There are many Private Game Reserves within South Africa, however most are located adjacent but outside or bordering the Kruger National Park, south in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve or north & up into and adjacent of the Timbavati Game Reserve. As well, one should not forget or indeed dismiss the Private Game Lodges & Camps in the Waterberg or Madikwe Game Reserve in Northern Province. Here the terrain is indeed different but the delivery of the experience every bit the equal of properties adjacent to the Kruger.

Most all of these areas demand the guest takes malaria preventative medicines which require commencement of the course ten days prior to arrival & continuation for four weeks after departure from the area. We strongly recommend you seeing your professional medical doctor for advice on which specific type of preventative medication is best for your individual needs.

Within the Sabi Sand game reserve, there are the following Private Game Lodges :

Other Private Game Lodges in proximity to the Kruger National Park are :

Each Private Game Reserve & Lodge is different with its own style & ambiance. While the differences are not always obvious to the first time guest, they are definitely there. Some Private Game Lodges limit the number of guests to each Safari Vehicle to 6 persons, while others allocate 8 or 10 per vehicle. The lesser the number of guests per vehicle, the better the comfort & equally, the better the viewing of animals & birds, although the distances the Rangers get from animals especially, usually means all guests receive a fabulous up close encounter.

Two game drives per day are available, the first commencing with a wake up call between 0530 & 0600 depending on the season, then tea, coffee & snacks are served at Main Lodge before heading out on the early morning drive for approximately three & a half hours. Sometime during the Game Drive you will stop for a beverage service in the middle of the savannah at a spot chosen by your professional Ranger & Tracker . It is during these stops that most often you have the opportunity to learn about the plants, herbs & grasses & we think you will be amazed at the depth of knowledge & bush skill your Ranger & tracker will impart. On returning to camp, there is time to freshen up before breakfast is served. Breakfasts are full of gourmet delights, consisting of cereals, fruits, all styles & manner of egg preparation, bacon, sausages, toast & beverages of your choosing.

Between breakfast & the afternoon game drive ( which normally commences around 4.00pm ) the time is yours to determine what you prefer. Most Lodges & Camps provide for guided walking safaris conducted with a professional Ranger & often, a Tracker. This is an excellent way to appreciate the natural wonders & frequently you will ‘happen’ upon game which is a thrilling experience.

Lunch is available provided you have space to fit it in , as is a snack before heading out on the afternoon – evening game drive. This is conducted during daylight hours, then a stop taken for drinks in the bush : If beers, wines, soft drinks, a gin & tonic or maybe a champagne is to your liking , it’s your choice. Then, the spotlight comes on as the evening turns to dusk & darkness descends on the bush. The light enables you to spot many creatures who are not active during the day, equally, this is the best time to witness a hunt as predators move at night in search of their meal.

Private Game Lodges & Camps provide secluded, private accommodation which comes in the form of beautifully appointed bungalows, roundavels & some have large double canvas tented units. No matter the style of the unit they all have en-suite bathroom facilities & amenities & most provide air-conditioning, while a few have ceiling fans.

Beds are either double, Queen or King sized & come with mosquito nets that during the daylight hours are tied off, forming a frame around the bed setting.

Meals are simply wonderful with the range of fresh fruits, vegetables & meats as good if not better than any fine dining restaurant you will find in any city of the world. Fine wine & beverage lists are exhaustive & some Private Game Lodges include wines & beer, soft drinks & bottled waters within the tariff. Others treat alcoholic beverages as ‘extras’.

Some Private Game Reserves are operated by the same company which maintains a set standard across their lodges dependant upon each lodges respective ‘quality’. For instance Phinda, Bongani Mountain Lodge, Ngala & Londolozi are all operated by Conservation Corporation Africa & although differing in price, they have very similar guest services & service delivery standards. At Londolozi there are four different Lodges all within walking distance of one & other, although each is maintained as distinctly different camp, each with its own independent infra-structure for cooking , dining, servicing & game drives.

Thornybush has five different camps within its 10000 hectares of pristine bushveld. Kapama offers three varying standards of Lodge & camp accommodation, while Shamwari offers 5 differing lodge complexes.

Lion Sands Private Game Lodge is superb & comes highly recommended, offering two spectacular Lodges adjacent to individual main reception & guest lounge facilities, looking out onto the year round flow of the Sabie River & across into Kruger National Park itself. It is owned & operated by fourth generation descendants of the same family who have had the land since the early 1900’s & the attention to detail & the staff here are a real tribute to that legacy. Lion Sands is the only Private Game Lodge to have water access to the Sabie River. The river acts as a natural lure as it draws all manner of animals & birds here as they seek water, especially in the dry season when the dams & water holes dry up.

Well away from the Kruger & in the far north western corner of the country close to the border with Botswana, lies the 275000 hectare Madikwe Game Reserve which is teeming with a wonderful array of big game, antelope & birds. Within Madikwe there are a number of Private Game Lodge concessions.

Highly recommended amongst the choices is Jaci’s Safari Lodge – a very special family owned & operated lodge where nothing is left to chance & the standards of service & the game viewing product is just superb. Jaci’s Safari Lodge currently has 8 accommodation units & an exclusive two bedroom, private bush retreat – the Nair suite - so named because of a buffalo bull who frequents the waterhole in front of it.
The Nair suite has a fully self-contained kitchen where the chefs prepare meals for quests, a lounge & an outdoor dining area. The two bedrooms are open plan & the wooden deck overlooks the waterhole & a fabulous swimming pool.

