is a relatively new safari destination within South Africa. With some stunning nature reserves, world class accommodation, award winning conservation efforts and close encounters with the Big 5, it is a destination worthy of inclusion in any vacation package and combines well with a tour along the Garden Route.

The accommodation options within and on the edge of the Private Game Reserves and the Addo Elephant National Park cater for all tastes and budgets. It is an excellent family holiday destination with options like Lalibela for good value or andBeyond’s Kwandwe Reserve for a luxury safari. There is luxury and romance in 5 star settings at Shamwari Game Reserve. As well as a few off the beaten track experiences inland in the Great Karoo or on the coast at St Francis.

There are not many malaria free safari options in Africa which makes the Eastern Cape ideal for those who still want a Safari experience on their holiday. The Eastern Cape works well in combination with iconic Cape Town. Port Elizabeth is the destination if flying in from Cape Town for your Safari. If you are driving down the Garden Route then adding on a few days of excellent game viewing enhances any itinerary or tour.

The Eastern Cape Safari experience works much the same as safari’s enjoyed in the Kruger Park. Expert guides and trackers are on hand to create those magical encounters with the Big 5 and other game. Children’s programs are there to keep the kids entertained if they are too young to go on safari or when you feel you need a break. Game drives are taken twice a day in open 4 x 4 safari vehicles permitting those magical close encounters. The Eastern Cape enjoys a moderate climate making it a super year round destination.

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Ilze Fox

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A brand-new luxury tented lodge set on a wooded hillside overlooking the Bushman’s River, Settlers Drift is the latest five-star offering from family-owned Kariega Game Reserve. This well-established game reserve in South Africa’s malaria-free Eastern Cape is home to all the Big Five and much more wildlife, with prolific bird life attracted by the rivers running through the wilderness landscape. Read More

FromR5171.4

Owned by the same settler family since 1823, Kariega's appeal encompasses natural and historical abundance, and the property has being lovingly restored to reflect its former glory. Offering an unforgettable African safari experience, Kariega is known for its top-notch service, warm hospitality, beautiful surroundings, unrivalled game viewing opportunities and ultra-luxurious accommodation. The Kariega Reserve stretches from the Kariega River to the Bushmans River and is located a mere 14 kilometres from Kenton-on-Sea. Read More

FromR12940.2

Located on rolling slopes of natural wilderness and nestled between acacia and aloe trees, Kwande Ecca Lodge's backdrop of steel shale cliffs ensure breathtaking views. Not to mention the unique charm of the indigenous spekboom trees when they're in full bloom. The lodge intimate atmosphere is perfectly balanced with innovative and stylish elements - the farmhouse is filled with retro fittings and Warhol-like prints. Read More

Set in the expansive wildlife wonderland of the Kwande reserve, Melton Manor is the kind of safari villa visitors to Africa dream of. Complete with your own private safari vehicle, as well as a tracker and ranger, an all-inclusive stay at the lodge is just the ticket to make the most of a game-viewing holiday in this sought-after Big 5 reserve. Read More

It is certainly one of Africa's most sought-after luxuries, and there are few places on earth that can compete with this continent's immense sense of space. Capitalising on the vastness of Africa's wildernesses, Great Fish River Lodge celebrates the spectacular views of its setting with elements such as huge windows (allowing the natural surrounds to grace each and every room) as well as expansive decks. Read More

Surrounded by verdant bushveld where Africa's Big 5 - elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard - roam free, visitors to Shamwari Game Reserve are spoilt for choice when it concerns accommodation, and magical Bayethe Lodge will not disappoint. Set along the Bushmans River, halfway between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown, Shamwari guarantees an unparalleled wildlife experience and their serious commitment to conservation is coupled with responsible tourism. Read More

Providing African elegance in authentic ethnic thatched surrounds, Shamwari Game Reserve's exclusive use Lobengula Lodge is a triumph of luxury nestled in pristine, Big 5 wilderness. With game drives forming the backbone of the adventures on offer here, guests are in for a treat at this magical setting in a tucked-away valley. Tranquil and private, the lodge is graded as a five-star establishment and includes all the bells and whistles. Read More

Shamwari Game Reserve, offering what is arguably the ultimate luxury Big 5 African safari adventures, is situated in South Africa's picturesque Eastern Cape province and has raked in numerous international awards for its conservation efforts. Boasting lush and fertile surroundings and Africa's most coveted creatures, it is a malaria-free wildlife paradise. The 25 000-hectare reserve features no less than five eco-systems. Read More

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The charming and luxurious Lalibela Mark's Camp is located in the Eastern Cape's breathtaking Lalibela Game Reserve, which encompasses no less than five ecosystems and a mesmerising diversity of African fauna and flora. Set on 7 500 hectares, the reserve not only boasts prime bushveld, but also the presence of the Big 5 - making it a superior safari destination. Read More

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With the romantic mystique of safari adventures of centuries past, Gorah Elephant Camp provides the ultimate African wildlife experience on a daily basis - a stately manor house with every conceivable luxury combined with the unrivalled thrill of quietly observing a passing herd of elephant while being served tea on the expansive veranda. Masterfully merging natural abundance with colonial nostalgia, it's romantic Africa epitomised. Read More