Kariega Game Reserve Main Lodge

What a fantastic experience for the whole family. 13 of us aged from 14 months to 68 years and it was an epic trip. We had two 4 bedroom lodges which were spotless and very comfortable. One lodge had its own plunge pool. The food in the main lodge was very good both at breakfast/brunch and dinner. One slight negative for us was the barbecue night. We actually felt the food on this night was not great which was disappointing as we had all been looking forward to it. The babysitter was superb and we felt completely comfortable leaving the youngest with her. She was also extremely flexible re timing to allow for dinner etc Finally our safaris were superb. Huge shout out to Margot & Dume(?). You guys made the whole experience memorable for young and old alike. Happy to recommend Kariega for a family safari. We have been home for a month now but the memories for the grandchildren will last a lifetime. Many thanks to everyone at Kariega

We have just finished our first family safari in Kariega - we are a family of 6 ranging in age from 10 to 45 yrs - upon arrival we received a lovely warm welcome at the reception and we were then taken to our lodge (no 24) … the lodge was just gorgeous accommodation for our safari .. very spacious, comfortable & immaculately clean. This was a 4 bed lodge with a lovely living space & 3 bathrooms. We had a lovely balcony & private pool too. It was ideal accommodation for our stay. We stayed for 2 nights and had 4 game drives which were between 3 & 4 hours long. The reserve is simply stunning & it has plenty of wonderful wildlife including the big 5 and much more. Our guide was incredible, Dumisani made our first safari an epic one ! He went to great lengths to ensure we saw all the wildlife. Dumisani was a gentleman, so knowledgeable, safe and fun. We were so lucky to have him as our guide. The safari jeep was a really cool and comfortable way of seeing around the reserve - with everything u need on board such as rain coats, blankets, and even a little picnic/ drinks to have while out on the drive. All the staff were helpful and friendly. We highly recommend Kariega for a wonderful safari experience - we had a really magical time and were so sorry to have to leave.

We stayed at Kariega Game Reserve Main Lodge for 3 nights 4th week in September. After a long drive we were given a top welcome by the receptionist and introduced to our guide Matthew. Matthew took us down to our one bedroom chalet which was more than adequate however we felt it was a little dated. We had lunch in the restaurant which was excellent (as was all our meals) and then Matthew picked us up for the first of our five game drives at 4.00pm. I can’t begin to find the words to explain how pleased we were with Matthew over the next two and a half days. He was absolutely amazing during our time at Kariega, his knowledge and experience resulting in a truly fantastic experience, which we will never forget. We were truly privileged to see everything we wanted to see and more. Not only did he locate the animals, we also tracked them and took loads of pictures and videos so we can relive our time at Kariega. Not only was Matthew very knowledgeable, he was a great ambassador for the “Kariega family” speaking very highly of the owners and of the Game Reserve. He was the model professional employee and hopefully he is well rewarded for his loyalty. The Kariega Game Reserve was a great way to finish our South Africa adventure holiday and we will recommend it to all our friends and family.

Brilliant time spent at Kareiga Main Lodge resort. Our guide, Matt, was excellent, very knowledgeable and humorous, and we saw loads of animals in their natural habitats. Food and drink was great, and bar was well-stocked and not overpriced. Overall, an amazing time and rounded off a fantastic trip to South Africa!

Kariega provides a luxury safari experience with knowledgeable guides who both educate and entertain. The staff are wonderful and nothing is too much trouble. The early starts are a shock on holiday but well worth it to see the wildlife - just don’t overdo the wine the night before! Highly recommend.

After 10 years we were back to Kariega with the whole family. And it was another fantastic stay, this time at the River Lodge. From the very first moment we felt so welcomed and well looked after that you simply don't want to leave ;-) The location of the River Lodge in stunning. Boat trips, canoeing, swimming, hiking, walking, everything is possible. The game drives in Kariega are always an exceptional experience. Due to the large size of the reserve and the excellent wildlife consersation management you can observe all the animals without disturbing them or feeling crowded with other drivers. We have been to several parks in South Africa menawhile and Kariega is simply a diamond and certainly the most beautiful park in the Eastern Cape. Thanks to all for hosting us. It was an unforgettable rich stay.