Seasoned Private Game Lodge guests have their favorites & more often than not, return to them over & over as they develop a relationship with management & staff over time. The one thing that is assured is each Private Game Reserve & Lodge or Camp will provide quality accommodation, pampering & a game drive experience that is exceptional, no matter which standard of property you are directed towards depending on your budget, tastes & recommendations.

We have preferences & recommendations formed through personal experience & will share those with you here below.

Located no more than 30 minutes in a 4x4 transfer from either Mala Mala private bush airport or the Skukuza airport (which is an option for folks arriving by private air-charter) or 2 hours from Mpumalanga-Kruger airport close to Nelspruit for folks flying in on commercial flights, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve is set on the banks of the Sabie River which forms the boundary between it & the Kruger National Park. Blessed with year round perennial water which is otherwise is scarce, it is the exclusive river location that sets Lion Sands apart from any of it’s peers in the greater Sabi Sand Game Reserve .

There are two separate guest accommodation & dining facilities at Lion Sands – River Lodge & Ivory Lodge. They are connected by two wooden deck walkways but operate entirely separate of one & other.

They also are structured to suit two different styles of safari guests. Whereas River Lodge encourages guests to interact & mingle in the public areas (swimming pool, library, the ´hides´ & on the decks around the main lodge building, Ivory Lodge provides a setting where guests can if they wish, remain anonymous & private throughout their stay. Naturally if Ivory Lodge guests choose to interact with other guests, the opportunity for doing so is most certainly there.

River Lodge has 18 exquisitely appointed thatched chalets, each with a private deck & within a Queen sized bed (which can be separated into two standard double beds) an en-suite bathroom with large bath, vanity & basin, toilet & both an inside and an outside shower.

Ivory Lodge is the ultimate pinnacle in intimate luxury.

A place where few have dreamed of & fewer have ever experienced – anywhere. Your own secluded lodge within a lodge, each of the suites is approx 165sq m – all having breathtaking unrivalled views out across the river, into Kruger National Park.

Each of the 6 luxury Ivory Lodge suites are decorated identically with Afro-European interior layouts, facilities & servicing. Fully air-conditioned for summer & heated for winter, the lounge of each suite provides an inner sanctum for relaxation, reading & intimacy. Nothing has been spared in the quest for luxury furnishings & fittings

All units are serviced as frequently as you require, with cleaning, fresh towels, linen & turn down of your bed seemingly appearing invisibly, just as do the little finishing touches of fresh jasmine, or a spray of leaves & flowers adorning the bathroom vanity & bathtub.

Lion Sands delivers a magical Private Game Lodge experience. Both River Lodge & Ivory Lodge have their own separate 4 x 4 Safari vehicle fleets & on a game drive, guests from one lodge rarely if ever will see another vehicle save for the drinks stops, should the Rangers decide to join forces.

You can & often do see the ‘Big 5 ‘ on one day on game drives at Lion Sands.

One of the major comfort features of the Safari vehicles at Lion Sands are the individual three tier seating each vehicle provides for. Whereas other Safari vehicles at other Lodges have ‘bench’ seats, the Lion Sands vehicles have a heavily padded individual canvass shoulder & hip supports so that each guest is in effect, separated from other guests. Each seat provides an individual seat pouch, ideal for placing sun-screen, binoculars, a sweater or other incidental items one may take along on the game drive.

The safari vehicles exclusively used for Ivory Lodge guests have a utilities container in-between the two seats in each of the three rows. This ´box´ contains a stunning bird species pictorial guide; high-power binoculars, sun-block & other guest amenities. No other safari lodge that we are aware of, has gone to such lengths to provide guests with these essentials.

Of all of the game drive vehicles we have participated in, the Lion Sands vehicles are the most comfortable we’ve experienced anywhere in Africa.

Not only do you have the opportunity to partake in two game drives a day, as well, a mid-morning Ranger guided bush-walk is offered to those guests who wish to partake. Also offered during the full moon phase each month are Ranger guided full moon bush walks which are nothing short of awesome experiences.

One of the features which Lion Sands has focused upon is their commitment to research. This is the only Private Game Lodge to have a professionally qualified Ecologist as a permanent member of staff conducting ongoing research projects ranging from the lion prides evolvement to all manner of insects & birds. To share discussions with the ecologist is to open her thesaurus like knowledge of the eco-systems, flora & fauna of this bushveld environment & enables one to gain insight & a new level of understanding way & beyond the ordinary.

On the banks of the Sabie River, Lions Sands has constructed two fantastic ‘hides’- areas where you can go & sit in silence, lulled by the ’click’ of cicadas, the occasional bird call & the gurgle of the water over boulders & rocks. Take an hour out of the midday & you are most likely to see kudu, bushbuck, waterbuck, elephant & cape buffalo, as during the day these animals come down to graze on the lush grasses & drink from the river.

Dining at Lion Sands River Lodge is an exquisite delight as they change the location of meal services depending on weather & the season. Breakfasts are usually served on the open expanse of deck outside the main lodge, however at guests request; private breakfasts can be set up on the platform overlooking the Sabie River which makes for a stunning occasion.

Lunch can & is served around the pool, in the lounge area or if you wish brought to your private deck outside your accommodation unit.

Dinner, well the variations are many – the Boma is a typical kraal with blazing open logged fireplace – that is one venue. Then there is the dry sandy riverbed where soft lantern candles sit adjacent to tables with fine white linen, crystal glassware & beautiful crockery laid out under the twinkle of a zillion African stars. There is nothing quite like this experience to put a frame & finish around a perfect day.

Dining at Ivory Lodge has been taken to a totally new & elevated level of excellence & cuisine. For those guests who choose to remain private all meals can & are readily served in your suite. The choice of cuisine is better than most 5 star silver service city restaurants & the premium wine choices in wine cellar has to be seen to be believed.

