June 24 Lowveld

Safari
on the
Kariega
Text Kym Argo
It’s always the unexpected that keeps travelling exciting.
And for those who’ve been on safari in South Africa, and
think they’ve experienced everything, Sibuya Game
Reserve in the Eastern Cape offers up a few surprises.
Yes ... it’s a fusion of luxury and environmental
awareness. Yip ... it’s home to the Big Five. And with
almost 400 different species in the area, it really is a bird
lover’s paradise.
But it’s the country’s only game reserve that is only
reached by boat ... boarded at the Sibuya reception near
the Kariega river mouth in Kenton on Sea, you’ll take a
leisurely cruise up the Kariega River Estuary. Depending
on what you discover, the gentle cruise takes anything
from 45 minutes to a little over an hour ... spotting longlegged
Black-winged Stilts and gorgeous Sacred Ibis and
brightly coloured Kingfishers and impressive Fish Eagles.
It’s a gorgeous, relaxing way to kick off your Sibuya safari,
which is one of the Cape Country Routes South Africa
privately owned destinations.
More of the unexpected. You will be offered early
morning and evening game drives a day, but there are
other options too ... fishing on the Kariega is hugely
popular, either from the bank or from one of the small
boats, there’s canoeing on the river, and you can opt for
a beach walk as well as one in the bush. Excluded from
the rates, but possible to book, are deep sea fishing
excursions, and beach and reserve horse riding outings.
Accommodation wise, there are a trio of choices ... two
luxurious tented camps and an exclusive lodge. We
stayed at Forest Camp ... where each of the eight tents,
connected by wooden walkways, are private and well
30 Get It Lowveld June 2024
concealed in the indigenous thicket. With king size beds
and a surprisingly comfortable pull out sleeper divan, it’s
a great option for those travelling with older children - no
under 12s allowed. There’s also the River Camp, with four
spacious tents, so great for a group of friends travelling
together, and where younger children are welcome. Both
camps are comfy, have fireplaces for chilly evenings, and
have central living areas where guests gather for meals
and game drives. The third option is the more luxurious
thatched Bush Lodge, with four suites, personal viewing
decks, indoor and outdoor showers and a swimming
pool. Bush Lodge, unlike the other two camps, has
electricity - and air-conditioning - in the rooms ... for Bush
and River camps you rely on solar as they’re all about
living off the grid and embracing sustainability.
The area is lush, with Eastern Cape Valley bushveld,
grasslands and coastal forests, so game is plentiful, and
game drives thrilling with elephant, rhino, antelope,
including the rare Bontebok and Oribi, and plenty of
giraffe and zebra. On our visit the leopards lived up to
their elusive title, but lion - in a separate, enclosed part of
the reserve, were seen proudly strutting their king of the
jungle stuff.
Rates start at R4931 per person in low season, excluding
Rhino Conservation Levies, including accommodation,
all meals and local drinks, morning and evening game
drives, boat transfers, fishing, canoeing and bush walking.
Children under 2 stay free.
Details: Sibuya on sibuya.co.za, Instagram @sibuya_game_
reserve, Facebook SibuyaGameReserve. Cape Country Routes
on capecountryroutes.com, Instagram @ capecountryroutes,
Facebook @CapeCountryRoutes