Just off the Cape Route 62 and part of the Klein Karoo, the Buffelsdrift Game Lodge offers understated luxury in the heart of wilderness
Located 6.5 km from Oudtshoorn on Cape Route 62 from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, Buffelsdrift Game Lodge offers a unique wilderness experience. A shuttle is available from George Airport, 71 km away. The Lodge has free-standing tents with views of the Klein Karoo’s Swartberg Mountains and a manmade wildlife watering hole where guests can spot hippos, rhinos or giraffes.
Buffelsdrift Game Lodge opened its doors in October 2005 and has won several awards. Facilities include the restaurant that can seat 120 people. With a waterside terrace, the à la carte restaurant has a grand piano and a fireplace. It serves award-winning wines and Karoo cuisine made from fresh, local produce. The Lodge also has an international standard conference facility for 120 people, a wedding chapel and 34 super luxury air-conditioned units all situated alongside the waterhole. A private outdoor shower, en-suite bathroom and minibar are featured in each air-conditioned, luxury tent. Some tents have a wooden deck set right by the water’s edge. The Family units have a spacious main room and a children’s room with a shared en-suite bathroom separating the rooms. These units can accommodate a family of up to five people. An outdoor pool overlooks the five hectare waterhole. This malaria-free game reserve has free WiFi in public areas.
For wildlife enthusiasts, the Lodge has activities like game drives, meerkat safaris, lion experiences, elephant excursions and even star gazing. Another must do is the elephant feeding experience. The Lodge has three inhouse elephants (Jabari, Malaika and Bulelo) who are orphans from the Kruger National Park (their parents were victims of poaching) and guests can feed them, brush them, touch them and take photos with them under the guidance of skilled elephant guides.
Buffelsdrift Game Lodge also has a wildlife conservation volunteering programme. The volunteers come from all backgrounds, nationalities and with varied familiarity with animals and wildlife, from absolutely no experience to those with a professional background in veterinary or conservation science.