Let's help you plan

Joanna - Travel Consultant
Johnny - Travel Consultant
Eve - Travel Consultant
HeartHeartHeartHeartHeart
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Feefo

4.9/5 (1007 reviews)

Kariega Settler's Drift, Eastern Cape | Timbuktu Travel
Eastern Cape

Kariega Settler's Drift

Travel and Leisure Worlds Best Awards for number 1 tour operator in the world 2024 and number 2 tour operator in the world 2025
We're one of the World's Best Tour Operators!
Named three years running in Travel+Leisure World's Best, including No.1 in 2024

About Kariega Settler's Drift

Top-notch lodge on the small, private Kariega Reserve in the Eastern Cape
Kariega Game Reserve occupies 9,000 hectares in the beautiful Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It spans a variety of habitats, from pristine thickets to reclaimed farmland, and is bordered by two scenic rivers - the Kariega to the east and the Bushman's to the west. Split into two separately fenced areas by a public road, the eastern side is home to a good variety of antelope, while the west has elephants and lions. Although marketed as a Big Five reserve, Kariega is a very different experience to the larger, wilder reserves in South Africa. Nevertheless, it provides for convenient and easy game viewing, within close proximity of the famed Garden Route. There are five lodges on the reserve, and Settler's Drift is the most secluded, most expensive and by far the most polished of all of them.
Kariega Game Reserve , Eastern Cape , South Africa
From $870 per person/per night
Safari
9 Rooms
Open Map
Static map

Property details

The property

Built along a densely forested ridge with sensational views over the pristine Bushman's River Valley, this lodge could not be better positioned. The lounge, bar and dining room are all wonderfully spacious with a calm, tasteful combination of wood, stone, canvas and polished cement. The wine cellar has a large stone fireplace and long wooden table that make for atmospheric dining. An expansive deck has a lovely semi-circular seating area around a fire-pit, and there is an exquisite rim-flow pool at the edge of camp. There is also a small curio shop, a library and a spa.

The rooms

Nine large tented suites are well spaced along the ridge above the river, each with private decks and stunning views. At 110m² and with clever use of floor-to-ceiling glass, they feel vast. They're beautifully built with wooden floors and high canvas ceilings and boast supremely comfortable king-sized beds and free-standing fireplaces. A living area with chairs, a sofa and a mini-bar sits to one side, while on the other, an ensuite bathroom has a standalone tub, double basins and a large shower.

Activities

Morning and evening game drives form the core activities on the reserve and provide easy viewing of big game (elephants, lions, rhino, buffalo, giraffe). Sometimes the guides need to be asked to pay attention to some of the smaller animals as well, of which there are plenty. For example, this may be the best region in South Africa to see species such as aardvark, bush pigs, porcupines, caracal, bat-eared foxes and aardwolf, many of which come out to play at night, as well as the myriad of succulent plants found in the thicket biome. Boat cruises on the rivers provide a fun alternative from the drives, as do kayaking and fishing trips.
Trips

Eastern Cape Tours & Trips

Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch

The Garden Route and a spot of safari in South Africa
South Africa

The Garden Route and a spot of safari in South Africa

11 nights from $7.1K per person

Alternative Garden Route
South Africa

Alternative Garden Route

12 nights from $4.3K per person

Create custom trip icon
Design a Custom Trip
Plan your stay

How to book Kariega Settler's Drift

How do I book Kariega Settler's Drift?

Kariega Settler's Drift can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made South Africa trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended South Africa trips featuring Kariega Settler's Drift or get advice and suggestions from one of our South Africa specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.

How much does it cost to stay at Kariega Settler's Drift?

Stays at Kariega Settler's Drift start from around $870 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

Kariega Settler's Drift

South Africa

Eastern Cape

A tip top safari destination with a cultural heart within reach of Cape Town and the Garden Route.