| The Western Cape offers a number of Private | | | | Hot ( 36 degrees Centigrade ), dry and almost |
| Game Reserves and exclusive Wilderness | | | | moonlike in character and feel. |
| experiences to choose from, Colin & I chose two | | | | |
| well-established properties to share with you this | | | | Kagga Kamma Private Game Reserve offers a |
| month, Aquila Private Game Reserve and Kagga | | | | wilderness experience with a cultural twist. The |
| Kamma Private Game Reserve, both within a | | | | general Cederberg area is renowned for it’s |
| three-hour drive of Cape Town. | | | | Bushmen paintings and Kagga Kamma offers an |
| | | | | informative cultural safari guided by a greatly |
| The four star Aquila Private Game Reserve | | | | knowledgeable and experienced field guide, Jaco, |
| offers game drives within a malaria free, Big 5 | | | | who is also the General Manager. Jaco is a great |
| game territory only 2 hours drive from Cape | | | | host, passionate about Mother Nature and has an |
| Town. Surrounded by a semi desert rolling | | | | expansive knowledge of the Bushmen. Time |
| landscape of the Little Karoo, the scenery is | | | | spent in the Sabi Sands at the inimitable Mala Mala |
| spectacular. | | | | Game Reserve in conjunction with his Namibian |
| | | | | heritage made time in his company utterly |
| Aquila Private Game Reserve actively supports | | | | compelling! The game that roams their reserve is |
| the previously disadvantaged community from | | | | plains game only, bontebok, eland, burchells zebra, |
| the nearby town of Touws River. Under the aegis | | | | red hartebeest, klipspringer and some of the |
| of the team at Aquila, they employ over 120 | | | | smaller species like the antbear and jackal. |
| people, sponsoring a full time teacher and the local | | | | |
| cricket team amongst other generous sustainable | | | | One of the salient selling points here is that being |
| development programs so vital within our | | | | situated so far from town & city light pollution, |
| responsible tourism gambit. They have made | | | | star gazing is magnificent, has depth and really is |
| strong inroads to eradicate exotic tree and | | | | exceptional ( almost as good as Sutherland, see |
| invasive plant species from the area. This ongoing | | | | our Travel Advisory for September 2007 ). |
| program assists in water preservation in an area | | | | Kagga Kamma Private Game Reserve offers a |
| that receives only 400 millilitres of rainfall per year! | | | | unique, well-positioned mini observatory with a |
| Throughout their bathrooms they use natural | | | | 10-inch telescope. Close up views of our moon, |
| biodegradable bath products supporting their | | | | certain planets, constellations and other fascinating |
| environmental responsibilities. Very positive and | | | | objects in far-flung space can be observed. A |
| laudable actions! | | | | worthwhile experience! |
| | | | | |
| Our experience at Aquila Private Game Reserve | | | | Kagga Kamma offers unique accommodation. Ten |
| left us with mixed feelings though. Having spent | | | | imitation sandstone cave like structures built up |
| time at numerous other African Safari properties | | | | against the towering sandstone rock formations |
| in various parts of southern African, we felt that | | | | blend into their surroundings. Comfortable beds, |
| Aquila is over sold as what they term as | | | | fresh crisp, white linen and air conditioning are |
| “Real Africa”, a statement on their | | | | indeed welcomed. Their “ Outcrop “ |
| website. The cheetah and the lions are in | | | | sleep out option is special! This simply is a Must Do |
| enclosures and you can see them pacing up and | | | | for you! Imagine if you will, a natural rock outcrop, |
| down the fence line of their respective | | | | two shade trees and a vast expanse of an |
| enclosures, the crocodiles are in a small water | | | | endless vista. Imagine the ingenuity of man adding |
| camp at the lodge for all to see and all the game | | | | all that is wanted in the way of luxury amenities |
| is fed every evening, not quite the Real Africa we | | | | needed for human entertainment from sunset to |
| feel is authentic and what we could market as | | | | well after sunrise the following day. Well before |
| “ Real Africa “. However, Aquila Private | | | | sunset, we boarded quad bikes and were |
| Game Reserve does have the advantage that | | | | escorted the three kilometres between main |
| you can get really good, close up photos of | | | | camp and the Outcrop. Our arrival is breathtaking. |
| wildlife which may rate you well with your friends | | | | A truly baronial bedroom equipped with a king |
