| SABI
SAND GAME RESERVE
This reserve shares 31miles (50km) of unfenced
boundary with Kruger National Park and animals
are at liberty to go wherever they wish - but
they tend to stay right where they are! This is
because the Sand River and Sabi River supply much
needed water in the dry season and create an eco-system
with one of the highest and most bio-diverse wildlife
populations in Southern Africa. This is the reason
why it is quite possible to see the 'Big Five'
(lion, leopard, rhinoceros, buffalo and elephant)
in a couple of days, or even a couple of hours
in Sabi Sand, as well as numerous other animals
and birds.
There
are about 30 different lodges in Sabi Sand, most
of them very up-market including famous names
like Sabi Sabi, Mala Mala and Londolozi. All offer
game drives as well as game walks accompanied
by an armed ranger, which gives visitors the opportunity
to learn about the natural world from the 'experts'
- who are usually youthful rangers who make up
for lack of years with good knowledge and a maturity
rarely found outside Africa.
Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge | Chitwa Chitwa Safari Lodge | Djuma Bush Lodge | Elephant Plains Game Lodge |
Exeter Dulini Private Game Lodge | Exeter Kirkmans Kamp | Exeter Leadwood Private Game Lodge | Exeter River Lodge | Galago Camp | Garonga Safari Camp | Idube Game Lodge | Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve | Lion Sands Ivory Lodge | Lion Sands River Lodge | Londolozi Bateleur Camp | Londolozi Founders Camp | Londolozi Pioneer Camp | Londolozi Safari Lode | Londolozi Tree Camp | Mala Mala Main Camp | Nkorho Bush Lodge | Notten's Bush Camp |
Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge | Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge | Sabi Sabi Selati Camp | Savanna Tented Safari Lodge |
Simbambili Game Lodge | Singita Boulders Lodge | Singita Ebony Lodge | Tintswalo Safari Lodge | Ulusaba Rock Lodge | Ulusaba Safari Lodge | Vuyatela
MANYELETI
GAME RESERVE
The Mnisi people lived and occupied this land
for many generations and in the new South Africa,
they instituted a land claim for the return of
their ancestral grounds. The Manyeleti Game Reserve
is now managed by Mnisi tribe, who are committed
to retaining the integrity of the game reserve
and unlocking the tourism potential to the benefit
of the Mnisi people and surrounding communities.
All the lodges within Manyeleti are privately
owned and lease a concession of land within the
reserve. There are 121 miles (195km) of gravel
roads over 9,206 acres (22,750ha).
The
most dominant tribe in the area is the Shangaan,
and in their language Manyeleti means "Place
of Stars." A clear winter's night will attest
to aptness of this name, as it seems like the
sky is bursting at the seams with stars. The fenceless
borders it shares with Kruger, Sabi Sand and Timbavati
Game Reserves, forms an integral ecological unit
where all the animals of the bush can roam free.
TIMBAVATI
GAME RESERVE
Timbavati Nature Reserve lies just north of Sabi
Sand on the western edge of Kruger National Park
and is considered to be one of South Africa’s
prime game viewing areas.
The
fences were taken down between this reserve and
Kruger National Park in 1993 and although visitors
to any of the eight private lodges, remain in
the Timbavati Reserve, the animals are at liberty
to wander where they wish. Expect day and evening
game drives and walking safaris amongst the 'Big
Five'.
Akeru Safari Lodge | Kapama Buffalo Camp | Kapama Camp Jabulani | Kings Camp |Ngala Game Lodge |
Ngala Tented Safari Camp | Royal Malewane | Tanda Tula | Tangala Safari Camp Umlani Bush Camp
THORNYBUSH
GAME RESERVE
In the heart of the lowveld (low lying bushland)
is the Thornybush Reserve - an area of mixed woodland
savannah backed by the northern Drakensberg mountains.
This area contains a collection of private game
reserves and seven lodges in a fenced 28,500-acre
(11,500-hectare) estate.
Tracking
animals is a speciality of Thornybush and during
'Art of Tracking' explorations you are taught
how to read the spoor and follow animals without
putting yourself in danger. There is no thrill
quite like watching Africa's most dangerous animals,
after you have personally tracked them.
| Thornybush Chapungu Game Lodge | Thornybush Jackalberry Lodge | Thornybush Main Lodge | Thornybush nKaya Lodge | Thornybush Serondella Lodge | Thornybush Shumbalala Lodge |
MAKALALI
RESOURCE RESERVE
This reserve is an hour's drive west of Kruger
with a charm all of its own. Unlike the reserves
along Kruger's borders, Makalali's bushland is
undulating with elevated viewpoints giving panoramic
views of the reserve. This expansive area is covered
with handsome jackalberry, knobthorn, and maroela
trees. The Drakensberg mountains lie in a distant
haze, often due to the widespread practice of
burning off grass to encourage new shoots.
Big
game roams in the Makalali Resource Reserve and
buffalo are the only animal missing from the 'Big
Five'. However, this only matters if you are intent
on ticking off the species, rather than watching
and appreciating them. You are likely to hear
lions roaring out their territorial warnings at
night and baboons barking a clear warning if they
happen to see a lion or leopard. Vervet monkeys
chatter in the trees above your private lodge
terrace and take any chance to jump down and pinch
some sugar or pastries from an unattended breakfast
tray.
Makalali
is superb walking and game tracking country and
clear footprints can be seen in the sand of the
dry riverbed. Seeing a large cat spoor gives a
new aspect to a stroll in the park.
Coach House | Garonga Safari Camp | Makalali Game Reserve | Phuza Moya | Tshukudu Game Lodge |
Umhlametsi Kwenga Lodge
|
