Situated near Bergville in the Northern Drakensberg, Kwaggashoek Game Ranch offers guests 9 standard, self-catering rooms, 10 luxury rooms (B&B) and 2 Self-catering Chalets to choose from. Our rooms are decorated in unique African Moroccan fashion. Kwaggashoek is home to a wide variety of game and bird species and guests can embark on daily game drives for close encounters with African wildlife.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Absolutely loved our stay here. This place offers the perfect bush getaway for couples and families. Willie the owner personally ensures that all his guests are happy and feel at home. He personally took us on a game drive. Animals on the ranch included hippos, buffalo, wildebeest, springbok, amongst others. Breakfast was exceptional, served on the outdoor terrace where one gets to watch the antelope grazing nearby. Clean rooms with a 4-poster bed. You really don't need your cellphones when out here. Just relax, put your feet up and get lost in the tranquillity. Guests have a choice of 2 pools. Looking forward to visiting again soon. Only downside - very limited food range for vegetarians.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Heleem Van Der Merwe, Owner at Kwaggashoek Game Ranch
Responded 07 Mar 2020
Thank you for your visit here at Kwaggashoek Game Ranch. We are looking forward to your next visit. :)
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The entrance to Kwaggashoek reminded me of the entraceto Jurassic Park, very Grand and Intriguing.
I was not disappointed, the main building is extremely well appointed as was my room.
The friendliness of the staff was something I have not often felt and I was made to feel genuinely welcome like a lok lost "friend"
The views and grounds were stunning however my favourite view was from inside the bar, which despite having a number of "stuffed" animals was perfect including the LARGE screen TV.
I had supper and breakfast in the restaurant twice and both were of a high standard.
There a plenty of walks for a variety of ages and fitness levels but I am sure there are lots of other activities I just didn't have the time to find out.
Would I go back?
Most definitely
The location allowed to call in and see a client on my way back home, so all in all a most pleasurable short break with a bit of work
Regards
John
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Not over the kitchen
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Heleem Van Der Merwe, Owner at Kwaggashoek Game Ranch
Responded 11 Oct 2020
Good morning John. Thank you very much for your visit to Kwaggashoek Game Ranch. Looking forward to your next visit. Erma. Kwaggashoek Game Ranch.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
So I have read the review from another visitor for the same weekend me and my wife were at Kwaggashoek. I speak under correction but I am sure that these were the same people complaining about WIFI when one is in Nature on a Game ranch?
For us it was one of the most wonderful trips we have been on and we have travelled plenty. Excellent service ,food and people very helpful. The accommodation 5 star. Friendly owner and his family with Game drive student kept us entertained during the whole weekend and shared stories about nature and the farm which one does not learn in books or WIFI...........
I will recommend this to any couple looking for that romantic get away or people wanting to take a break from the busy city life.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Book in the lodge for Social and Self Catering for private stay
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We arrived at Kwaggashoek at around 4:30 in the afternoon on Thursday and were greeted by who I can only assume was the front desk/general manager of the lodge. We were immediately prompted to pay a R200 deposit for the room key which I have to say is a first. We were accompanied to our room as each unit did not seem to have room numbers and were given a tour of the unit. When asking about Wi-Fi access, we learnt at Wi-Fi was only accessible from the main building, upon investigation we discovered the lodge had no Wi-Fi access. Usually, this would not be an issue when travelling to the berg for a weekend as one seeks the tranquillity of being in the outdoors. In this case it was imperative being a long weekend and many of our friends had to work on Friday. This complication caused a few of our friends to have to travel an hour and a half on the Friday morning to the Engen garage in Harrismith which is completely unacceptable. We were constantly visited by the front desk/general manager who insisted that we were not allowed to roll up the blinds on the terrace effectively causing our outside area to become a sauna. Eventually we were forced to rolled them up out of desperation. Furthermore, there is nothing to do at Kwaggashoek, the bar area is never attended, the pool is completely underwhelming and is the size of a pond. Upon request of a massage treatment as advertised we were told this was not possible. We tried to book clay pigeon shooting but were denied over the phone and were told we had to come to the front desk. We attempted to order ice and request delivery to our room and were refused. In general, this was the opposite of a hospitable experience, grossly overpriced for what you get, and any request seemed to be such an effort to the staff. I must strongly advise that anyone looking for a weekend away in the Drakensberg, stay away from Kwaggashoek.