Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve Travel Guide: Top Sights in South

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Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Natural Scenery; South Africa; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 6 hours

Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve spans approximately 14,000 ha at the foot of the Sneeuberg Mountains, just southeast of Graaff‑Reinet in South Africa's malaria‑free Eastern Cape. Originally farmland acquired by the Buchanan family in 1996, the reserve has been extensively restored to showcase four distinct Karoo biomes—thorn scrub valleys, succulent slopes, gorges, and montane grasslands—offering habitat for a wide range of wildlife including the Big Five, cheetahs, giraffes, mountain zebra, and over 200 bird species. It also features deeply embedded cultural history, from San rock paintings to relics of Boer War-era settlements, with guided historical talks that enrich the safari experience. Beyond traditional game drives, Mount Camdeboo stands out for its conservation milestones: the first-ever UK-born cheetahs returned to the wild on site and a successful lion reintroduction campaign in 2019, plus ongoing elephant monitoring and rhino dehorning to combat poaching. Luxury lodging spans restored Cape Dutch manors, secluded cottages, eco‑pods, and a spa, all offering immersive views of the reserve's sweeping landscapes, dramatic night skies, and Karoo biodiversity—providing guests both comfort and connection to the land's ecological and historical legacy.

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Reviews of Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve

Sarah Lee-Jones

5
Reviewed: 2025-06-05

What a wonderful experience. We loved the wide open spaces and the beautiful animals. We traveled as a family of 4. Our kids loved it
Sabine Behrmann

5
Reviewed: 2025-03-03

We spent 3 nights at the reserve in Feb 2025 and had a wonderful time. The staff were all friendly and helpful and our guide Colin was phenomenal 🙌. We enjoyed delicious meals and exciting game viewing and would not hesitate to recommend this reserve!
Tom Solleveld

5
Reviewed: 2025-02-18

An unforgettable place. We stayed for three nights in Pod 2 and absolutely loved our time there. The warm welcome, tasty food, incredible landscape, and sightings of all the Big Five, made it very difficult to return to reality. Colin was a fantastic guide, ranger, and conversationalist on our (mostly private) game drives. We would have stayed all week if we could! Mount Camdeboo is certainly not as accessible as other reserves in the Eastern Cape, but it more than makes up for it with stunning views and hospitality. Hope to return one day!
Mark Verseput

5
Reviewed: 2024-08-17

Stayed 3 nights in the pod. Was without doubt one of my best experiences ever. The accommodation, food and game drives were exceptional. If you are looking for somewhere to get away from it all, where you can lie in a heated outdoor tub and look at the stars, where you can sit around a fire, and where it seems you are the only people in the world, then this is for you. Thanks to all the staff that made the trip so special.
Sunir Goven

5
Reviewed: 2023-05-08

This place is amazing! Tucked away between mountains in the middle of nowhere, it's a perfect getaway from anyone and anything! The staff are super friendly and well informed of the surrounding area and wildlife. Ryan was our game ranger for our stay and he was perfect!! He made every effort to make our short stay super memorable. We stayed in one of lodges pod offerings and it was amazing! 11 out of 10 would recommend to anyone! The gravel road to get from the main highway to the lodge can be long and slow if you're not in a raised vehicle (you don't need a 4x4) so having an SUV would be ideal. Wish we could have stayed for much longer! Thank you Mount Camdeboo team!!