Balule Private Game Reserve

Balule Private Game Reserve Safari Trips & Tours

Balule Private Game Reserve

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4.9/5 (911 reviews)

Travel and Leisure Worlds Best Awards for number 1 tour operator in the world 2024 and number 2 tour operator in the world 2025
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Voted No.1 in 2024 and No.2 in 2025 by Travel+Leisure
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Balule Private Game Reserve Safari Trips & Tours

A lesser-known but expansive Big Five reserve in Greater Kruger with boundless adventure to be had.
Once productive farmland, Balule Private Game Reserve is today 40,000 hectares of wilderness where all manner of creatures roam including the iconic Big Five. Entirely separate from the Kruger National Park, Balule is a conglomeration of private game farms and reserves, bisected by the ever-flowing Olifants River. The reserve is private, thus allowing off-roading game drives and you’ll often find yourself crunching through the bush in an open-sided game vehicle, feeling like nature couldn’t be closer. The wildlife is quite used to human visitors, making for outstanding photography, and, while the sightings maybe aren’t as prolific as some of Balule’s neighbours, your chances are fantastic for seeing elephants, buffalo and lions as well as the ‘Big Six’ of raptors. As for the choice of accommodation, there is everything from the most intimate, down-to-earth camps to wonderfully luxurious lodges.

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Tessa

Tessa Dancer

Africa & Asia Travel Specialist

Jenna

Jenna Coiley

Africa Travel Specialist

Jonty

Jonty Medcalf

Africa and Antarctica Travel Specialist

Things to do

What to do in Balule

Part of the unfenced Greater Kruger ecosystem, this private reserve offers the considerable advantage of off-road driving privileges without the traffic jams that plague more popular safari destinations. The Big Five roam freely across diverse habitats, from savannah to riverine forests, while approximately 250 bird species provide constant entertainment for twitchers. Beyond traditional game drives, guests can track buffalo on foot during guided bush walks, spot crocodiles and hippos during leisurely boat safaris on the Olifants River, or simply enjoy sundowners as the African sky ignites with colour. The experience is often enhanced with surprise bush breakfasts under acacia trees or dinners beneath the Southern Cross. The true appeal here lies in exclusivity, wildlife encounters without another vehicle in sight.

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Track Balule's wildlife on a game drive

Adventure

See Balule's fauna & flora on a walking safari

Safari

Spot Balule's game on a guided night drive

Best time to visit

When to go on a Balule Trip

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Articles

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Reviews

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Based on 333 Feefo Reviews for South Africa

Guest
June 2026
14 nights in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana
see previous description
Awesome safari and South African trip.
Guest
Awesome safari and South African trip.
June 2026
25 nights in South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe
Our trip went without a hitch! Couldn't be happier with the organization of the whole thing. Of course, Meg was fantastic. She gave us so much information up front and spent the time with us to help us figure out what would be best for us and what we really would want to do since it was our first time. I can't say enough about how much we appreciated that as well as how accessible and responsive she was for questions. I think having someone who has been to all the places and really knows how it will be is so helpful to people who have not done a safari before. I definitely would recommend to friends and family to use Timbuktu.
The perfect South African/Botswana African safari
DAVID ZEBROWSKI
The perfect South African/Botswana African safari
June 2026
15 nights in South Africa, Botswana and Mauritius
I really enjoyed working with Jenna and Nadine on planning our perfect African safari. Jenna chose the two most perfect camps for our stay. Both are super detail oriented and nothing fell through the cracks. It was great having them, knowing I can rely on both of them to ensure the trip went smoothly and we had the best experience possible. I will absolutely use Timbuktu when planning my next safari vacation.
S. Africa / Tanzania vacation
Boris P
S. Africa / Tanzania vacation
May 2026
18 nights in South Africa and Tanzania
Thanks a lot to Jonty for his professionalism, patience, and assistance in helping us to build a wonderful itinerary for our upcoming South Africa and Tanzania vacation. We truly appreciate all the time and effort that has gone into planning this special trip and are very excited for the adventure ahead.
Have planned four trips though Timbuktu and each one was wonderful!
Guest
Have planned four trips though Timbuktu and each one was wonderful!
May 2026
7 nights in South Africa and Mozambique
They have planned my last four trips with them to perfection. They always listen to what you want to see and do on each trip and how much you want to spend. They are simply the best!
South Africa/Zambia/Seychelles
Guest
South Africa/Zambia/Seychelles
April 2026
12 nights in South Africa, Zambia and Seychelles
We planned a multi country vacation with several flights, lots of different hotels and many activities. Timbuktu took a lot of the stress off of me by helping me Figure out exactly what I wanted to do on this trip and helping me get it all scheduled. At every stop we were well taken care of and we had exactly what we needed. We felt safe and taken care of the entire trip.

Why travel with Timbuktu?

We design tailor-made journeys for travellers who want more than a holiday, from first-time safaris, gorilla treks and multi-generational family adventures to once-in-a-lifetime honeymoons - and everything in between. And here's why so many choose us to plan them.

Tailor-Made Since 2014

Tailor-Made Since 2014

We've been crafting one-of-a-kind journeys since 2014 — over 2,500 trips across 40+ countries, each one built from scratch around your interests and dreams.

Specialists Who've Been There

Specialists Who've Been There

Our team only recommends places they've slept in, eaten in, and happily keep going back to. Condé Nast Traveler named 11 of them Top Travel Specialists in 2026, and Travel+Leisure made three A-List Advisors.

The World's No 1 Tour Operator

The World's No 1 Tour Operator

Travel+Leisure's readers voted us the World's No.1 Tour Operator in 2024 and No.2 in 2025 — the travel industry's biggest readers' award, judged by people who actually travel.

Every Trip Makes A Difference

Every Trip Makes A Difference

$50 from every booking goes to female empowerment, tech education, and conservation projects across the countries we love. We have donated $78,000 so far – and it's going up!

Collaboration Is Key

Collaboration Is Key

Your travel specialist is with you the whole way, dreaming up the trip, building the itinerary, checking you in, and answering the 2am question from the other side of the world..

Loved By Our Guests

Loved By Our Guests

We are rated 4.9 out of 5 from 911 verified Feefo reviews. And these are the words of people who actually went, not us talking about ourselves.

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11 Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists 2026

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No. 1 & No. 2 Tour Operator in Travel + Leisure's Best Awards 2024 & 2025

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Best Booking Platform in Women's Health Travel Awards 2025

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Travel Specialist voted as Latin America A-List Travel Advisor 2025

Condé Nast Traveler A-List Awards

"Timbuktu can take relatively complex and slightly amorphous travel plans and transform them into a well-organized, perfectly tailored trip."

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