A mere 25 minutes from Mossel Bay in the Southern Cape and four hours from Cape Town, Kwena lodge can be found on the 11 000 hectare private Gondwana Game Reserve. This is the only fynbos reserve in the world that is malaria-free and is home to free roaming Big Five game.
The elegant and luxurious Kwena Lodge is family friendly and ideally located for guests wanting both a safari and Garden Route experience. Gondwana prides itself on providing exceptional service and private, luxurious 5-star accommodation with all the comforts needed for an unforgettable stay.
The Kwena Lodge Suites is a modern and luxurious twist on the traditional Khoi-San circular dwelling – augmented with all the amenities of a modern Luxury Hotel. Each open plan Kwena Room is designed to connect visitors to their beautiful surroundings. At night, visitors are warmed by the indoor fireplace and relax in a deep bath upon returning from an evening Big 5 Game Drive.
The Kwena Lodge Villas have been praised as the best Family Safari Accommodation in South Africa. Enjoy your own Luxury Bush Home on a Private Big 5 Game Reserve with ample indoor space and an easy-going open-plan design that leads you outdoors to take in your natural surroundings. The spacious Private Villas feature either 2,3, or 4-bedroom configurations, all with en-suite bathrooms, to accommodate your group. Located adjacent to Kwena Lodge, transfers provided to and from Lodge for meals and game drives.
The Luxury Game Lodge facilities includes a large swimming pool, a chic open-plan lounge and bar, a spa that offers rejuvenating Africology treatments, and a reception area with a curio shop.
Rangers take guests on morning and afternoon game drives to try spot the Big Five, as well as the many other creatures on the reserve. Guests can also set out on foot with field guides to learn more about the rich botanical heritage of Fynbos, one of the world’s six floral kingdoms, as well as the smaller animals who inhabit it. The Junior Ranger experience gives children an opportunity to learn more about nature under the guidance of a qualified ranger. Children will receive a fun ranger’s backpack and safari booklet to keep track of their adventures, as well as a Junior Ranger Patch and certificate after completing their ‘training’.
Garden route activities can all be arranged with Gondwana staff, and include golf, surfing, wine tasting, deep sea fishing, shark cage diving, and paragliding.
While home to the Big Five, the reserve provides sanctuary to endangered species, including the cheetah, Cape mountain zebra, and the rare black rhinoceros. Great effort has been made to re-introduce key species such as hippo and giraffe back into the area, which makes for fantastic game viewing. More than ten species of antelope can be found at Gondwana, including kudu, eland, gemsbok, bontebok, and Grey Reebok. The diverse habitats of the reserve make it a popular birding destination. Species spotted include the Denham’s bustard, Blue Crane, African fish eagle, Verreauxs' eagle, Ostrich, Secretary bird, Jackal buzzard, African Stonechat, Cape Grassbird, Malachite Sunbird, Black-crowned night heron, and Bokmakierie. The reserve is home to a healthy population of endemics such as the Cape Sugarbird, Orange Breasted Sunbird, Protea Seedeater, and Black Harrier.
Kwena Lodge is ideal for solo explorers, couples and families looking for a luxury safari getaway.
November 7, 2024
Keith Chideme is fantastic!
If you’re looking for someone to help you plan the trip of a lifetime, look no further than Keith Chideme. Keith has been nothing short of extraordinary in helping me create a month-long dream trip to South Africa for myself and 11 family members. His patience, kindness, and thoughtfulness throughout the entire process have been remarkable. Keith went above and beyond, engaging in countless conversations to make sure every detail of our six-destination itinerary was just right. He worked tirelessly to balance my budget with my desire for an unforgettable experience, finding deals and creative solutions that I would never have managed on my own. His dedication and expertise gave me complete confidence that this trip will be everything I’ve dreamed of and more. One of my favorite aspects of working with Keith was the personal touch he brought to every interaction. Whether through voice messages, phone calls, or texts, he was always patient, thorough, and thoughtful in explaining every aspect of the itinerary. I never once felt rushed or overlooked—he truly cared about making this trip perfect for us. I can’t imagine planning this trip without Keith. Knowing he has my back has been such a comfort, and I feel completely at ease knowing we are in such capable hands. My entire family is incredibly excited about this incredible adventure, and I know I’ll be contacting Keith for all my future travel plans. He is an absolute gem and a true professional. Thank you, Keith, for everything!
October 25, 2024
Keith was amazing
Keith was amazing! We spent a lot of time on the phone and he was so helpful to curate the perfect honeymoon for my husband and I. Thank you Keith!
October 25, 2024
My travel consultant was Keith Chideme…
My travel consultant was Keith Chideme and he was great to work with. Keith was always available to answer questions and very responsive. My trip was easy to book and pay through safari.com and everything worked out perfectly. I would use them again in future.
Dec 4, 2024
Prompt & knowledgeable
Prompt & knowledgeable
Dec 4, 2024
Great service from Denise at Safari.com
Denise from Safari.com was extremely helpful. She responded promptly, provided good advice on safari lodgings options and worked up a couple of itinerary options to suit our budget. Denise also organised flights and transfers very quickly so that we could finalize our booking in a short time. Much appreciated.
Dec 4, 2024
It was amazing
It was amazing. She even helped us with some of our questions and where to stay.🌞
Dec 2, 2024
a seamless booking experience with…
a seamless booking experience with everything handled really well. Bravo!
Dec 2, 2024
Kim Abrahams is as great to work with
Kim Abrahams is as great to work with. Very responsive and helpful for setting up my trip to Africa
Nov 30, 2024
Great advice, responsive and knowledgeable!
Pascal John at Safari.com guided me on different safari lodges (experience, rating), and most importantly knew about specials (buy 3 nights, get 4th for free) which allowed my family to secure a 5-star location at a more reasonable rate. Great advice, responsive and knowledgeable!
Nov 29, 2024
Fast responses and informative answers.
Fast responses and informative answers.
Nov 29, 2024
Nicole was amazing and dealt with all…
Nicole was amazing and dealt with all my requests and changes in a timely manner
Nov 29, 2024
Mel du Toit
Mel du Toit, gave us excellent service and was so quick to respond to our request!! We are looking to return to Simbavati, because of our previous experience there, and Mel has shown that we may continue to expect this !!! Thank you !!!