Six suites overlooking a dense valley and shale cliffs
Ecca Lodge is set in thick vegetation overlooking a dense valley on the 30,000-hectare Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, with breathtaking views onto an escarpment of steep shale cliffs. Just six suites — three Double Suites and three Private Vehicle Suites — keep the lodge intimate, relaxed and trendy, with décor inspired by the vibrant colours and textures of African culture. Guest-area highlights include expansive wooden viewing decks, an open interactive kitchen, and a rim-flow lap pool.
The Double Suites are adults-only (12+). The Private Vehicle Suites are family-suitable for up to four guests (two adults plus children) and come with a dedicated private vehicle for game drives — flexible drive timing without sharing with other guests.
Inside Ecca Lodge
Rooms & suites
Ecca Lodge Double Suite
Sleeps 2 · Adults only (12+) · En-suite · Private deck with valley views · 3 suites available
Ecca Lodge Private Vehicle Suite
Sleeps 4 · Family suitable (children 0-5 free, 6-11 charged) · Includes a dedicated private game-viewing vehicle · 3 suites available
Facilities
- Rim-flow lap pool
- Open interactive kitchen
- Expansive wooden viewing decks
- BBQ / picnic area
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the property
- Free + secured parking
- Daily housekeeping
Policies & practicalities
Check-in / Check-out
From 13:00 · Out by 11:00
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi throughout the property
Pets
Pets not allowed
Smoking
Non-smoking property
Booking lead time
Bookings need to be made at least 1 day in advance
Cancellation policy
- 60+ days before arrival — no forfeit
- 30 to 60 days — 50% of booking total forfeited
- Less than 30 days — 100% of booking total forfeited
Your full cancellation terms appear in the booking widget before you pay and on your booking confirmation email. We strongly recommend travel insurance.
Questions about Ecca Lodge
What's included in the rate?
Accommodation in one of six suites, three meals daily, morning and evening Big 5 game drives in an open 4x4 with a qualified ranger and tracker, bush / nature walks (subject to availability), selected house beverages, laundry, emergency medical evacuation insurance, transfers to and from the lodge airstrip, complimentary child-minding (on Private Vehicle Suite stays), and Wi-Fi throughout. Premium drinks, spa treatments and helicopter charters are billed separately. A Conservation, Community and Reserve (CC&R) Levy of R1,500 per adult per night and R750 per guest under 19 is added on top.
Are children welcome at Ecca Lodge?
It depends on the suite. The three Double Suites are adults-only (12 and over). The three Private Vehicle Suites are family-suitable — they sleep up to four (two adults plus children), with children aged 0 to 5 staying free and children aged 6 to 11 charged at the regular rate. Private Vehicle Suite stays also include a dedicated private game-viewing vehicle, so families have full flexibility on drive timing without sharing with other guests.
What is a Private Vehicle Suite?
The Private Vehicle Suite is one of two suite categories at Ecca Lodge. Booking one entitles your party to a dedicated game-viewing vehicle and ranger team — not shared with other lodge guests — so you set the pace of your drives, stop wherever you want, and travel on a timetable that suits your group (especially useful with younger children). Three Private Vehicle Suites are available, each sleeping up to four guests.
How do I get to Ecca Lodge?
Kwandwe is approximately 160 km (1h45m drive) from Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), or 185 km (2 hr) from East London. The reserve has its own airstrip with a daily scheduled flight from Port Elizabeth — the fastest option. Transfers to and from the lodge airstrip are included. After checking in at Heatherton Towers reception, you will be transferred to Ecca Lodge by reserve vehicle (15 to 30 minutes).
What activities are included?
Morning and evening Big 5 game drives in an open 4x4 with a qualified ranger and tracker — early-morning drives at dawn over the Great Fish River, late-afternoon drives that often include night-drive sightings of aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox and porcupine. Interpretive bush walks with an armed ranger reveal the smaller wonders — lichen, mosses, ferns, raptor nests, and close encounters with antelope, giraffe, warthog, and occasionally buffalo. Rhino tracking and conservation experiences are available on request. Mountain biking and star bed sleep-outs can be booked separately.
What is the Conservation, Community and Reserve Levy?
Kwandwe applies a CC&R Levy of R1,500 per adult per night and R750 per guest under 19, charged separately from the room rate. The fee contributes directly to anti-poaching work, community upliftment programmes, eco-education initiatives, and the teams involved in direct conservation employment. The booking widget includes the levy in your final per-night total.
What is the cancellation policy?
60+ days before arrival — no forfeit. 30 to 60 days — 50% of booking total forfeited. Less than 30 days — 100% of booking total forfeited.
