Camp Figtree

Rooms

The 8 stand-alone suites, built from corrugated tin and local timber to match the original house, are scattered around the grounds. Inside, they’re refined and elegant, with polished wooden floors, Persian rugs, the odd colonial antique and earthy colours that reflect the African landscape outside. All have kingsize or twin four-poster beds swathed in mosquito nets, private verandas with a couple of chairs to lounge on, and large black-and-white tiled bathrooms with freestanding tubs and walk-in showers. But the star attractions are the views, which soar over the reserve to the undulating Zuuberg Mountains beyond.

Standard Superior Suites have spacious bedrooms with a couple of armchairs; one has an additional bedroom with a single bed - ideal for a family of 3. The Superior Boardwalk Suites also have dressing areas and wider verandas. They sit at the end of a raised walkway a little further away from the main lodge, providing perfect retreats for couples seeking privacy. The pricier Luxury Suites are perched on stilts above a wooded slope that drops away dramatically to the valley beneath, and come with separate lounges and wraparound verandas.

There’s also 2 Poolside Superior Suites with can be turned into a spacious Family Suite for larger families. Both occupies a large cottage, each with their own lounge and access to their own garden complete with a private pool.

All suites have bathrobes, hairdryers, and safe boxes, but no TVs (though with these views, you won't miss them). There's also tea and coffee, and flasks of hot water are delivered each morning on request. Bear in mind that electricity is turned off at 10pm, though there are solar-powered lamps for reading and night-time loo trips. There’s no air-conditioning, but you’ll only really notice in the hottest months (December and January) and the lofty location brings plenty of cooling breezes.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Evenings at Camp Figtree kick off with aperitifs in the lounge or out on the veranda, as the sky turns from blue to orange to lilac. If you’re out on a guided walk you’ll be treated to sundowners and snacks in the bush.

Dinner is a 3-course affair served in the privacy of your suite or in the cosy colonial-style dining room, where individual tables are laid with crisp white linen and a fire crackles in the cooler months. Dishes are hearty, unpretentious and, by all accounts, very tasty - perhaps succulent Karoo lamb shank with sweet potatoes, ostrich steak with root vegetables, or chicken stuffed with herby risotto. Accompanying salads are organic, and the bread is home-baked. Vegetarian menus are available on request, and there’s a choice of South African wines to wash it all down.

Once a week, a traditional South African meal is served in the boma - an open-air space centred around a campfire, where you can listen to the calls of nocturnal creatures drifting up from the reserve. It includes a range of local specialities such as umgqusho (samp and beans), isonka esibhakwe emalahleni (roasted bread), ibobotie (a dish of minced beef) and imalva (a dessert similar to sticky toffee pudding).

Breakfast sounds equally appealing - a mix of continental fare (pastries, juice, cold cuts) and the Full English, complete with freshly made muffins. Lunch is available at the lodge or as a picnic if you’re out on an excursion. And come afternoon, high tea is served up in old-world silver pots.

Features include:

• Bar
• Organic produce
• Picnics on request
• Restaurant
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Meet the elephants of Addo - the entrance to the park is 30 minutes away and Camp Figtree runs daily 3-hour game drives in open-top Land Rovers. You might also encounter leopards, lions, buffalo, zebras, hyenas, giraffes, black rhinos, jackals and antelope, which have all been successfully reintroduced since the park opened in 1931
  
  
• You can also book extended morning drives, complete with brunch in the wilderness
  
  
• Or you can get even closer to Addo’s gentle giants on an elephant-back safari. You’ll be able to touch, feed and water rescued elephants, before riding through the bush with them
  
  
• Join an evening lion-spotting safari at the nearby Schotia Private Game Reserve. Big cat sightings are guaranteed, and afterwards you’ll be treated to a barbecue around the reserve’s boma
  
  
• View game by horseback (from a safe distance, of course). The lodge offers treks for novice and experienced riders, taking in sections of Addo National Park and the Zuurberg Mountains
  
  
• Accompany one of Camp Figtree’s rangers on a guided walk around the lodge’s private reserve, which spans 3 different habitats - Afro-montane forest, valley bushveld and Cape fynbos - and is home to safe native species such as buck. You’ll learn all about the extraordinary bird, butterfly and insect life (kids will be enthralled by the flightless dung beetles, unique to this part of the world), with a stop for sundowners and snacks in the bush
  
  
• Borrow a mountain bike and head off to explore the lodge’s reserve on your own. Staff can pack up a picnic to enjoy along the way, and there are some fantastic cycling trails to wheel along
  
  
• Between adventures, sit back on the veranda with a book or cool off in the pool as the sun plays on the valley beneath

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Mountain biking
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Safaris
• Wildlife

Kids

Malaria-free Addo is perfect for families seeking safe safari adventures, and Camp Figtree welcomes children of all ages. There are no specific facilities for kids, but the friendly staff will tailor game drives and guided walks to suit different ages and interests, and there’s plenty to thrill little ones, including the opportunity to ride, feed and water elephants. What’s more, the suites are spread out around the grounds, so there’s no need to worry about noisy youngsters disturbing other guests.

Children under 3 stay free of charge; those aged 4-12 pay 50% of the nightly adult rate. The full rate is charged for teenagers aged 13+.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

The Poolside Superior Suites can be turned into a Family Suite with its interconnecting door, accommodating 4-6 family members. Each suite has a double bedroom with ensuite, 1 single bedroom, 1 bathrooms, a lounge, space for extra beds and baby cots, and its own pool and garden. Smaller families can book Superior Suite 3, which has a double/twin bedroom and a single room. Rollaway beds and baby cots can be added to any of the suites, and all have bathtubs.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour (Port Elizabeth)
• Hospital: 1 hour (Port Elizabeth)
• Shop: 5km

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Camp Figtree is set in a private nature reserve on the edge of Addo National Park, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. It’s an hour’s drive north of Port Elizabeth, and ideal if you want to combine game-viewing with a trip along the Garden Route.

By Air
Port Elizabeth (70km away) is the nearest domestic airport; there are also internal flights to East London (270km away). For international services use Cape Town or Johannesburg, then take a connecting flight. You’ll find a list of airlines serving these airports at the links below.

From the Airport
Camp Figtree can arrange transfers (see Rates), but most people hire a car and visit the lodge as part of a wider tour.

By Car
For car hire, see our car rental recommendations. The lodge is reached via a steep mountain pass and then a bumpy dirt road, but most 2-wheel drives can manage it without problems.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you confirm a booking through i-escape.