Experience Mont Eco Game Reserve: Big 5 Safari Near Cape Town

This year I spent over 2 months in South Africa, primarily living in Cape Town. This was the perfect opportunity to bring my parents and my sister to South Africa as well. It quickly became clear that during our two weeks together, we wouldn't be able to see much more than Cape Town and its surroundings because the city has so much to offer.

Nonetheless, I wanted them to experience wild animals in their natural habitat. When Katrin first took me to South Africa in 2018 and we visited the Kruger National Park together, it changed my world. I wished for my family to feel that same excitement I had back then.

As impressive as the Kruger National Park and the private game reserves are, they are simply too far from Cape Town and can only be reached by plane. Therefore, I needed an alternative, ideally not too far from Cape Town, but with a similar charm. I definitely did not want to subject them to the typical safari spots nearby, especially the Aquila Game Reserve. After some research, I stumbled upon the Mont Eco Game Reserve, which convinced me right away.

The Mont Eco Game Reserve near Cape Town is located in the semi-desert region of Klein Karoo and spans over 16,000 acres. For those who can't visualize that: it's certainly not as large as Kruger National Park, but it's still bigger than Manhattan. As the only reserve nearby, it is home to Africa's "Big Five" - lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo.

The area itself contains historical remains, rock paintings, and fossils that date back thousands of years.

Mont Eco Game Reserve was founded by Craig Saunders, a passionate conservationist who worked as a ranger in the well-known Sabi Sand reserve in Greater Kruger during his youth. He is South African and worked hard to take over the reserve in 2015. His intention was to restore the land to its natural state while promoting the protection and reintroduction of endangered species. As a result, Karoo species like brown hyena, aardvark, oryx, and klipspringer have been reintroduced. After thorough evaluation by various authorities, the Big Five have also been successfully settled.

Important to know: the lions are (still) in a separate, smaller enclosure. The relocation of animals is under strict supervision. Before they move to the larger reserve, extensive data must be collected and evaluated. For visitors, this offers a great advantage: the chances of spotting the predators in the smaller enclosure are much higher. We did not see any leopards during our game drives, unfortunately.

The Mont Eco Game Reserve is located in the Klein Karoo region of the Western Cape province of South Africa, about 35 kilometers east of the town of Montagu. It is accessible via Driekuilshoogte Road, which is a gravel road, and the drive from Cape Town takes approximately 2.5 hours.

Driving from Cape Town, you take the N1 Highway past the Winelands to Worcester. From there, continue on R60 to the small town of Montagu (on the Route 62). From there, you need to take a gravel road to Mont Eco Game Reserve.

I recommend driving slowly and cautiously to avoid a flat tire on the gravel road. There is no cell service in that area. Katrin and I unfortunately experienced this twice during our time together in South Africa.

For your arrival, you will receive directions from Mont Eco Game Reserve and inform them of your arrival time. If you are delayed, a vehicle will come to meet you. A porter will greet you at the gate, check you in, and guide you to the lodge.

Transfer Service: I was in Stellenbosch with my parents beforehand and arranged for a pickup from there. The shuttle service costs approximately 300 EUR round trip to Cape Town.

The accommodation at Mont Eco Game Reserve is called Kingsley Lodge (and not hotel). It consists of seven very luxurious and modern suites or rooms, all identical in layout. This means that the entire game reserve can host a maximum of 14 guests at the same time. The spacious rooms feature a main area, including a kitchen, bed, couch, fireplace, and table.

Separated by a glass wall, you reach the bathroom, which includes both a soaking tub grotto and a shower. The room leads to an outdoor area: a private wooden deck that - safely fenced - reveals a view of a riverbed. Occasionally, giraffes, buffalo, and even rhinoceroses may wander here, but we were unfortunately not lucky enough to see them.

In addition to the accommodations, the lodge offers various common areas and dining options, including an outdoor pool and an observation deck with panoramic views. Overall, the Kingsley Lodge is generously laid out. We were fortunate to often be alone during our stay.

This experience was truly special. The prices for this type of exclusive accommodation are quite high, but you will hardly encounter other guests, ensuring your privacy. The online reviews - including ours - are very positive.

The day at Mont Eco Game Reserve usually starts around 5:30 AM. After having coffee in the comfort of your own kitchen - everything is provided for that - the first game drive begins at 6 AM, at sunrise. Our trained ranger with the amusing name 'Professor' accompanied us on all game drives. This way, he always knew which animals we had already seen and which areas of the game reserve we still needed to explore. During the ride and search for animals, Professor continually informs us about the behavior of the different species.

After a while, the ranger looks for the perfect spot for a coffee break. Professor proves to be an excellent barista and serves coffee, either black, with milk, or with Amarula - why not, it's vacation after all. Along with that, there's a bit of cake or something similar.

