| 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
|
