Makalali Reserve Safari Trips & Tours

Thrilling big cat spotting, top-notch camps and impactful conservation create the Makalali magic.

Sitting beneath the gaze of the distant Drakensberg Mountains, Makalali promises a stupendous safari with a real focus on conservation and sustainability. With just a handful of seriously stellar camps and lodges scattered across 26,000 hectares, your visit is guaranteed to be intimate and memorable, free of over-crowded waterholes or vehicles jostling for a look. Its most famous accommodation is, of course, Garonga, which sets the standard in these parts. The reserve has an array of habitats from savannah grasslands where zebras, wildebeest and antelope munch and big cats wait for their moment to pounce, to riverine forests, a favourite spot for elephants and elusive leopards. Being a private reserve, your safari will be enhanced by the chance to spy nocturnal wildlife on night drives or appreciate the smallest details on a bush walk. You may even be lucky enough to see both black and white rhinos!

Things to do

What to do in Makalali

With just a select handful of camps across the reserve, wildlife encounters remain delightfully exclusive. Savannah grasslands host zebra and wildebeest herds while big cats lurk in the shadows. Riverine forests provide a sanctuary for elephants and secretive leopards. Both black and white rhinos roam these protected acres, adding to the remarkable wildlife diversity. Game drives explore diverse habitats while night safaris reveal nocturnal creatures emerging from their daytime hideouts. Walking safaris bring intimate encounters with the smaller wonders of the bush. For the adventurous, star-bed experiences and outdoor bush baths offer unique ways to embrace the wilderness, while scenic flights provide breathtaking perspectives of this pristine landscape.

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