Gondwana Game Reserve

DDiscover the malaria-free Gondwana Game Reserve, nestled amid breathtaking fynbos, just 4-hour drive from Cape Town along the renowned Garden Route. For the past 20 years, Gondwana has been dedicated to restoring and rewilding this spectacular landscape.

At Gondwana you will embark on a unique Cape Safari, where lions, elephants, buffalo, cheetahs, hippos, giraffes, and various species of antelope roam freely through Gondwana’s fynbos—the distinctive vegetation of the Western Cape’s Cape Floral Kingdom. The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest of the world’s six recognised floral kingdoms and is found entirely within South Africa.

Surrounded by the majestic Outeniqua Mountains, near Mossel Bay at the northern end of the Garden Route, Gondwana’s 11,000 hectares are home to the Big Five, as well as a multitude of other wildlife and bird species. You may also encounter endangered animals, such as the Cape Mountain zebra, bontebok, serval and brown hyena.

For bird enthusiasts, Gondwana offers an excellent opportunity to spot the elusive black harrier, the rarest endemic raptor in the Southern Cape, which has found a safe breeding ground here.

Guests staying at Gondwana’s romantic Kwena Lodge (no children under 12 years of age) are accommodated in a Kwena Suite with architecture inspired by local Khoi San culture. Each Kwena Suite, with twin or king configuration, en-suite bathroom and wooden deck with loungers, has 180-degree views of the surrounding mountain range, swimming pool and local animal waterholes.

Kwena Lodge also offers guests a choice of 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom Kwena villas for families and groups.

Lehele Lodge is Gondwana’s exclusive child-friendly Lodge. Families with young children staying at Lehele Lodge are accommodated in Gondwana’s remotely situated Lehele Family Villas. Children of all ages are welcome however NO CHILDREN UNDER 3 years are allowed on scheduled game drives for safety reasons. Lehele Lodge is a self-drive getaway. Full Board Guests self-drive to Lehele Lodge, or opt for rates that include onsite transfers to Lehele Lodge, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and game drives on roads suitable for 2×4 vehicles. Lehele Family Villas are located about 10km from Lodge with a 15-30 minute driving time along a scenic drive through Gondwana’s Big5 Reserve. 

For guests wanting a private Cape Safari experience, Gondwana’s Ulubisi House is tucked away in the reserve’s 1000-hectare protected walking area for endangered species. Sleeping either 6 adults or 4 adults and 4 children, the property comes with a full complement of staff, including its own butler, chef and field guide. The timetable runs to your schedule, and you will feel as though this is your second home. Ideal for friends or families seeking peaceful, quality time together, the privacy is only interrupted by the numerous wild visitors that drop in regularly for a drink from the swimming pool.

Gondwana is just over a 4-hour drive from Cape Town, and the airport at the nearby town of George is only 45 minutes away. It’s also malaria-free, so you can safely go on safari all year round. 

Gondwana’s additional safari activities such as the Guided Fynbos Bush Walk, the popular Junior Range Programme, Bokkie Drive, and Spa, will immerse you in Gondwana’s legacy of conservation and restoration. By visiting Gondwana you are not just visiting, you are contributing to our rewilding efforts.