| SABI
SAND GAME RESERVE
This reserve shares 31miles (50km) of unfenced boundary
with Kruger National Park and animals are at liberty
to go wherever they wish - but they tend to stay right
where they are! This is because the Sand River and
Sabi River supply much needed water in the dry season
and create an eco-system with one of the highest and
most bio-diverse wildlife populations in Southern
Africa. This is the reason why it is quite possible
to see the 'Big Five' (lion, leopard, rhinoceros,
buffalo and elephant) in a couple of days, or even
a couple of hours in Sabi Sand, as well as numerous
other animals and birds.
There
are about 30 different lodges in Sabi Sand, most of
them very up-market including famous names like Sabi
Sabi, Mala Mala and Londolozi. All offer game drives
as well as game walks accompanied by an armed ranger,
which gives visitors the opportunity to learn about
the natural world from the 'experts' - who are usually
youthful rangers who make up for lack of years with
good knowledge and a maturity rarely found outside
Africa
MANYELETI
GAME RESERVE
The Mnisi people lived and occupied this land for
many generations and in the new South Africa, they
instituted a land claim for the return of their ancestral
grounds. The Manyeleti Game Reserve is now managed
by Mnisi tribe, who are committed to retaining the
integrity of the game reserve and unlocking the tourism
potential to the benefit of the Mnisi people and surrounding
communities. All the lodges within Manyeleti are privately
owned and lease a concession of land within the reserve.
There are 121 miles (195km) of gravel roads over 9,206
acres (22,750ha).
The
most dominant tribe in the area is the Shangaan, and
in their language Manyeleti means "Place of Stars."
A clear winter's night will attest to aptness of this
name, as it seems like the sky is bursting at the
seams with stars. The fenceless borders it shares
with Kruger, Sabi Sand and Timbavati Game Reserves,
forms an integral ecological unit where all the animals
of the bush can roam free.
TIMBAVATI
GAME RESERVE
Timbavati Nature Reserve lies just north of Sabi Sand
on the western edge of Kruger National Park and is
considered to be one of South Africa’s prime
game viewing areas.
The
fences were taken down between this reserve and Kruger
National Park in 1993 and although visitors to any
of the eight private lodges, remain in the Timbavati
Reserve, the animals are at liberty to wander where
they wish. Expect day and evening game drives and
walking safaris amongst the 'Big Five'.
THORNYBUSH
GAME RESERVE
In the heart of the lowveld (low lying bushland) is
the Thornybush Reserve - an area of mixed woodland
savannah backed by the northern Drakensberg mountains.
This area contains a collection of private game reserves
and seven lodges in a fenced 28,500-acre (11,500-hectare)
estate.
Tracking
animals is a speciality of Thornybush and during 'Art
of Tracking' explorations you are taught how to read
the spoor and follow animals without putting yourself
in danger. There is no thrill quite like watching
Africa's most dangerous animals, after you have personally
tracked them.
MAKALALI
RESOURCE RESERVE
This reserve is an hour's drive west of Kruger with
a charm all of its own. Unlike the reserves along
Kruger's borders, Makalali's bushland is undulating
with elevated viewpoints giving panoramic views of
the reserve. This expansive area is covered with handsome
jackalberry, knobthorn, and maroela trees. The Drakensberg
mountains lie in a distant haze, often due to the
widespread practice of burning off grass to encourage
new shoots.
Big
game roams in the Makalali Resource Reserve and buffalo
are the only animal missing from the 'Big Five'. However,
this only matters if you are intent on ticking off
the species, rather than watching and appreciating
them. You are likely to hear lions roaring out their
territorial warnings at night and baboons barking
a clear warning if they happen to see a lion or leopard.
Vervet monkeys chatter in the trees above your private
lodge terrace and take any chance to jump down and
pinch some sugar or pastries from an unattended breakfast
tray.
Makalali
is superb walking and game tracking country and clear
footprints can be seen in the sand of the dry riverbed.
Seeing a large cat spoor gives a new aspect to a stroll
in the park. |
Savage. Inspiring. Humbling. A myriad
of emotions flow, as eyes and mind open to the revelations
lying in wait among thicket and shadow - the "Big
Five". And a million more. Up close and intensely
personal.
Vuyatela - meaning, "come and
visit again" - is an exclusive lodge that has
broken the mould of traditional game lodges and is
the pride of Djuma Game Reserve. 
