Reflections Eco-Reserve

Reflections Eco-Reserve lies on the Rondevlei in the Garden Route, a Ramsar-recognised wetland of international importance, and is surrounded by the Garden Route National Park. Less than an hour from George Airport and 4.5 hours from Cape Town, Reflections Eco-Reserve offers rare access to nature living, exceptional birding, forests and beaches – all from a single, protected area.

Owner-run, family-owned and completely off-grid, Reflections Eco-Reserve is set within South Africa’s Wilderness Lakes and offers guests an environmentally friendly, sustainable and comfortable holiday experience. Choose between family eco-chalets and en-suite glamping tents, each designed for low impact yet modern comfort within this natural landscape. Breakfast and guided reserve experiences are included in your stay.

Why Reflections Eco-Reserve is Unique

Reflections Eco-Reserve is a designated Ramsar Site with global conservation significance and is located on the Rondevlei in Wilderness, surrounded by the Garden Route National Park. The Garden Route National Park is the only national park that incorporates lived areas within a South African National Park.

Reflections Eco-Reserve has the only accommodation that extends into the Garden Route National Park and is home to the second-highest birding pentad in the Western Cape, with 246 bird species recorded on the reserve.

An Official National Heritage Site, Reflections Eco-Reserve is home to a Middle and Late Stone Age site (midden) dating back to the Middle and Late Stone Age.

The reserve provides a base from which to see The Big Three: Knysna Warbler, Knysna Turaco and Knysna Woodpecker. Beyond these three, other special ‘Knysna’ species include the Knysna dwarf chameleon and the Knysna seahorse.

Accommodation

Eco-Chalets

• 4 eco-chalets
• Three bedrooms each
• Sleeps 4 adults and 2 children
• Off-grid
• Wrap-around deck
• 2 bathrooms

Luxury Glamping Tents

• 2 glamping tents
• Queen-sized bed for 2 people
• Off-grid
• Private firepit
• En-suite bathroom

Experiences & Activities

Reflections Eco-Reserve has access to beaches, forests, mountains, birding and fantastic walks that are all very accessible from the reserve.

Activities include:

• Nature walks
• Birding
• Sunset experiences
• Stone Age site visits
• Beekeeping
• Whale-watching
• Snorkelling
• Hiking and biking
• Canoeing
• Southern Saunter (50 km, 5-day guided trail)

Reflections Eco-Reserve is the only destination along the Garden Route that offers world-class specialist guiding hosted by reserve owner and Specialist Safari Guide, Tim Carr.

The barn swallows on the reserve are part of a meta population, and Reflections Eco-Reserve is a prime site for viewing the barn swallow aggregations between November and March.

Southern Saunter

The Southern Saunter is a 50 km, five-day hike with specialist guides Tim Carr and Colin Wylie. This guided trail takes you through some of the Garden Route’s most iconic areas. Each night, you return to Reflections Eco-Reserve, our privately-owned, eco-friendly reserve surrounded by the Garden Route National Park.

Conservation & Restoration

Reflections Eco-Reserve encompasses 80 hectares of restored protected landscape and plays an active role in the restoration and rehabilitation of land in the heart of the Wilderness Lakes.

Guests staying at Reflections Eco-Reserve directly contribute to these conservation efforts, helping to fund ongoing land restoration and environmental rehabilitation projects.