Best Private Game Reserves in Kruger

Home to several of Africa’s famous safari brands including Singita, Londolozi, MalaMala and the eponymous Sabi Sabi, this reserve features the most exclusive and luxurious safari accommodation in South Africa. Not only is this private reserve a pioneer of the luxury safari concept, but it also delivers the best Big 5 game viewing in all of Africa.

Aptly named after its open savannah woodland with dense patches of tangled thicket and thorny scrub, Thornybush is a famous Big 5 game reserve in Kruger. It features excellent safari accommodation for families or groups, couples and wildlife enthusiasts.

A local conservation success story, Timbavati’s 53 000 hectares (131 000 acres) make up a spectacular private game reserve in Kruger.

Easily accessible from nearby Hoedspruit Airport, Kapama is 13 000 hectares (32 000 acres) of open woodland and tangled riverine forest. Besides Big 5 game viewing, guests at Kapama’s lodges can enjoy hot-air balloon flights and sleep-outs under the stars.

The 60 000-hectare (148 000-acre) Klaserie Private Nature Reserve is hot and dry for most of the year, which makes game viewing along its Klaserie River hugely rewarding. Expect great Big 5 game viewing and plenty of plains game too.

Manyeleti delivers excellent Big 5 game viewing thanks to its prime location between the Kruger, Sabi Sands and Timbavati. One of the drier areas of the Kruger, it’s famous for both its animal-packed waterholes and clear night skies. You can look forward to beautiful evenings at the ‘Place of Stars’.

This private game reserve in Kruger features 22 000 hectares (54 000 acres) of acacia scrub, rocky hills and open savannah surrounding the riverine forests of the Makhutswi River. Makalali is classic Big 5 country and you can also expect to see traditional Shangaan dancing at the handful of lodges on the reserve.