Kichaka is a small and welcoming 5-star game lodge with 10 thatched suites secreted away amongst the trees on the edge of a large waterhole. For a luxury safari experience, Kichaka Private Game Reserve ticks all the right boxes: five-star accommodation, fine cuisine, attentive service and thrilling big game viewing in a private reserve in South Africa’s malaria-free Eastern Cape province.
Kichaka’s main stone-and-thatch building opens onto large terraces with a rim-flow swimming pool and sun loungers overlooking the waterhole (with resident hippos); there’s a safari-styled wellness suite where you can treat yourself to a soothing massage; comfortable indoor lounge areas; and an upstairs library for reading, sending emails or uploading your photos using the lodge’s free Wi-Fi.
But it’s the small details that really make for a special stay at Kichaka Private Game Lodge. Everything has been carefully considered from the fleece-lined ponchos to ward off any early morning chill to the “cocktail of the day” handed to you on your return from your afternoon drive. And, when night falls, relive your day’s adventures as you swap safari stories around a candlelit table while your butler serves a three-course dinner accompanied by a selection of fine South African wine.
Kichaka Private Game Reserve has 10 Luxury Chalets measuring 70 sqm each. Walk inside and you’ll find every modern amenity you’d expect from a luxury hotel – an en-suite with double vanities and separate bath and shower, air-conditioning, under floor heating, an iPod docking station – all matched by the lodge-feel of wooden floors, a high thatched ceiling, and glass sliding doors opening onto the African bush and outdoor shower.
Each suite is connected to the main lodge by raised wooden walkways that wind through the trees, and it’s this lush greenery that ensures that your room is perfectly private so you can relax alongside your rim-flow plunge pool or laze on your king sized bed, the glass doors slid wide open, without fear of disturbance or disruption.
Also in your spacious suite is an indoor sitting area furnished with a leather couch and comfortable armchair; a beautiful bathroom with both a bathtub and a walk-in shower big enough for two; and all those little luxuries that Kichaka is so well known for including heavenly bath products, a minibar stocked with your favourite drinks, tasty turndown treats, and 24-hour room service.
Kichaka sits on a 7,500-hectare private game reserve spanning savanna grassland, valley bushveld, fynbos, riverine forest and acacia woodlands. These diverse biomes support a variety of big game with frequent sightings of lion, cheetah, elephant, and buffalo. White rhino hide in bushy thickets; giraffe browse the trees and indigenous shrubs; and the grassy plains support sizeable herds of eland, gemsbok, hartebeest, springbok, impala, wildebeest and zebra (amongst others).
Morning and afternoon game drives offer up regular sightings of lion, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. There’s also the option of guided walking safaris and we’d highly recommend ending your day with Kichaka’s unique cosmic safari – gazing at the clear night sky through a high powered telescope.
Between drives look forward to relaxed game viewing from the comfort of Kichaka’s main deck which overlooks a waterhole often dotted with hippo. Night drives give you the chance of seeing nocturnal species such as the elusive aardvark and aardwolf, while birders are sure to be thrilled with the many rare and beautiful bird species including the fork-tailed drongo, Knysna turaco’s (loerie), little sparrowhawk, crowned eagle and paradise flycatcher.
Rates Excludes:
Transfers, premium beverages, and all other items of a personal nature.
Child Policy:
Children over the age of 8 years are permitted at the lodge.
Children aged between 8 and 14 years, sharing the accommodation with their parents, will be charged 50% of the prices with a maximum of one child per suite.
Rates
Bush Facing Suite
From $ 477
- Single: $ 715
- Unit sleeps: 2
Includes: accommodation, all meals, tea & coffee, soft drinks, hand selected local wines, sparkling wines, local beers & spirits, scheduled safari activities, 2 scheduled game drives per day, refreshments on game drives.
Min 3 night stay required during 16 Dec 2018 - 10 Jan 2019
| Dates | Rates (PPS) | Rates (SINGLE) |
|---|---|---|
| 01 May 2020 — 31 Jul 2020 | $ 477 | $ 715 |
| 01 Aug 2020 — 14 Dec 2020 | $ 511 | $ 766 |
| 15 Dec 2020 — 31 Dec 2020 | $ 551 | $ 827 |
Reviews
"This game reserve offers everything you need for the perfect holiday. We ended our honeymoon here and couldn't have wished for anything better. We were made to feel like royalty. The service is exceptional and having the all inclusive option adds to the enjoyment of one's stay. The lodge is so accommodating and flexible - from check in times to choosing where you would like to receive your meals. Everything feels luxurious. The meals are delicious and the high tea before your afternoon game drive is wonderful!!! This is seriously the nicest place I've ever been to - and will probably ever go to. Seriously worth it! Absolutely loved it!!!"
- Lara
"We had a two night stay and every aspect was brilliant. Food and accommodation were superb but what makes it stand out are the staff for whom nothing is too much trouble, great service and always with a smile."
- Jan
"Brilliant place and staff. Ashley our guide was so knowledgeable and good company, very experienced which made us feel safe. All staff were so welcoming and accommodating and lodge was beautiful, could not fault anything and we travel all over the world and know high quality. Would recommend anyone to go without hesitation. Thanks so much to all Kichaka team. We will be back."
