I first stayed at Gondwana Game Reserve in 2017, in certainly one of their Kwena Huts, once I moved to South Africa. It was my first African Safari and has held a particular place in my coronary heart ever since.
A lot so, that we convey all of our friends on my all-female excursions in South Africa right here!
For anybody touring to Cape City or planning to drive the Backyard Route who desires to expertise a safari, Gondwana Game Reserve is the right vacation spot. Situated a few 5-hour drive from Cape City, friends can expertise the fun of a Large 5 safari with out having to journey far.
Although I not dwell in South Africa, we return yearly. Most lately, we introduced our 8-month-old son “residence” with us and we couldn’t wait to take him on his first safari.
So, we stayed at Ulubisi House, Gondwana’s luxurious personal villa—full with your personal private Butler, Chef, and Discipline Information!
Right here’s what it’s like staying at Ulubisi House at Gondwana Game Reserve!
About Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve is a panoramic wildlife conservation space situated within the Western Cape of South Africa. Located within the coronary heart of the well-known Backyard Route, this personal sport reserve covers roughly 11,000 hectares (27,182 acres) of pristine wilderness and various ecosystems.
It’s a outstanding vacation spot for wildlife fanatics, nature lovers, and vacationers in search of a novel African safari expertise.
Gondwana is residence to all kinds of wildlife, together with the enduring “Large 5” – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros. Along with these majestic creatures, it’s also possible to spot cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, numerous antelope species, and an unimaginable array of birdlife.
The reserve’s dedication to conservation has helped restore these species to their pure habitats.
Gondwana Game Reserve supplies a spread of lodging choices, catering to totally different preferences and budgets. I’ve shared my expertise staying of their Kwena Huts and I’ll give all of the unimaginable particulars of our keep at Ulubisi House under!
About Ulubisi House
Ulubisi House takes luxurious to a complete new stage. The structure seamlessly blends fashionable sophistication with the uncooked fantastic thing about the African wilderness. My jaw dropped as I entered the villa, which featured panoramic views of the reserve’s charming panorama.
The décor, impressed by native craftsmanship, added an genuine contact to the general ambiance.
My favourite half? The open-plan residing space opens up to an enormous infinity pool overlooking the rolling hills. That is the place we spent our afternoons, lounging beneath the South African solar and taking within the gorgeous surroundings.
The Ulubisi House Expertise
Ulubisi House is tucked away within the reserve’s 1000-hectare protected strolling space for endangered species—that means predators can’t entry this specific space.
A vital stage of security when bringing younger kids to a sport reserve!
The property additionally comes with a full employees and twice-daily housekeeping with turndowns. The villa options its personal butler, chef, and discipline information and sleeps both 6 adults or Four adults and Four kids between three bedrooms.
Your butler helps to arrange and be of service your complete keep. No matter you want, he’ll guarantee it’s taken care of. All meals and drinks are inclusive of your keep — and the meals was unimaginable!
We loved three stunning meals, in addition to afternoon tea and snacks, on daily basis.
The complete expertise was so luxurious and personal, that I couldn’t consider a greater solution to expertise safari as a household!
Personal Game Drives
Some of the particular features of staying at Ulubisi House is having your personal personal sport automobile and discipline information. As a household with an toddler, this was unimaginable. Usually, you go on sport drives at set hours (as soon as within the early morning and as soon as within the late afternoon) in a automobile with different friends.
At Ulubisi House, you make your personal selections!
Whereas sport drives are greatest throughout sure hours of the day, you’re not held to a schedule. Our unimaginable information, Felix, greeted us each morning and afternoon with a smile and introduced a lot pleasure to our expertise. In case you have the choice, I’d extremely advocate requesting him!
We stayed 2 nights and went on Four sport drives throughout our keep. We noticed ALL sorts of wildlife together with plenty of child animals, a cheetah with a kill, and had an unimaginable encounter with a male lion.
Game Drives with Youngsters
In case you are touring with youngsters, notice that kids beneath 2 aren’t permitted on sport drives, and youngsters beneath 6 aren’t permitted on sport drives with different friends.
Meaning friends at Ulubisi House have the distinctive alternative to “bend” the foundations. As a result of we had our personal personal automobile, we have been allowed to do a “baba drive” for our toddler at our leisure within the protected space of the reserve the place there aren’t any predators (aka lions).
We went out for about 45 minutes (earlier than our deliberate night sport drive) with the infant absolutely anticipating it to final 10 minutes earlier than we would have liked to show again,
However, he completely LOVED it! We received to see zebra and another VERY particular animals. And, we captured some completely heart-melting images that we are going to treasure for a lifetime.
Useful Tip:
And, most significantly, you can’t convey a crying child into the wild with out attracting the eye of predators like lions. Ulubisi House friends have the distinctive alternative to take youngsters on personal sport drives in an space that’s fully protected against predators.
Staying at Ulubisi House with a Child
We opted to convey every part our child would want for his keep (pool float, bottles, child monitor, and so on.) however you may attain out forward of your keep to arrange a cot and highchair.
One factor we knew we’d wish to reap the benefits of is their babysitting service.
As a result of sport drives are usually early morning (6 am-ish) and late afternoon (Four or 5 pm-ish), and may final 3+ hours, they’re simply not the identical life-changing expertise for younger kids as they’re for us.
Babysitting is R150 per hour and you need to coordinate nicely upfront.
Gondwana was extremely useful in organizing a babysitter for us. She arrived early so we might make certain the infant and ourselves have been comfy with the scenario. We had her watch the infant for all sport drives (Four in complete) throughout our 2-night-stay and I’d do it yet again in a heartbeat.
We received to expertise unimaginable encounters with lions, elephants, and every kind of wildlife, whereas our baby was secure and cared for at Ulubisi House.
Getting There
Attending to Gondwana Game Reserve from Cape City is a comparatively easy journey, and you’ve got a number of transportation choices. The reserve is located alongside the Backyard Route, making it accessible by highway or air. Right here’s how one can attain Gondwana Game Reserve from Cape City:
1. By Automotive:
- Length: The drive from Cape City to Gondwana Game Reserve takes roughly 4.5 to five.5 hours, relying on site visitors and the precise location of your place to begin in Cape City.
- Observe: There are many relaxation stops and padstals (farm stands) alongside the drive so you’ll want to cease often to stretch and snack. Our favourite stops from Cape City to Gondwana are Peregrine Farm Stall and Ou Meul Bakkery (there are a number of alongside the drive!).
2. By Air:
- Length: The nearest airport to Gondwana Game Reserve is George Airport (GRJ), which is roughly a 1.5 to 2-hour drive from the reserve.
- Flights: You’ll be able to ebook a home flight from Cape City Worldwide Airport (CPT) to George Airport (GRJ). A number of airways function flights on this route, together with South African Airways (SAA), Mango, and FlySafair.
- Observe: Whereas flying is a sooner possibility, renting a automobile permits you to discover the attractive Backyard Route area at your personal tempo.
Useful Tip:
The Final Information to Occurring an African Safari
The place is one of the best place to go? When is the prime time to identify animals? What ought to I pack? Right here is the last word information to happening safari in Africa!
Learn Extra!
What to Pack for an African Safari
A cute safari model means comfy layers that may preserve you heat. Right here’s my final safari packing listing, plus what to anticipate on an African safari!
Learn Extra!