Bushman Sands is a multi-faceted experience offering something for everyone. The 4-star hotel is a delightful blend of rich heritage & modern luxury. The Gary Player designed Golf Course is perfect for the keen golfer. There are thrilling adventure options & prospects of viewing Big Game. Those wanting relaxation, pampering & peace will find alternatives at the spa or at the poolside or even on a tranquil sunset boat cruise. Rewarding for families and satisfying for visitors interested in the turbulent & fascinating history of the area, Bushman Sands has won wide acclaim as a forerunner of sustainable ecological and community tourism.Welcome to the Bushman Sands website where you will discover more about the Hotel, the Game Reserve, and the Golf Course, the Spa, the Conference Centre, the Adventure Activities and the many options available to make your holiday, event or wedding one of a lifetime.
BUSHMAN SANDS HOTEL
The 4-star Bushman Sands Hotel is a delightful blend of rich heritage and modern luxury. The Hotel comprises of 39 bedrooms around a pool area overlooking the Bushman Sands Golf Course. Original railway houses form the cornerstones of what are now three rows of en suite accommodation - comprising of a choice of standard rooms, luxury rooms and junior suites - each tastefully decorated with locally produced furniture and original art and linked to the main hotel building by walkways lit by Victorian lampposts.
The décor throughout references the legacy of the Khoi San and Alicedale’s railway history. The terraced rooms combine the architectural style of the original buildings with modern four-star finishes, offering a choice of junior suites with king beds and luxury and standard rooms with twin beds.
The five junior suites and eight luxury rooms, each have a private veranda with breathtaking views of the fairways, the Bushmans River and the magnificent hills beyond. The 26 standard rooms also with private veranda overlook landscaped indigenous gardens, the sparkling swimming pool, main hotel building and the final green of the golf course.
Room features
Standard Room (Total 26 – incl. 1 x room with a specially modified wheelchair friendly bathroom & 2 sets of inter-leading rooms)
- Twin bedded
- Air-conditioning
- TV with limited satellite TV (DSTV) channels
- Direct dialling telephones
- Tea/Coffee facilities
- Mini bar
- In room safe
- Hairdryer
- En-suite bathroom with: twin vanities, Victorian style bath, shower and private toilet
- Private patio overlooking landscaped indigenous gardens, the swimming pool and final green of the golf course
Luxury Room (Total 8)
- Twin bedded
- Air-conditioning
- TV with limited satellite TV (DSTV) channels
- Direct dialling telephones
- Tea/Coffee facilities
- Mini bar
- Hairdryer
- En-suite bathroom with: twin vanities, Victorian style bath, shower and private toilet
- Private patio with breathtaking views of the fairways, the Bushmans River and the magnificent hills beyond
- Upgraded guest amenities
Junior Suite (Total 5)
- King sized bed
- Air-conditioning
- TV with limited satellite TV (DSTV) channels
- Direct dialling telephones
- Tea/Coffee facilitieso
- Mini bar (Junior Suites stocked, other rooms stocked upon request) In room safe
- Hairdryer
- Walk-in dressing room
- En-suite bathroom with: twin vanities, Victorian style bath, twin showers and private toilet
- Private patio with breathtaking views of the seventh fairway, the Bushmans River and the magnificent hills beyond
- Upgraded guest amenities
Hotel Facilities
Library with Internet access, TV & full DSTV bouquet
Private Dining Room
Bunkers Restaurant
Halfway House
Spa & Wellness Centre with gymnasium
Golf Pro-shop
Golf Course – 18 hole Gary Player designed
Bar overlooking the 18th Green
Gents & Ladies changing room facilities with steam rooms
Scenic swimming pool
Conference Centre
The old railway training college was built with imported bricks by Scottish masons in 1900. Now declared a national monument, it has undergone a metamorphosis and emerged as the main Reception building of a prestigious four-star hotel. During its restoration, the bricks in a certain section were painstakingly removed one by one, cleaned and reset. While the hotel rooms, Bunkers Restaurant, Sports and Leisure Centres are light and airy, the décor and dark woods of the main hotel Reception adds the element of grandiosity and a bygone era of discovery, turmoil and unification – a celebration of the fusion between the old and the new.
Bushman Sands Country Estate
A first in South Africa, this is an exciting Victorian Karoo lifestyle development. Incorporating a Gary Player Golf Course, a stones throw from the Bushman Sands Game Reserve, Hotel and Spa. Situated on the Bushman's River alongside the quaint, historical Karoo gem called Alicedale, this brand new development is a hole-in-one investment opportunity just one hour's drive from Port Elizabeth.
What To Do!
Situated on 3500 hectares of former farmland, Bushman Sands Game
Reserve offers malaria free sightings of a large variety of animal
species. Working with the conservation team of the award-winning
Shamwari Game Reserve, Bushman Sands has reintroduced indigenous
animals that once roamed freely over 200 years ago to their natural
habitat, and is working towards the restoration of the environment
to its natural state.
