From its origins to becoming a prime eco-tourism and wildlife conservation hub in Greater Addo, here’s the story of Bellevue Forest Game Reserve.

Bellevue Forest Game Reserve, in the Greater Addo region of South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, is the epitome of a long-held dream being realised. The verdant mountain top property spans thousands of hectares of game-rich Albany thicket in deep valleys and high hills, from which the distant ocean can be seen on a clear day.

The family-owned protected wildlife area is now in the capable hands of the dynamic Loodt Buchner – the youngest of several generations of family members to farm and ply their business in this corner of the country. At a young age, Loodt succeeded in obtaining a loan to buy out his family property and continue to grow the business into the conservation and tourism destination that it has become today. With passion, fortitude and perseverance, he has strengthened his vision to expand the wildlife corridors and habitat to enable more historically occurring species to thrive here.

The ruins of historic buildings still pepper the hills of the former farmlands, with the remnants of the original Bellevue railway siding one of the notable sites.

But let’s go back to the very beginning and explore the history of Bellevue Forest Game Reserve, from its humble beginnings.

The Origins of Bellevue Forest Game Reserve

Back in the day circa 1880, Bellevue was in fact a bustling little town. Well, maybe town is a stretch… but certainly more than a railway siding, which was its primary function. A post office, station and court building were surrounded by some 60 dwellings, mostly those employed in the business of seeing to the burgeoning rail line into the Eastern Cape interior and the deep Karoo. It was here, at the top of a ridge, that trains climbed from the steamy coast to the heady hills, pulling into a stopover before the descent.

This was the tone of the town for several decades until the South African government decided that the land named Bellevue would be sold off to a civilian – the last of the Republic’s Crown Land to be sold to a private person. And that individual was Pieter “Hoender” Buchner – a pioneering dairy and chicken farmer with a vision to tame the wild hills to provide grazing for his many cattle.

Among the residents of Bellevue were a number of unemployed men whose sole source of income was chopping and selling wood – ‘olienhout” (olive) – for use as mine supports and farming fences. These hefty timbers were dragged by mules up the slopes to be loaded onto the trains – and the marks they left can still be seen today. Many of the old stone homes are still well enough preserved to be restored and reoccupied – as they surely will be in time.

Between farmer Piet and the woodcutters, a lot of land was cleared – yet a large swathe of wild, original Albany thicket remained when the time came for the property to change hands – this time to Pieter’s nephew Carel Buchner, in 1999. Carel was a big Nguni cattle farmer with a deep appreciation for the land. However, times grew tougher as drought set in, and he made the tough decision to sell. His son, Loodt, had grown up spending countless days wandering and exploring the verdant hills, finding the wild animals relaxed and undisturbed. It was where his soul found resonance, and his mind found peace. The resident wildlife – such as kudu and warthog – delighted the young university student and he implored his father not to sell. Instead, Carel made him an offer – buy it for yourself. Offering Loodt a fair price, the student nevertheless had his work cut out for him to convince the bank manager that he was a good bet.

Displaying the tenacity that has only strengthened with age, Loodt succeeded in securing the loan he needed – taking a life insurance policy to seal the deal. And in 2012, Bellevue Forest Reserve was born, with Loodt as the new, young owner!

Wasting no time, Loodt got cracking on rehabilitating the reserve, rewilding old grazing lands and introducing animals. Slowly, steadily, the reserve took shape. Old fences came down, new fences went up, roads were laid to access the distant hills. Neighbourly discussions were initiated, and in another bold move, Loodt became the owner of the old Olifantskop Lodge among 2500 Ha of verdant land with breath-taking views towards the distant coast. Significant upgrades followed as the tourism side of the vision unfolded – culminating in a 4-star grading for the elegant and luxurious renamed Elephants Lodge.

