Mont Eco Game Reserve

This was a great personalised true luxury experience for us. The small staff were all very friendly, with lots of thoughtful extra touches (eg a helper with a torch to light you home after dinner!), the lodge we stayed in spacious with its own terrace, lots of sitting area and a minikitchen for drinks, plus luxury bath & shower rooms. The viewing terrace was worth the steps up! And the starry skies a real treat. Food was very well prepared and tasty but at times slow in arriving (particularly the hot dishes at breakfast). We understood that drinks were extra but there was no reminder of this or price list (even in the room) - and wine glasses were just topped up so it appeared to be included. However, they weren't expensive. We did have short walks in the bush, but hadn't grasped that there was not a separate walk on offer (to see rock art maybe - we didn't). Our game drives were in small groups 4 or 6 of guests per vehicle. We saw all the animals - mostly really close - except the leopards - a reminder that wildlife is unpredictable! All the others seemed easy to find due to the reserve's size & the fact that they are reintroducing captive animals to the wild, initially in fairly small numbers which they feed in specific locations. Our guide Terence was super, gave us lots of interesting gen & allowed us plenty of time to watch behaviours. We were very pleased we did not attempt to take our small non 4wd hire car onto the rough track beyond Montagu - Mont Eco put us on to R62 Adventure who stored our car & transported us the hour's journey each way, providing a private guide to the Karoo en route!

We had a wonderful stay at the lodge! The setting is stunning, and everything is kept in immaculate condition. The game drives were absolutely fantastic—our guide, Ter, was knowledgeable and made the experience truly memorable. The service was also great; the waiters were friendly, funny, and always on point. However, one small issue was being asked every 10 minutes if everything was okay. While we appreciate attentive service, it felt a bit excessive—especially when everything was okay! The game drives were incredible, the beer was cold, and the food was just as good as similar lodges, so no complaints from us. Overall, a great experience, and we would definitely return!

Not many people had heard of Mont Eco Game Reserve but we are so pleased we discovered it. It is a new reserve and very much worth a visit. The staff were fantastic - particularly Terence, Shawn and Charles who is an excellent guide and wonderful, wise and kind man. The accommodation is beautiful and the place is very peaceful. We learnt and saw a lot - thanks to Charles - lion, giraffe, elephant, rhino, plenty antelope, baboon, great sunsets and great vegetation. Thanks for an excellent stay.