In the distance, we spot three elephants. Professor humorously suggests that the elephants can smell the coffee and will likely come over soon. We should be prepared to quickly get back in the car if necessary. He is right.

Just a few minutes later, the three elephants approach us directly. As our guide packs everything up, we climb into the car and anxiously await how close the elephants will come to us. Very close! The animals curiously sniff our vehicle and are only centimeters away. They put on a unique show for us. On one hand, it's incredibly impressive, but we still hold a great respect for these massive creatures.

Filled with excitement, but also a bit relieved, we gradually head back to the lodge.

On another day, we go in the morning to see the lions, which are in a separate enclosure. They have to acclimate to their surroundings after being relocated. It doesn't take long before we spot the big cats. They are very curious and start playing with the vehicle, not wanting to let us pass.

The fact that we are in an open vehicle in close proximity to the lions staring at us is simply incredible. Words cannot describe it; it must be experienced. What a fantastic morning!

After the game drive, we return to the lodge, where breakfast is already waiting for us. Usually, this is between 8:30 and 9 AM. On our plates are a cheese and cold cuts platter, along with croissants, muesli with fresh fruit and yogurt, jam, and fresh juices. You can also choose from a warm menu. We had a choice of Eggs Benedict, omelets, and a platter with bacon, hash browns, and other egg dishes. The food is truly excellent.

After breakfast, the relaxing part begins: lounging by the pool, playing billiards in the lounge, a bath in the grotto, and perhaps reading a book. Mont Eco offers options for all weather and temperature situations. The bar is always open, so you can order a cold beer, a glass of wine, or whatever you fancy.

Around 2 PM, lunch is served. Here too, there's a daily varying menu to choose from. Burgers, pasta, or salad. Not large portions, but sufficient to get through the day without hunger.

Note: Mont Eco Game Reserve offers full board, but alcoholic drinks must be paid separately.

Around 5 PM, we gather in the lobby to head out for the next game drive. Professor is already waiting for us in the packed Toyota Land Cruiser. This time, we head to a different area of the park in hopes of spotting new animals. And of course, to find the perfect spot for the sundowner. A sundowner is a drink traditionally enjoyed during sunset, typically a gin and tonic, beer, wine, or a Savannah cider. There are also non-alcoholic options, of course.

Along with that, Professor provides us with some snacks: chips, cookies, nuts, and of course, biltong (dried meat). Afterward, we return to the lodge with plenty of impressions.

Upon our arrival at the lodge, dinner awaits us. Sometimes it's in the communal area, but on our final night, a huge braai (South African barbecue) was prepared with a campfire set up. It's remarkable how much effort the staff puts in. We lack for nothing. Sated, we return to our suite and dream of all the animals we encountered.

We stayed two nights at Mont Eco Game Reserve and went on four game drives. For us, this was the ideal duration, as we didn't have much time overall.

Although the park isn't huge, we still didn't see everything. Additionally, the weather can change quickly. We experienced everything from cold and rain to heat and sunshine within those three days. Weather conditions naturally affect wildlife visibility as well. Therefore, one night's stay, in my opinion, is too little. With two to three nights, you can't go wrong, if the budget allows.

There are only a few things you should take to a private game reserve:

Mont Eco Private Game Reserve is a year-round safari destination that offers different highlights in fauna and flora at any season; the animals are always present. Water in this region is pretty much always available. If you combine a stay in this wildlife reserve with a trip to Cape Town or a road trip along Route 62, I recommend visiting between December and February, when daytime temperatures can range from 86°F to 104°F.

At night, temperatures can drop to 59°F to 68°F. In winter, however, it can get down to 32°F at night.

The Mont Eco Game Reserve has completely convinced us. The main idea of allowing my family to experience an authentic safari with the Big Five without having to travel to Kruger National Park has been fully realized, and I am glad I found this game reserve. Just 3 hours from Cape Town, it is perfectly situated for a 2-3 day stay, showcasing a side of South Africa that you won't find in Cape Town.

Of course, private game reserves like Mont Eco Game Reserve come at a price. This is completely justified for the luxury you receive there. Full board, two game drives per day, and exclusive suites with very few other guests. On game drives, you won't encounter dozens of vehicles when there's an interesting sighting. You can see animals in their natural habitat up close.

For me, it was clear that my parents wouldn't be able to return to South Africa anytime soon, and I didn't want to deprive them of this unique experience. Therefore, every cent we spent here was worth it.

I hope you enjoyed my report on the stay at Mont Eco Game Reserve and that it helped answer your questions. If you have any ideas or questions, we look forward to your comments here on the travel blog.

If you have no questions: We still welcome your feedback and hope that you share this post with friends or save it on Pinterest so you can find the tips later.

Would you like to always receive the best travel insider tips? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, or subscribe to my newsletter for regular updates and exclusive tips.