Bush Experience near Cape Town

Q: We will be holidaying in Cape Town with friends from Gibraltar and would like to give them a bush experience. Is there a game reserve close enough to the city for a weekend break? Our ideal would be a private reserve offering guided game drives. An authentic African wildlife experience is more important than the Big Five, but we would prefer a luxury lodge, similar to those in the Sabi Sands area. - Adele Bredelinghuys

A: My recommendation is Bushman's Kloof, which is located at the foothills of the Cedarberg about 270km from Cape Town. It offers game drives in open game viewing vehicles and the reserve is home to a wide range of buck as well as interesting species such as the bat-eared fox and the elusive aardvark. A speciality are the daily guided walks to 130 ancient rock art sites. If you visit in spring, you will find sections of the reserve carpeted in white and yellow flowers. You need have no concerns about the standard and service in the lodge - it was recently voted the top hotel in the world in the Travel and Leisure World's Best Awards, beating its acclaimed counterparts from up north. Check it out on the www.bushmanskloof.co.za website. Other reserves near Cape Town you could try include are Aquila Game Reserve, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, Garden Route Game Lodge and Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. (2 Aug 2009)