And now? There’s no slowing THIS train down! Bursting with passion, enthusiasm and energy, the dream continues. Bellevue Reserve is on the brink of expanding further, securing more land for species conservation. In another historic milestone, the first ever family group of elephants to be moved from the nearby Addo Elephant National Park found a welcoming new home at Bellevue in 2023.

Communities that have benefited from employment and upliftment initiatives, whose livelihoods remained secure during the disastrous COVID epidemic thanks to the moral fibre and ethics of the reserve owner, continue to breathe life and authenticity into what is truly a family-run destination. This family is related not only through blood connections but encompasses the people who make the place what it is today.

As Loodt says: “I love the people, I love their energy – they give this place its unique identity and soul.”

And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is the Bellevue Forest Game Reserve of today – A place with heart and soul, and one of the most intimate of the Greater Addo game reserves..

Today, Bellevue, with its elegantly luxurious Elephants Lodge, has secured itself a key spot as an affordable and family-friendly South African safari destination.

Bellevue Forest’s Role in Wildlife Conservation – A Sanctuary for Nature

Bellevue has gone far beyond the gambit of being just a reserve where wildlife roams and visitors enjoy a safari. The management ethos is firmly fixed on protecting endangered species & biodiversity, with habitat restoration a key element in the conservation priorities. Extensive discussions have taken place in the past decade regarding collaboration between neighbours and fellow conservationists, exploring the feasibility of dropping fences and expanding the range for the animals across adjoining lands. There is a strong groundswell in the Eastern Cape to support this vision, with some of the most exciting ecotourism initiatives in South Africa.

From the introduction of elephants and lion, to the eventual addition of rhino, Bellevue continues to strive towards the ultimate goal of increasing wildlife conservation in Addo

The Modern-Day Bellevue Forest Experience – Safari & Tourism

Bellevue has long been a family-friendly favourite destination, along with a peaceful escape for couples or solo travellers. With the continual improvements to our safari lodges and accommodation options at Elephants Lodge, together with wildlife introductions, our visitors can expect superb game drives, luxury stays, guided tours and a value for money South African safari experience in one of the best private game reserves in the Eastern Cape.

Among the Addo safari lodges, Bellevue offers one of the best safari experiences in South Africa.

Why Visit Bellevue Forest Game Reserve? – Things to Do & See

For the majority of our visitors, the top attraction within the reserve & surrounding Greater Addo area is the abundance of free-roaming African wildlife. At Bellevue, we offer fully guided game drives within our own property, as well as to the nearby Addo Elephant National Park, where Big Five sightings are a regular highlight.

The advantage of visiting our private reserve is the flexibility to do so much more than would be allowed in a National Park. Under the care of our qualified guides, guests may be able to take bush walks, night safaris, veterinary buffalo encounters, guided giraffe tracking on foot, birdwatching and other outdoor ventures. By prior arrangement, we tailor adventures far beyond the usual things to do in Greater Addo.

If you’re still considering where to stay in or near the Addo Elephant National Park, give us a call to find out what we can do for you!

The future of Bellevue Forest – Sustainable Tourism and Conservation

At Bellevue, we don’t let the grass grow under our feet. We are constantly in consultation with other partners, brainstorming ideas and opportunities to mutually benefit our wildlife, communities, habitat and business model. We are ardently committed to expand conservation efforts, and our goals are unwavering set on wildlife protection, sustainable tourism, eco-friendly lodging and awareness within surrounding communities to ensure the longevity of our vision and success in our endeavours.

From our early days as a railway village – turned – working farm, to a thriving wildlife wilderness providing safe habitat for thousands of wild species, we have come a fair way along the path we chose. But we still have so much to achieve and look forward to! With the support of our visitors, we can and will continue to grow our vision, and the future of South African wildlife destinations.

Join us as we forge ahead to a brighter future for wild fauna and flora – visit Bellevue, book a safari or support conservation. Together, we will continue to create magic at Bellevue!

Visit www.bellevueforest.co.za, email: book@bellevueforest.co.za or call 0215695388.