Great Fish River Nature Reserve Travel Guide: Top Sights in South

⁰

Great Fish River Nature Reserve- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Natural Scenery; South Africa; 5 Reviews

Suggested Duration: 6 hours

The Great Fish River Nature Reserve in South Africa's Eastern Cape spans approximately 45,000 hectares, uniting the former Andries Vosloo Kudu, Double Drift and Sam Knott reserves into a single wilderness arc alongside the Great Fish River. The terrain ranges from 95 m to 561 m above sea level, featuring steep sandstone cliffs, broken inter‑basin ridges, and the dense "Great Fish subtropical thicket" biome—a mosaic of fewer than fifteen indigenous plant types such as spekboom, porkbush and various aloes that sustain the reserve's wildlife. The river itself has carved dramatic gorges and valleys for millennia, creating striking vantage points, including the famed Adam's Krantz viewpoint overlooking a twisting canyon of the Great Fish River. This reserve supports a noteworthy assemblage of wildlife: over 1,700 kudu, more than 100 disease‑free buffalo, more than 100 black rhino, plus hippo, zebra, eland, springbok, baboons and the elusive leopard and brown hyaena. Bird‑watchers may spot up to 247 species, including raptors and waterbirds drawn to riverine thicket and wetlands. The reserve also preserves relics of South Africa’s Frontier Wars (late 18th to 19th centuries)—visitors encounter forts, signalling towers, graves and ruins near Double Drift and Keiskamma cemetery that evoke its contested past between Xhosa communities and settler forces.

Operators offering tours in South Africa

Attractions in South Africa

Kruger National Park

Cape Town

Garden Route National Park

4.6

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

4.6

Addo Elephant National Park

4.6

Blyde River Canyon

Drakensberg

4.8

Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park

4.8

Reviews of Great Fish River Nature Reserve

Suzette

1
Reviewed: 2025-03-10

Not a very happy experience. Could only give us a room in Nottingham Lodge because they have no other accommodation available anymore. According to the staff everything got flooded and washed away and they have not done any renovations as yet. Could not even camp there. They have not updated their website in years!
hilton johnson

4
Reviewed: 2024-10-07

Fee applicable to come here. Long drive on a dirt road. Dirt roads in the reserve. Seeing any animals is not guaranteed. Remember to ask about the river water level for crossing the road causeway.
Linda Leestemaker

5
Reviewed: 2019-06-01

A smaller nature reserve than “nearby” Addo, but therefore with a lot more vibe. As soon as we drove in, mankind’s world seemed to stop. Roads became less paved and we didn’t see any other cars or people for the next bunch of miles and couple of hours. Dinner and drinks in the back of our pick up with our guide (from our hostel in Grahamstown) just added to the feeling of really being back into nature after weeks and weeks of studying. Great Fish River doesn’t seem to have large herds of zebra and elephants (at least, not that we saw) but they do have rhino’s and those solitary animals that resemble natural tanks might be one of the most imposing animals I’ve ever seen. The lack of camps and commodities is what gives this nature reserve its great ambience, as the rawness and lack of modern society nearby is the thing that leaves you in silence and awe. A bit more pricey than other reserves, but still well maintained.
Erall Norton

4
Reviewed: 2018-10-23

I am not happy with the fees if I compare with national parks, Addo fees are about R70 a day per person for self drive game viewing. Great fish river charged us R22 + R90 =R112 and they don't have the game equivalent to Addo. The routes are poorly marked and the map is bad and difficult to read The 4 stars are for the environment and the beauty of the park. No service was provided
Kevin Renton

4
Reviewed: 2017-07-15

Friendly staff, interesting history and vegetation, wild, nice views, good for birding and game viewing