I first stayed at Gondwana Sport Reserve in 2017, in considered one of their Kwena Huts, after 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 carry all of our company on my all-female excursions in South Africa right here!
For anybody touring to Cape City or planning to drive the Backyard Route who needs to expertise a safari, Gondwana Sport Reserve is the proper vacation spot. Positioned a few 5-hour drive from Cape City, company can expertise the joys of a Huge 5 safari with out having to journey far.
Although I now not reside in South Africa, we return yearly. Most just lately, we introduced our 8-month-old son “house” with us and we couldn’t wait to take him on his first safari.
So, we stayed at Ulubisi Home, Gondwana’s luxurious non-public villa—full with your individual private Butler, Chef, and Area Information!
Right here’s what it’s like staying at Ulubisi Home at Gondwana Sport Reserve!
About Gondwana Sport Reserve
Gondwana Sport Reserve is a wide ranging wildlife conservation space positioned within the Western Cape of South Africa. Located within the coronary heart of the well-known Backyard Route, this non-public recreation reserve covers roughly 11,000 hectares (27,182 acres) of pristine wilderness and numerous ecosystems.
It’s a exceptional vacation spot for wildlife fans, nature lovers, and vacationers in search of a novel African safari expertise.
Gondwana is house to all kinds of wildlife, together with the long-lasting “Huge 5” – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros. Along with these majestic creatures, you too can spot cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, varied antelope species, and an unimaginable array of birdlife.
The reserve’s dedication to conservation has helped restore these species to their pure habitats.
Gondwana Sport Reserve gives a variety of lodging choices, catering to completely 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 Home beneath!
About Ulubisi Home
Ulubisi Home takes luxurious to an entire 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 below the South African solar and taking within the gorgeous surroundings.
The Ulubisi Home Expertise
Ulubisi Home is tucked away within the reserve’s 1000-hectare protected strolling space for endangered species—that means predators can not entry this explicit space.
An important stage of security when bringing younger youngsters to a recreation reserve!
The property additionally comes with a full workers and twice-daily housekeeping with turndowns. The villa options its personal butler, chef, and subject information and sleeps both 6 adults or 4 adults and 4 youngsters between three bedrooms.
Your butler helps to prepare 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 whole expertise was so luxurious and personal, that I couldn’t consider a greater approach to expertise safari as a household!
Non-public Sport Drives
One of the crucial particular points of staying at Ulubisi Home is having your individual non-public recreation car and subject information. As a household with an toddler, this was unimaginable. Sometimes, you go on recreation drives at set hours (as soon as within the early morning and as soon as within the late afternoon) in a car with different company.
At Ulubisi Home, you make your individual selections!
Whereas recreation 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 suggest requesting him!
We stayed 2 nights and went on 4 recreation drives throughout our keep. We noticed ALL sorts of wildlife together with numerous child animals, a cheetah with a kill, and had an unimaginable encounter with a male lion.
Sport Drives with Children
In case you are touring with youngsters, word that youngsters below 2 aren’t permitted on recreation drives, and youngsters below 6 aren’t permitted on recreation drives with different company.
Meaning company at Ulubisi Home have the distinctive alternative to “bend” the principles. As a result of we had our personal non-public car, 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 are not any predators (aka lions).
We went out for about 45 minutes (earlier than our deliberate night recreation drive) with the newborn absolutely anticipating it to final 10 minutes earlier than we would have liked to show again,
However, he completely LOVED it! We obtained to see zebra and another VERY particular animals. And, we captured some completely heart-melting pictures that we’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Useful Tip:
And, most significantly, you can’t carry a crying child into the wild with out attracting the eye of predators like lions. Ulubisi Home company have the distinctive alternative to take youngsters on non-public recreation drives in an space that’s fully shielded from predators.
Staying at Ulubisi Home with a Child
We opted to carry every part our child would wish for his keep (pool float, bottles, child monitor, and so on.) however you’ll be able to attain out forward of your keep to prepare a cot and highchair.
One factor we knew we’d need to benefit from is their babysitting service.
As a result of recreation drives are usually early morning (6 am-ish) and late afternoon (4 or 5 pm-ish), and may final 3+ hours, they’re simply not the identical life-changing expertise for younger youngsters as they’re for us.
Babysitting is R150 per hour and it’s best to coordinate properly upfront.
Gondwana was extremely useful in organizing a babysitter for us. She arrived early so we may make sure that the newborn and ourselves have been snug with the scenario. We had her watch the newborn for all recreation drives (4 in whole) throughout our 2-night-stay and I’d do it once more in a heartbeat.
We obtained to expertise unimaginable encounters with lions, elephants, and all types of wildlife, whereas our infant was protected and cared for at Ulubisi Home.
Getting There
Attending to Gondwana Sport Reserve from Cape City is a comparatively simple journey, and you’ve got a number of transportation choices. The reserve is located alongside the Backyard Route, making it accessible by street or air. Right here’s how one can attain Gondwana Sport Reserve from Cape City:
1. By Automobile:
- Period: The drive from Cape City to Gondwana Sport Reserve takes roughly 4.5 to five.5 hours, relying on visitors and the precise location of your start line in Cape City.
- Notice: There are many relaxation stops and padstals (farm stands) alongside the drive so make sure to cease incessantly 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:
- Period: The closest airport to Gondwana Sport Reserve is George Airport (GRJ), which is roughly a 1.5 to 2-hour drive from the reserve.
- Flights: You may 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.
- Notice: Whereas flying is a sooner possibility, renting a automobile permits you to discover the gorgeous Backyard Route area at your individual tempo.
Useful Tip:
The Final Information to Happening an African Safari
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