Leeuwenbosch Country House

Leeuwenbosch Country House is a gracious colonial country house set amidst beautiful indigenous gardens within the Amakhala Game Reserve, offering a family safari experience steeped in settler history.

Savour a quiet moment in the dim stillness of the 19th century stone chapel, or enjoy high tea in the shade of the verandah. Sit late into the night in the convivial stone-walled cellar bar. This wonderful homestead has been in the Fowlds family for 5 generations, and the family takes great pleasure in sharing its remarkable Southern African family heritage with you.

Guests can enjoy a thrilling Big 5 malaria-free safari in the Amakhala Game Reserve, which comprises of 8,500 hectares of prime game viewing land.

Day and night game viewing drives under the guidance of professional game rangers are included for anyone staying here. Wildlife likely to be encountered during the game drives include lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and cheetah as well as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and plenty of antelope species.

Accommodation at Leeuwenbosch includes the historic Country House and the newer Shearers Lodge Suites.

The Country House, built in 1908, offers 5 spacious en-suite bedrooms, and is layered with a collection of historical images, documents, and furniture dating back to the 1800s.

Set back from the Country House, Shearers Lodge offers 4 more contemporary double suites, overlooking a cool low-roofed verandah and tranquil swimming pool.

Rates Include

All meals; selected house beverages; the Amakhala Conservation/Community Levy; and 2 shared game drives per day are included.

Children Policy

Children of any age are welcome. Rates available on request. Children under the age of 6 years are not allowed to join the adult's game drive. The children will have their own activities and a programme designed for their age group. Children will dine earlier (19:00) than their parents, and after dinner they will have the opportunity watch a video in the family room. Child minders are available to look after babies while the adults are on their game activities and at meal times.

Leeuwenbosch is a family focused lodge. It has been in the Fowlds' family since 1873 and offers warm African colonial hospitality. The original manor house (built in 1908) provides comfortable country house living. It is perfect for families as it has 2 beautiful suites, in the style of a traditional home.

Leeuwenbosch have created a 3 day children's program that will provide the whole family with a memorable safari stay.

On arrival the children will receive a Kiddies welcome pack which will include crayons, sweets and other exciting goodies. All children are invited to join their ranger on an educational Nature Walk where they will learn about the different plants and animals in the area, as well as searching for animal prints in the sand.

Worksheets with pictures of the different birds and animals will be given out for the children to identify them and mark the sightings off on their sheets. On the second half of the walk the children will visit real Xhosa homes and they will learn about the Xhosa culture and their way of life. It is important to know that this is the actual staff housing on the reserve and is not a fabricated village. Children can learn and join in with traditional games the Xhosa children play.

On the way back to the lodge, there will be a picnic at the play area, with a chance to expend some energy on the jungle gym, trampoline and swings.

The next day, children can have some fun in the kitchen. They will prepare and bake biscuits in the shape of an animal - gingerbread monkeys. While waiting for the biscuits to finish baking the children will make animal masks. Then they will all enjoy a light lunch at the playground and play games, and later on, they will take a walk to the picnic spot for a drink and to enjoy their biscuits. Afterwards they will explore to collect sticks, twigs, dried flowers, thorns and feathers.

On their last day, the children will go on a mini game drive with their ranger on their way to visit Amakhala's conservation centre. Please note that the game drive will not go up close to any dangerous game. At the conservation centre the children will have a chance to look and touch different animal bones. The children will then go on a guided bird walk to try and identify the various local birds.

On arrival at the conservation centre, the children can have a play and a walk around. A snack and drink will be provided. They will then use the materials they have collected to make place mats. Then, it is a short game drive back to the lodge.

Directions For Drivers

From Port Elizabeth:  Follow the N2 from Port Elizabeth to Grahamstown (+- 60 km). 2 km after the R342 turn-off to Paterson and about 1 km before the R342 Karel Landman are the white walled gates into Leeuwenbosch. Follow the signs to Leeuwenbosch Country House.

General Information For Guests

All rooms have tea/coffee making facilities, a hair dryer, an in-room safe, and a fan.

There is a swimming pool.

A laundry service is available (additional cost).

After an early morning coffee or afternoon high tea, informative Professional Guides take guests on game drives, walks or a river cruise (river cruises on request and are subject to river levels).

Dining is around a communal table.

Credit cards are accepted.

Your rate includes a Conservation/Community Levy which will primarily fund the anti-poaching units and a dedicated rhino monitoring programme to preserve and protect the rhinos of Amakhala Game Reserve. In addition, a percentage of the Levy will also go to support their award-winning Conservation Education Programme, which enables local school children to visit the Amakhala Conservation Centre to learn about wildlife conservation and sustainability for future generations.

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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.