Innovatively built into the wall of each of the lounge areas of the Ivory Lodge guests suite is a service ´hatch´ so that food can be delivered directly from the gourmet chef’s kitchen to a suite without the service staff having to enter – hence, guests may relax at all times in whatever attire they choose.

Lion Sands also provides for those guests who would like to indulge with a private body massage or facial as they have on staff, a resident professional masseuse. For Ivory Lodge guests, private massages are offered in your suite.
One of the things which set Lion Sands apart is the staff.

They are so genuine in their desire to serve, to ensure each guest has the best of times & equally that nothing is left undone or wanting for, they are there at 0530 right through until the last guests have retired for the night. Night time security is provided by a team of specialist staff who roam the lodge & grounds with powerful spotlights. This vigil is maintained dusk to sunrise.

As experienced personally, we can recommend Lion Sands from it’s lofty position of providing the best of the best safari experience as it sits at the summit of the echelon of Private Game Reserve experiences available in South Africa & it simply cannot be found wanting for anything.

From early pioneering days of wagon & oxen, outdoor bucket showers & bathing in the Sand River alongside where the four separate camps are situated, to the modern era of exquisite ambiance, fine dining & luxurious accommodation, much has transpired while the traditions & vision of Londolozi remains unaltered.

The camp fire may well burn on the same spot as it did in 1926 & the dreams of two friends who first came to this harsh land are rekindled in the eyes & legacies of the grandchildren, but Londolozi remains “ a model of wise land managements, integrating international travelers & rural people to their mutual benefit, demonstrating that wildlife can be used on a sustainable basis, by all “.

Londolozi has traversing rights over 17000 hectares of prime game viewing land & within that, exclusive rights over 7000 hectares. Rangers & trackers expertly guide guests through this theatre of Southern Africa, famous for its leopards which have been brought back from the brink of extinction here on the property – to the others of the Big 5, antelope, fascinating plants & an array of birds that grace the reserve.

Founders Camp celebrates the heritage of Londolozi. Formerly known as Bush Camp it has evolved into two luxurious camps known now as Founders Camp & Pioneer Camp. Founders Camp is situated in a bushy forested riverine environment on the Sand River Bank. Five air-conditioned chalets & one suite are linked by a series of pathways. Blended with the tree canopy thatched split level dining & viewing decks are suspended above a quiet area of by-water.

In the winter when guests arrive back from a game drive, a fire is roaring, yet in summer the sprawling tree shaded swimming pool is perfect for optimizing the approaching nightfall.

Pioneer Camp features three suites with décor to serve as legacy to the pioneers. Faded sepia photographs of long bygone hunting expeditions crowd the walls. Safari treasures, leather arm chairs & Georgian elegance combine to set the tone of romance & tradition.

Bateleur Camp is built on the site of the originally named ‘Sparta’ hunting camp. The Varty brothers changed the name to Londolozi (which in Zulu, means ‘protector of living things’).

Eight chalets & four suites each have a private verandah deck & plunge pool, a retrospective bedroom with King sized beds & a bathtub set in a panoramic bay window.

Tree Camp epitomizes exceptional sophistication, elegance & warmth. Six suites, each with elevated views of the bushveld beyond have air-conditioning, plunge pools & private sala. Interior furnishings are soft silks & suede, spacious en-suite bathrooms, stone floors & inlaid pebbled shower stall.

Safari Lodge is tucked away in its own private & secluded sector on a dry riverbed. This is an intimate hideaway with only six rooms. Breakfast is served under thatch which arches over the camp & guests may relax on their private verandah decks or wander to the shaded pool hidden in riverine vegetation. Safari Lodge is ideally suited to parties of guests who may wish to reserve the entire camp for themselves.

Singita means "the place of miracles" in Shangaan, and no name could be more fitting, as the Singita Private Game Reserve lies in the very heart of the world-renowned Sabi Sand Reserve.

The Greater Sabi Sands Game Reserve is directly adjacent to & shares an unhindered, fenceless boundary with the Kruger National Park, allowing the animals unfettered across across this wilderness expanse.

Originally a game farm which belonged to James Fawcett Bailles, after much debate & consideration a decision was taken to open this magnificent piece of South Africa to discerning international visitors in 1994.

Singita Ebony Lodge & Singita Boulders Lodge were both conceived late that year.

No expense has been spared in the development of both Singita Ebony & Singita Boulders, with each lodge created as a tribute to the unique splendor of the bushveld wilderness around it.

Singita Ebony & Singita Boulders have in the ensuing 14 years distinguished themselves on the upper-rung of the ladder of international resorts'; they have since won just about every major award that is proffered globally.

Both of these exquisite lodges remain unmatched in Africa & rank right up there amongst exclusive resorts the world over. The vision for both resorts has been to continually reinvent, to improve on the experience & by doing so, to ensure each visit becomes that much more magical & memorable for the plethora of returning guests.

Ebony lodge offers robust pleasures, exuding an earthy atmosphere. Ebony lodge is known for its first-class cuisine, world-class service and fantastic wine cellar & is the epitome of the ultimate luxury safari experience.

Interiors offer a bohemian take on traditional bush decor, while every effort is made to celebrate the great outdoors. The decor is a combination of tribal masks, colonial furniture & vibrant ethnic weaves with bright splashes of saffron, amber & crimson.

Private suites have their own plunge pools overlooking exquisite views of the Sand River and its abundant offering of game.

Boulders Lodge embraces nature at every turn. Interiors are lavish in their simplicity & celebrate the colors of the earth in sandy browns, soft beiges & caramel hues.

