Kagga Kamma is unique in that it comprises an untouched Karoo-like wilderness – an arid area characterized by sparse, hardy vegetation, including small bushes, shrubs, and succulents. Pops of color from wildflowers dot the landscape. Large outcroppings of rocks scatter the semi-desert region.

What I found most appealing was the blend of modern comforts that still allowed a deep connection to nature. The memories I made while immersed in the red sand, fynbos, and sky define a stay at Kagga Kamma. The experience offers a rustic, remote, back-to-nature retreat that provides a sense of adventure, tranquility, and relaxation. You’re off the grid here, with power generated by solar panels. Wi-Fi only works in the restaurant area, so you won’t be tempted to work in your room. The advantage is that you can enjoy a cocktail while taking in the view from the patio. Additionally, you won’t experience load shedding, unlike in other resorts.

Here’s a three-day, two-night itinerary at Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve, which includes travel time to and from Cape Town, South Africa, through the Cape Winelands. The diverse range of activities will keep you excited and eager to explore.

Thursday Afternoon

Check into the Caves

Upon arrival, we checked in at the reception and settled into our caves. The rest of the afternoon was free before our gin-tasting session and dinner. Guest amenities include two pools and complete spa facilities. I spent the remainder of the afternoon leisurely, relaxing and taking in the scenery.

Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve offers a diverse range of unique and immersive guest room options, each designed to harmonize with the breathtaking natural surroundings of the Cederberg Mountains. The Cave Suites are a standout feature, constructed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding sandstone rock formations. These suites offer a retreat, featuring a double bed, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and a private terrace with stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

For those seeking more traditional dwellings, the spacious Hut Suites are available. These spacious, thatched-roof huts are inspired by the home of the San clans that once inhabited the area. Each hut will accommodate up to four people and features twin or king-size beds, a double sleeper couch, and an en-suite bathroom.

My cave suite featured a small deck. The sliding door opened onto a small terrace where I could enjoy a morning cup of tea before I had breakfast on the terrace of the Kagga Kamma Restaurant. If the weather had been less than perfect, the restaurant would have been my go-to spot for breakfast.  The early summer weather in November was warm but not hot throughout my stay.

Piper’s Pro Planning: Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve is remote. The nearest supermarket is 60 kilometers, or approximately 37 miles, away, along bumpy, potholed roads. So, once you’re there, you won’t want to leave to go into town. You’re there for the duration. Plan to bring everything you need for your entire stay.

Click here to check availability and reserve your stay before it sells out.

Thursday Evening

South African Gin-Tasting Experience

At the Fynbos Gin Tasting, we indulged our senses with locally crafted gins, each infused with the unique flavors of the Cederberg Mountains. We enjoyed each beverage with a variety of accompaniments to see how each impacted our tasting experience.

Dinner at Kagga Kamma Restaurant and Bar

We had dinner at the lodge under the stars, weather permitting.  We sat on the deck, facing the dramatic rock formations. I had difficulty choosing my meal with so many delicious dishes on the menu. I finally opted for the half rack of BBQ ribs, potato wedges, and a salad.

Piper’s Pro Planning: When making your reservations, let the team know of any allergies or special dietary needs, such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or dairy-free. Since supplies are at a distance, planning is essential.

Stargazing Tour

After dinner, enjoy the stargazing experience and learn about the starry African night sky. Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve is 55 nautical miles from Sutherland, making it an ideal location for observing the night sky. The isolated destination offers unpolluted skies, while the guide provided an informative talk, identifying specific stars and constellations. Stargazing typically occurs in conjunction with the lunar cycle. The star-gazing experience occurs, weather permitting. On a clear night, the Milky Way is visible.

Once you begin learning about the night sky on a stargazing tour, you may wish you had reserved one of the open-air or star suites for the entire night. That’s also the perfect stargazing spot.

The Reserve offers two outdoor suites, the Sky and Star Suites, where your entire overnight experience is beneath the stars. These unique accommodations have been named one of the Top 10 Experiences in the World.

