Lodge · Kariega
Kariega Settlers Drift
About the lodge
An overview of Kariega Settlers Drift.
Settlers Drift is a unique 5-star tented experience in a remote area of the pristine Kariega Game Reserve; a photographer's paradise!
Highlights
- Whereabouts: Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Experiences: Game drives, river cruises, fishing, canoeing, guided bush walks, bush dining, African sunsets
You Should Know
Child Policy:
Children 11 years and older are permitted at the lodge.
Upon request, a third person can be accommodated in a suite with an extra bed.
Children aged 11 to 16 years (as a third person sharing) are charged 50% of the above per-person sharing rate.
Guests aged 17 years and over (as a third person sharing) are charged the full per-person sharing rate.
Children (11 years and over) in their own suite will pay the full adult rate.
Children 16 years and older are permitted on guided bush walks.
The Details
The luxury lodge consists of nine spacious tented suites, approximately 110 square meters in size, each offering magnificent views of the Bushman's River from the secluded viewing decks. Each suite boasts an opulent bedroom with a king-size bed (twin or double), a living area with a wood-burning stove, a full bathroom with a double vanity, indoor and outdoor showers, air-conditioning, tea and coffee-making facilities, and a minibar.
The lodge facilities include a restaurant, bar, wine cellar, spacious decks, pool, boma, curio shop, library, and spa treatments.
Activities offered at the lodge include morning and afternoon game drives, river cruises, guided bush walks, fishing, and canoeing.
Kariega Game Reserve provides the perfect setting for exciting safari holidays with abundant game and breathtaking views. Apart from lions and elephants, the game reserve is home to the other three members of the Big Five: rhino, buffalo, and leopard. Other species include hippos, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, elands, kudus, waterbucks, and various antelope species, as well as a myriad of bird species, including the nesting crowned eagle, martial eagle, and fish eagle.
On safari drives, you will explore many different habitats, highlighting five distinct ecosystems: valley bushveld, savannah grasslands, fynbos, riverine forests, and acacia woodlands. The awe-inspiring African landscape will captivate your senses, and the unique trees, grasses, and plants of the Eastern Cape will reveal their secrets.
Price Includes
Includes: All meals, drinks, twice-daily game drives, and river cruises.
The same as booking direct
Rates and pricing.
Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.
Valid until 19 Dec 2026
Why book through us
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup. What you get on top is a specialist who knows Kariega Settlers Drift personally, looks after every detail of the trip, and stays reachable on WhatsApp from the moment you enquire to the day you come home.
By season
Green season
1 May 2026 – 31 Jul 2026
Full Board - All meals, selected beverages and activities
Special offer
R 10 880
Normally R 12 800
Peak / migration
1 Aug 2026 – 31 Aug 2026
Full Board - All meals, selected beverages and activities
R 12 800
Peak / migration
1 Sept 2026 – 16 Dec 2026
Full Board - All meals, selected beverages and activities
R 16 800
Rates are per person sharing, per night. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.
Exclusive offer
Already reflected in the rates above.
The reduced rates shown in the table apply for the periods listed. Here is what is running and why.
Stay & Pay
For minimum 3 night stays: Receive 15% off | Valid from 1 May - 31 July 2026 | T's &C's Apply
Honeymoon offer
For couples celebrating a wedding.
Documented from Kariega Game Reserve's 2026 rate sheet. A formal offer you can claim, not marketing language.
Honeymoon Offer
All honeymoon bookings: free bottle of sparkling wine in room on arrival. For 3+ night honeymoon bookings: free bottle of sparkling wine in room on arrival AND free spa treatment to the value of R500 per person.
Kariega Game Reserve offers a honeymoon benefit for all honeymoon bookings at Settlers Drift (and other lodges). All honeymoon bookings receive a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine in the room on arrival. For stays of 3 or more nights, couples also receive a complimentary spa treatment to the value of R500 per person, in addition to the sparkling wine.
- Minimum stay
- 3 nights (for full inclusions; sparkling wine applies to all stays)
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Terms and eligibility may change. Your specialist confirms all offers at the time of booking.
Water safari
Out on the water.
Mokoro, canoe, kayak and boat options at Kariega Settlers Drift. The silent dugout mokoro is a different product to a motorised sundowner cruise — check the category on each.
Canoe safari
Canoeing
Canoeing is included as a complimentary activity for guests staying at Kariega Settlers Drift, offered alongside other free water-based activities such as boating and fishing.
Complimentary and included in quoted inclusive rates. Available at Settlers Drift. No further specifics (duration, group size, season) stated in the source.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- Included in quoted rates
Boat cruise
River Cruises
Motorised river cruises are included in the quoted inclusive rates for guests at Kariega Settlers Drift, offered as a wildlife and scenic experience alongside morning and afternoon/evening game drives.
Complimentary and included in quoted inclusive rates. No further specifics (duration, group size, season) stated in the source.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- Included in quoted rates
Water safari
Boating
Boating is offered as a complimentary additional activity for guests staying at Kariega Settlers Drift, included at no extra charge alongside canoeing and fishing.
Complimentary and included as a free activity at Settlers Drift. No further specifics (type of boat, duration, group size, season) stated in the source.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- Included in quoted rates
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Imagery
A closer look.
11 photographs · click any image to expand
Speak to a safari specialist
Plan your dream safari at Kariega Settlers Drift.
From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at Kariega Settlers Drift: multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
Ready when you are
Let's design your stay.
Your specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours with availability, exact pricing, and suggestions for what to combine it with.