Wood and stone have been used effectively to create an effortless space that marries our modern world to the ancient one inspired by nature. Quiet, simple & luxurious, guests love nothing better than to sit in the open-air lounge – waiting for a glimpse of life from the surrounding South African bush.

The quintessential epitome of every stay at Singita’s lodges is the luxurious care one indulges in at the Wellness health spa. The professional therapist offers treatments from the more conventional European massages to reflexology, manicures, facials & aromatherapy, or will indulge guests with an uplifting body treatment.

Simbambili Game Lodge located in the 65000 hectare greater Sabi Sand Game Reserve, is rated as 5 star by the South African Tourism Accreditation Council.  In our opinion, Simbambili delivers an intimate, classically personal experience of the South African bushveld at its best.

It is a highly individually personal destination for the particularly discerning traveler.  Subtly built in a region dominated but magnificent Knobthorn & Jackalberry aged trees along the meandering Manyeleti River, guests coming to Simbambili can look forward to vistas that extend out over extensive savannah grassland that quite literally teems with wildlife in this gem of a region adjacent to the world acclaimed greater Kruger National Park.

Nestled inconspicuously among dense stands of trees are six (6) individually handcrafted guest suites designed to blend sensitively with the environment & positioned so as to enhance privacy. Sophisticated yet simple each guest suite offers stunning views whether from the unique en-suite bathrooms & salas or from the individual private plunge pools.

Attention to detail is a benchmark of Simbambili & the desires of the guests who are sophisticated travelers as at any one time, the boutique nature of the lodge limits occupancy to a maximum of twelve persons.

Simbambili´s  guests are encouraged to enjoy the extraordinary African bushveld & riverine wildlife, & on morning & afternoon /  evening Ranger & tracker hosted game drive safari activities whether it is your choice to linger with lion, to witness the ever elusive leopard, gaze in awe at breeding herds of elephant, white rhino & Cape buffalo, or the extensive array of birds & insects, Simbambili over-delivers expectations in most every aspect

Your ranger and tracker team will astound with their combined team ability to track game, whether on foot, or on an open 4x4 tailor-designed safari vehicle. With their vast experience of this environment, its flora & fauna , undoubtedly fascinating insights will be conveyed to the guests on each game drive. 

he guest safari experience is complemented by a seemingly endless service of elegant cuisine, a selection of fine wines from the South African label dominated cellar & by the warmth of true African hospitality.

Located to the north & adjacent to but outside the Timbavati Game Reserve, Thornybush has five camps spread out on its 11000 hectares, in the heart of Big 5 country. Main Lodge, Jackalberry Lodge, Shumbalala, Serondella & Chapunga Game Lodge each provide a different guest experience.

Main Lodge is the flagship with stylish air-conditioned individual suites, each having extensive living areas & en-suite facilities with both indoor & outdoor showers & a private lounge verandah deck.

Shumbalala provides six only beautifully appointed suites, pure linen soft fabric & comfort abounding. Whether you select to spend a lazy afternoon at the pool, reading, bird watching or simply relaxing, Shumbalala’s attentive & dedicated staff are never far away.

Serondella offers discerning guests the choice of three river suites, one family suite with three en-suite bedrooms & master bathroom. There are two elevated viewing decks, swimming pool & both indoor & outdoor dining areas. The suites are carefully positioned to ensure privacy & stunning vistas. Chapungu Lodge has 5 en-suite bedrooms catering to a maximum of 10 guests. There is a Rock pool, elevated viewing deck & Boma for outdoor dining. All of the rooms are all individually air-conditioned.

Jackalberry Lodge is named after the magnificent tree that is liberally found across the bushveld. It grows to 30m or more & provides a canopy of wonderful shade away from the hot African summer sun. Jackalberry is considered excellent for birdwatchers with more than 280 species of birds recorded here. The camp can accommodate up to ten guests in a family suite, a luxury suit & three double chalets all with air-conditioned en-suite semi open air bathrooms & bedrooms under deep African styled thatch.

Chapungu Lodge

Chapungu accommodates a maximum of ten (10) guests in five (5) en-suite luxury East African Safari tented rooms. The rooms overlook a granite pool set amongst magnificent trees. There is an overhead multi-speed ceiling fan & air-conditioners in all tents
The water hole at Chapungu Camp is a major attraction with plenty of animals coming down for a drink early mornings & again, just before sunset.

The lodge has :

· Rock swimming pool.
· Curio shop, Boma & African themed dining area. The beatings of traditional drums in the evenings summons guests to a delicious five-course banquet complemented by fine South African wines.
Chapungu does not cater to children under 12 years of age.

Chapungu offers early morning & again, afternoon / evening safari game drives in open 4x4 landrovers hosted by a professional Field Guide & bush walks can be tailored to guests on specific requirements.

This is a noted Big 5 region , so guests can reasonably expect they may see lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, zebra & other general game on game drives. In addition the Timbavati region is one that as well as big game, offers exciting bird watching.

Each of the Thornybush camps provide two game drives a day in open safari vehicles conducted by highly trained & skilled Rangers & Trackers. It is a practiced ' art' of these wonderful teams of professionals who combine to bring the guests as close as possible to the sightings, whilst respecting the space each individual animal requires & ensuring the best possible photo opportunities in a position that ensures saftey for all occupants of the safari vehicle.

Situated some 20 kms from Eastgate airport & near Hoedspruit, Kapama Private Game Reserve is set on 12000 hectares of bushveld – prime ‘Big 5’ Country in the Valley of the Oliphants. Kapama enjoys wonderful views of the Drakensberg Mountain ranges & is acclaimed as one of the upper level luxury lodges in South Africa.

