South Africa :: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

African Big Game: Ensuring superlative game viewing opportunities, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve comprises five distinct habitats which are host to a remarkable array of Big Five game.

Lion, cheetah, hyena and leopard
Black and white rhino
Fascinating nocturnal wildlife are regularly encountered
Breeding site for threatened blue crane
Scenic Great Fish River
Great birdwatching - 238 bird species
Interpretive game drives led by expert rangers

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve Wildlife Habitats: Kwandwe is a biodiversity ‘hotspot’ with six of South Africa’s seven biomes converging in this region of the Eastern Cape. The bushclump savanna-thicket dominates on flat terrain and north-facing slopes with euphorbia, euclea, schotia, carissa and three species of tall aloe abundant. Tall succulent-thicket grows on steeper south-facing slopes with tall river euphorbia, honey euphorbia and Cape candelabra growing alongside sneezewood and other trees. Riverine thicket forms a narrow band along the Great Fish River, with Cape bushwillow, karee and sweet thorn dominant trees. Grassy dwarf-shrubland is an open habitat of sparse tussock grasses and stunted shrubs. The level of the Great Fish River fluctuates markedly, such that broad sand bars are exposed or covered. From June to August, the Reserve boasts a spectacular display of winter flowering aloes.
Mammals at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: Kwandwe is a victory for far-sighted conservation with the successful reintroduction of over 7000 larger mammals taking place prior to the Reserve opening in 2001. Today, herds of elephant and buffalo frequently drink and mud-bathe at waterholes, and cheetah and lion are regularly encountered in open habitats. The home ranges of both black and white rhino are well known and these bulky herbivores are often seen, whilst hippo move between the Great Fish River and larger waterholes. Springbok are the most abundant antelope, with good populations of greater kudu, oryx (gemsbok), red hartebeest and eland. Bushbuck and Cape grysbok keep to dense thickets. Abundant termites provide food for the nocturnal aardwolf, aardvark and bat-eared fox. Black-backed jackal, Cape fox and caracal are commonly encountered smaller predators. Family parties of suricate (meerkat) provide entertaining viewing. Rock hyrax, red rock-rabbit and elephant-shrew live in rocky terrain.
Birds at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: There are 238 species recorded to date at Kwandwe. Ostrich, secretary bird, blue crane, Stanley’s bustard and crowned lapwing are conspicuous in open habitats. Raptors include jackal buzzard, martial eagle, Verreaux’s (black) eagle and pale chanting goshawk. African fish-eagle hunt along the Great Fish River, where giant kingfisher, reed cormorant and green-backed heron also fish. Malachite, amethyst and greater double-collared sunbirds feed on the nectar of aloe blooms, and the strident calls of bokmakierie, Karoo robin and acacia pied barbet ring out across the plains and valleys.
Other African Wildlife: Tent, angulate and parrot-beaked tortoises occur alongside the more widespread leopard tortoise. Dwarf chameleon, southern rock agama and rough-scaled lizard are other interesting reptiles found in the Great Fish River. The giant bullfrog is among 16 species of frog which emerge after rainfall. Abundant termites provide a food source for many animals and their conical mounds are seen all over. Colourful lichens cloak tree trunks, stems, boulders and rocks.

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