If you’re planning a trip to South Africa and want to see lots of animals, but don’t have the time to embark on a safari at Kruger National Park, consider booking a stay at Inverdoorn Game Reserve. Located about 2.5 hours northeast of Cape Town, this private game reserve offers a fantastic safari experience that is very accessible if you don’t have a ton of time on your vacation to explore the country. We booked a two-night stay during our Cape Town trip and it was an incredible and unforgettable experience. From the animal encounters on game drives to incredible, clear views of the stars in the night sky, here’s what you can expect during your stay.
Accommodation & Facilities
We booked the Tankwa Chalet option for our stay, which came with two twin beds, our own private bathroom, and it was a nice-sized little space for us for two nights! Everything was comfortable and we had plenty of space for all our things, they included all the little details like robes, a mini fridge, tea and coffee with a kettle, a wine opener, glasses, and the decor in the room was really nice and added to the overall safari aesthetic. The cost was about $250/person per night, so roughly $500 total for two nights, which included 4 game drives and all meals. Alcohol is not included but the prices on wine and beer was very reasonable to add on as a charge at meals.
There is also an on-site spa; we got massages in our room and it was a fantastic way to unwind after a lot of traveling and safari adventures.
2-Night Itinerary
You can choose from either 1-night or 2-night stays at Inverdoorn, we opted for two nights which was nice to have extra time to see animals on more game drives, but if you’re super short on time, I honestly think one night is sufficient. With the one-night stay, you’ll get an evening and morning drive, where you have a great chance of seeing a lot of amazing animals. I also felt like the experience was very well balanced.
After our morning game drive on day two, we had several hours to relax, take a nap, enjoy a massage, and sit at the pool. It didn’t feel like we were trying to cram way too much activity into a short amount of time.
The Game Drives
With guests per car with a driver and guide, the safari experience was fantastic. The first day we enjoyed a sunset drive and saw giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and various types of antelope including Springbok, Eland, Wildebeest, and Impalas. We also saw hippos in the water, and watched an amazing sunset as we drove in for the night. For the evening game drives — my biggest tip would be to bring layers! While it was very hot when we set off around 4 pm, by the time the sun was setting, it was very windy and cold. Thankfully they provided some blankets on the drive, but I definitely could have used a jacket.
The next morning we hit some of the big ones — elephants and lions, cheetahs, ostrich, and a lot more antelope. The whole experience was so incredible, our guide was very knowledgeable about the various animals, and knew the best routes around the reserve to get good views for photos. Our safari group was also very nice, it was great to chat with people from all over who had ventured here, and we all rotated seating arrangements in the car to get different views from the car.
Karoo Star Experience
While this is certainly not the best photo of the night sky you’ve ever seen, it is a photo I took with my iPhone and no tripod! Every night at Inverdoorn, a guide will take a group of interested guests out for stargazing. You drive a short distance from the facilities and shut off all the lights and look up, immediately to be bathed underneath a twinkling night sky. I definitely recommend enjoying this if you’re lucky to have a clear night.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The road driving into the reserve is gravel and it’s very long. It’s best to travel with someone who knows how to change a tire, since it’s very possible you might get a flat during the drive. Take it slow on the gravel roads and be prepared for the journey to take longer than Google Maps says.
- Bring your own over-the-counter medicines and snacks. While there is no shortage of food at meals, there wasn’t a convenience store on site which surprised me. I needed some antacids but there were none to buy on the property and the closest store was about a 45-minute drive away, so needless to say I dealt with the stomachache until it went away sans drugs.
- Bring layers! It gets cold on the evening game drives once the sun goes down.
- Bring cash for tipping service staff during meals. I found that about 10-15% was the standard and appreciated.
- Don’t forget a swimsuit. The pool at Inverdoorn was really nice and perfect for relaxing at with a book after a day of driving around the game reserve.
Overall it was an amazing first safari experience. I can’t wait to explore more safari destinations in Africa in the future. If you’ve been on an incredible safari, please leave a comment on where you went and where you stayed!