Kapama offers three camps – Kapama Lodge, Buffalo Camp & Nyala House. Each is succinctly different in style & ambiance, but boasting a sameness in excellence of service level & attention to detail.

Kapama Lodge has 20 air-conditioned, en-suite chalets all luxuriously appointed. Buffalo Camp provides for 8 luxury tented units set in the upper parts of tall trees overlooking a seasonally flowing river. Nyala House is an intimate 4 bed-roomed homestead in a beautiful bush setting.

All meals are included & two game drives per day are available, hosted by a professional Ranger & Tracker assigned to the guests for the duration of their stay.

Motswari Private Game Reserve is located 23km into the Timbavati Nature Reserve.  From the main highway, the access road is unsealed to the Timbavati Reserve gates, but from here to the Motswari turnoff is asphalt.

Motswari Game Reserve shares a 20km unfenced boundary with the world-renowned Kruger National Park, as overall this region is an integral part of the Greater Kruger National Park Conservancy.

With unrestricted traversing rights within this area of pristine wilderness habitat, Motswari offers visitors the best of South Africa’s untamed landscape & plentiful game in a truly natural environment.

.As such there is a constant flow of game through the reserve ensuring plenty of excitement during the game-viewing activities, which are conducted in the early morning & again in the late afternoon / early evening, when the animals, particularly predators, are most active.

Motswari´s rangers & Shangaan trackers are all passionate wildlife enthusiasts, each individual thriving on bringing the bush to life for their guests.

Be it from the comfort of our open safari 4x4 vehicles or, for the more adventurous guests accompanied on foot on a bush walk, the wildlife experience at Motswari is second in the Timbavati to none.

Strictly adhered to game-drive policies ensure both the wildlife & Motswari´s guests are given ´personal space´& feel relaxed. All game-drive vehicles & Rangers are in radio contact with one another & with Motswari Main Lodge, ensuring optimal chances of those special sightings. The Rangers are also keen wildlife photographers themselves, thus ensuring that their guests get the best of photographic angles & lighting opportunities.

Lodge facilities include a traditional, open-air boma; a spacious lounge and bar over-looking a beautiful dam; an art gallery exhibiting original wildlife art, a fully-equipped conference room and a refreshing swimming pool.

Classified as 4 star, Motswari Lodge has fifteen (15) luxury en suite bungalows accommodating a maximum of 30 guests in all at any one time. All of the guest suite bedrooms have air-conditioning & multi-speed controlled overhead fans.  

The Timbavati is renowned for its frequent sightings of the famed Big Five & has very healthy populations of all other species found in the region.

Millions of years past, a gigantic seismic event forced apart rock & mountain to allow searing molten substance from the subterranean caverns of the earth’s crust to penetrate the surface, than harden over time exposed to the elements forming megalithic shapes. Geological time & weather combined to strip away sands & reveal these ancient monoliths upon which Bongani Mountain Lodge is located. Nomadic tribesmen of days long gone held religious & ceremonial events here as the rock art is testament to & today’s guests can witness some of the finest remaining sources of Sans rock art with over 250 known sites in the vicinity.

Bongani Mountain Lodge is located in 8000 hectares of the Mthethomusha Game Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park & easily accessible, 45 minutes by road from Nelspruit.

Guests can experience not only the Big 5 ( Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard all reside in the reserve ) but also interface with local tribes people & the community. Grass roots theatre performances, ancient tribal songs & the tasting of millet beer are amongst the traditions to be had, along with the fascinating depiction of times gone by in tribal life in the form
of rock art.

With 29 thatched roof bungalows, all with air-conditioning & ceiling fans, private decks, en-suite bedrooms & separately enclosed bath, shower & toilets, Bongani caters to both couples & families. South Africa’s icon, Nelson Mandela, was a guest at Bongani Mountain Lodge & wrote in the guest book : “ compliments & best wishes to Mountain Lodge which provided me with unforgettable days of rest & peace “ - 19 / 08 / 1990.

Cradled between the Ubombo Mountains westward & the azure colours of the Indian Ocean to the East, Phinda is situated in the St. Lucia Wetlands, one of Africa’s most ecologically diverse regions with an intertwining of eco-systems & wildlife. In all 15000 hectares of private game reserve lands & seven different eco-systems from ocean front to dense bush veld. Freshwater lakes & river floodplains are the domains of prehistoric crocodile & hippo, flamingos & pelicans, while the savannah plains provide some of the best Cheetah viewing opportunities in the whole of Africa. The bushveld is home to endangered black Rhino as well as the great predators. Phinda is home to more than 65 elephant, 50 Rhino & untold numbers of antelope including Nyala & Suni antelope, leopard, giraffe, buffalo & lions.

There are four distinctly different Lodges within Phinda.

• Forest Lodge with 16 stilted glass chalets, each air-conditioned with en-suite bathroom & private deck. A swimming pool, boma & a curio shop are the support facilities of this Lodge.
• Vlei Lodge offers 6 thatch & teak suites, each air-conditioned with en-suite bathroom, private deck & plunge pool.
• Mountain Lodge offers 20 privately separated suites, each air-conditioned with en-suite bathroom & private decks.
• Rock Lodge offers 6 suites, with seating areas, en-suite bathroom, private deck & plunge pools. Some have private outside open air showers.

Shamwari is located in the Eastern Cape in verdant bush along Bushman’s River. Steeped in settler history & dating to a time when a multitude of game wandered this landscape free to migrate as had countless numbers before, it is the realization of one mans dreams & others passions. This 18000 hectare reserve boasts five eco-systems, supporting the many plant, reptile, animal and bird life forms that dwell within.

