A male lion resting on rocks, Tanzania. Photo: Pexels (free licence).
Is Kariega Game Reserve a good company to book a safari with?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 2 November 2026
Kariega Game Reserve is in the Uncompromised Travel table of safari camp owners. Everything below is from its own website and its review listings, each line with the page it was read from: no score, no rank.
What do guests say about Kariega Game Reserve?
No rating for Kariega Game Reserve was found on Google, SafariBookings or Trustpilot when they were read; ask the company for recent guest references.
- No Google listing in Kariega Game Reserve's name was found.
- SafariBookings
- No SafariBookings listing in Kariega Game Reserve's name was found.
- Trustpilot
- No Trustpilot listing in Kariega Game Reserve's name was found.
Where are Kariega Game Reserve's camps?
South Africa only (Eastern Cape). Five lodges on one reserve, all own and run (family owned and operated).
- Countries
- South Africa only (Eastern Cape).
- Camps
- Five lodges on one reserve, all own and run (family owned and operated).
- Where they are
- All five of its camps are within Kariega Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, near Kenton-on-Sea: Main Lodge, Ukhozi Lodge, The Homestead (main reception), River Lodge and Settlers Drift (on the Bushmans River). The reserve is 80 minutes from Port Elizabeth and 10 minutes from Kenton-on-Sea.
- Land and traversing
- Private game reserve of 12,000 hectares, owned and assembled by the family over decades, in the Eastern Cape with two rivers (Kariega and Bushmans). No national park or concession; no statement on exclusive traversing.
- Camp sizes
- Main Lodge 24 log chalets. Ukhozi Lodge 10 suites.
How much does Kariega Game Reserve cost?
Kariega Game Reserve does not publish a dated rate per person per night for its own camps on its own website; ask it for a quote for your dates.
- What the rate includes
- Main Lodge: all meals, morning and evening game drives and other game activities, beverages excluded. Ukhozi, River Lodge, Settlers Drift and The Homestead: fully inclusive (all meals, selected beverages, game drives and other game activities). Excluded at all: Kariega Foundation levy (R250 per adult per night in 2026, R300 in 2027; R125 or R150 per child aged 4 to 12), spa treatments, curio shop purchases, gratuities, telephone calls, laundry, beverages at Main Lodge, transfers.
What are Kariega Game Reserve's booking terms?
Kariega Game Reserve's published terms: 50% deposit, paid within 7 days to confirm the booking, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
- Deposit
- 50% deposit, paid within 7 days to confirm the booking, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
- Balance due
- Final payment due 30 days before arrival (unless agreed in writing); last-minute reservations need full payment on confirmation.
- Cancellation charges
- Individual (FIT): 25% of charges if cancelled less than 30 days before arrival; 50% less than 14 days; 100% less than 7 days. Groups (10 or more): confirm or cancel at least 90 days before; 25% if less than 90 days; 50% if less than 60 days; 100% if less than 30 days. Transfers 100% if cancelled under 48 hours before; spa treatments full price after two hours' notice.
- Currencies and card fees
- Rates are in South African rand. Payment by credit card (Visa and Mastercard), EFT or direct deposit.
- How guest payments are protected
- Not stated on its own website.
Who is Kariega Game Reserve best for?
Best for: A malaria-free Eastern Cape Big 5 reserve, on Kariega Game Reserve's own published facts; its terms for children, couples, solo travellers and private guiding are below.
- Children
- Main Lodge and The Homestead welcome children of all ages. Main Lodge: children 12 and under 50%, 3 and under free; children's programme 11h00 to 14h00; babysitting R100 per hour.
- Teenagers and families
- Main Lodge chalets sleep up to 6 adults, aimed at families and friends; children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult on drives and walks; children 16 and over are welcome on guided bush walks. The Homestead is sole use for a family or group of up to 14.
- Solo travellers
- Single supplement of 50% on top of the per person sharing rate at the lodges. No solo offers stated.
- Private guide and vehicle
- Not stated on their website: no private guide or private vehicle option stated for the lodges. The Homestead has a dedicated game ranger and chef for the sole-use group.
- Exclusive use
- No whole-camp buy-out of the other lodges stated.
- Activities
- Twice-daily game drives in open vehicles, river cruises (Kariega and Bushmans rivers), guided bush walks (including the Blue Duiker Trail), canoeing and fishing (Settlers Drift and River Lodge), beach trips by boat from River Lodge, spa treatments at selected lodges, children's programme at Main Lodge. No horseback or hides stated.
When is Kariega Game Reserve not the right choice?
Kariega Game Reserve is not the fit if its own published limits rule you out: they are below, in its own words.
- Single travellers
- Single supplement of 50% on top of the per person sharing rate at the lodges.
What are the best alternatives to Kariega Game Reserve?
Cheetah Plains, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Lalibela Game Reserve, Samara Karoo Reserve and Shamwari also own and run their own camps in South Africa only, each with the fact that it is best for.
