Ukhozi Lodge in the Kariega Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, suffered damage during a fire on November 23.

Mark Rushmere, Owner and Director, said the lodge area and kitchen had burnt down during the early hours of Thursday (November 23). 

He said no one was injured during the fire, or in any danger and that the situation was under control and was calm.

“We do not, as of yet, know what possibly caused the fire,” said Rushmere.

Lauren Purdon Stander, Lodge Manager at Kariega Game Reserve, told Tourism Update that the fire investigator was currently investigating the cause and a report would hopefully be given within the next day or two.

There was no damage to the guest suites and guests already on the reserve have elected to stay and are being hosted at the nearby Main Lodge.

Rushmere said in a statement that no further bookings would be possible at Ukhozi Lodge from now until the end of September 2018, as they planned to have the lodge rebuilt by then at the latest.

As the ten guest suites were not damaged, Ukhozi Lodge will offer guests booked between now and January 31 the following options:

-Move to another lodge at Kariega where possible, however due to the high season and existing bookings, this will only be possible for limited guests.

-Choose to cancel with a full refund.

-Choose to keep their booking and stay at Ukhozi suites on the basis that meals and so on will be at the Main Lodge. Game drives and activities will not be affected in any way. Suites at Ukhozi are separate from the lodge and do not have sight of the burnt lodge.

The lodge will close completely from February 1, 2018 to be rebuilt and all existing bookings between February 1 and September 30, 2018 will need to be cancelled or moved to another Kariega lodge.

“The only positive from this loss is that we have the opportunity to rebuild Ukhozi Lodge and we will ensure that it is better than before,” said Rushmere.