Situated in the gloriously romantic Eastern Cape, Kwandwe aptly means "Place of the Blue Crane" in Xhosa - South Africa's highly endangered national bird - and is home to a population of these rare birds. Steeped in history. Kwandwe's reception building is a Frontier War-era fortified homestead, and the Reserve boasts its own intimate chapel - an idyllic setting in which to perform your African wedding ceremony.
"We were looked after especially well because we were on honeymoon and really appreciated the extra efforts made to ensure our stay was truly memorable."
Ryan & Mandy, Manhattan
WEDDING CEREMONY AT KWANDWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve offers a choice of extraordinarily beautiful venues for the exchange of your vows.
CHAPEL AT HEATHERTON TOWERS
Groom and guests await the bride's arrival at the chapel. After the signing of the register guests will move outside for celebratory drinks on the lawn.
VIEWING DECKS AT KWANDWE ECCA OR LODGE
Please note that sole-use of the Lodge is required for this ceremony option. A ceremony can be hosted at any time of day.
BUSH SETTING
For those who want to get married close to nature, the open space of the African bush is the ideal setting. Before sunset, guests and groom await the bride before they share their vows in a true untouched African landscape. Groom and guests are transported to the wedding venue in the bush, with the bride arriving later. After the ceremony and signing of register, guests celebrate with champagne cocktail sundowners.
WEDDING BANQUET AT KWANDWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
WEDDING BUSH BANQUET
A sumptuous feast for guests in the middle of the African Bush. Dining tables are adorned with lanterns and candles and attended to with first class service. This is a dramatic and elegant manner in which to entertain a wedding party or a quiet and romantic option for an intimate table for two.
KWANDWE LODGE DINING ROOM
Bridal couples have a choice of hosting their wedding banquet in any of the surrounding areas of the Lodge. The Lodge offers a formal, grand dining area as a venue for an unforgettable wedding banquet. Kwandwe Lodge's candlelit dining room is stylishly furnished in Frontier Settler style, integrating local African culture with colonial settler history.
KWANDWE ECCA LODGE DINING ROOM
The Lodge dining room overlooks rolling spekboom valleys. Ecca Lodge is fun, flamboyant and fabulous. Interiors reflect natural textures in bright hues of burnt aloe orange, rust and olive. Furnishings combine clean, contemporary sofas with venerable old collectables from the area. The dining room's glass doors open up 180 degrees, providing an indoor-outdoor dining experience.
UPLANDS HOMESTEAD
The Homestead's sitting and dining areas feature high ceilings, wooden floors and beautiful fireplaces. A deep and shady veranda leads out to the large swimming pool and gazebo. In the modernised farm kitchen, Uplands Homestead's private chef prepares delicious Pan-African cuisine.
BOMA AT KWANDWE LODGE
We can strongly recommend Kwandwe's outdoor Boma, being spacious yet cosy, with an unforgettable atmosphere at night created by dozens of lanterns and huge fires. Delicious cuisine is served at the fireside, under African skies. This option is only available for dinners.
PRIVATE DINNER FOR TWO TO SIX GUESTS
A romantic dinner for an intimate wedding in the privacy of the couples' suite at any of the lodges at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve makes for a secluded and sentimental celebratory affair.
Please note: Outdoor wedding ceremonies and banquet settings are subject to weather and will be confirmed on the day. The weather in the Eastern Cape can be variable.
CHOICE OF WEDDINGS AT KWANDWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
AN INTIMATE WEDDING
Between 2 to 6 Guests can comfortably be accommodated in 1 to 3 Suites of Kwandwe Main Lodge or Ecca Lodge. An intimate wedding comprising of 6 Guests can be accommodated in the 3 Bedrooms of Kwandwe Uplands Homestead. This would afford the wedding party sole-use of the Homestead.
CLASSICAL WEDDING
A classic wedding of 12 Guests can be accommodated in 6 Suites - affording the wedding party the sole-use of Kwandwe Ecca Lodge. 18 Guests can be hosted in 9 Suites at Kwandwe Main Lodge. The 6 to 15 Suites of both Kwandwe Main and Ecca Lodges will accommodate 12 to 30 Guests perfectly.
WEDDING ACCOMMODATION AT KWANDWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve features the exclusive Main Lodge, unique historic Uplands Homestead and acclaimed Ecca Lodge, all offering world-class sophistication and style in the African bush.
Suites: Kwandwe Main Lodge is stylishly furnished in Frontier Settler style, integrating local African culture with colonial settler history. Set along the aloe-studded banks of the Great Fish River, 9 elegant thatched stone and glass suites feature floor-to-ceiling doors which fold back to reveal uninterrupted wilderness vistas.
Guest Areas: Beautiful thatched guest areas and expansive viewing decks overlook the river. The décor is African-inspired, with earth-toned fabrics, indigenous timber and early settler antiques and artifacts. Sophisticated, glass-fronted sitting and dining areas boast expansive viewing decks with breathtaking river views. Guest areas have a large fireplace with massive stone chimney, and a soaring thatched roof with imposing chandeliers.
Suites: Innovative, stylish and intimate, Ecca Lodge embodies a "funk-meets-futuristic-farmhouse” ambience, and features just six intimate suites with spacious living areas and en suite bathrooms each with private veranda and plunge pool.
Guest Areas: Overlooking rolling spekboom valleys, main guest areas include a spacious sitting room, dining room and bar area, interactive kitchen, sparkling rim-flow lap pool and unique interpretive centre. Interiors reflect natural textures in hues of burnt aloe orange, rust and olive. Furnishings combine clean, contemporary sofas with venerable old collectables from the area.
Bedrooms: This gracious and intimate homestead is a sensitively restored 1905 farmhouse set in a remote and tranquil valley. Perfect for the sole use of a group or family of up to 6 Guests - with three spacious en suite bedrooms. Antiques and memorabilia reminiscent of an 1820s Settler home elegantly blend with comfortable, modern finishes.
Guest Areas: The sitting and dining areas feature high ceilings, wooden floors and beautiful fireplaces. A shady veranda leads out to the swimming pool and gazebo. In the modernized farm kitchen, your private chef prepares delicious Pan-African cuisine and local specialties. Guests are afforded privacy and the luxury of their own private ranger, tracker, chef and open 4x4 safari vehicle.
CC Africa will do everything possible to accommodate specific room requests for the bridal couple, however ample notice will need to be given to do so - at least 3 months. Understandably, any unforeseen events - such as storm damage or similar - might prevent the Lodge from following through with such requests.
