|  | Situated in the tranquil Sundays River Valley, only 40 minutes from Port Elizabeth, River Bend offers a chance to unwind, enjoy fine cuisine and explore the surrounding region of Addo National Park.
- Game drives
- Bush walks
- Night drives
- Bush picnics
- Bird watching
- Hiking trails
| This is Africa at its best - a perfect balance between the Eastern Cape bush and the sheer elegance of fine country life in a malaria free zone. Activities include personalized Big Game viewing drives or alternative wildlife experiences with professional field guides such as wildlife tracking, game walks, bird-watching and more. Game may be viewed either in the Addo concession to which River Bend has exclusive access, or in the Private River Bend Conservancy and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. This area is home to the densest elephant population on earth and together with lion, leopard hyena, buffalo, black rhino and a variety of antelope including eland, zebra and hartebeest makes a visit a memorable experience. Self drive day trips to historic Grahamstown and easy access to the fabulous Garden route are also an option. |
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| Hosts
Marius, Lodge Manager and his wife Lorraine who many of you will know from Reservations, are a superb couple who share great passion for the bushveld and wildlife. Having had 4 years experience in Botswana camps as well as a year at Bushman’s Kloof, Marius and Lorraine have found their home at River Bend. Marius in particular is very enthusiastic about conservation and takes a keen and active interest in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre as well as various other conservation projects within the Addo Elephant National Park and the private River Bend Intsomi Reserve. | Facilities
Facilities include a swimming pool, central dining room, lounge and bar. The dining experience is a celebration of simplicity and style and meals can be enjoyed in the privacy of the suite or in the elegant dining room. Alternatively informal lunches are served on the veranda overlooking the popular watering hole or as a picnic in the bushveld.
The River Bend Vitality Studio offers wonderful massages, facials and beauty treatments. An in-house therapist is available all year round and treatments can be enjoyed in the studio or in the privacy of the suites. | Accommodation
8 luxuriously appointed double suites
With a small number of rooms, the emphasis at River Bend Lodge is on understated luxury. Rooms, all with en suite bathrooms, are individually decorated and are a combination of old-fashioned luxury and modern convenience. All rooms have private verandahs and views over the valley. | Family
River Bend is family friendly and offers the following special children's facilities and activities:
- Interleading double rooms ideal for families
- Dedicated children's playroom with toys & books
- Special children's menus prepared by the chef
- Tailored game activities including game drives, guided walks and tracking courses / camps
- Fun activities at the lodge including beauty treatments in the Vitality Studio, baking cookies with the chef etc
- Fully fenced swimming pool
- Baby-sitting services offered
- Video's available for entertainment in the suites
- Safe playing area on manicured gardens within the premises of the lodge
- Electric fencing around the lodge for security
- Special children's welcome pack on arrival | ecoQuest
 Conservation
River Bend is actively involved in several projects such as the current wild dog and serval breeding projects with the ultimate intention of re-introducing these species to the wild. All the conservation projects are conducted on River Bend's private game area (Intsomi Reserve) and guests to the lodge have the added benefit of doing activities such as guided walks and drives on this reserve.
River Bend, together with TERU (The Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit, Rhodes University) and the Department of Environment and Tourism of South Africa, is also involved in game research on the Intsomi Reserve. The main focus for 2004 / 2005 is on non-native herbivore species and the impact they have on the ecology. Many private game reserves in the Eastern Cape have established populations of non-native species and the biggest threat of this is the chance of them becoming invasive. River Bend's research investigates the potential impacts - economic and ecologic, of keeping non-native herbivore species. Additional project planned include vegetation surveys, monitoring game populations and carnivore reintroductions. | Rate includes
. Accommodation
. 3 meals per day
. 2 game drives or guided walks
. Teas and coffees
. Park levies and entrance fees | Rate excludes
. All drinks
. Telephone calls
. Treatments
. Additional activities
. Laundry
. Retail purchases | Access
Scheduled flights:
- Port Elizabeth Airport
Charter flights:
- Private airstrip to be confirmed
Road transfers:
- Port Elizabeth to River Bend 70km(45 minutes)
Self-drive:
- Port Elizabeth to River Bend 70km(45 minutes)
- Plettenberg Bay to River Bend 2 hours 30 minutes | Safari category:
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River Bend Country Lodge
