Oceana Beach & Wildlife Reserve

Oceana sits on the Eastern Cape coast between Port Alfred and East London, where a private wildlife reserve backs directly onto seven kilometres of Indian Ocean beach. The combination is the point: you can take a morning game drive through bush holding giraffe, zebra, and sable, then spend the afternoon on an empty beach or at the beach deck. Over two hundred and twenty bird species and thirty animal species have been recorded on the reserve.

The lodge holds twelve rooms across four categories. The four Ocean Suites each open onto a wide private deck with a hundred-and-eighty-degree view of the ocean and reserve, and each has separate his-and-hers bathrooms — one with an outdoor shower, one with a stone bath. The two Pool Suites sit among trees with a private plunge pool, outdoor fire pit, and a small garden. The three Lodge Suites are individually styled around local animals and artefacts, and connect easily to the main lodge and games room. The Private House takes a group of up to six: three en-suite bedrooms, a lounge with fireplace, a private plunge pool, and a fully equipped kitchen and dining area.

Game drives run morning and afternoon. Rangers also lead guided walks through the milkwood forest and along the beach front. The spa, a gym, and a restaurant with private in-suite dining and beach picnic options round out what is on site. The reserve is malaria-free and the property is managed by Authentic Retreats.