Things to do in South Africa

Experience the romance of Africa at Ukhozi Lodge, Kariega Game Reserve

Guests enjoy sharing their excitement of seeing the incredible wildlife we are so fortunate to have on our doorstep….

By Rosie Rickards

Manager Ukhozi Lodge at Kariega Game Reserve

I have been at Ukhozi Lodge at Kariega Game Reserve for over six years, first joining them as a field guide. Now, as manager of the lodge, I can combine my passions of being close to nature with the love of working with people. This includes both the staff at Ukhozi Lodge as well as the guests that come to stay with us. I take great pride in everything I do and giving the guests a great experience provides me with a huge sense of achievement.

Ukhozi Lodge is a beautiful building with local stone used in the walls and lots of glass to maximise the views. I love the open-plan design of the central lounge, bar and dining areas where I can get to chat to our guests. With my background in guiding, it’s a pleasure to greet them as they return from their game activities, whether they’ve been on a cruise on the Kariega River, a guided bush walk or a game drive. Guests enjoy sharing their excitement of seeing the incredible wildlife we are so fortunate to have on our doorstep.

Our ten luxurious suites have the ‘wow’ factor and it’s great to see the reaction on our guests’ faces when they are shown where they will be staying, particularly when they step out on the deck and see their private plunge pool. Intimate and romantic, it’s perfect for couples. Between game drives it’s the ideal place to relax and look for the many species of antelope that graze on the plains below the lodge.

Together with my team of 20 staff, nothing is too much trouble. We particularly love to surprise our guests creating memorable experiences such as a delicious private dinner on their deck, poolside or out in the bush.

Available in these itineraries…

Itinerary

Classic Garden Route Self-drive
by Helen Austin

Length11 Days

Price range£3,395 - £3,850pp
Itinerary

Special Offer

Safari and the City
by Adele Jones

Length8 Days

Price range£2,995 - £3,495pp

Alfred & Rosie Rickards

Armed with a degree in zoology specialising in marine science, Rosie left the UK in 2012 to join Dyer Island Conservation Trust monitoring the movement of great white sharks. This led to a field trails guiding course and a Masters of Science in wild animal biology. In 2015 she became a field guide at Ukhozi Lodge and is now manager of the lodge.

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Laura, who's travelled extensively in South Africa. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - ex banker who can show you the hottest foodie spots in Cape Town, the award-winning young sommelier who can introduce you to Stellenbosch's finest wines and the walking safari ranger who can guide you to the best game.

Laura Preston

Travel Expert for Alfred&

Having travelled extensively through Africa, Laura has a wealth of experience. She is passionate about Tanzania’s diversity from the quiet wilds of Ruaha that feel completely private to the silvery sands of Zanzibar and Stone Town’s spice-laced streets. In South Africa, she sought out the best views over Table Mountain, cocktail in hand, as well as the lesser-visited Kruger conservancies for more exclusive safaris. But her favourite place in the world has to be the Serengeti for its wide-open plains and incredible game that epitomise that feeling of Africa.
Wayne Howarth

Head Safari Guide at Kariega Game Reserve

Wayne loves being outdoors and has spent most of his life between the family farm and working on Private Game Reserves in the Eastern Cape. He has been guiding at Kariega for 12 years. His qualifications include Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) Level 2, Advance Rifle Handling, Skippers Licence Category R and first aid. One of his career highlights was becoming a finalist in the 2021 Safari Guide of the Year competition.
Rupesh Kassen

Founder and guide of Eat Like A Local

Rupesh Kassen abandoned his decade-long career in banking to move to East Africa, where he trained and worked as a chef. He later became immersed in South Africa’s food scene and worked as a food critic before setting up Eat Like A Local in Cape Town. Rupesh now offers guided food tours to showcase the city and its diverse culture and history through food.
Fundi Ziqubu

Sommelier

Fundi was born in Durban and fell in love with wine when it was introduced to her by a few Capetonian friends. On discovering her passion she got the chance to study wine with the department of tourism in collaboration with the Sommeliers Academy. Being appointed sommelier at Lanzerac was a career highlight and in 2019 Fundi was named most up-and-coming wine steward by the Distell Inter-Hotel challenge.
Ntobeko Ntshingila

Duty Manager at Three Tree Hill Lodge

Ntobeko has been part of the Three Trees family for 13 years and describes it as a lovely journey with lots of room for growth and experience. She has her own family, including a daughter of 18, and a son, aged three. She lives in a nearby village with her parents, four siblings and three nephews. When not spending time with her family she manages her broiler chicken business, which brings her extra income.
Cheryl Blackburn

Owner and guide, Three Tree Hill Lodge

Being born in the Kruger National Park instilled in Cheryl a love of nature and wildlife. Having lived and worked as a guide in the Kruger reserve, and also in Botswana, she eventually got the opportunity to run her own lodge, with her growing family, in the lush KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg region. She still finds time to guide guests on foot, tracking white rhino in the neighbouring Spioenkop Game Reserve.