Wildehondekloof Private Game Reserve in Oudtshoorn: Peace on Steroids
Wildehondekloof Private Game Reserve, just outside of Oudtshoorn, is a 4000-hectare reserve filled with wildlife and sweeping vistas of the Swartberg Mountains. When you consider that this property is home to just nine luxurious suites that accommodate a maximum of 24 guests, and you do the maths (don’t worry, I’ll do it for you), you realise that that equates to at least 166 hectares of space per guest. If you’re looking to escape into nature but without sacrificing the comforts of home (i.e. like me, you enjoy not camping), this is the place to go!
Here are some of the many other reasons to visit Wildehondekloof Private Nature Reserve:
*I was a guest of Wildehondekloof Game Reserve / Cape Country Routes but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Suites
As I mentioned, Wildehondekloof boasts nine suites: four deluxe river-view rooms, four deluxe mountain-view rooms, one charming self-catering house and a presidential suite complete with a private lounge and veranda.
I stayed in a deluxe river-view room. It was spacious and tastefully decorated. The ensuite bathroom was surprisingly generous and practically begging for a long, indulgent soak - Especially with that clawfoot bathtub!
When I visited in July, it was quite chilly, but the electric blanket kept me toasty all night.
I also loved sitting on the veranda directly in front of my suite as the sun dipped behind the horizon, savouring the sounds of the river, watching animals graze and cradling a hot cup of tea.
The Animals
Wildehondekloof Private Game Reserve is home to many antelope species. With no dangerous predators, visitors can experience wildlife by game drive, mountain bike, hike or guided walk. Some of the creatures you may see here include giraffes, sable, Cape mountain zebra, kudu, eland, nyala, gemsbok, blesbok, black wildebeest and even South Africa’s current official national animal the springbok. (For now. I’m still petitioning that this be changed to the iconic dassie, our famous little brown short-eared less-cute bunny that always looks a little angry.)
I didn’t actually see any dassies at Wildehondekloof but don’t panic, I’m sure they have those too. There are also some leopards but you’re much less likely to see them as they are significantly shyer (and less aggressive-looking) than the dassie.
Despite the name, “Wildehondekloof” meaning "wild dog ravine”, there are in fact no wild dogs here.
The Game Drives
One crisp morning, we set off on a game drive with our guide, the ever-knowledgeable Clinton. Since the chill had us all bundled up like marshmallow puffs, the safari vehicle came well-equipped with blankets and hot water bottles. We were also decked out with everything we would need for a tea and coffee break when we found just the right scenic stop. And did we!
When we finally found the spot, out came the mugs and thermos flasks, and we toasted to nature in style.
As for the wildlife, a few elegant buck species graced us with their presence. The dassies were probably busy being grumpy on a rock somewhere. We may not have seen any of them but we did see giraffes and who doesn’t love giraffes? They’re like nature’s supermodels but more awkward. Those lanky, long-lashed creatures glided past us… or more like stared at us skeptically until we drove on. Yup, it was awesome!
The Game Walks
The beauty of staying in a private nature reserve where there are no large predators is that you can go on a game walk or even a mountain bike ride. I went for a bit of a stroll with one of the members of my group. We didn’t get very far before it started raining and we turned around. But at least it was the unpleasantness of getting wet that prevented us from seeing animals on foot, and not the fear of being eaten.
The Game Visits
By the time we returned to our accommodation after our unsuccessful game walk, it was time for the game to go on a more successful human walk. Yup, in the late afternoon, the animals would come to graze on the lawn directly in front of our suites.
I don’t know much about wildlife but I’m pretty sure they choose sunset because they know it’s a prime time for human spotting. — The animals have learned that at this time of day, the humans are usually sipping on their sundowners (or tea if you’re like me) on their verandas, and if they approach slowly, we usually don’t get too startled.
The Meals
We had a number of meals here and all of them were fantastic but the one that stands out to me the most was the day we dined alfresco.
We were treated to a lunch in the boma near the river. Between the sound of the water running past us, a gentle breeze and some pleasantly warm winter sunshine reaching us through the leaves of the surrounding trees, it was quite magical.
The food was fantastic. The quiche was a highlight during this meal with its velvety filling and delicate, crispy crust. I also enjoyed a virgin daiquiri and a lot of laughter from the group I was with.
Breakfast is included with your stay. Lunch and dinner are available on request.
It’s Off-grid and Eco-friendly
Wildehondekloof runs entirely on solar power and filtered spring water. When the current owners bought the property they also did a lot of work to clear the river from alien vegetation like black wattle. If the eco-friendly nature of a place is a priority and you’re on the hunt for a destination that puts Mother Nature front and centre, Wildehondekloof ticks all the boxes.
The Service
Considering the small number of guests that they cater to, the staff are able to provide exceptional personal service. Wildehondekloof is also part of the Cape Country Routes, a group of accommodation and activity offerings that are owner-run and managed. This also explains why you can feel the personal nature of the service you receive, quite unlike that of a large hotel chain. From the warm face towel on arrival to the hot water bottles for the game drive and all the attention to detail, not to mention the willingness of the staff to just have a chat with you, I really felt taken care of.
There are so many places to just be
Apart from the fact that you are gloriously far from civilisation, there are so many places where you can just be. There are different seating areas all along the veranda and there are also loungers by the pool. You can literally sit anywhere watch the wildlife, the infinity pool, the river and lose all sense of time. There’s also a communal living room area where you can get cosy with a book and read.
Being here really does feel like peace on steroids.
In conclusion, Wildehondekloof is the kind of place where you can truly unwind and reconnect with nature. Or, if you're like me, take selfies with giraffes and eat quiche. Either way, if you’re looking for a piece of peace, together with fantastic service, a great setting, views for days, all the comforts of home and 4000 hectares of space to share with only a few other people without having to rough it, this is the place to go.
Find out more or book here.
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| A literal selfie with a giraffe (if you can spot the giraffe) |
How to get to Wildehondekloof Private Game Reserve:
There are two routes to get there, one on Route 62 from Cape Town and the other one from the R328 from Oudtshoorn. Route 62 is known as South Africa's answer to Route 66 and is a popular route among people who love road-tripping.
If you’re travelling from further afield, the closest commercial airport is the George Airport, 1hr 40 mins away. Rental cars are available here.
Wildehondekloof is located on a gravel road, so arriving in a 4x4 is recommended. My group travelled in the Ford Everest 3.0 V6 Platinum, which handled the gravel roads like a boss, kept us comfortable and added to the feeling of being on an epic road trip adventure.
Other things to do in or near Oudtshoorn
- Go on a tractor safari or get an ostrich massage at the Safari Ostrich Farm
- See the shy but amazing and surprisingly vertical creatures that are meerkats at 5 Shy Meerkats
- After peace on steroids, experience awe on steroids at the Cango Caves
Read more here:
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Oudtshoorn is only 1 hour 40 minutes from Knysna. If you’d like to extend your adventure, check out my guide to Knysna.
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