South Africa
Glamping & Wildlife in Oudtshoorn
Crossing the Outeniqua Pass felt like stepping into a different world: dry, golden, and quiet. Our stay at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge was one of the most memorable: luxury tents overlooking a small lake, and giraffes and other animals casually walking by. That night, we joined a night safari and spotted everything from buffalo to wild cats and rhino's under the stars. The next morning, we walked alongside cheetahs (safely guided, of course), a mix of awe and adrenaline. Then it was time to drive toward wine country.
Buffelsdrift Game Lodge Stay
Buffelsdrift Game Lodge was one of the most special places we stayed at during the trip. The tents are spread out across the property, all overlooking a lake where animals regularly come to drink. From our terrace we could see giraffes on the other side of the water, and near the tents kudus and other antelopes were walking around. The service was excellent from start to finish. We were driven to our tent by golf cart, and when we had to leave early for a safari and couldn’t finish our three-course dinner, the staff brought the rest to our room later that evening. When we returned, the windows were already closed and the heated blanket was turned on. The bathroom was beautiful, with a bathtub overlooking the lake and an outdoor shower, which made the stay even more memorable. Dinner on the terrace above the lake was easily one of the most beautiful settings we’ve ever eaten in.
Night Safari at Buffelsdrift
We decided to book the night safari last minute when we arrived, and it turned out to be a great choice. We were the only ones on the drive that evening, with Eddy as our guide. He took us through the reserve, pointing out animals we wouldn’t normally see during the day. We spotted giraffes, rhinos, zebra, wildebeest, owls, different antelopes, and even a wild cat catching a mouse right in front of us. Eddy explained how to recognize the different species and shared a lot of interesting details along the way. It was calm, informative, and very enjoyable.
Guided Walk with Cheetahs
We mainly came to Buffelsdrift for the stay, but the cheetah experience was something we really looked forward to. Together with four other visitors and our guide Kyra, we went out to find the cheetahs. She explained the conservation program and why the cheetahs are kept here, which made the experience even more meaningful. Using GPS tracking, we found them fairly quickly since they were still in the same area as the day before. Sometimes they’re much harder to locate, and Kyra told us stories of hikes lasting hours to find them. Seeing the cheetahs up close, in a calm and controlled setting, was very impressive and something we won’t forget.
Drive to Stellenbosch