- Cheetah Plains: best for: Sole-use villas in the Sabi Sand. 4.9 out of 5 on Google (listing 'Cheetah Plains Private Game Reserve') from 73 reviews.
- Elephant Plains Game Lodge: best for: Big Five game viewing in the northern Sabi Sand. 4.8 out of 5 on Google (listing 'Elephant Plains Game Lodge') from 242 reviews.
- Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: best for: A low-density Eastern Cape reserve. 4.8 out of 5 on Google (listing 'Kwandwe Private Game Reserve') from 259 reviews.
- Lalibela Game Reserve: best for: A malaria-free Eastern Cape reserve.
- Samara Karoo Reserve: best for: Three stays on a Great Karoo reserve. 4.7 out of 5 on Google (listing 'Samara Karoo Reserve') from 165 reviews.
- Shamwari: best for: A Big 5 Eastern Cape reserve.
Each is in the same table, read the same way. Alphabetical order; none paid to be listed.
Who owns Kariega Game Reserve?
Family owned and operated by the Rushmere and Fuller families.
- Trading name
- Trading name Kariega Game Reserve. Legal entity: Kariega Game Reserve (Pty) Ltd, a private limited liability company, registration number 2023/556041/07, registered address 34 Ninth Avenue, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
- Based in
- Marketing and head office at Corner of Main Road & 9th Avenue, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, 6070, South Africa.
- Owner or parent
- Family owned and operated by the Rushmere and Fuller families. No parent group or investors named.
- In its own words
- 'Malaria-free Big 5 South African Safari'.
- Conservation model
- Kariega Foundation, a non profit trust working with the reserve. A conservation and community levy is paid by every guest: R250 per adult per night in 2026 and R300 in 2027 (children R125 or R150; none for 0 to 3).
How do you book Kariega Game Reserve?
Book Kariega Game Reserve through its own enquiry page or through a safari planner.
- How it is paid
- Direct bookings via private bookings line and online booking; a separate tour operator bookings contact. Credit arrangements are on application only.
- Price against a planner
- Not stated on its own website: it says nothing about whether booking direct is cheaper.
Kariega: the questions people ask
How many camps does Kariega Game Reserve have?
Five lodges on one reserve, all own and run (family owned and operated).
What activities does Kariega Game Reserve offer?
Twice-daily game drives in open vehicles, river cruises (Kariega and Bushmans rivers), guided bush walks (including the Blue Duiker Trail), canoeing and fishing (Settlers Drift and River Lodge), beach trips by boat from River Lodge, spa treatments at selected lodges, children's programme at Main Lodge. No horseback or hides stated.
How does Kariega Game Reserve fund conservation?
Kariega Foundation, a non profit trust working with the reserve. A conservation and community levy is paid by every guest: R250 per adult per night in 2026 and R300 in 2027 (children R125 or R150; none for 0 to 3).
What is included in Kariega Game Reserve's rates?
Main Lodge: all meals, morning and evening game drives and other game activities, beverages excluded. Ukhozi, River Lodge, Settlers Drift and The Homestead: fully inclusive (all meals, selected beverages, game drives and other game activities).
What deposit does Kariega Game Reserve ask for?
50% deposit, paid within 7 days to confirm the booking, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
What are Kariega Game Reserve's cancellation charges?
Individual (FIT): 25% of charges if cancelled less than 30 days before arrival; 50% less than 14 days; 100% less than 7 days. Groups (10 or more): confirm or cancel at least 90 days before; 25% if less than 90 days; 50% if less than 60 days; 100% if less than 30 days.
Does Kariega Game Reserve charge a single supplement?
Single supplement of 50% on top of the per person sharing rate at the lodges. No solo offers stated.
Does Kariega Game Reserve accept children?
Main Lodge and The Homestead welcome children of all ages. Main Lodge: children 12 and under 50%, 3 and under free; children's programme 11h00 to 14h00; babysitting R100 per hour.
Does Kariega Game Reserve offer a private vehicle?
Not stated on their website: no private guide or private vehicle option stated for the lodges. The Homestead has a dedicated game ranger and chef for the sole-use group.
Where are Kariega Game Reserve's camps?
All five of its camps are within Kariega Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, near Kenton-on-Sea: Main Lodge, Ukhozi Lodge, The Homestead (main reception), River Lodge and Settlers Drift (on the Bushmans River). The reserve is 80 minutes from Port Elizabeth and 10 minutes from Kenton-on-Sea.
Who owns Kariega Game Reserve?
Family owned and operated by the Rushmere and Fuller families.
What are Kariega Game Reserve's reviews?
No rating for Kariega Game Reserve was found on Google, SafariBookings or Trustpilot when they were read; ask the company for recent guest references.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: facts Kariega Game Reserve published on its own website and its review listings on Google, SafariBookings and Trustpilot, read on 2 November 2026, from the Uncompromised Travel safari camp owners table. No score and no rank. Kariega Game Reserve did not pay to be on this page and is not a partner of Uncompromised Travel. Photos are stock images from Pexels and do not show the company's camps. How this site earns · How we work.