Bucklands Rustic Tent Camp

Grahamstown Eastern Cape - South Africa

Email Avo Tree Villa Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com

The camp overlooks lovely deep river pools, lined with reed beds, edged by fast flowing rapids; and is shadowed by beautiful tall cliffs forming part of the dramatic landscape surrounding Bucklands Rustic Tent Camp.

Bucklands Rustic Tent Camp consists of four dome tents which sleep 2 guests each. The tents are comfortably laid out, each on its own individual deck, under the tall trees.
The dome tents are furnished with 2 single beds (linen / sleeping bags and pillows provided) and a cupboard to store your torch, bird book and binoculars.
The central ablutions are situated to one side of the camp to give privacy and consist of two showers complete with hot water (solar geyser) and two flush toilets.

As Bucklands Rustic Tent Camp is a self catering camp, the fully equipped central kitchen, is perfect for preparing those wonderful camping recipes, and is within close proximity to the communal boma area which boasts a large fire pit for your "talking" fire.
Folding camp chairs and tables are provided for the boma or kitchen area, as well as a gas braai and traditional braai to choose from (gas and fire wood are provided).
The central kitchen is equipped with a gas fridge, gas cookers, all crockery and cutlery to service the camp.

What to bring:
All food and beverages (no catering is provided), your own towels and toiletries, torch, bird book, binoculars, photographic equipment, sun block, insect repellents, hats, books, your own fishing tackle (or you can hire from us) and good walking shoes.

Directions from Port Elizabeth to Bucklands Private Game Reserve:
Proceed to Grahamstown; bypass Grahamstown on N2 towards King Williamstown. At 6 km along the N2 past Grahamstown, turn left onto R67 Fort Beaufort / Rini road.
Drive 21 km then turn right onto dirt road signposted "Great Fish River Reserve". Drive 2 km then turn left onto dirt road signposted Sam Knott, Double Drift, Great Fish River Reserve.

Drive through closed green Reserve gate (sometimes left open), keep right at fork immediately after going through gate area, proceed 9 km to closed green gate signposted Bucklands Reserve.
Go through gate. Drive 3 km then turn left through farm gate signposted Top House, Bucklands. Drive 2 km to the Bucklands office.

Directions from King East London to Bucklands Private Game Reserve:
Proceed towards Grahamstown via King Williamstown on N2. At 6 km before Grahamstown along the N2, turn right onto R67 Fort Beaufort / Rini Road.
Drive 21 km then turn right onto dirt road signposted "Great Fish River Reserve". Drive 2 km then turn left onto dirt road signposted Sam Knott, Double Drift, Great Fish River Reserve.

Drive through closed green Reserve gate (sometimes left open), keep right at fork immediately after going through gate area, proceed 9 km to closed green gate signposted Bucklands Reserve .
Go through gate. Drive 3 km then turn left through farm gate signposted Top House, Bucklands. Drive 2 km to the Bucklands office.

The History of Bucklands …
In 1865 Alfred Buckley purchased the farm Boschplaats from John Henry Dixon who had been granted the land in 1842.
It was probably previously a loan place belonging to Dutch farmers, although there appears to be no record of this. In 1813 a proclamation issued by Governor Cradock had encouraged the conversion of existing loan places into permanent quitrent tenure and eventual ownership.

The farm, renamed Bucklands, remained in the Buckley family until 1920, when the two remaining daughters, who had been living there, sold Kentucky, Bucklands and Schrikwaters Poort on public auction. It was bought by Archibald Kent who had two sons, Keith and Basil.

In 1922, Keith Kent, having trained at Grootfontein Agricultural College, returned to farm Bucklands, Lower Bucklands and Schrikwaters Poort.
He inherited the properties when his father, Arch Kent, passed away in 1940. He first married Kathleen Wallace who died in childbirth and then subsequently Stella Butt, producing five daughters.
Keith lived at Bucklands until his death in 1964. As he had no sons, the property was sold to Alf Johnson, and farmed by Tony and Lynn (nee Johnson) Phillips until 2007, when it was bought by Emerald Sky Trading 663 Pty Ltd (Terry Stewart).

Email Avo Tree Villa Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com