Best hotels in Eastern Cape

With a history dating back to the early years of last century, this country homestead and converted shearer’s shed offers a distinctively different safari experience, with a generous helping of Eastern Cape frontier history. Situated within the Amakhala Game Reserve, guests can enjoy the best of elegant country living together with fine game viewing in this ecologically diverse region which consistently lives up to its reputation of delivering a range of exciting safari experiences. Easily reached from Port Elizabeth, this malaria-free reserve spans a staggering range of habitats in beautifully scenic surroundings.

Amakhala Safari Lodge is a luxury lodge tucked away in the remote northern reaches of the Amakhala Private Game Reserve. This is a bush retreat with a distinctively tribal feel, featuring a charming combination of traditional rustic safari style and African designer art. Signature stone-capped thatched roofs give an unusual twist to each of the eleven guest suites and sprawling guest areas. Inspired by the owners’ love of local art, the attention to detail is evident at every turn in this comfortable well-established family-run lodge which is perfect for couples, families or larger groups of friends travelling together.

Sibuya Game Reserve is just a few miles inland from the quaint coastal town of Kenton-on-Sea, in South Africa's Eastern Cape. River Camp lies on a lush peninsula surrounded by the twists and turns of the Kariega River. To get there, you'll board a boat at the river's mouth in Kenton and take a 45-minute cruise upstream to camp. Care has been taken to create an authentic bush-camp feel, though the reality is that this is not the wildest place in Africa, with much of the reserve being reclaimed farmland. Nevertheless, it is extraordinarily beautiful and has the added convenience of being close to the Garden Route as well as some stunning beaches.

The astounding variety of landscapes and things to see and do in South Africa’s Eastern Cape make this region a good choice for an easy-to-reach safari destination – and a malaria-free one at that. Kariega Game Reserve, wedged between the winding Bushman’s and Kariega rivers, is private piece of wilderness. Here you'll find the Big Five alongside bat-eared fox, brown hyena and abundant birdlife. The Homestead, a comfortable, sole-use villa, is ideal if you're travelling with family or friends (it sleeps up to 14 guests), and have a real desire for a laid-back bush experience in a home-from-home setting.

Woodbury Lodge lies in the eastern corner of Amakhala Game Reserve - a relatively small, privately owned and managed operation, just beyond the Garden Route in South Africa's Eastern Cape. It is easily accessible by car, or guests can be collected from the Port Elizabeth Airport, one hour away. This reserve is dominated by the Bushman's River Valley and is scenically stunning with several diverse vegetation types, including some restored farmland and a wide variety of birds and mammals. The lodge has a spectacular view from the edge of a rocky ridge, looking out across a wildlife-rich plain.

South Africa's un-sung Eastern Cape is a diverse region of vast coastline, quaint seaside hamlets, remote wilderness and sprawling farmlands, many of which are being rehabilitated and re-stocked with native wildlife. Of its most attractive characteristics is its proximity: a day or two's drive from Cape Town along the picturesque Garden Route. Pumba Msenge Lodge sits on one of the region's best private game reserves, with superb views of a waterhole, plains and mountains beyond. Don't be fooled by its relative small size, however, for this reserve packs a punch - it's home to all of the Big Five and the genetically rare white lion.

Pumba Private Game Reserve's relative ease of access (it's just an hour's drive from Port Elizabeth) makes it a fabulous safari option for travellers on a time budget, but it's also a great option for those looking for an authentic Big Five experience in a beautiful setting. In the heart of the reserve is Water Lodge, perched on a rise overlooking Lake Cariega with expansive vistas of the rolling thicket and shrub-filled habitat. The network of boardwalks and staircases running between the lodge and the chalets give it the feel of a treehouse-cum-palace and, fittingly, the attentive staff make you feel like royalty.

Perched majestically atop a rugged hillside in the eastern reaches of the reserve, this stone-and-thatch retreat commands views that stretch endlessly across rolling valleys and pristine bushveld. With accommodation for 20 guests spread across 10 private villas, there's enough space for everyone to find their own perfect viewing spot, whether that's on a private deck or gathered around one of the lodge's three inviting fireplaces. The all-natural indigenous garden setting means you're quite literally surrounded by the very flora that defines this corner of Africa, whilst the elevated position provides front-row seats to nature's daily drama unfolding in the valleys below.

After the day's safari with the family, enjoy the "African Feel" at the Schotia Bush Lodges All set within dense subtropical thicket, with a rustic-brick look and thatched roofs, these family-friendly lodges provide comfort that you would expect of a top class reserve - they are all en suite with a shower/bathroom with running hot and cold water and coffee/tea making facilities.

Dating back to the early 1900s, Long Hope Villa is a beautifully-restored Eastern Cape farmhouse. Situated in a remote location within Addo Elephant Park, the villa offers an exclusive safari experience. Original wooden floors and farmhouse doors capture the old-world charm, while three luxury bedrooms, each with walk-in wardrobe and spacious charming bathroom add to the home-away-from-home appeal. Luxuries such as percale linen, soft furnishings and even a Pillow Library ensure a sumptuous stay. Relax in one of the lounges, or put your feet up in the TV room, as you take in the comforts of your accommodation. Enjoy a cocktail at the bar while your personal chef whips up delicious meals in the kitchen - you may even join in with the preparations if you wish! You'll be surrounded by unique Eastern Cape bushveld while you enjoy a swim in the private pool or sit alongside a fire under the star scattered sky. Long Hope Villa makes an ideal safari destination for families or small groups. Your private game ranger will ensure you have a truly memorable Addo experience - even specialist birding and photography safaris are on offer.

Tucked away at the southern tip of Algoa Bay, Cape Recife Lighthouse Villa occupies what might be South Africa's most dramatic address – right next to an 1851 lighthouse that still warns ships off the notorious Thunderbolt Reef. This two-bedroom hideaway sits within a 366-hectare nature reserve where you'll have the beach virtually to yourself from 7pm to 7am. Whether you fancy self-catering solitude or having chef Simon whip up beachside feasts, the villa delivers both romance and isolation in spades. Marine safaris reveal dolphins and penguins, lighthouse tours unlock maritime drama, and that World War II bunker? Just another quirk in this wonderfully weird coastal escape.

10i Mimosa is a multi-level, self-catering holiday home with phenomenal sea views and mountains on the horizon. This quirky wooden house sits perched on a large property with commanding views from both the upper and main levels of the home. Kitted with a surfboard rack and outdoor shower, and just a stone’s throw from Supertubes and Point, it’s the perfect surfer accommodation. Not interested in waves? This gem is completely enclosed, so perfectly family-friendly (and that includes furry members too). The garden is sprawling and magical, and the recenlty built braai area makes for the perfect place to entertain.

This rustic paradise has little phone signal and no TV, the perfect place to switch off, take in the bird sounds and the surrounds, and enjoy spectacular sunsets and starlit nights from each bedroom cabin. Sprawling green lawns stretch to the river banks where time can be spent on/in the water. The main house has three bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a generous living area. There is one bathroom in the main house. The 3 Bedroom cabins are outside the main house, settled into the indigenous vegetation and connected by a forest walkway. A family cottage sits detached from the Riverhouse on the other side of the lawn, which also has a bathroom.