Thornybush, Klaserie, Kapama, Balule

There are several other game reserves close to the Kruger National Park. These are make up the Greater Kruger Park alongside the Sabi Sands and Timbavati.

All of these reserves are accessed most easily from Hoedspruit Airport which has direct flights from Cape Town, Johannesburg and soon to be the Garden Route. All offer an excellent safari experience.

Klaserie Private Game Reserve  - Open to the Kruger

Klaserie Private Game Resereve has an open borders to the Kruger National Park. Klaserie offers similar game-viewing to the Timbavati with good lion sightings.

Safaris in Thornybush Private Game Reserve

Thornybush comprises 14 000ha of bushveld adjacent to the greater Kruger National Park. The biodiversity of Thornybush attracts a wide variety of wildlife and bird species including good sightings of the Big Five whilst on safari. Thornybush has an open border with the neighbouring Timbavati, which in turn has an open border with the Kruger. So the animals can wander freely without fences. It offers some top and mid-range game lodges.

Safaris in Kapama Private Game Reserve

Kapama Private Game Reserve lies adjacent to Thornybush, a 13 000ha private reserve which has four camps. An added benefit of Kapama Reserve is that you can easily visit the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre for endangered animals which lies close by.

Balule,  Manyeleti , Makalali & Karongwe

North and east of Hoedspruit is the private Balule Game Reserve. Makalali Private Game Reserve lies slightly away from Kruger but its size enables it to offer the Big Five as well. Balule and Karongwe offers a number of well-priced safari lodges.

The Manyeleti Game Reserve lies just north of the Sabi Sands. It borders the Kruger National Park to the east. So diverse is its habitat and wildlife that you have an good chance of spotting many of the Big 5 – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard. Leopard are less frequently seen at close range.  But the Manyeleti is unusual in that it only has three private safari concessions. This allows for an exclusive game-viewing experience.

Note: 

Cedarberg Africa has visited nearly every safari lodge in this area. The important issue to evaluate is the quality of the game-viewing and not just the price!