Embark on an unforgettable journey through South Africa's Eastern Cape. Discover diverse landscapes, rich culture, and thrilling adventures. From wild coastlines to wildlife encounters, explore hidden gems and must-visit attractions. Create your own Eastern Cape travel bucket list and make memories to last a lifetime. Pack your bags and let’s explore the Eastern Cape’s hidden gems and must-visit attractions that promise lifelong memories - your very own Eastern Cape travel bucket list.
My husband and I were fortunate enough to visit the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It had been many years since I had been on safari in the Eastern Cape and I was eager to see how the experience had changed. We flew from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth where we picked up our rental car and drove the 2 hours to Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. From the moment we arrived at the reception, we experienced the service that this Relais and Chateaux property is famous for. We were met with a welcome drink, a cold towel and fresh homemade cookies accompanied by our check-in.
About three hours' drive northwest of Addo Elephant National Park (see Tuesday's blog) lies a different country. If the Addo Elephant National Park enjoys a lush and verdant environment, Samara Game Reserve (close to Camdeboo National Park) is the opposite. Its semi-desert environment is more akin to Namibia. Yet here we are in the middle of the Great Karoo near the historic farming town of Graaff Reinet.
When you live in Africa, love the smell of nature and its strong call, and perhaps even more importantly, understand the natural cycles; you see the death of wildlife as part of the natural order. The strong conquer the weak, and the old give space to the young. When you look at a magnificent animal and predator die in an area which is desperately (and successfully) trying to rehabilitate natural corridors of flora and fauna over a previously devastated land, no one would think less of you for shedding a tear.
