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River Bend Country Lodge | South Africa
[South Africa Hotels and Accommodation] |
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Situated inside the Addo Elephant National Park, in the Eastern Cape, the elegant but understated Riverbend Game Lodge offers a chance to unwind, enjoy fine cuisine and relax in a peaceful atmosphere. This is Africa at its best with the rugged Eastern Cape bush combined with the sheer elegance of a fine country hotel. Relax on the veranda, as the sun sets over the Cocks Comb Mountains and watch zebra, numerous antelope species, as well as the elephant, rhino and buffalo. The lodge is situated within the 17,000ha Nyati private concession of the Addo Elephant National Park and offers game-viewing in its own concession and in the public part of the Addo park. You can also visit River Bend's wild dog & serval breeding projects and the Rehabilitation Centre for leopard & rhino. Other activities, which can be booked at extra cost, include horse-riding or elephant-back safaris in the Addo Elephant Park or escorted tours to Grahamstown.
The eight en suite bedrooms in separate cottages are individually decorated in colonial style and offer a combination of old-fashioned luxury and modern convenience with satellite TV, DVD player, telephone, minibar and air-conditioning. All rooms have private patios with wide open views over the bushveld. All rooms have private patios with wide open views over the bushveld. Breakfast is served either in the dining area or in your room. Lunch and high tea are informal occasions around the pool or on the veranda, while dinner is served in colonial tradition in the dining room. Other facilities include a Vitality Studio offers guests a range of treatments from facials, massages, mud wraps and hot stone therapy, a well-stocked library with fireplace and internet access and a day room with comfortable couches, big screen TV, DVD player and various board games.
Dating back to the early 1900's, Long Hope House is a beautifully restored original farmhouse offering exclusive luxury in the heart of River Bend's private concession. Guests staying here have their own personal chef and private vehicle ensuring complete privacy. Thoughtfully enhanced with modern comforts, the beautiful villa comprises of three en-suite bedrooms with walk-in wardrobes, a private library, an open-plan lounge and dining room, a fully stocked bar plus a wonderful interactive kitchen. The interior of the house reflects original wooden floors and restored doors with authentic finishes. On balmy summer evenings you can dine al fresco under the stars on the deep veranda. The indigenous garden leads to your private swimming pool and a beautiful Sunset Deck with exquisite views of the Zuurberg Mountains and sweeping plains towards the setting sun.
Children are welcome at Riverbend and are accommodated with two extra beds in the rooms or in interleading rooms. Rather unusually River Bend allows children under 6 years to join their parents on game drives. They try to put two families together on a vehicle for a relaxed family atmosphere. They offers a special children's entertainment area (aimed primarily at younger children), early dining, a children's menu for lunch and dinner, fenced pool and toys available for play. Their private game reserve, Intsomi, is home to their wild dog breeding project and enables children to get up close and personal with a number of endangered species.
Longhope House is a luxurious villa sleeping six with its own personal chef, host and private game vehicle and ranger. |
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Family
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Romantic
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Spa
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Walking
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Country: South Africa
Region: Eastern Cape
Area: Addo National Park
Accommodation Rating: Luxury |
Rooms: 8 and 3
Meals: Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Location: Rural
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| Contact us for more information or book your trip by clicking on the appropriate button below. One of our consultants will gladly help you with any questions you may have. |
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Kate stayed here with her children in July:
"River Bend is based on a private concession within the Addo National Park. It is a beautiful lodge, decorated in an English settler style – so no contemporary styling here! There are eight bedrooms, each very spacious with a private verandah. The main lodge has a huge sitting room, upstairs library, bar with a separate dining room and separate room with board games, card tables, television etc.
Game-viewing takes places in three different areas. Most game drives take place on their own private concession within Addo. At this stage there are no predators here but there is a breeding herd of 68 elephants which are frequently seen. We had an excellent sighting when they walked right past the vehicle with many young. We also saw a number of plains game. There are plans to release some wild dogs which are currently in the rehabilitation centre.
There are now lions in the central part of Addo NP and if their whereabouts are known, then River Bend also takes their vehicles there. They are allowed to stay in the NP later than normal self-drive vehicles. However the lions are not yet seen frequently. Riverbend also has its own private reserve for a broader wildlife experience. They are also operating a rehabilitation centre here and this gives children the chance to see animals close-up.
Riverbend is a child-friendly lodge. Children as young as two or three are allowed on game drives and they put families with young children together so that they can tailor the drive to their younger audience. Kid’s goody bags are provided on arrival; there’s a playroom for younger children (2 to 6 years old rather than older children); a selection of children’s videos can be played in the bedrooms or in the games/TV room as well as children's menu and fenced swimming pool.
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