There are five different lodges within Shamwari.

• Long Lee Manor originally built in 1910 is distinctly colonial. Elegant en-suites with air-conditioning & ceiling fans for summer & under-floor heating in winter. Between game drives , guests can lounge around two swimming pools, play tennis or relax in the gardens.
• Bushman’s River Lodge is a unique historical site beautifully restored. Four only deluxe en-suite rooms, this is unadulterated luxury, surrounded by wilderness. Take meals in the sumptuously appointed dining room, the verandah or in your room dependant upon your mood.
• Lobengula Lodge is tucked deep in bushveld. The five double rooms are en-suite with air-conditioning & under floor heating. Here you will be served lavish meals & can relax between game drives around the bar or the pool. The magnificent wooden deck around the lodge is an ideal setting for story telling in front of the fireplace.
• Eagles Cragg & Highfield Lodges. Both are restored 1860 settlers residences. Eagles Cragg is furnished with period pieces & unobtrusive modern amenities. Four double suites each with private outside shower providing for magnificent vistas. Highfield Lodge caters for eight guests in four en-suite twin rooms. It has a charming central lounge & refreshing plunge pool.

Khaya Lendaba, the African arts & cultural village is located adjacent to Shamwari. Guests can visit & experience traditional African dancing, song & story telling. Here too you can experience the Born Free Foundations life work, in its pursuit of conservation of wild animal species & the habitat.

Access to Shamwari is by way of a 50 minute road transfer from Port Elizabeth airport or self-drive travel as a natural extension for those driving the Garden Route.

A five hour road transfer or 50 minute flight onto the private bush landing strip from Johannesburg, Jaci’s Safari Lodge is set in natural bush within the 75000 hectare Madikwe Game Reserve in Northern Province, which cuddles up to the border between South Africa & Botswana. The Madikwe Game Reserve was created not only to preserve the flora & fauna of this fragile region, but moreover to provide a sustainable environment for the local people. In the largest movement of animals since Noah, 10000 head & 27 species of game was relocated into Madikwe. This is a Malaria free region where you can expect to observe the Big 5 as well as cheetah, wild dog, giraffe, zebra, hartebeest, sable gemsbok, springbok & some 340 species of both resident & migrant birds.

Jaci’s Safari Lodge provides for 8 double roomed units & an exclusive bush retreat two bedroom suite, each with its own private deck looking out onto a running stream & frequented by antelope, elephant, buffalo & predators. The bedrooms are a charming mixture of stone & huge tented windows with cooling thatched roofs & ceiling fans to give a special African Bush feeling. Each has its own small fireplace which the staff will light in the autumn & winter months prior to your retiring for the evening & each en-suite features a rock bathtub & an outside private enclosed shower.

Children are catered for as Jaci’s is surrounded by a two & a half metre high, electrified top game proof security fence – something that provides an extra touch of security for all guests. Children can share accommodation units with their parents on camping stretchers that can be set free standing in the room.

Meals are served in the open plan main lounge & come from the ultra-modern kitchen in full view of the dining area. Dinners are usually eaten outside in the ‘boma’ around an open fire, under the stars, or in a bush setting on a ‘braai’, surrounded by nature. Upstairs in the main lounge is a very well stocked bar & reading area & a highlight of any stay at Jaci’s is to settle in for a night of real ‘bush yarns’ listening to either Jaci or Jan recount their many amazing adventures in what quite obviously is a place that is intrinsic in their bloodline.

The latest edition to Jaci’s comes in the form of eight magnificent elevated ‘ tree houses ‘ each built encompassing a giant Tamboetie or ancient Leadwood tree within their design. Each of these tree houses has an en-suite bathroom, an outdoor jungle shower & is decorated utilizing natural timbers, canvas & thatch to maintain African bush style & classical simplicity .

A raised wooden platform connects the Main Tree House which comprises kitchen, guest lounge & bar and the dining area. A wooden platform deck incorporating the branches of the tree canopy, highlights the evening dining experience under a myriad of stars against the inky blackness of the African night sky.

Jaci’s Safari Lodge from the moment you step across the small swing bridge, will provide you not only the comforts of home & then some, but a hands on owner – operated experience that will enrich your senses & undoubtedly provide a compelling reason to return here time & again.

Entabeni Reserve offers four splendidly appointed camps set on two magnificent escarpments in the Waterberg. Rich vegetation comprising bushveld plains, woodlands, & raw ravines are haven to a variety of wildlife.

For the purist, Entabeni is not a free range private game reserve as such, as the predator species are kept in a separate location from the majority of the plains antelope species. However, on the property are the Big 5 – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant & cape buffalo & guests are likely to have sightings of these plus many more species on game drives.

• Kingfisher Lodge - set on the banks of Lake Entabeni, Kingfisher Lodge is the most exclusive of the accommodation options. There is an executive chef, dining room staff & game rangers dedicated to Kingfisher Lodge’s guests.

A spacious lounge / dining area opens onto an expansive wooden deck which faces the lake. The elgant décor of the main dining room includes especially designed furniture & fireplace making for an inviting homely atmosphere. The eight guest deluxe suites each have a large private en-suite bathroom & the honeymoon suite features its own jacuzzi & four poster bed.

Game drives are carried out in 4x4 safari vehicles & are hosted by a qualified professional Ranger. There is a sparkling swimming pool available for guests while the boma, adorned by hanging lanterns makes for an ideal dinner setting under the African stars.

