My wife and I decided to go on a safari in celebration of her birthday and decided upon Kariega Settlers Drift as we had previously stayed at Kariega before, at both Main Lodge and Ukhozi, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The tented suites were extremely spacious, clean and comfortable, with a king size bed, large en-suite bathroom with an indoor/outdoor shower, relaxing lounge area, as well as a private deck with magnificent views overlooking the Bushman’s River. The bathrobes and slippers, and fully stocked complimentary minibar were also very convenient and enjoyable. The main lodge has an appealing dining area, bar, wine cellar, library/reading room, and large outdoor decks overlooking the bushveld plains and Bushman’s River. There is also an impressive swimming pool area with splendid views. All the staff were extremely attentive, efficient and friendly, and went out of their way to ensure that at all times we were well looked after. The food was superb, particularly the deserts including the melktert and lemon dessert, and our specific dietary needs were well catered for. The indoor and outdoor log fires added to the pleasurable dining ambiance. A real treat and surprise was that for my wife’s birthday, we received a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, and a special private dinner was also arranged for us with another bottle of sparkling wine, which was lovely and greatly appreciated. Our ranger Monde was professional and knowledgeable. During our stay we were fortunate that we only shared our game vehicle with one other couple, which was nice and a real bonus. The heated blankets that were provided on the game drives were very useful. We had fantastic sightings and saw plenty of game, including, elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, jackal, warthog, mongoose and genet. We also saw lots of antelope, including, eland, kudu, nyala, waterbuck, impala, bushbuck and blesbuck. The bird viewing was also very good, including, secretary bird, spotted eagle owl and buzzard eagle. The river cruise on the Bushman’s River was also very pleasant. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and had a superb safari experience at Settlers and definitely hope to be back.…
We’ve stayed in Kariega a few times before but this was our first time at Settlers Drift and it was incredible! I always thought I preferred the ‘non predator’ side for the animals but how wrong was I!! The reserve is split by a road and on one side, where the Main Lodge is, it doesn’t have predators so great for families with young children, (game drives take you to both sides so you can still see lion etc if you stay on that side), but as our children are older we decided to stay on the other side. The accommodation was stunning and the staff were brilliant. The food was what you would expect from a top class hotel and the wine that accompanied our meals was excellent. Having stayed on game reserves quite a few times you know what to expect on game drives but our sightings this time blew me away. Talent, our game ranger, was outstanding, happy to drive and see what we bumped into, which literally was a black rhino at one point, or track down animals that we particularly wanted to see, either way every game drive had something special. From the majestic giraffe and beautiful Kudu to lions hunting buffalo, we saw everything, it truly was spectacular. Can’t wait until our next visit which will be as soon as possible!!!…
Settlers Drift is a luxurious “tent” camp. It is hidden on a slope near a river - facing the sunrise to the east and overlooking the plains. From our terrace we enjoy the the sun rising, listening to the birds and animals. It is truly a privilege to visit this place and to enjoy the friendly and accommodating staff. Highly professional guides, trained and educated, who also work in anti-poaching programmes. Come back after an early morning drive or walk and be pampered with wonderful breakfast. Super friendly staff in the lodge that will go the extra mile to accommodate your queries. My wife celebrated her birthday yesterday and Settlers Drift made sure it became a day we will never forget. Lunch in the bush, song and dance in the evening - performed by the staff. BEAUTIFUL. Lots and lots of animals, birds, and flora. Thank you Settelrs Drift for the most amazing time. ❤️🦒🦏🦓🐘😊…
Where to start! From the moment we were met at the gate to being dropped off again (at 4am and still with a smile) our stay here was faultless. The lodge itself is stunning with a beautiful communal area and incredible and huge tented suites. You can often see game from your terrace which is pretty special. The food was fantastic throughout and the wine list is great for an all inclusive. The true standout here though is the staff. Our guide Michael was amazing and helped us see everything we wanted to whilst educating us brilliantly throughout. The staff at the lodge are so so friendly and welcoming and their service was constantly brilliant. We had a special occasion during our stay and it was here where they were beyond exceptional and went so far beyond our expectations to make it a truly memorable stay. I couldn’t recommend Settlers highly enough.…
We truly enjoyed our stay at the Settlers Drift at the Kariega Private Game Reserve. The lodge itself is very stunning and the food/wine excellent. We were accommodated by the friendliest staff and the game drives were fantastic.
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