Makalali Private Game Reserve
Wildlife & Animals
South Africa Parks
Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many guidebooks to African destinations, including ‘The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa’.
Although bordering the Greater Kruger, Makalali is a small, fully fenced, private game reserve. It is stocked with most large safari animals, including the Big Five. Both white and black rhino are present. Other species you're likely to encounter are cheetah, giraffe, zebra and kudu. Lucky visitors might also see the endangered wild dog.
Wildlife Highlights
All predators are very relaxed in Makalali and sightings of cheetah are of particularly high quality. Several wild cats were released in the reserve as part of a research project, and these very elusive, shy little predators (resembling our domestic cats) might be encountered on a night drive.
Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
Wildlife viewing is best during the dry months – June through September. August and September are warmer in comparison to mid-winter, making it a very nice time for a visit. During this time, animals tend to cluster around reliable water sources after several months of the Dry season. This makes spotting animals even easier.
