Eastern Cape luxury safari experiences
The Eastern Cape is warmly hospitable, and its luxury safari lodges are rewarding and evocative – for couples or the whole family. Inzolo Exclusive Game Lodge in the Lalibela Game Reserve is an easy drive from Port Elizabeth, but it feels far, far away from all things stressful. It offers intimate and serene safari accommodation to reconnect with family or each other.
The Lalibela Game Reserve is not only scenically splendid, but it is also malaria free – making it a perfect safari choice for a year-round family getaway. Inzolo lodge is one of those gems that only sleeps 10, so it is small enough to be booked exclusively for a completely private, family friendly experience. It is a safari hideaway that absolutely everyone will enjoy thoroughly.
Inzolo Exclusive Game Lodge is just over an hour’s drive eastwards from Port Elizabeth airport and beautiful Algoa Bay. It is near Sidbury, not far from Grahamstown, so access could not be simpler to this game farm accommodation. The Indian Ocean is also close by, making a bush and beach holiday easy to do.
Your safari experience starts the minute you climb aboard the game drive vehicle. You will descend into the craggy valleys lined with aloe-dotted cliffs and lush, forested valley floors. Christmas beetles provide the soundtrack to the game drive, and the air is laden with the heavy scent of wild bush and cool undergrowth. There’s magnificent wildlife and so much more. It is just heavenly!
Set below a dramatic cliff, and with each of its suites snugly nestled in the trees, I arrived to find birds building a nest above my door. The bush is alive with abundant birdlife too. Just a quick peep inside the suite, before the afternoon game drive, revealed world class, luxury safari accommodation South Africa style. The open-air bath was a treat to look forward to later on, under a canopy of bright stars.
Somehow, luxury safari camps are even more appealing when a generous four-poster bed and decadent throws are centerpiece in your suite. It invites an afternoon of cocooning with a good book – and I immediately wished I could spend a week here. Booking a spa treatment for two and enjoying some truly relaxing down-time turned the experience into a secluded romantic getaway, while enjoying family time in between.
Endless space to relax and unwind
Set in about 6 000 hectares of diverse terrain, it takes about 20 minutes to drive out of the valley and up to the plains. This makes for a fascinating safari experience and an unforgettable time spent with loved ones. If you do a long daily game drive, it affords the opportunity of going deeper into the reserve. Then relax for the rest of the day round the pool and in the quiet sanctuary of the main lodge.
There are board games aplenty to keep you and the kids entertained for hours. Evenings can be spent around roaring fire or in the cosey boma lit with fairy lights and lanterns. As with most luxury safari lodges in South Africa, the food is decadent and delicious. There are vegetarian and gluten-free options too, and the wine list is small but excellent.
What we love!
- The lodge is small enough to book exclusively. It is ideal for multigenerational family gatherings and small weddings.Â
- It is only an hour from the endless sand dunes and beautiful beaches of Kenton-on-Sea. You could easily base yourself here for a few days and do a day trip to the coast, or even Nelson Mandela Bay.
- The staff: they’re gentle and caring and nothing is too much trouble. It feels like home from the moment you arrive. The lodge offers every comfort imaginable and is a perfect safari holiday destination.
- You can drive here easily from Cape Town. If travelling by road from Johannesburg, you can combine it with a stopover in the Karoo.
What you need to know…
- When game viewing up on the open plains, it is possible to hear vehicles on the road, if the wind blows in your direction. It’s really not a deal-breaker though.
- Spa treatments need to be booked in advance.
- You can do your bit for carbon offsetting and the environment if you plant a Spekboom tree. Known as the ‘miracle tree’, it can remove up to 4.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, which is 10 times more effective than tropical rainforest trees and 100 times more effective than a pine tree of the same size. Best of all, it’s a nutritious plant and can be used to treat dehydration. Please plant one when you visit!
- On the way home, stop off at Addo Elephant National Park for lunch – and to see the greatest concentration of elephants in South Africa.
Reviewed by Michelle Snaddon
Edited by Keri Harvey