The area to the west of Kruger National Park includes the popular town of Hazyview – a base from which to explore the Kruger and also to visit the nearby Elephant Whispers sanctuary and explore the stunning 156km Panorama Route along the Drakensberg Escarpment to encounter the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, Gods Window and numerous … Continued
Set on a 280 hectare South African Natural Heritage Site situated on the spectacular Long Tom Pass
The 11,500 hectare Thornybush Private Game Reserve is fenced off from Kruger but still has the ‘Big Five’ plus a high density of other African wildlife. The setting is mainly undulating open lowveld with a delightful backdrop vista of the Drakensberg mountains.
A comfortable boutique hotel on the outskirts of Hazyview and handy for the Panorama Route
Manyeleti, meaning ‘’Place of the Stars’’ in Shangaan language and managed for the community’s benefit by the local Mnisi tribe, shares fenceless borders with Kruger, Timbavati and Sabi Sands reserves so that elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard and other wildlife can roam freely. The 23,000 hectare reserve is easily accessible, but away from major tourist areas … Continued
Set in a 12,000-hectare private wilderness concession within the Kruger National Park
Exceptional Safari Camp that has just undergone a complete renovation, giving it award winning status.
The 13,000 hectare Kapama Private Game Reserve is the largest single-owner game reserve in the region and ideally located close to Hoedspruit airport. It has the ‘Big Five’ and is ideal for leopard. As well as the usual game drives in open vehicles, the reserve offers river boat cruises, guided bush walks and elephant-back safaris. … Continued
Sits under giant trees overlooking the Luvuvhu River in the northern corner of the Kruger – perfect for walking safaris
Outstanding staff and guides in an excellent spot for sightings of the big five
A luxury safari lodge in the only private concession within Marakele National Park
The 35,000 hectare Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve (also known as the Makalali Conservancy) is ultimately intended to recreate the wildlife migration corridor linking the Kruger National Park to the Drakensburg Mountains in the west. The Makhutswi River flows through the reserve of lowveld acacia bush and open savanna grassland interspersed with occasional marula, knobthorn … Continued
Elevated camp overlooking a natural pathway for game passing in front of the camp
Klaserie, unfenced from Kruger National Park so animals can roam freely between the two as part of the Greater Kruger Park, is situated to the northwest of Timbavati. General game is less plentiful than some other areas but Klaserie is noteworthy for its undulating scenery, winding river beds and herds of elephants who enjoy grazing … Continued
The remote Northern Kruger is the driest and least visited area of the park with fewer tarmac roads than elsewhere and more dramatic scenery. Wildlife is more sparse and skittish than in the south, but tend to congregate around the rivers and water holes especially in the drier winter months. Wild dogs sightings are more … Continued
The malaria-free Waterberg Savanna Biosphere Reserve was designated by UNESCO in 2001 and an area marrying conservation with the benefits of tourism. It includes the Lapalala Wilderness Area, Marakele National Park – both offering simple accommodation – and Welgevonden Reserve with more luxurious options. The extensive Waterberg Massif reveals deep valleys, grassy hills, majestic mountains, … Continued
Balule Private Game Reserve is a 40,000 hectare nature reserve straddling a 20 km stretch of the perennial Olifants River. Balule was created when farm owners decided to eliminate the game fences between their properties and more landowners are constantly joining the scheme, increasing the Greater Kruger National Park Management Area. The ‘Big Five’, abundant … Continued
In Northern Kruger, the 24,000 hectare Makuleke Private Concession or ‘Pafuri Triangle’ is an area of land at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers, with the Limpopo River defining the border with Zimbabwe, and the more powerful Luvuvhu River carving its way through the sandstone escarpment, creating the impressive Lanner Gorge. The wildlife … Continued
The 53,400-hectare Timbavati Private Game Reserve shares an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park, ensuring a great diversity of free roaming wildlife. The ground is more undulating and the bush thicker than Sabi Sands but sightings are still excellent from the accommodation, open vehicles or foot safaris. This is the area noted for its … Continued
Southern Kruger is the most accessible area of the park with abundant wildlife (less skittish than in the north) and a wide choice of accommodation. Vegetation tends to be dense especially in summer due to the higher rainfall in this region but this is the season when herbivores give birth and migrant birds are at … Continued
The Soutpansberg Mountains (Afrikaans for Salt Pan Mountains) are dramatic outcrops of pink quartzite rock which rise over 1700m extending from the town of Vivo in the west to Punda Maria in the Kruger National Park in the east. Moist sea air from the Indian Ocean precipitates on the southern slopes and, due to the … Continued
The 65,000 hectare Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve has some of the most exclusive lodges in Southern Africa and is probably the best place anywhere for sighting leopard and lion. As there are no fences between this reserve and the Kruger National Park wildlife is free to roam over a vast area. Viewing is assisted … Continued
Luxurious camp which sits on the edge of an open plain in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, next to the Kruger
Central Kruger with its more open grassland landscapes provides excellent wildlife watching opportunities with a good chance of seeing all the Big Five plus hyenas and countless impala.
