Kapama Buffalo Camp

Reminiscent of a traditional African safari camp from a bygone era, Buffalo Camp offers the ultimate luxurious tented accommodation experience. Built from natural stone and wood, the luxury game lodge has an old world atmosphere while being completely contemporary. All comforts are catered for in the plush tented suites and throughout this carefully appointed luxury safari lodge, with decor accent colors of burnt red and gold.

The communal areas of Buffalo Camp are also built on the riverbank, and are surrounded by wild gardens of aloe and euphorbia. An intimate lounge nestles under a vaulted thatched roof with ceiling fans, which create a welcome breeze in summer. It’s the perfect place to sink into a comfortable sofa and bird watch, while enjoying refreshments from the Buffalo Bar. To cool off at Buffalo Camp, slip into the sleek, elevated rim-flow pool with views directly into the forest canopy. Then sun-dry on the loungers before taking a lazy nap in the shade under a wide canvas umbrella.

Kapama Buffalo Camp also features an off site wellness center. Surrounded by stillness and sweeping bushveld, the Kapama Wellness Center takes safari spa treatments to new heights. Considered one of the finest safari spas in Africa, the six sumptuous treatment rooms are arranged around a generous central lap pool that evokes a sense of calm.

The 10 spacious suites that comprise Buffalo Camp are set on stilted wooden decks built on an elevated riverbank. Wooden walkways connect the suites to each other and the main lodge area. Buffalo Camp is set among tall shady trees, with a seasonal river below. In the dry season, antelope use the river course as a natural pathway to search for grazing.

Buffalo Camp’s suites are ultra-luxurious tents that evoke the feeling of old Africa. Each en-suite tent can accommodate two people, in either a double or twin beds dressed in white cotton linen and African design throws. There’s air conditioning for summer and heated under blankets to keep the cold at bay on winter nights. Everything and more than you’d expect in a luxury safari lodge is here – including a well-stocked minibar, Nespresso coffee machine and lock-up safe. Wooden floors, leather and dark wood finishes give the tents a nostalgic air.

At night, oil lanterns illuminate the walkways to create subtle light and ambiance. Just 20 guests can be accommodated at Buffalo Camp, and the focus is on personal attention, superb service and complete comfort.

Across all of Kapama’s lodges, two daily game drives are offered and are included in the tariff. Accompanied by a skilled ranger and tracker, guests can expect to encounter a diverse range of animal and bird species on game drives. Since this is a Big Five reserve, seeing lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo is possible over a two-day safari in Kapama Private Game Reserve.

The day starts with an early wake-up call between 5am and 5:30am. Tea, coffee and rusks are enjoyed together before heading out at first light. While seeing big game is always exhilarating, there are many other smaller species that are also captivating, and birding enthusiasts will be delighted at the approximately 350 species of birds recorded on the reserve. Halfway through the game drive, there’s a stop for hot drinks and snacks, before returning to the lodge at around 9am for a full breakfast. Throughout the day, it’s likely you will see wildlife around the lodge – nyala antelope and vervet monkeys are frequent visitors, though seeing some of the Big Five is also not uncommon.

At around 3:30pm, everyone gathers for a decadent high tea, before heading out with your ranger and tracker for the afternoon game drive through the reserve. En route, you’ll stop for a sundowner drink and will have a chance to stretch your legs as you watch the sun set over the distant peaks of the Drakensberg mountains.

As darkness falls, the nocturnal animals of the bush come out. The skilled tracker will scan the landscape using a spotlight, which illuminates animals’ eyes. A variety of completely different species can be seen on the night drive back to the lodge. Arrival is at the lodge is usually around 7pm, allowing time to freshen up before enjoying a sumptuous dinner.

Between game drives take the opportunity to feel Africa underfoot on a guided bush walk with a highly trained game ranger. The experience offers an intimate encounter with nature and wildlife, and medicinal and other plants are identified en route.

Rangers also teach walkers to track wildlife in the traditional way, using animal footprints and scat. Expert trackers are able to tell the gender of many animals just from their footprints. Large and dangerous animals are avoided on walks, but many other species can be viewed from a safe distance at ground level. A bush walk through Kapama Private Game Reserve is a truly memorable and authentic encounter.