Top Game Reserves to Book Near Johannesburg

Located west of the Kruger National Park within 26,000ha (64,247 acres) of bushveld, Aha Makalali Private Game Reserve is an African-styled sanctuary where you can see the Big Five as well as wild dogs and cheetahs on twice-daily game drives. The Main Lodge has 30 comfortable rooms with patios and outdoor showers. Meals here showcase regional African cuisine and are often served in the outdoor boma (a gathering place to eat dinner around a roaring fire) or in the bushveld under the stars.

Under the gaze of the Waterberg mountains, you will find the 10,000ha (24,711 acres) Shambala Private Game Reserve, home to Zulu Camp. Reflecting traditional Zulu style, the eight honeycomb-shaped chalets are set in the bush amid river streams. The interiors reflect Afro-French provincial style, with fine linen and French armoires. To make your experience extra special, each room has a personal butler on hand to arrange game drives and bush walks, as well as sundowner cruises and picnics.

Tucked away in one of the best game reserves in South Africa, the ultra-luxurious Royal Madikwe has just five suites, including a two-bedroom villa and three-bedroom house. Designed to maximise views of the waterhole and the surrounding bushveld, the suites all have private decks with plunge pools, sunbeds and outdoor showers. Lavish furnishings and earthy decor are complemented by fine linen and subtle splashes of colour. After your game drive, book onto a bushwalk, drumming session or stargazing session.

Mabula Game Reserve is a popular Big Five game reserve in the Waterberg region where you will find Mabula Game Lodge. The comfortable thatched-roof suites are distinctly African with luxurious furnishings and soft, bushveld-inspired colours. Game drives are offered twice a day, in addition to guided bush walks, quad biking, cheetah tracking, horse-back safaris and hot air balloon safaris. For little ones, there is a kid’s club available during peak months, which aims to teach children about the wilderness.

Looking for an alternative way to see wildlife? At the Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve, you’ll have the option to spot zebras, wildebeest and springbuck while riding around the valley on horseback as well as on a usual game drive. Adventurous types can even book an overnight camping trip. On return, kick back in one of 14 ensuite bedrooms housed inside a sandstone lodge; some offer views of the Witteberg mountains.

Surrounded by untamed mountains, rivers and grasslands, Nkomazi Game Reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife and birdlife. The Komati Tented Lodge provides you with a true glamping experience on the banks of the Komati River. Here, you’ll find 14 state-of-the-art Out of Africa-style tents, linked by walkways, which blend into the natural landscape. Birding safaris, fly fishing and ancient rock art viewing are just some of the activities available in addition to the game drives.

Izintaba Private Game Reserve is a 1,200ha (2,965 acres) malaria-free game farm in the Waterberg bushveld. The reserve has over 40 mammal species but no dangerous animals, so you can hike and cycle safely through the grounds. Book one of six luxurious, fully-equipped, self-catering thatched cottages, which come with a fireplace and patio. Don’t fancy cooking? Breakfast and dinner are also served in the dining room.

Within an hour’s drive of Johannesburg and Pretoria, nestled in the lush bushveld, lies Ukutula Lodge & Game Reserve, also known as the “place of quiet”. Accommodation is provided in chalets with fully-equipped kitchens or kitchenettes. The on-site restaurant serves meals too. The reserve has several wildlife and bird species, including feline predators and plains game. Opportunities to view the lions in their natural environment are available at the Lion Bush Deck and Dam.

Saragossa Game Reserve is a malaria-free nature and wildlife retreat on the banks of the Elands River in the picturesque Elands Valley, which is home to many free-roaming wildlife species. There are two types of accommodation – the Saragossa Game Lodge is the original 1920s homestead while The Twin Thorns guesthouse is surrounded by gardens and farmland and reflects the style of the original farmstead. Most of the food served here is cultivated on the reserve.