• Wildside Camp - Tucked in under the escarpment of majestic cliffs & gullies that are the signature vista of the Waterberg, Wildside Camp is just as its name describes – wild ! Here, in the comfort of tented accommodation you can get as close to nature as possible. The flatlands that spread out below the cliffs are home to Entabeni’s predator cats. Here the lion pride rules the roost & to witness a combined pride hunt is very special.

Each tent unit is built on a wooden raise platform & has en-suite bathroom facilities. There are also a limited number of en-suite cottages at Wildside for those who want a close to nature experience, but prefer solid walled accommodation units.

• Ravineside Lodge - On the upper flats & grassland & under the shadow of the ageless Entabeni Rock buttress, lies Ravineside Lodge.

It comprises thatched woodend lodges on stilts each with a bird’s eye view looking out & down into the ravine that they are perched atop of. An abundance of waterfalls, springs & natural clear mountain pools draw game of all descriptions to Ravineside. Each lodge has 3 or 4 en-suite bathroom units interconnected by a wooden deck. An open plan lounge & bar area extends to the open sundeck – an ideal spot to relax, read or sip a favourite beverage.

• Lakeside Lodge - Lakeside is the largest of the Entabeni lodges. Each self contained thatched accommodation unit is beautifully appointed, private & decorated in African colours, wood furniture & fabric. A covered walkway extends from main lodge to each of the thatched accommodation units. The porter staff will take guests luggage to their unit on arrival & back on guest check-out.

A large queen sized bed, vanity & wardrobe adorn the bedrooms – each has an open fireplace for that extra warmth on cooler winter nights – and the en-suite bathroom is generously large with shower, full sized bathtub & vanity basin unit. The toilet is separate from the bathroom.

Meals are served in the main dining room or out on the wood deck over looking the lake, which has hippo as the main residents. The range of cuisine & the presentation is exceptional at Lakeside. Dinners are either served in the outdoor ‘ Boma’ around a roaring log fire, or indoors if the weather is inclement.

Each of the four Entabeni lodges & camps has its own game drive rangers & vehicles. Game drives are undertaken early morning & again afternoon-evening. One of the fantastic features of an Entabeni game drive is to descend off the flatlands into the ravine & on down below the escarpment to the area around Wildside . From here looking back up the ravine & taking in all of the majesty of the cliffs is indeed providing the best of true ‘ kodak’ moments.

Entabeni enjoys a moderate climate, summer rainfall & close proximity to Johannesburg & Pretoria ( 2 hours comfortable driving ).

Located within the 75000 hectares of the Madikwe Game Reserve which sits on the southern fringes of South Africa’s northwestern border in the sub-Kalahari region, Impodimo Game Lodge ranks up there with the finest safari lodge in the country.

Madikwe Game Reserve was inaugurated officially on 31 October, 1994. A detailed feasibility study had shown that wildlife-based tourism was the most beneficial option for this remote and economically depressed area.

Madikwe Game Reserve is home to 66 large mammal species including the Big Five & approximately 300 resident & migrant bird species. It is one of South Africa's largest game reserves. It has the distinction of being one of the few game reserves in the world to be proclaimed purely on the grounds of being the most appropriate & sustainable land use for an area.

The reserve consists of vast plains of open woodlands & grasslands, dissected by the rugged Rant van Tweedepoort & bordered in the south by the Dwarsberg Mountains. The area is dotted with huge rocky hills known as ´inselbergs´.

The entire reserve has been enclosed in a 150km perimeter fence which has been electrified to prevent the escape of elephants & predators.

Within the Madikwe Game Reserve Impodimo Game Lodge has been carefully positioned along a rocky ridge commanding stunning vistas of the reserve. It is also located at the source of a natural spring, which provides the lodge with elevated views as well as riverine serenity.

With only 10 luxury guest suites, Impodimo´s capacity is set at a boutique 16 guests maximum at any one time. With so few guests, be assured you are certainly going to be pampered beyond your wildest dreams.

Each of the suites have been carefully positioned to ensure absolute privacy.

Spacious in design, each includes a closed system fireplace, climate control air conditioner, mini bar fridge, tea & coffee making facilities and full en-suite bathroom and outside shower. Your private deck allows uninterrupted views of the Madikwe Game Reserve.

The lodge offers dawn & dusk 4x4 Ranger & Shangaan Tracker hosted game drive safaris, carefully timed to ensure optimal seasonal comfort.

The owner / manager team of Steve & Debbie are ideally suited to tailoring the most memorable safari experience. Whilst Steve is a highly qualified expert ranger, Debbie adds impressive culinary qualifications to the team.

The Impodimo team has gone to great lengths to ensure that guests have as much choice as possible in enjoying their experience, for example, 7-seater landrovers are used instead of the traditional 10 seat vehicles used on other game reserves, giving afar greater degree of comfort & space for each guest.

Impodimo was the first game lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve to have qualified Shangaan trackers as part of the team. These amazing African native tribesmen add a completely different dimension to the safari experience, with their unerring gifted tracking skill ensuring consistent big game sightings.

With fewer guests on safari game drives the team encourages guests to maximize optimal game viewing times, for example this may include a full day safari in winter with a picnic lunch stop.

In our wide portfolio of game lodge experiences, we have not come across a more accommodating management or staff, nor a more diverse eco-system as is to be found in Madikwe.

The one thing guests must however be mindful of is the lodge is not for families with children under 12 years of age, & summertime temperatures are extremely hot given the region is astride the southern portion of the Kalahari Desert.

We rate Impodimo Game Lodge as perhaps the best value-for-money boutique safari lodge in South Africa.

Lalibela Private Game Reserve is located, a mere hours drive or some 75km north of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.

