The game reserve

Settlers Drift is located in the renowned, malaria free, Kariega Game Reserve. This 5-star plus luxury tented lodge offers a spectacular African safari experience. The ‘Big Five’ family owned and operated private game reserve is set in over 10.000 hectares of Eastern Cape wilderness. The magnificent surroundings incorporate the picturesque Kariega and Bushman’s Rivers. Kariega Game Reserve is situated in Frontier Country, the historical heartland of the Eastern Cape. What makes this area so special is the incorporation of five ecological zones – ranging from lush evergreen forest to rugged mountain and dry savannah. The Eastern Cape wilderness is home to the famous ‘Big Five’ as well as a multitude of African wildlife including hippo, giraffe and zebra. The reserve is a true paradise for nice birdlife, including resident and migrant birds.

Lodge & Villas

The luxury lodge “Settlers Drift” is located in a remote and untouched part of the Kariega Wilderness. Run by husband & wife Phil and Jo Oliver, the resort emphasizes on a personal service and is the perfect place to recharge and connect with nature. Settlers Drift offers a unique tented safari combined with exclusivity and luxury. From the deck of the lodge, one can overlook the Bushmans River and get the impression that the last feet to have touched this remote valley were those of the 1820 Settlers as they guided their wagons across the river. The open-plan lounge and corner bar are spacious and cosy. On the wooden deck outside you have a fireplace for romantic evenings and you can enjoy the breath-taking views. The lodge has a small lobby, a fine dining restaurant with separate private dining area in front of the wine cellar, an outside pool, a nice gift shop, a library room and a spa massage room. Few species of animals living on the resorts ground can be observed very close at the property.

The lodge consists of nine spacious tented suites of 110m2 each, which are perfectly placed throughout the complex for complete privacy. Each suite offers a spacious bedroom, a cosy living area, a full bathroom with indoor/outdoor shower, a contemporary free-standing bath and off course a private deck overlooking the bushes. All natural and earthy design elements incorporate a perfect balance between nature and luxury. Settlers Drift guarantees an ultimate guest experience with unbeaten panoramic views over the valley and Bushmans river.

The Villa Suites

The Lodge

Kariega wildlife

Upon arrival at the main gate at specific timings, one can join the river boat with a ranger for a boat ride to the Settlers Drift Lodge. The lodge staff will take care of the luggage. What a perfect warming up for the safari trips! Kariega is a 10,000 ha private game reserve offering a combination of game viewing and an expansive variety of fauna, flora and birdlife in a landscape spanning five eco-systems.

Guests will enjoy twice-daily game drives, providing the opportunity to spot the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo – along with an array of other game species roaming across the savannah, through the woodlands and drinking at waterholes. The landscape is so diverse that you will be surprised over and over again. The open game reserve vehicles seat only six guests in order to optimize each guest’s game viewing experience and comfort. All game drives are accompanied by a professional ranger. The vehicles are safe for safari, even when animals like elephants just pass next to you, as wild animals do not associate these vehicles with food. All-inclusive options include twice daily game viewing but also river cruises, guided bush walks, canoeing and on request river fishing.

Gastronomy

Tony Hutchinson is the Executive Chef at Kariega Settlers Drift. The British chef was born in Zimbabwe but moved to South Africa. After studies, he went to London to gain experience in several well reputed hospitality businesses. When he settled back in South Africa, he became not only head chef in Kariega Settlers Drift but also overlooks the other lodges in the Private Reserve. During your stay, the chef will show the South African diverse produce and take guests on an African food journey, fused with International cooking trends. His vision is serving as much as possible locally sourced ingredients, prepared by chefs from the surrounding community.

For lunch, a tasteful Cape Malay bobotie with curried minced beef, fruit chutney and eggs or traditional ‘vetkoek’. At dinner, the chef will indulge you with dishes like Springbok carpaccio or a terrine of venison, pork, pistachio and duck. Pan grilled eland is served with truffled mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables and the grilled kingklip fish comes with fennel, red onion, cucumber and a cherry tomato salsa. Breakfast is very important after a morning safari and specialties include the ‘Ostrich nest’, a crispy combination of potato with biltong, spinach, egg, bacon and Hollandaise sauce. Or the ‘Crocodile tears’, a chilli omelette with cheese, mushrooms, peppers, bacon and sausage. The lodge has different dining areas like a more classic restaurant part, a private dining table in front of the wine cellar made from eucalyptus tree and for some occasions even an outside area for ‘braai’ dinners.

Chef & Team

Lodge assets

To relax, guests can enjoy the outdoor swimming pool with a magnificent view over the game reserve or go to the spa with outstanding treatments and massages. In the curio shop you’ll find nice souvenirs or presents to bring back home. Service is yet another aspect that makes Kariega Settlers Drift stand out. It is unique that in the middle of nature guests are treated with a truly personalized service, combining professionalism with an informal approach.

Why Go?

What makes Kariega Settlers Drift so special? The spacious tented suites are unique and offer a true ‘barefoot luxury’ experience;The natural and stylish design throughout the lodge, the limited number of guests, the high privacy offered;The true hospitality and personalized service;The gastronomy, the variety of dishes prepared with local produce;The professional guided game drives, the variety of African wilderness, the river boat tour and expansive variety of game viewing, fauna, flora and birdlife.

Safari At Kariega

Save the Rhino

The COVID-19 pandemic has put rhino at Kariega at risk. The travel bans implemented by the SA government on 18 March 2020 have cut off the Kariega Foundation’s primary source of funding used to maintain our active and effective Anti-Poaching Unit (APU).

Until our guests are able to return, the Kariega Foundation’s core objective is to ensure that we have the funds to keep our APU fully operational so that Thandi, her family and the rest of the rhino at Kariega remain protected. We anticipate that as unemployment grows and people become more desperate the threat of poaching will increase and we need to be more vigilant than ever.

We need your help to raise funds to keep our rhino safe. Here are three ways you can get involved.

1. PRIZE DRAW: UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO NAME A BABY RHINO Enter our Prize Draw and be in with a chance to WIN a unique opportunity to name the next rhino calf born at Kariega Game Reserve. Each draw ticket costs just £10 (or equivalent currency) and there is no limit to the number of times you can enter. Get to it before the draw closes on 1 May 2020.

To Enter the Prize Draw:Visit Helping Rhinos Auction site on https://givergy.uk/helpingrhinos2020/.Select ‘Name a Baby Rhino’ in the left-hand column and choose the number of tickets you would like to purchaseClick ‘Purchase’Follow the online check-out process to register and pay online.2. ADOPT RHINO THANDI & FAMILYSupport us and adopt Thandi and her family. Funds raised will benefit our APU and our Kariega Foundation environmental education programme in neighbouring community schools.

How to Adopt Thandi & Family:Thanks to the Helping Rhino Adoption Centre you can adopt Thandi and her family in a few easy steps.Go to Thandi’s adoption page: https://www.helpingrhinos.org/adopt-thandi/ or Mthetho’s page: https://www.helpingrhinos.org/adopt-mthetho/ Click on the Adopt buttonChoose the adoption package that suits you bestAdd the names of a friend or two who want to share the responsibility (if required)Follow the online check-out process to register and pay online.Please email us on [email protected] if you need help with anything. We so appreciate your support.

Written by Frank & Veerle