| back home when you share your African | | | | sized bed, side tables, lounge area and coffee |
| experience. You do have the opportunity to see | | | | table festooned with all sorts of culinary delights. |
| four of the Big 5! Even the well-informed rangers | | | | The African sun setting directly in front of us, our |
| very rarely see the mountain leopards, the 5th of | | | | host prepares glasses, lights our paraffin lamps |
| the Big 5. | | | | then discretely vanishes. We are alone to |
| | | | | commune with Mother Nature! |
| Colin and I met with the General Manager, Leon | | | | |
| and the Conservation manager, Patrick. Two fine | | | | For those of you yet to experience this, do so in |
| young gentlemen with passion, knowledge & a | | | | a vast hurry, for those who have, come here |
| commitment for both the environment and guest | | | | and allow Her to regale you with a story of the |
| experience. Aquila is a custom designed day visit | | | | setting sun, all the animal actors on the stage |
| product and we both felt it to be very much a | | | | before you join in settling down. The evening sky |
| “work in progress”. Aquila may well offer | | | | was streaked a vivid pink, turning to crimson, |
| a fine safari option in time to come. Right now | | | | then steel grey, the stars emerged with a |
| though, we feel that it is pricey for the overall | | | | brightness and depth. The Black Hole presented |
| input for overnight guests staying for a night or | | | | herself alongside the Southern Cross, shooting |
| two. The accommodation offered is standard and | | | | stars abounded. Utter silence roared, the black |
| the meals provided, were pedestrian but well | | | | velvet night greeted our gentle burning fire. Peace, |
| presented. Overall service is good and the game | | | | contentment and solitude pervaded. Our picnic |
| rangers are knowledgeable within their scope of | | | | dinner was adequate but lacking for imagination, |
| responsibility. It was a disappointment being | | | | cold meats, some excellent cheeses, chicken legs |
| offered bottom end quality semi sweet South | | | | and a well prepared & presented green salad |
| African sparkling wine, marshmallows and biltong | | | | combined with a potato salad all conveniently |
| on the afternoon game drive at sundown. An | | | | boxed in plastic containers. Our African night sky |
| opportunity missed to captivate the heart & mind | | | | talks to you. Allow the language to permeate |
| of the twelve guests on our vehicle……. | | | | your mind and you will hear the mélange of |
| | | | | words, dreams, hopes and aspirations. Colin arose |
| Aquila offers two adventurous and fun activities | | | | in the early hours of the morning to witness the |
| at the lodge being a horseback safari and a quad | | | | rising moon illuminating everything in waxen white. |
| biking safari. Both offer a unique experience. The | | | | |
| big advantage of visiting this property is found in | | | | The sun arose from behind our rock casting |
| their comprehensive day trip. For folks staying in | | | | colour, warmth and light on the distant hills, |
| Cape Town & surrounds with limited time to take | | | | ethereal waking for the experienced traveller, for |
| in African wildlife, valuable photo and close animal | | | | the first timer simply soul food. A superb |
| encounters abound. Overall thoughts, come for a | | | | honeymoon option if you’re looking to secure |
| day! For the future, their conference facilities to | | | | a piece of peace and for those wanting to |
| be developed over the next six months would | | | | experience fifteen hours of uninterrupted privacy. |
| make a wise choice of venue. | | | | Due to the naturalness of this option, it is weather |
| | | | | dependant. |
| A hop, skip and a jump took us north from Aquila | | | | |
| through some more spectacular scenery, climbing | | | | Overall our experience at Kagga Kamma Private |
| an undulating mountain pass and along some rough | | | | Game Reserve was a pleasant learning curve |
| gravel roads towards the southern Cederberg | | | | made special by the Outcrop experience. We |
| region. The four star, 15 000 hectare Kagga | | | | would recommend the Outcrop without hesitation, |
| Kamma Private Game Reserve was our selected | | | | however when gauged against similar focussed |
| destination. The final 16km to the lodge showed | | | | properties within the region, their rates in |
| unique similarities to the mesmerising sandstone | | | | proportion to the overall value for the rest of the |
| rock formations found within the Cederberg area. | | | | property are high. |