Born to be wild at these top private game reserves

EExplore our fascinating wildlife ecology in the wide open, pristine and natural environments when you visit one of these phenomenal nature and game reserves.

MalaMala Game Reserve, Mpumalanga

MalaMala has become something of a byword when it comes to luxury game lodges. It has met many standards in that respect, and few can beat its Big Five wildlife sightings, thanks, in part, to a long, unfenced border with the Kruger National Park.

Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Limpopo

Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, situated next to the Kruger National Park, is home to a dozen of South Africa’s best luxury game lodges. Famous for the sporadic birth of rare white lions – still ongoing – the reserve was created by 50 forward-thinking individuals in 1956.

Did You Know?

TThe Sabi Sand is the oldest game reserve in South Africa, formally declared in 1948.

Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, Mpumalanga

The Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve is renowned as a haven for the Big Five and for luxury game lodges of international standing. The reserve’s lush vegetation adjoins the Kruger National Park, and fences have been dropped. The wild animals cross back and forth, following ancient migration paths parallel to the Sabie River.

TTswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve, Northern Cape

The Tswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve, owned by the Oppenheimer family, has two exceptional camps – Motse and Tarkuni. The reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including cheetah, buffalo, meerkats, giraffe and black-maned lions, as well as many rarer species such as pangolin, aardvark, aardwolf and mountain zebra. Experience it on horseback, on foot, or in a 4x4 game-viewing vehicle. Your soul will be touched by its beauty.

Madikwe Game Reserve, North West

Madikwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s foremost Big Five malaria-free reserves, was envisaged not by conservationists, but by economists. They found conservation would create more income and jobs than the existing land-use, which was cattle farming. This successful reserve is now a model that has inspired South African conservation.

Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, Limpopo

The Welgevonden Private Game Reserve is a 37 500ha stretch of exceptionally beautiful scenery amid river ravines and mountains in the Waterberg. Set within it are 13 luxury bush lodges. It is malaria-free and has the Big Five.

Samara Private Game Reserve, Eastern Cape

Samara Private Game Reserve is in the Great Karoo, not far from the lovely, historic town of Graaff-Reinet. Set among the high, jagged-edged Sneeuberg Mountains, this remarkable reserve combines luxury with extraordinary game sightings and splendid views. You’ll also enjoy the feel-good factor of being on rehabilitated land.

Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Eastern Cape

Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape offers visitors award-winning luxury accommodation in the heart of the malaria-free big game country. Game viewing and responsible tourism go hand-in-hand as you view the Big Five and enjoy five-star pampering and cuisine.

Phinda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal

The Phinda Private Game Reserve offers visitors a unique wildlife experience that combines the best of the South African bushveld with the best of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. Here you can swim with the dolphins before hearing the lions roar.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Western Cape

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve near Hermanus – South Africa’s whale-watching capital – is a foremost example of how luxury can be blended with responsible tourism principles while also conserving unique and threatened fynbos. While you won’t see the Big Five here, you can see nearly 800 fynbos species.

Explore more

Wildlife safari

Tips for first time visitors to the Kruger National Park

Wildlife safari

Tips for first time visitors to the Kruger National Park

Not only can you catch a glimpse of the famous Big Five, but you will find yourself surrounded by hundreds of bird species, ancient trees, winding rivers, superb accommodation and adventure.

Wildlife safari

The Bird Island Group Marine Protected Area

Wildlife safari

The Bird Island Group Marine Protected Area

On a boat cruise around the Bird Island Group, protected by South African National Parks, you’ll see African penguins, Cape gannets, whales, sharks and dolphins.

Wildlife safari

Surprises and adventures along the Cango Route

Wildlife safari

Surprises and adventures along the Cango Route

The Cango Route stretches from Oudtshoorn, the world’s ostrich capital, over the R328 to the Swartberg Pass, a marvel in mountain pass construction, and back to Oudtshoorn. The road through the Cango Valley might only be 30km long, but if you take it slow and enjoy the attractions along the way, you’ll soon see the magic of it all.

Wildlife safari

Mkhuze Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal: aflutter with birds and thick with game

Wildlife safari

Mkhuze Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal: aflutter with birds and thick with game

Mkhuze Game Reserve, in northern KwaZulu-Natal province’s vast iSimangaliso Wetland Park, has varied habitats where you can see rhino, elephant and other game, big and small, plus 420 bird species.

Wildlife safari

Limpopo province: birds, big game and plenty of history and culture

Wildlife safari

Limpopo province: birds, big game and plenty of history and culture

Limpopo province has the Kruger National Park and scores more game reserves for birders and wildlife fans – it also boasts fossils, historic remains and traditional South African cultures.

Wildlife safari

Kruger National Park’s summer birds: spread your wings in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces and discover twitcher delights

Wildlife safari

Kruger National Park’s summer birds: spread your wings in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces and discover twitcher delights

The Kruger National Park, which straddles the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga and is famed for game and the Big 5, also offers birdwatchers more than 500 avian species to tick off every summer.

Wildlife safari

Greater Limpopo Birding Route: 600 species to tick off in the versatile northern bushveld

Wildlife safari

Greater Limpopo Birding Route: 600 species to tick off in the versatile northern bushveld

The Greater Limpopo Birding Route – expanded dramatically from the Soutpansberg/Limpopo route – hosts around 600 bird species in South Africa’s northern mountains, forests, savannahs and wetlands.

Wildlife safari

A world of ancient aloes – quiver tree forest, Northern Cape

Wildlife safari

A world of ancient aloes – quiver tree forest, Northern Cape

The remarkable quiver tree forest in the Northern Cape is the largest aloe forest in the world and a cornerstone of Khoisan culture.

Explore more

Choose your country and language:

Africa

Americas

Asia Pacific

Europe

Wildlife safari

Related articles

Tips for first time visitors to the Kruger National Park

The Bird Island Group Marine Protected Area

Surprises and adventures along the Cango Route

Mkhuze Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal: aflutter with birds and thick with game

Limpopo province: birds, big game and plenty of history and culture

Kruger National Park’s summer birds: spread your wings in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces and discover twitcher delights

Greater Limpopo Birding Route: 600 species to tick off in the versatile northern bushveld

A world of ancient aloes – quiver tree forest, Northern Cape

South Africa on social media

Useful links

Explore