Not only is this region deemed a malaria-free zone, but the true glory of this game reserve is, it spans five (5) different eco-systems, resulting in a breath-taking diversity of flora & fauna.

The three main aspects of any safari are the game-viewing, the quality & ambiance of the accommodation & the outstanding cuisine & culinary experiences guests are offered. At Lalibela the culinary experience is true safari cuisine with an emphasis on local specialties, ranging from centuries-old recipes to exciting contemporary African dishes.

The central ethos of Lalibela is to ensure that what visitors experience with us does justice to these sentiments & the below anonymous quotation sums up the essence of Lalibela´s small corner of the Eastern Cape in South Africa.

"The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa, for he has so much to look forward to"

The Lalibela staff team takes special care to ensure that heartfelt service combines with these three "ingredients" to make their guests African safari experience an outstandingly memorable one.

Lalibela Game Reserve is a Big Five safari property of 7,500 hectares (approximately 18,500 acres) and is home to lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo & leopard, amongst a vast array of other mammal, bird, reptile & insect species.

Lalibela is unique in the Eastern Cape in that there are no public roads running through the property, so all of the animals, including the predators, are free-roaming throughout the entire reserve.

There are three distinctly different game lodges on Lalibela:

Lentaba Lodge, Mark's Camp & Tree Tops - all offering decor that is infused with the essence of Africa, as well as warm & friendly service & unforgettable game viewing.

At all three lodges, secluded thatched chalets are placed where magnificent indigenous gardens merge into the surrounding bush.

Each en-suite unit has a private observation deck to make the most of the views.

The lodges also boast a large lounge, viewing deck and a sunny swimming pool where you can spend a lazy afternoon. They also have an outdoor dining 'boma' for fireside dinners and open-air brunches, as well as stylish indoor dining areas.

Marks Camp

The stone & thatch chalets and main lodge of Mark’s Camp are decorated in a relaxed Pan-African style.

This lodge sleeps a maximum of 20 guests in four (4) individual chalets & four (4) family chalets. Mark's Camp is perfect for families travelling with young children. The 3 family rooms & 1 family suite can sleep up to 10 adults & 8 children.

Each comfortably furnished chalet has an en-suite bathroom and air-conditioning for those warm summer nights.

The chalets open up onto a private deck with views over the surrounding bush. Between game drives, guests can relax in the large lounge, bird watch from the viewing decks or laze around the swimming pool.

Mark’s Camp has an outdoor dining “boma” for fireside dinners and open-air brunches, as well as a gracious indoor dining area.

Children on Safari at Lalibela

An exciting educational children's program is offered at this lodge.

There is a huge demand for families wanting a safari holiday in a malaria-free area, because of the risks associated with taking children to a malaria-prone region of South Africa.

Lalibela's location makes us ideal for families traveling with children, who are wanting to combine a family safari with the Garden Route & Cape Town. The management & staff at Lalibela have devised a children's program which we feel optimizes the safari experience with quality family time.

Each family is different & children require varying degrees of attention, which is why the emphasis at Lalibela is to be as flexible as possible to ensure memorable family holidays.

In the early morning Lalibela's African lady child minders come on duty so that parents can leave for their morning game drive. The children are given a chance to wake up, get dressed & get ready for the day.

For the children, breakfast is served & then it is time for the activities of the morning, starting with a short game drive with their own game ranger and in their own special game viewing vehicle, taking care to avoid any close encounters with dangerous game. Parents are welcome to stay behind & accompany their children on the kiddies' game drive.

The middle of the day is time for the family to spend together.

Before the adults go out on their afternoon game drive, high tea is served for both adults & children. The children then head out on their own afternoon game drive & return to the lodge to be served their early dinner before having ´playtime´ getting creative with some arts & crafts activities. Young children are looked after by child minders during the adults' dinner sitting.

Children of all ages are welcome at Mark's Camp which has 4 twin rooms on one side of the lodge & 4 family rooms on the other side of the lodge.

Lentaba Lodge

Lentaba, the "lodge on the hillside", sleeps 16 people in eight (8) secluded thatched chalets, placed where magnificent indigenous gardens merge into the surrounding bush.

Each en-suite unit has a private observation deck to make the most of the views over the valley bushveld. Each chalet has air-conditioning as well as a multi-speed ceiling fan.

The main lodge is decorated in a traditional safari style & rightly boasts a large lounge, viewing deck & a sunny swimming pool where you can spend a lazy afternoon.

The outdoor dining "boma" has a commanding view of a waterhole which is spot-lit after dark for night game viewing. There is also a stylish indoor dining area. Brunch is served al fresco on the main viewing deck.

Tree Tops

Tree Tops differs from Laibela´s other lodges in that it is a true African luxury tented camp. Tree Tops sleeps a maximum of 10 guests in five (5) double or twin rooms.

The luxury safari tents perched high on thatched platforms at "tree top" level are joined by raised walkways, offering spectacular views over the thickly-wooded valley.

The rooms, with their canvas walls & solid thatched roofs have huge window areas, giving guests the feeling of being right in the bush. Each air-conditioned room has a private veranda where guests can sit & relax in privacy.

As with the other two Lalibela lodges, Tree Tops lodge has a large lounge and open-air dining deck with a view over a small waterhole. Guests can sun bathe around the swimming pool or relax in the shaded gazebo.

Special care & consideration was taken during the construction of Tree Tops lodge to minimize the impact on the pristine vegetation in the valley.

No matter which of Lalibela´s lodges one chooses, there is no question that each of them delivers the charm of authentic Africa – that being a perfect blend of the formal & informal.