The most out-of-this-world bucket list trip near Cape Town: KAGGA KAMMA 💫
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I’m writing this from a place I’m still not convinced is planet Earth… Kagga Kamma.
I saw this place online and instantly set into manifestation mode. This has my name all over it — epic cave accommodation, unbelievable landscapes and views, an epic setting for adventure, I am just so obsessed with Cederberg and how it feels like the moon (check out my other post on my experience at Cedarpeak here). The rock formations here are out of this world and Kagga Kamma is next level rock magic.
I was able to experience two of Kagga Kamma’s incredible room types: Cave Suite and Open Air Suite, and both had their own unique amazing vibe and both are definitely worthy of your bucket list, my friends.
Pulling up to Kagga Kamma seriously feels like driving through another planet. The rock formations get higher, and redder, you go through some crazy parts that feel like you’re in Star Wars (like, if i watched Star Wars and had any idea what that means), you drive past a sand oasis and up an insane rocky pass and past outcrops that look like they’re Tetris blocks that have been stacked by giants. It’s located about a 3-hour drive from Cape Town, and the last 35 km and hour of the drive is down a gravelly/rocky/sandy path, so I would plan your vehicle accordingly! I mean my old FiFi could never.
The lodge itself is nestled against these incredible towering rocks that stack up into a cliff, I do not know how the earth managed to construct itself like that but I am not complaining. The setting is just MIND-BLOWING. Here is a reel that show my real-life reactions strolling around the property and seeing the cave suites for the first time.
I stayed in Cave 14 and it was so so so SO cool!!! It’s in a legit cave so the walls/roof form to the natural contours of the rock. Comfy bed, nice shower, warm robes and slippers (which was needed cause my first night there was FREEZING — it is the desert after all), a heater/air conditioner, and a balcony surrounded by giant towering rocks. You just sip your sherry or wine surrounded by a cave. Super causal.
Check out this drone reel of the cave situation and tell me this location doesn’t blow your mind.
During the days here I mostly had to work so just posted up on my laptop in the breakfast area (you can opt for B&B or all inclusive meals, please get the chicken parm wrap for lunch it is delish), but there are activities like a rock cave art tour, stargazing, massages and exfoliations in the gorgeous open-air spa, night drive, nature drives, quad biking, mountain biking, even a little driving range, and a sundowner tour which I did on my first eve.
I wasn’t expecting to see any animals TBH but I definitely brought my horseshoe to the sundowner tour and we saw oryx (which are one of the coolest antelopes), elands (biggest antelope), zebras, and springbok! It was so so cool, and the landscapes are so amazing and expansive so they have lots of room to run around and be free :) Side note, I also saw ostriches from my cave suite balcony in the morning, which was so epic!!
As if night 2 in a cave suite wasn’t enough, night 2 was straight out of my bucket list, but I do have to warn this was a wild night and isn’t necessarily for everyone, but adventurers, you better buckle up!!
Kagga Kamma’s Open Air Suite is set out in the wild. It’s an experience unlike any other. I slept under the stars, completely unsheltered, no fence, no electricity, no one else around as far as the eye can see, completely private and secluded. About a 3 km drive from the lodge, I arrived via quad bike, which stayed at the suite just in case I needed to… escape… during the night. You keep your Cave or Hut Suite booking as a back-up in in case you want to come back because of weather or… unwelcome intruders.
You’re in the wild, so you better believe there are creatures abound! The boldest mouse kept coming to visit the table during dinnertime. Luckily I think the weather at this time was not conducive to snakes so didn’t need to worry about that, but I know there was a chance of other creatures like dassies, spiders, even my dreaded BABOONS (da-da-duuummmm) so just bring your adventure face, people! Honestly after spending a lot of time in the bush and multiple visits to the Amazon rainforest, where I encountered a rat, spider, and scorpion all in one nighttime pee break, I am less squirmy with these things, though I could’ve done without the overzealous mice. And the random scuttering unidentified creature that fell on the pillow in the middle of the night. Basically just sleep with your covers up close and you’ll be fine!
The Open Air Suites come with spots for a fire and a braai, picnic baskets with dinner for you to heat up over the fire, a bottle of sparkling wine, outdoor shower, towels, robes, slippers, and a comfy queen bed with plenty of blankets to cuddle under while you fall asleep watching the stars. I stayed at the Star Suite which also has an outdoor bathtub and its own private rock pools nearby, and the most giant colossal boulder I’ve ever seen as a headboard.
Here are some reels to show some perspective:
A drone reel to show exactly how secluded the Open Air Suite is
A walk-through for a tour of the suite, with a bubbly cheers at the end of course
This magical sunrise sky that absolutely blew my mind
I’ve never stayed in a place like this, of course I’ve been camping and slept in some very cool treehouses and other accommodation on safari, but this was truly OUT in the wild, it was such an incredible and unique experience, and I truly never knew the sky could shine so bright. The stars were IN SANE. The milky way was sooo vivid, glowing across the sky, and I just drifted off to sleep watching the stars. Truly UNREAL.
Thank you for this magical experience Kagga Kamma!!!! I’ll be back 💫