The Africa of a bygone era is further recaptured by the Bushman paintings some of which are accessible in the reserve and can be viewed on request. Dating back thousands of years, these rock art paintings ensure that the cultural legacy of the Khoi San people remains for years to come.Another unique feature is the massive 200ha New Years Dam in the heart of the reserve. Originally built as a source of water for the steam trains, the dam now sustains the wildlife in the arid Eastern Cape landscape.Interesting features on game drives include the historical site of the Battle of Death valley and the Sunset cruises on the New Years Dam
GAME VIEWING
Three-hour game viewing through the Bushman Sands Reserve take place daily from the hotel. Accompanied by qualified rangers who have been employed mostly from the Alicedale community, visitors are introduced to true African big game from open landrovers. Sundowners at scenic spots offer guests the opportunity to take in the tranquillity of the surrounding bush whilst sipping their choice of beverage and nibbling on a selection of light snacks. Tea and coffee is served on morning drives. Family packages are available and custom programmes can be arranged to accommodate groups. For more information, please contact reservations.
BOAT CRUISES
The 200ha New Years Dam in the Bushman Sands Reserve provides the ideal platform to watch the mesmerising effect of an African sunset with the opportunity to view big game at the waters edge. Accompanied by a qualified game ranger, visitors aboard “Imvubu” could come upon antelope cautiously sipping or elephant bathing, whilst enjoying a drink from the onboard bar.
This is an experience which is possibly unique this side of Lake Kariba.The twin hull, double-decker “Imvubu” (Xhosa for Hippo) accommodates a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 50 guests and is also available for private functions and corporate events. She is fully equipped with a bar and toilet facilities and offers serene 11 hour afternoon cruises on the New Years Dam.
BUSHMAN SANDS GOLF COURSE
The 18-hole championship course has been designed by South African golfing legend, Gary Player. The course follows the banks of the Bushmans and New Years Rivers, resembling the game's earliest "links" courses in Scotland with undulating fairways and pot bunkers.
Unique features include playing the first stroke over the active railway line, a double green (1600 sq.m) shared by the 2nd and 5th holes, crossing the Bushman’s River and New Year’s River on various holes and finishing with a final drive over a small cemetery in the centre of the fairway. A challenging, yet friendly course, to be enjoyed by all golfers.
The local community has benefited immensely from the development of the golf course with a number of locals being trained as caddies and golf course assistants. Facilities include a halfway house, pro-shop and gents and ladies locker rooms each with showers and a steam room.
Features of the club house include:
- Bunker’s dining room/halfway house
- Golf Pro-shop
- Bar overlooking the 18th green
- Gents and ladies changing room facilities with steam rooms
SPA
Our rejuvenating and detoxifying Spa extravaganza begins with treatments that have been designed to invigorate the body in the wonderful soothing comfort of restful surroundings. The 3 treatment rooms - each with its own shower and air-conditioning – are located in the Leisure Centre and along with a small but fully equipped gymnasium offer guests the ideal opportunity to truly relax and be pampered.
The Hydro-Therapy area includes a 4-seater Jacuzzi, chill pool, and steam room where highly skilled therapists will tailor make your treatment.Children under the age of 16 years are not permitted in the Spa, Hydro Therapy Area and Gymnasium.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
The quiet village of Alicedale offers an ideal environment for the entire family to enjoy. Traffic is almost on-existent, so cycling through the town is a relaxing way of spending quality family time.
For the more adventurous, game viewing on Mountain Bikes is planned for the future. This is pending the reaction of the newly introduced buffalo and time will tell if our animals are ready to welcome cyclists on the reserve.
ABSEILING & GORGE GLIDING
We have affiliated ourselves with Green Adventures and they are dedicated to quenching your thirst for exhilaration and your craving for something new. Abseiling activity is available on request only and Green Adventures will ensure all logistics are dealt with in a professional manner.
Our Gorge Glide introduction has unfortunately proved more challenging & technical than originally anticipated. Your safety is our highest priority so we are still in the process of finalising this activity – however contact us or visit our website again to check on progress of the Gorge Glide.
ARCHERY
Hone your skills and hand-eye co-ordination by participating in the age-old skill of archery.
Challenging the skills of the individual and the team, this activity scores a bull’s eye on the fun-omitor! Left and right handed sets available. Archery is available on request and facilitated by our affiliate partner Green Adventures.
DIRECTIONS
BY ROAD
FROM PORT ELIZABETH
Alicedale is approximately one hour from Port Elizabeth towards Cradock. Take the N2 from Port Elizabeth towards Grahamstown, at the interchange to Grahamstown, continue straight on the N10 towards Cradock. 80 kilometers from Port Elizabeth, 11 km past Paterson turn right at the Alicedale and Bushmans Sands sign and follow the road for another 17 kilometers into Alicedale.
FROM EAST LONDON
Approximately 2 and a half hours from East London. Take the N2 towards Port Elizabeth. 20km After Grahamstown, turn right onto the R72 to Alicedale and Bushmans Sands, following the road for 30 kilometers into Alicedale.
BY AIR
Shamwari Game Reserve, 20 minutes from Alicedale, is equipped with a private landing strip. Air charters can be arranged with registered charter companies or private aircraft. Prior arrangements must be made with Bushman Sands for
landing and transfer to Alicedale.
The following are the flight co-ordinates and details:
Runway Elevation: 695 ft
Runway Headings: 30/15
Runway co-ordinates: 33 27 42 South, 26 03 13 East
Length: 1200 m
Width: 20m
Surface: Compacted Grass
Caution: Game fence, game and telephone line
Info & Pics from Bushman Sands website |
