Private Game Reserves
in South Africa and Namibia

In South Africa as well as in Namibia one can find a growing number of privately owned game and nature reserves. Some of them are of substantial size and very well stocked with game. Some offer hunting safaris as well. Most of these private game reserves in South Africa lie in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, west of the Kruger National Park. Since there are no fences, the animals can roam freely between the Kruger park and the private parks. The most famous parks in this area are Sabie Sand, Sabi Sabi, Mala Mala, Londolozi and Inyati.



All private parks offer luxury accommodation and photo-safaris with "lion guarantee". The comfort comes at a price and a night can cost Rand 2,000 or more. However, staying at a game lodge has its advantages, because waiting for the big cats or the rhinos in the open expanses of the Kruger National Park can be quite time-consuming, especially when you are traveling at the wrong time of the year.

Private game reserves can also be found in KwaZulu Natal. Well known are Bonamanzi and Phinda, which is the largest privately owned game reserve in southern Africa. Here as well, exclusive safaris and first class accommodation are offered.

Top left: Elephants on Sabi Sabi. Below: Black Wildebeest on Shamwari. Top right: Lion on Okonjati. Below: Rhinos on Shamwari.

Private parks were also established in the Eastern Cape province, pioneered by the award winning 18.000 Ha Shamwari Game Reserve, which was created by businessman Adrian Gardiner in 1991 through buying and consolidating several overgrazed stock farms. When farmers moved into the area 150 years ago, big patches of thicket were cleared to create pastures for sheep and cattle. Goat farming was equally destructive because goats are able to penetrate into the heart of the thicket and eat everything within reach. Shamwari’s primary effort was to conserve the indigenous vegetation of the Eastern Cape, and particularly its valley bushveld, acacia woodlands and grasslands. Today, one can enjoy spotting white and black rhino, elephant, lion, cheetah, buffalo, black wildebeest, giraffe, hippo, 18 species of antelope and a rich birdlife.

In Namibia private game reserves and hunting farms have a long tradition. The Okonjati Game Reserve in the Erongo is one of the most important and well known examples. It was founded in the early seventies by Jan Oelofse, an internationally renowned conservationist. In the reserve - Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is part of it - one can observe elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, cheetahs and lions as well as a multitude of antelope and bird species.

Addresses of private reserves are on the INFO page.