Kariega River Lodge

Each of the suites at Kariega River Lodge is spacious and luxurious, with a thatched roof and air-conditioning to help regulate the temperature. Each room includes a comfortable king-size bed or two twins as well as a small lounge area with tea and coffee making facilities and surrounding windows that allow for stunning views of the river and verdant plains. All of the suites have their own en-suite bathrooms with a double vanity, indoor shower and huge bathtub.

Guests can enjoy three delicious meals each day at Kariega River Lodge, all freshly prepared by the lodge’s team of chefs who combine comforting meals with local flavours. The dining area is partially inside with wickerwork on stone and elegant furnishings gathered around a grand fireplace. Large windows and sliding doors offer beautiful river views and lead out to the outdoor dining deck where guests can enjoy dinner under the stars.

Enjoy up to two game drives each day and explore the diverse setting of the Kariega Game Reserve, where guests can look out for incredible animals including the Big 5, giraffes, zebras, hyenas and a variety of antelope species. Kariega is also home to an abundance of birdlife, and bird watchers can enjoy searching for the African fish eagle, and listening to the gentle melodies of the 280 different bird varieties.

The professional guides and game rangers will be able to take you to the best spots for watching game in the reserve while leading you to any specifically requested animals. Learn fascinating facts about the African bush and its occupants while admiring the astonishing landscape.

Drift along the peaceful waters of the Kariega River and view the amazing birdlife, including Crowned, Martial and African Fish Eagles. Admire the stunning scenery as you travel aboard the Kariega Queen on an early morning river cruise.

Enjoy a pleasant boat trip up the Bushman’s River and admire the sweeping plains and rolling green hills as you travel to the beautiful beaches at Kenton-on-Sea. Listen to the soothing sounds of the ocean while exploring the craggy rock formations that reach across the golden sand.

Journey across the verdant plains on foot and enjoy a leisurely exploration of the incredible landscape at a slowed pace where every detail, track, plant and insect can be admired. Look out for the smaller species that often go unnoticed during drives, and listen to the gentle songs of birds without the distracting noise of an engine.

At Kariega Game Reserve there are a number of walking trails that guests can enjoy while accompanied by a professional ranger. Nature walks allow guests to slow down and admire the breathtaking scenery while following clues left in the bush that will lead to exciting wildlife viewing. Your experienced guide will be able to show you how to recognise tracks left by animals as well as the different species of plant life.

Guests can enjoy a leisurely exploration of the reserve from a completely unique perspective with a peaceful canoe journey along the river. Competitive guests can go for an exertive race against one another, or families can relax with this gentle activity while viewing incredible creatures such as giant elephants and towering giraffes from the safety of the tranquil waters.

Kariega Game Reserve features two beautiful rivers, the Kariega and Bushman’s Rivers, both of which are rich with fish. Guests can enjoy a peaceful afternoon on the riverbanks, reeling in largemouth bass, tilapia and freshwater barbels while admiring the stunning scenery in this remote and private section of the reserve.

Guests staying at the Kariega Game Reserve pay a community and conservation levy included in their stay. This levy goes directly to the Kariega Foundation, a non-profit trust which supports the local area in terms of both community empowerment and conservation efforts.

‘Our numerous and diverse projects are inspired, led and managed (with the support of our dedicated Foundation team) by passionate and energetic people from Kenton-on-Sea, Ekuphumleni, Marseille and Klipfontein and bring forth significant and positive results in the areas of early childhood development, youth development through sport and dance, enterprise development, education transformation, environmental education, domestic animal care and the conscious protection and preservation of our natural heritage, wild animals and plant life.’

The game reserve lies at the centre of a number of impoverished communities and aims to support them through bringing enterprise development, education and youth development; as well as restoring and rejuvenating the natural environment – preserving the Eastern Cape’s wilderness and wildlife. The Kariega Foundation works to enhance the lives of local people by providing better employment and educational opportunities that will help to end the cycle of poverty.

The Kariega Foundation has been working with a number of community projects in the area in which they operate. They work with 5 soup kitchens which have been supporting hungry people – especially during the Covid-19 pandemic where the economic support of tourists was not always present. The foundation also works with three facilities that care for the elderly and uses funds and donations in order to provide food for the 520 people supported through these projects.

The foundation also works with young people, engaging with Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Environmental Education (EE) projects to help support children during the critical years of development, and to instil a respect for the natural environment as soon as possible so that children grow up with a sustainable mindset. The Kariega sports and dancing projects also aid children with Social Emotional Learning, giving them a strengthened sense of confidence and emotional support.

The Kariega Foundation also has a strong focus on supporting sustainable local enterprises that create jobs and all local people to learn and develop transferable skills.

Kariega Game Reserve came to be after fifteen farms gradually merged together in order to create the conservancy. The reserve is committed to protecting and preserving the local wildlife, birdlife and flora, as well as restoring the natural balance.

One of the foundation’s most heartfelt projects is the Save the Rhino fund, which was launched in March 2012 after a poacher attack left one of their rhinos dead and two seriously injured. The fund was dedicated to providing medical care for the injured rhinos, one of which sadly passed away. With a fully operational Anti-Poaching Unit (APU), Kariega is able to provide the best protection against poachers for their remaining rhinos.

The Kariega Foundation and Kariega Game Reserve are also working to restore endemic and indigenous plant life with their research and reintroduction projects. They have been removing alien plants such as prickly pears and black wattles, which consume more water, and replacing them with indigenous and edible plants that can benefit local communities.