Lapalala Wilderness Trips & Tours

Spread across 48,000 hectares of the malaria-free Waterberg, barely three hours from Johannesburg, Lapalala is one of South Africa's great conservation stories – and one of its most accessible wilderness escapes. Founded in 1981, it was the first private reserve in the country to reintroduce black rhino, and today the Big Five roam alongside cheetah, wild dog and rare roan antelope across deep canyons, river valleys and untouched bushveld. The Palala River winds through for some 60 kilometres, drawing game to its banks and providing the backdrop for water safaris and clifftop sundowners. With just two lodges across the entire reserve, vehicle density is remarkably low. Beyond the game drives, guided walks lead to thousand-year-old San rock art and the Melora Iron Age settlement, and come nightfall, the reserve's status as the country's first International Dark Sky Park means the Milky Way puts on quite a show.