South Africa: Game Reserves with an Intimate Nature
Balule Nature Reserve The Balule Private Nature Reserve lies to the east of Mica. It is an exclusive reserve of roughly 40,000ha and borders the Kruger National Park. As there are no fences, game is allowed to wander freely between the two areas.
Visitors will enjoy watching the prolific game in the area, including Africa’s Big Five, as well as spotting the varied and numerous species of birds. Established about ten years ago on the Olifants River, the Balule Nature Reserve is today an exclusive and comfortable way to spend a relaxing time in the pristine African bushveld, and is also a great stopover en route to the Kruger Park.
Situated quite close to the important lowveld towns of Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa, tourists can either enjoy getting to Balule via a scenic drive or by flying in and landing at the Phalaborwa Airport.
Hans Merensky Nature Reserve
The Hans Merensky Nature Reserve is situated on the southern banks of the Great Letaba River, about 70km northeast of Tzaneen. The reserve has distinctive flora including interesting mopane and combretun trees, as well as a wide variety of game, including antelope, zebra, leopard and hippo and bird species. Visitors are able to walk through the reserve on foot.
Within the reserve is the Eiland Mineral Bath, a thermal spring that bubbles to the surface at 104 degrees, which has long been used by locals as a source of salt and medicinal treatment for sufferers of rheumatism. Today this spring feeds into an open-air swimming pool that visitors can enjoy. Visitors can also soak up Tsonga culture at the Tsonga Kraal Museum, which highlights the arts, crafts and traditional huts of this fascinating culture.
Klaserie
Klaserie Game Reserve is situated west of the Kruger National Park with the majestic Drakensberg Mountains as its backdrop. It borders both the Timbavati Game Reserve and Thornybush Game Reserve and as the game wanders freely between the reserves, visitors are likely to see Africa’s amazing wildlife including the Big Five.
The Klaserie Game Reserve offers fabulous accommodation including luxurious suites, a luxury tent with bathroom en suite and even an unusual tree-house lodge.
Visitors will be pampered while staying in the wild African bush and activities like leisurely lunches and delicious bush dinners will help you reconnect with nature. Although hot and dry for most of the year, the summer rains bring prompt relief for both traveller and wildlife alike.
Manyeleti Game Reserve
Meaning “place of the stars”, Manyeleti Game Reserve was so named because of the reflection of the stars from a stream in the area. The reserve, situated close to the Kruger National Park, was opened in 1967 and is very popular with tourists and game lovers. Game viewing is good, and visitors are likely to see lion, cheetah, hyenas, wild dogs and many of Africa’s antelope species.
Marakele National Park
Situated in the Waterberg region, on the edge of the drier bushveld, the Marakele National Park is easily accessible from the town of Vaalwater. Visitors to the park can enjoy the mountains and undulating savannah terrain, which is home to some incredible wildlife including lion, elephant and rhino.
Thornybush Game Reserve
Thornybush is a private game reserve just 30km from the Kruger National Park's Orpen gate. It lies adjacent to the Timbavati Game Reserve and is easily accessible from the town of Hoedspruit. Set in the heart of South Africa’s Lowveld, it is an area that has an abundance of bird and mammal species.
Tourists are guaranteed excellent game viewing opportunities as the knobthorn and sallow grasslands support the Big Five and over 250 species of birds. Thornybush has five lodges, and guests can enjoy drives in open Landrovers at both dusk and dawn, led by knowledgeable and fully qualified rangers.
The accommodation in the reserve will suit almost any traveller, as it ranges from homely bush comfort to real luxury. The lodges have swimming pools to help guest cool off, while the more adventurous can do exciting bush walks.
