The 8 Best Private Game Reserves bordering the Kruger National Park

The 8 Best Private Game Reserves bordering the Kruger National Park

The world-renowned Kruger National Park may be the poster child for self-drive safaris and budget-tours but a secret world exists alongside that one and that is the exclusive Kruger experience and 5-star luxury private game lodges. Bespoke accommodation options available in private game reserves abound. The ‘Greater Kruger’ comprises spectacular private game reserves that border the Kruger National Park where fences have been dropped and game are allowed to roam freely, therefore providing visitors to these luxury private game reserves excellent and intimate game viewing opportunities with the Kruger’s Big Five.

The main Kruger private game reserves are well known but a recent gem to be highlighted for its exclusivity is the

Mjejane Game Reserve which offers the only bridge crossing from a private game reserve into the Kruger.

The main private game reserves bordering the Kruger National Park are Balule, MalaMala, Sabi Sand, Manyeleti, Klaserie, Thornybush and Timbavati.

Let’s now look at the 8 Best Private Game Reserves bordering the Kruger National Park:

Sabi Sand Game Reserve

You may have heard about this private game reserve, as the Sabi Sand Game Reserve is one of the worlds most well-known Kruger adjacent private game reserves. With access to the Kruger’s Big Five animals, the exclusivity factor of Sabi Sands is that animals have been habituated to the presence of respectful tourists visiting the reserve over many years and therefore are more at ease than you will find in the Kruger Park itself, providing guests the opportunity to really get up close and personal while out on open vehicle safaris.

This is especially true of the leopard population of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve who have started to let their guard down over the years, which allows for great night-drive sightings. The game reserve which stretches over 650 square km is dotted with luxury bush and game lodge accommodation options to choose from.

Mjejane Game Reserve

Although the smallest of the group at 4000 hectares, the Mjejane Games Reserve provides superb game viewing and birding opportunities and a relaxed atmosphere allowing guests a closer connection to nature. Five-star self-catering game lodges in Mpumalanga like Jacana River Lodge offers families luxury accommodation within the reserve and the chance to view the Big Five right from a lodge swimming pool or deck. Lodges like Jacana River Lodge perched on the banks of the Crocodile River offer year-round game viewing interest with the river acting as a magnet for parched wildlife. For guests of the lodge, there are also excellent wildlife viewing further afield during open vehicle safaris on the Jacana River Lodge Game Viewer.

A Mjejane Game Reserve Safari Tour as well as Kruger Half Day Tour, a birding safari or night drive in either the Mjejane or Kruger National Park can be booked in advanced by Jacana River Lodge guests. Guided bush walks are also available. Another feather to Mjejane Game Reserve’s cap is that it offers 5-star luxury accommodation at more affordable rates. The access to the reserve from Johannesburg is also good and options to travel by air and road are in place. Feel free to enquire with the lodges you wish to book with.

MalaMala Game Reserve

Known as a hotspot for leopard sightings due to its riverine forest habitats, the MalaMala Game Reserve offers a level of exclusivity due to the fact that only three luxury lodges are perched over its vast 133 square km area. You are also not allowed to crisscross this reserve unless you are a guest and therefore you will experience tremendous wildlife viewing opportunities without throngs of people jostling about for the perfect photograph.

A dominant feature in the reserve is the Sand River, which draws in animals from afar, creating year-round interest, but highlighting viewing opportunities in the dry season.

Manyeleti Game Reserve

A large private game reserve bordering the Kruger National Park at 230 square km, Manyeleti has over 200km of gravel road to explore and as there are no borders between this reserve and the Kruger Park itself, the Big Five are on full display.

Timbavati Private Nature Reserve

The Kruger National Park in miniature is almost how you could describe the wonderful Timbavati Private Nature Reserve with the added bonus of spotting a pale-main lions. As in the Kruger, the Timbavati Game Reserve offers sightings of giraffe, elephant, rhino, elephant and large herds of buffalo.

The lions in the Timbavati carry a recessive genetic variant that causes them to be more pale, akin to white lions. Wonderful private game lodges are nestled in the reserve.

Klaserie Nature Reserve

Another wonderful private nature reserve near the Kruger National Park, the Klaserie Nature Reserve was established in 1969 and offers some great sightings of leopard, rhino, elephant and lion.

It stretches over 600 square kilometers and offers animals open passage on some of their key migration routes from within the Kruger itself.

The reserve tends to be more drought-prone than other reserves and has no source of permanent water. It also offers hot days and cool winter nights perfect for sitting around the boma fire.

Balule Nature Reserve

A unique private game reserve as it has dropped fences not only with Kruger National Park, but also with the Klaserie Game Reserve and the Timbavati Game Reserve, the Balule Private Game Reserve offers a different experience altogether. With commercial lodges mixed in with private lodges, it doesn’t have the same tone as for example, the Sabi Sands, but it offers more variety of accommodation, and with the Olifants river offering year-round interest, lodges on its bank are a good option.

The game reserve is well known for its great elephant and giraffe sightings. The reserve is 350 square kilometers wide.

Thornybush Game Reserve

Sharing borders with the Timbavati and Klaserie Nature Reserve, the Thornybush Game Reserve is a popular choice for wildlife lovers and offers some great luxury lodge options with superb game viewing opportunities.

Boasting 11500 hectares of bushveld, there are a myriad of species to enthrall visiting guests apart from the ever popular Big Five.

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