Born to be wild at these top private game reserves

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.