- Karen
"We stayed at Kichaka for three nights with our two children aged 10 & 13. The main reception area is spacious and very welcoming. We loved chilling out there playing chess and having drinks on the deck over looking a watering hole. The individual Lodges (only 10 of them) are stunning. They have everything you could possibly want - so much space, authentic style, inclusive coffee making facilities and mini bar, music system and a private deck with a plunge pool. The whole experience was superbly organised whilst being relaxed and informal. The quality of the food surpassed all of our expectations and there was plenty of it. Myself being a vegetarian and the children wanting a simple meal was never a problem. All staff were very helpful and attentive. There is a massage tent for that extra treat and very much worth it. Our guide Jason was brilliant. His knowledge was superb and the fact that there were only 4-6 passengers in the jeep at a time made each safari trip that bit more special and personal. We came away feeling blessed to have learnt so much from the Big Five to the Small Five (and the Elusive Five!) The warm ponchos and hot water bottles on the later safari trips were a blessing in disguise - it does get cold! We were able to stop at the end of the day at a beautiful setting to have a drink (stylishly set out by Jason on the jeep) and take in the beautiful landscape. I really cannot find any fault in our stay at Kichaka. Everything was perfect and a truly special and memorable trip. One I would love to repeat."
- Emma
"Our family enjoyed staying at Kichaka for 3 nights in August. All the staff were excellent but Ben our ranger was exceptional and he has an encyclopedic knowledge of animals and trees. The rooms were spacious and of a high standard and the quality of the food extremely good. We enjoyed the early morning safaris which commenced at 6.30am each morning and hot water bottles for our trips was appreciated as were the the warm drinks on our return. We had a very good stay and we are happy to recommend Kichaka Lodge."
- Chris
"We stayed here for three nights as part of our honeymoon and absolutely loved it. It was our first safari so we appreciated the orientation tour as we arrived so we understood how everything worked and the timings etc. Our first game drive saw us witness giraffes within five minutes and then lions, zebra and cheetah later. Our many sightings were all very close up which was amazing. Every drive there after we added to this with new animals. Our ranger Chris was very educational and knew everything about every creature. Even during quieter periods he was able to add stories or detail on the plants and ecosystem. As a bonus Chris took us on a night drive and a safari walk which were both great. The lodge was very comfortable and the totally private suites were great. The service is very personal and the staff were so nice and couldn't do enough for us. There is plenty to eat and the standard of food very good. We would come again and loved every minute."
- Adam
"We were fortunate to be guests at Kichaka. From the moment we arrived it was a five star experience. The entire staff and facilities exceeded our expectations and the service was superb. The individual lodges are in a gorgeous setting as well. I would have to say the one thing that made our trip extra special was our guide Riaan. From the first meeting with him we knew that our experience here would be special. Each day he would educate us during our game drives on the various plant's, animals and the history on the animals. His main mission was to make sure we had an enjoyable time and he was constantly on the alert to find various animals within the reserve. We will def be back with friends and hopefully Riaan will still be a guide."
- Dean
"A true luxury African experience! The staff are fantastic, they are very friendly and their attention to detail is amazing, they really make you feel special. The accommodation is outstanding, real luxury. You have your own plunge pool and the main lodge area also has a magnificent rim flow pool overlooking a lake with hippo in it. The Big 5 game viewing experience was also incredible. I look forward to my next visit."
- Craig
"Our first time in South Africa and our first safari experience. However, this lodge far exceeded any expectations we had. The lodges were beautiful. Large and luxurious, with private plunge pool. The bed is enormous and extremely comfortable. Those extra special touches of a bubble bath filled on our return from dinner and red rose petals scattered around was very thoughtful. The food was lovely. They even catered for my husband who doesn't like fussy food and when there wasn't anything on the dinner menu that he particularly liked, they made a meal especially for him. A wonderful choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Beautifully presented. We ate very well on our 3 night stay. The safari. We had Chris as our ranger. He was/is 1st class. Very knowledgeable and very personable. He went out of his way to find the animals that we wanted to see. We were in a group of four and when the other couple left a day before us, my husband and I thought we would be grouped with the other group of four, but no, we had our own personal ranger for two of the drives and Chris was brilliant. He went that extra mile to find the elephants for us and when we could hear but not really see one, he carefully walked us into the woods so we could get a better look. He found the the lion cubs under torch light in the dark and we came across a pregnant cheetah who had just made a kill. It was an amazing experience and one we will never forget. The staff were very attentive. Especially Julius, who provided a fantastic service. When my plate was empty he removed it and offered me more food, when my glass was near empty he was there ready to fill it. He was always on the ball and couldn't do enough to make our stay a pleasant experience. He was very polite and well mannered and could also have a joke with us. I would be amazed if this place received bad reviews because there really is nothing to fault. The whole Kichaka experience was just excellent! Thank-you!"
- Maxine
"Fantastic, had a great time, superb accommodation, so well looked after and Ashley was a brilliant guide. Room was the best, food was superb, the best breakfasts, service excellent, animals in their natural habitat."
- Graham
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