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.

Situated within the very exclusive Bellevue Forest Reserve, Elephants Lodge is a thatched safari lodge offering outdoor activities such as game drives, romantic picnics, sleep outs under the stars, guided giraffe walking and buffalo feeding tours. Crowning the ridge among magnificent age-old indigenous Milkwood Trees, Elephants Lodge overlooks the endless valleys of the Bellevue Forest Reserve. Teeming with wildlife, a world of intrigue awaits you.

Located near Haga Haga on South Africa’s magnificent Wild Coast. They specialise in weddings, corporate functions, special events and accommodation on the distinctive farm – Mtwentwe Estate – with its stunning location near Haga Haga on the Eastern Cape Wild Coast in South Africa.