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â I personally would not suggest any of the rooms.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are a family of 6 who compared quotations from similar facilities in the area. For courtesy, we informed Mrs van der Merwe that we chose another facility, however, we would visit them on Saturday in order to view the establishment with hope to stay in near future. We travelled in 2 vehicles on challenging gravel road for 25km, 30 minutes, and arrived at the gate. We telephoned her cellphone number and it rang without being answered. The we called the second number and it was also ignored. A local guy offered us assistance by calling their staff member that he knows and that staff member apparently spoke to the Madam about us being guests at the gate. He called back saying the Madam said they were busy and will not open the gate for us, then we drove away back to where we stayed for the weekend. We will never recommend this place to anyone just for the bad treatment which was surely a revenge since we did not book our stay with them.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2024
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The service was excellent from reception to the dining room. The food and its serving from the books. Our room was spacious and spotless.We enjoyed the game drive with Willie, and it was a nice relaxing time we had between the animals. If one wants to rest, without telephones and television, and just looking for silence, Kwaggashoek is the place to go.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a wonderful stay here. It is quiet, peaceful, beautiful!
The farm is well situated in the Drakensberg, with most attractions in a 50km radius.
A special thanks to Erma, always there to assist in a friendly manner.
Will return one day...
Read more
Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What an awesome experience ! What a beautiful farm and lodge ! Staff was very helpful and very professional. We had so much fun and we all enjoyed my son’s first hunt. Kwaggashoek made it a real memorable experience. I can really recommend them.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Heleem Van Der Merwe, Owner at Kwaggashoek Game Ranch
Responded 11 Oct 2020
Dear Marinda and family. Thank you very much for your visit to us. It was a privilege to be part of your son's first hunting experience. We hope to see you again. Kwaggashoek Game Ranch.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
False advertising! Totally overpriced for what you get. It feels like you are intruding on the owners family vacation home, shouldn't be open for public bookings! It doesn't seem like a hospitality destination at all, very disappointed!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Don't book here!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I paid almost R 8000.00 for 4 days (self catering), expecting to be visiting a Game Farm and doing Game Drives, walks etc. This trip was for our Honeymoon and was a terrible let down. On arrival (truly in the middle of nowhere), we discovered we were the only people booked in. We were put into the only chalet there is (between all the farm's staff members houses). In fact there were some building staff in the chalet close behind us and they washed themselves on the veranda and hung their underpants there too. When we enquired about Game Drives we were told they needed a minimum of 4 people so it was out bad luck no-one else was booked in. Although the chalet was in decent condition, we were expected to occupy ourselves for 4 days solid without any activities. The heat was extreme and there's no air con. The only pool was up at the main building, and it its really a little splash pool for the owner's family use. We were not allowed to go for a walk into the reserve because it would be dangerous. You also expect a peaceful environment when going to stay on a game farm, but there was a shooting range and loud shooting for ages the one evening. It seems this is actually a Hunting farm?? So there was truly absolutely nothing to do. Extremely boring. One visits a game farm to see game!! There was a watering hole in the distance , but too far to actually see anything without binoculars. After the first night we said we would like a refund because it had been falsely advertised, they told us they would refund only 25% because they'd had numerous enquiries - really?? So then why wasn't there anyone else booked into the venue?? So we spent 3 miserable boring days there. When we checked out a day early no-one even asked us why? Or whether they could do anything to make us happy. We are not spoilt people, we save all year to be able to take one holiday, so it's not like we expected anything extravagant. Such a big waste of money and time!! Very Unhappy.
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2015
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa21 contributions
Kwaggashoek Game Ranch has activities that we cater for such as a Game Drive with a picnic while enjoying the view of our Hippopotamuses eating and at a very clear viewing point. We have Clay Pigeon Shooting, Fishing and very beautiful settings for picnics and swimming.
There are more places to choose from in the Bergville area.
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalDrakensberg RegionBergville
NUMBER OF ROOMS
20
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
