You are here: Home / Eastern Cape / Port Alfred / Bucklands Boutique Guest House
four star accommodation
Bucklands Boutique Guest House image.
CLICK THE ABOVE THUMBNAILS
FOR ENLARGED IMAGES

Address:
Postnet Suite # 286,
Private Bag X1672,
Grahamstown,
Eastern Cape
South Africa

Bucklands Boutique Guest House


4 STAR HOTEL IN PORT ALFRED
EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

The Bucklands Boutique Guest House is situated on the Private Game Reserve of the same name in South Africa's beautiful province of the Eastern Cape. It is situated close to the popular coastal cities of Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay), Port Alfred and East London. This guest house is the reserve's original homestead and is steeped in history and natural beauty.

The homestead, now known as Bucklands Boutique, is believed to have been built in the 1870's. Its pitched roof storeroom has a traditional dung floor and the double-storey fort is constructed from the original grey stone to create a magical sense of yesteryear.

The guest areas of Bucklands Boutique include a comfortable sitting room, a formal lounge, an inviting dining area and spacious balconies that boast unrivalled views of the Hogsback Mountain Range, Winterberg Mountains and Gaika's Kop Mountains, as well as of the beautiful gardens of Bucklands. The giant Fig Tree is situated in these gardens and is an impressive sight to admire and a welcome retreat for guests seeking a shady spot. From the balconies, many game species can also be spotted for an authentic African experience.

Accommodation

The Bucklands Boutique Guest House has only four suites, each sleeping two people. These luxurious facilities are exclusive, promising personalised and efficient service within intimate surrounds. Two of the suites are equipped to accommodate physically disabled guests and all are completely powered by solar panels. They have en-suite bathrooms, modern amenities and elegant furnishings.
Children over the age of 12 years are welcome to stay at Bucklands under the supervision of their parents or guardians.

Dining

Hungry guests are invited to prepare for a busy day in the Eastern Cape bushveld with a hearty South African breakfast and to regale one another with tales of their wildlife experiences over scrumptious three-course dinners. All meals are prepared by trained chefs that are committed to creating a taste sensation using fresh ingredients. Should guests require tasty lunches, these can be arranged ahead of time.

Conservation & Wildlife

The Bucklands Private Game Reserve boasts a stunning panorama of river valleys with mudstone and sandstone featuring to create a diverse scene before even the most frequent of travellers. There are a variety of soils, influenced by and influencing the topography and vegetation and promising a unique mixture of fauna and flora. While some types of sands are particularly susceptible to erosion, this area remains fertile and lush.

Studies of the variety of plants and animals were carried out in December 2007. The result was the discovery of 77 species of mammals, 245 bird species and a vast array of insects, reptiles and fascinating plants. These studies also examined the condition of the roads, infrastructure and water points in order to ensure that the reserve is as expertly managed and environmentally responsible as possible.

Activities

The Bucklands Private Game Reserve is geared towards exposing the beauty of South Africa to local and international guests in its natural beauty. This has been accomplished by providing a variety of activities in which to engage.

These include:

Game Drives - tour the expanses of Bucklands and the 45 000 hectares of its neighbour, the Great Fish River Reserve, in search of the many animals that roam these habitats. These tours are conducted in the morning and evening to allow for the greatest variety of animals to be spotted. Trained guides conduct the tours, adding extra snippets of fascinating information and answering guest questions. Snacks are available on these drives.

Guided Walks - for a more personal encounter with this natural environment, allow a trained guide to transport you through the local terrain to experience the Bushmen paintings, historical attractions and cliff tops.

Specialist Guided Walks - guests that are particularly interested in certain animals or vegetation may arrange for a specialist walk that focuses on these. The emphasis is placed on nature conservation, and the policies in place at Bucklands.

Fishing- avid fishers will enjoy the rich abundance of fish in the Great Fish River, which is inside the borders of the Bucklands Private Game Reserve. Common catches include Barbel, Carp and Yellow Fish.

Night Drives - after the hot sun descends on the land, many different species emerge from their daytime hiding holes to hunt, drink water and enjoy some freedom in their natural habitat as guests look on from the safety of the safari vehicles.

Quad Biking Trails - combine a game drive with an adrenalin rush by exploring the surrounds and their natural residents on an exciting quad bike ride.

Star Gazing - Africa is known for its high, star-speckled skies. These skies and the glittering stars are an impressive sight to behold from the guest house or on the night game drives.

Bird Watching - with almost 250 bird species, this area is ideal for bird watchers. As these avian species soar overhead, the true splendour of South Africa is reflected in their unique glory.

Bushmen Paintings - the ancient tribes that once occupied this area left behind them art that portrayed their lives and customs on the rock faces. Hundreds of years later, Buckland guests are still invited to experience these haunting remnants.

Directions / Location to the Bucklands Private Game Reserve:

GPS Co-ordinates:

Entrance gate to Bucklands Private Game Reserve:
26deg 41min 15sec E,
33deg 06min 43sec S

Bucklands Boutique Guest House:
26deg 42min 24sec E,
33deg 06min 26sec S

Directions from Port Elizabeth to Bucklands Private Game Reserve:
Proceed to Grahamstown; bypass Grahamstown on N2 towards King Williamstown. At 6 km along the N2 past Grahamstown, turn left onto R67 Fort Beaufort / Rini road. Drive 21 km then turn right onto dirt road signposted "Great Fish River Reserve". Drive 2 km then turn left onto dirt road signposted Sam Knott, Double Drift, Great Fish River Reserve. Drive through closed green Reserve gate (sometimes left open), keep right at fork immediately after going through gate area, proceed 9 km to closed green gate signposted Bucklands Reserve. Go through gate. Drive 3 km then turn left through farm gate signposted Top House, Bucklands. Drive 2 km to the Bucklands office.

Directions from King East London to Bucklands Private Game Reserve Proceed towards Grahamstown via King Williamstown on N2. At 6 km before Grahamstown along the N2, turn right onto R67 Fort Beaufort / Rini Road. Drive 21 km then turn right onto dirt road signposted "Great Fish River Reserve". Drive 2 km then turn left onto dirt road signposted Sam Knott, Double Drift, Great Fish River Reserve. Drive through closed green Reserve gate (sometimes left open), keep right at fork immediately after going through gate area, proceed 9 km to closed green gate signposted Bucklands Reserve . Go through gate. Drive 3 km then turn left through farm gate signposted Top House, Bucklands. Drive 2 km to the Bucklands office.