Bucklands Lodge

Description

Bucklands Lodge is completely solar powered and offers four luxury double suites, all of which have modern en-suite bathrooms. Each suite has been individually designed and classically decorated with the highest quality crisp linen and soft furniture.

Bucklands Lodge has a comfortable sitting room, a formal lounge, a dining room, verandas and a swimming pool offering majestic views over rolling valleys all the way to the Hogsback, Gaika's Kop and the Winterberg in the distance. A huge wild fig tree in the garden is the perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon with a book or have a drink with friends and family in our rustic pub in the historic fort. Our chef prepares traditional South African brunches and high teas and serves a delicious three course dinner in the elegant dining room each evening.

The original homestead had recently been renovated to become Bucklands Lodge, which officially opened its doors in April 2010. It still boasts the original green brick walls, a double-storey stone fort with loopholes and a small pitched-roof store room with a dung floor. The outside concrete staircase that leads to the upper level of the tower was added sometime after 1936, replacing a wooden staircase which had been put in after the fort was constructed.

It has been suggested that Alf Buckley, the original owner, built it to protect his family during the frontier wars, but it does not resemble a typical fortified farmhouse; it seems more probable that it was built as part of a military outpost on the frontier defence line, serving as protection between Fort Brown and Double Drift.

The renovation of this historic homestead is of significance to the area as there are many such buildings in need of attention in the district. We are proud to form part of the preservation of a cultural heritage that is rapidly being lost to future generations.

Activities include game drives on Bucklands Private Game Reserve and the neighbouring 45 000 hectare Great Fish River Reserve); guided walks focusing on the unique subtropical thicket biome, bushman paintings, historical sites and cliff-top walks; specialist guided walks focusing on specific fauna and flora; fishing in the Great Fish River; night drives and stargazing; quad biking; birding; visits to Grahamstown and Double Drift, and even a private picnic on the beach near Port Alfred. Enjoy a complete holiday package for the whole family in one of Southern Africa's most beautiful destinations.

Check-In  01:00 PM   Check-Out 11:00 AM

Price & Availability

Bucklands Lodge Map