Welcome to East London.

Situated approximately 1200 meters above sea-level, the Buffalo River runs through the extravagant Amathole Mountains of the Eastern Cape and runs East across the coastal plateau towards the Indian Ocean. It is here that the Buffalo River runs into the sea at East London – South Africa’s only river port.

For more information on East London and surrounding areas, visit Eastern Cape Tourism at : www.ectourism.co.za

Mpongo Private Game Reserve (GPS 30D51.8299m / -29548.7193m)
Mpongo Private Game Reserve, only 35km from the popular coastal city of East London, offers visitors a one of-a-kind experience of game viewing and true South African hospitality. 

Home to the elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, numerous antelope and bird species, Mpongo Private Game Reserve offers a unique blend of luxury and gaming experiences on more than 3500 ha of conservation land. Enjoy a day, weekend or a whole week at this magnificent reserve in the heart of the Eastern Cape. With its rolling hills, river valleys and luscious surroundings, it caters to the heart of even the keenest eco-tourist.

Accommodation
The Reserve derived its name from the Umpongo River, which features prominently in Xhosa history.  Nonkosi, one of the instigators of the widespread Xhosa suicide attempt, lived near the river according to legend.  It is also said that some of the relics from her kraal can be found at the Reserve.Set in a malaria free environment, with many facilities including conference rooms, a boardroom, boma and a choice of luxurious accommodation, Mpongo offers its Guests the enjoyment of swimming, a game drive, or for those that want to view game from the comfort of their own vehicles, a self drive game viewing experience.

Wine & Dine
The  Huberta restaurant, received its name from South Africa’s traveling hippo.   Named the “Wandering Star of South Africa” and honored by the Xhosa as a spirit of an ancient chief, she traveled more than 1600 km South where journalists attempted to photograph her graceful safari through Africa.

Dining at the Huberta restaurant provides guests the opportunity to relive the legend of Huberta by being so close to the hippos at Mpongo Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. This beautiful restaurant is strategically built just above the Mpongo hippo waterhole, where guests can enjoy an afternoon meal while watching the hippos lingering in the water nearby.
Stylish décor with a touch of Xhosa culture compliments the dining experience and the close, but safe encounter with wild animals. Guests are treated to a blend of African and European cuisine. Diners can select from a wide range of wine cultivars to compliment their delicious meals while gazing at hippos through large open windows overlooking the waterhole.The Huberta restaurant is open to the public for lunch and dinners. Many a tourist has been treated to the best of African game viewing on Sundays when the hippos are fed. Guests at Mpongo can also enjoy a traditional breakfast that reminds of the colonial days. Light pub lunches are served daily from 10h00 to 17h00.

Acclaimed chefs, well-trained waiters, and friendly hosts welcome you to a unique dining experience at this magnificent Eastern Cape game lodge restaurant.

Game Drives:

Guided Game Drives:

3 hour Game Drive including lunch per person

• 1 person R905
• 2 people R605
• 3 people R430
• 4 people R415

3 hour Game Drive excluding lunch per person

• 1 person R835
• 2 people R530
• 3 people R430
• 4 people R340

All full three hour game drives include snacks and one local mineral drink (soft drink or water) on the drive at a halfway stop.

Self Drives:

• R50 per adult
• R30 per child under the ages of 12 years.  No fee is charged for the vehcile and there is no limited time to spend on the reserve, except for closing time at 18:00.

Game drives, be it a self-drive or a guided game drive, can be enjoyed on the 3500 hectare Mpongo Private Game Reserve.  A full 45km road network covers the extent of Mpongo with various routes to choose from, taking one from the grass covered plateaus down into the lovely lush woodland forests in the valleys.  The reserve can be raced through within one and a half hours yet to enjoy the more than 45 species to be found on the reserve, be it the mighty elephants down to the dainty blue duiker, or the more than 123 various bird species on the reserve.  It is recommended to drive at leisure and get to enjoy the full extent of bumper wildlife offered on the reserve.

Game drives can be enjoyed at various times of the day due to the number of options availabe, namely early morning drives, late afternoon drives, sunset drives whereby one gets to enjoy both diurnal and nocturnal species, or night drives whereby one encounters the hidden wildlife treasures of the temperate climatic evenings.  Bookings for game drives are essential to avoid dissappointment.

Local Attractions

Beaches - Visitors to Mpongo Private Game Reserve can spend a day at one of the many beautiful white sandy beaches of the East Coast.  The unspoiled coastal line is a haven for tourists and offers several recreational activities, including swimming, sail boat trips, waterskiing in the river mouth, and sail boating.  

Bird Watching - Mpongo Private Game Reserve is known for its richness in bird life, boasting with more than 250 bird species.  This alone makes it one of the best Eastern Cape tourist attractions where bird lovers can even observe birds in their natural habitat from the comfort of their luxurious rooms.  Mpongo has been awarded birder friendly statust by SA birdlife.

Game Drives - Few reserves offer the variety of African game that can be viewed from open vehicles as at Mpongo Private Game Reserve.  Come close to wild through a two to three hour open vehicle drive under the guidance of an experienced game guide.  Included in the drive is a refreshment stop where you will be treated to light beverages and snacks.  Another option is our self drive game viewing option where you can view the game from the comfort of your own vehicle.    

Golf Courses - Two golf courses also form part of the Eastern Cape tourist attractions, one of which already hosted no less than six SA Opens.  Keen golfers can play their finest strokes right next to the beautiful Indian Ocean at the East London Golf Course which has been rated as one of the top golf courses in South Africa.

Historical Attractions - History lovers will find many tourist attractions in the Port City of East London.  The city is home to the Ann Bryant Art Gallery where Cape Dutch and Victorian artwork from 1880 and onwards are displayed.  The Steve Biko Garden of Remembrance provides a glimpse into the South African activist history while the beautiful City Hall commemorates the Queen Victoria diamond jubilee and is more than a hundred years old.  As the only river port in South Africa, a tour through the old harbour should not be missed.  A historical tour in this city will not be complete without a visit to the East London Museum where you will be able to see the only dodo egg in the world and can get a peek into the Xhosa history.

Swimming Pool - Guests of the River Lodge can relax next to the sparkling pool in the afternoon.

Whale Watching - It is not often that you get to see the large water creatures, but you can spend an afternoon at the oldest aquarium in South Africa while enjoying spectacular scenes of whales swimming in the ocean through a telescope fitted on the deck. Seal shows and more than 400 species of fish to be seen make a visit to the aquarium a must for lovers of the marine world.    

Sunshine Coast Resorts - Day trips to the nearby sunshine coast resorts can be arranged.  With so many Eastern Cape tourist attractions offered by the Reserve and in the nearby vicinity, guests can be assured of variety, luxury, and adventure when they visit Mpongo.