The Sky Suite, an open-air room, provides the opportunity to sleep under the stars in a luxurious queen-sized bed. Secluded from the main lodge, these suites feature a wood-fired hot tub, an outdoor shower, and a private rock pool. This experience is an immersive connection with nature. 

I preferred the cave, but many people would love to sleep under the stars in this luxurious setting.

Friday Morning

Guided San Rock Art Tour

The original tribes of this area are the San and Khoi. We hopped in our jeep and headed with our skilled guide to the caves. The Khoi and San tribes created rock art paintings on the exterior cave walls. I was amazed that the paintings had lasted through the weather for thousands of years. The Kagga Kamma Nature Guides provided insight into this incredible art scattered across the Nature Reserve.

Once we reached the caves, we left the jeeps and walked directly up to the rock art at the reserve, including cave drawings that date back approximately 6,000 years. Our guide explained the meaning behind each painting as we explored the rock art pictures.  

While exploring the ancient rock art sites and learning about the enthralling cultural history of the area, our guide showed us some interesting artifacts that were signs of civilization. We saw beaded work, animal skins formed into bags, and a giant ostrich egg. This two-hour adventure was the perfect way to learn about these cultures.

In addition to rock art, we stopped to learn about beautiful wildflowers, such as the Cape Snow Bush, a tiny, fluffy, white flower resembling snow. This plant was used to stuff bedding materials such as pillows and mattresses, beyond medicinal and culinary purposes.

Read More: The Great Wildebeest Migration

Friday Afternoon

Lunch

I had lunch at the Kagga Kamma Restaurant and Bar while catching up on my email and waiting for my spa appointment. I chose the pulled pork BBQ sandwich with golden brown onion rings. The creamy coleslaw cooled the mildly spiced meat, served on a sesame-seed bun. The sandwich was so filling that I couldn’t finish it all.

A Spa Experience

I had a little pampering at the Kagga Kamma Salon with a mani-pedi combination. It was the perfect way to unwind and learn more from a resident. Kagga Kamma Spa offers a wide range of African-inspired, indulgent treatments. My traveling companions enjoyed a variety of massages using African oils and traditional massage techniques.

Piper’s Pro Planning: Visit the website for the complete list of services. You can contact the Lodge to make a booking.

Friday Evening

Sundowner Tour

The afternoon is reserved for relaxation before a sundowner tour, which includes an evening drive to a picturesque viewing point overlooking the nature reserve. I must admit that, for some reason, the name of this tour confused me. In retrospect, it’s obvious that the tour is designed to watch the sunset during cocktail hour. The scenic view of the sunset from one of the reserve’s majestic mountains was something I’ll long remember. It was the perfect place to conclude a day in nature. This experience is approximately a two-hour drive.

Dinner

We had a traditional South African braai for dinner in a private outdoor boma setting. Braai is the South African version of a barbeque cooked over a coal fire. This was a beautiful candle-lit affair that included steak.

Saturday

Early Morning Nature Drive

On the morning of our departure, an early morning nature drive was on the itinerary. The rest of my group decided to sleep in, but I was excited to take some wildlife photos. So, our photographer Andrew and our expert guide set off to see what we could see. This experience is referred to as a nature drive rather than a game drive because the flora is as much a part of it as the animals.

In addition to small critters, we saw plenty of larger game species, including Burchell’s zebra and other wildlife. Zebras are one of my favorite animals. This species has black and white stripes and also some faded gray stripes.

Biking

While our group didn’t participate in mountain biking or a 4X4 bike safari over the mountain ranges, these activities are available if you have the time and energy.

You can also experience one and two-hour guided Quad bike adventures. Without a guide, these parts of the reserve wouldn’t be accessible.

Piper’s Pro Planning: You’ll need to bring your own mountain bike or 4×4 vehicle to participate in these activities. The nature reserve does have the required trails to enjoy this activity.

Conclusion

Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve was a unique wilderness experience. These three days were truly remarkable, and you shouldn’t wait for a special occasion to book an adventure.

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