Riverdene Family Lodge

Riverdene Family Lodge is located in the award winning Shamwari Private Game Reserve, a 25,000 hectare, malaria-free private game reserve situated in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Shamwari is about conserving a vanishing way of life, and has received numerous international awards, including the World's Leading Conservation Company and Game Reserve. Steeped in Settler history, and dating back to the time when a multitude of game roamed wild and free, the reserve is home to the Big 5 as well as cheetah, hyena, giraffe, hippo, zebra and numerous antelope species.

Shamwari prides itself on the knowledge and professionalism of their rangers, and guests will receive personal attention from their assigned ranger for the duration of their stay. Game viewing is carried out morning and evening on game drives, when you are driven in your open vehicle over the rolling hills and valleys in search of the wildlife. There is also the option to go on a guided bush walk with your ranger after breakfast.

Each of the 9 interleading luxury rooms are fully air-conditioned, and have a television and telephone, and a small lounge area. Private patios from each room leads onto the beautifully landscaped gardens.

The main areas consist of a large open plan lounge with a fireplace, a bar, a dining room with indoor and outdoor seating, a swimming pool with a shallow end especially for younger guests, and a boma overlooking the Bushmans River.

Children will love the Kids Club, which has a selection of games, toys and arts and crafts, and features a one-of-a-kind outdoor Adventure Centre to keep children of all ages entertained - from elevated walkways among the trees to ziplines and climbing walls. Visits to the Born Free Rescue Centre and Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is another great way for kids to grow their conservation knowledge.

Rates Include

All meals; selected drinks (excluding French champagne and premium products); twice-daily shared game drives; guided walks; and the Conservation Levy are included.

Children Policy

Children of any age are welcome. Rates available on request. Special Children's Programme available - details on request. Children under 4 years of age are not allowed on game drives. Child minding facilities are available at an additional cost.

Bush Walks / Walking Safaris

Children under the age of 16 years are not permitted on guided walks in the reserve.  Guests over 65 wishing to join a guided walk are required to have a letter or certificate from their doctor confirming they are in good health and are physically fit to do the walk. A  guided walk can last a couple of hours and involve walking over uneven terrain that may contain dangerous wildlife in potentially high temperatures. Guests may need to move quickly and for a sustained period through rough bush terrain if instructed to do so by their guide.

Regardless of age or the provision of a doctors certificate, the final decision on whether a guest can join a guided walk remains with the guide and lodge manager.

Guest Rating: 4.6 / 5.0 based on 15 ratings

Directions For Drivers

From Port Elizabeth/Knysna/George/Mossel Bay: Follow the N2 out of Port Elizabeth heading towards Grahamstown bypassing the town of Colchester. 11 km past Colchester use the left lane to take the N2 ramp to Grahamstown. Continue on the N2 for 17 km and take the R342 turn-off for Shamwari Private Game Reserve on your left. Travel 7 km up the gravel road and enter at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve gate where you will stop at the Welcome Lounge to check in.

From Grahamstown: Travel along the N2 towards Port Elizabeth, and follow the directions as above.

Please note that you drive through the reserve to get to the lodge - do not get out of your car until you reach the lodge. You may see some wildlife on your way - if you do, slow down and maintain a good distance. Do not drive off-road in any circumstances.

General Information For Guests

All rooms have air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms with a bath and shower, international dial telephone, private patio, tea/coffee making facilities, private minibar, television with selected satellite channels, hair dryer and electronic safe.

There is a swimming pool with a shallow area for children, a bar/lounge, a dining room, and a gift boutique.

Shamwari spa treatments are the ideal way to unwind. The luxury wellness retreats are based at other lodges on the reserve, but treatments can be arranged for guests staying at Riverdene upon request.

American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Diners Club credit cards are accepted.

There is complimentary Wi-Fi available. There is also mobile phone connectivity.

A laundry service is available (additional cost).

Should you wish to leave a gratuity, envelopes are available at reception. Alternatively you can add it to your final bill and settle by credit card when you check out.

The game drives themselves last for approximately 3 to 4 hours and take you through the reserve. Included on the game drive is a coffee stop for the morning drive and a sundowner stop in the evening. The rangers are experts at navigating the Shamwari terrain and are readily available to answer any questions you may have. If there is a certain species you’re hoping to spot, please do chat to your ranger.

In collaboration with the Born Free Foundation, the Big Cat Rescue and Education Centres are situated within the game reserve. They aim to draw attention to the plight of wild cats, confined in impoverished, captive environments throughout the world. It is the mission of The Born Free Foundation, founded by actress and conservationist Virginia McKenna and her late husband Bill Travers, to ‘Keep Wildlife in the Wild’. Both Shamwari and Born Free aim to promote conservation and protect these species and their habitat, whilst maintaining a compassionate approach to the welfare of animals. The rescue and education centres home rescued lions and leopards from across the world and aim to be an enlightening experience for all visitors.

You also have the opportunity to visit the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre when you visit Shamwari Private Game Reserve. The Centre helps to rescue, rehabilitate and care for sick, injured, abandoned or orphaned animals under the care of professional veterinary team. Once these animals have been nursed back to health, they are released back into their natural habitat. Part of this experience is Vulpro - a unique captive breeding centre and the only one of its kind in Africa. Injured vulture species that can’t fly will breed in captivity and the healthy young are released back into the wild.

A compulsory Conservation Levy has been included in your rate - this contribution will aid conservation efforts as well as the anti-poaching unit.

Bush Walks / Walking Safaris

Children under the age of 16 years are not permitted on guided walks in the reserve.  Guests over 65 wishing to join a guided walk are required to have a letter or certificate from their doctor confirming they are in good health and are physically fit to do the walk. A  guided walk can last a couple of hours and involve walking over uneven terrain that may contain dangerous wildlife in potentially high temperatures. Guests may need to move quickly and for a sustained period through rough bush terrain if instructed to do so by their guide.

Regardless of age or the provision of a doctors certificate, the final decision on whether a guest can join a guided walk remains with the guide and lodge manager.

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If you're not sure which place might be best for your own trip then either give us a call or get in touch via the website, and we'd be delighted to run through the options with you.