Manyeleti Game Reserve

Expert Reviews (4)

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Expert

Stephen Cunliffe –

Visited: Multiple times

Stephen is a travel writer and avid conservationist whose work appears in prestigious magazines such as Africa Geographic and Travel Africa.

9 people found this review helpful.

In the Shadow of the Sabi Sands

Overall rating

3/5

Wildlife:

Bush Vibe:

Scenery:

Birding:

The 23,000ha unfenced Manyaleti Game Reserve enjoys an enviable location sandwiched between Kruger to the east, Sabi Sands to the South and the Timbivati to the north. The Manyaleti area lacks the infrastructure and development of its more illustrious neighbours, but herein lies the charm of this lesser-known park. With only a smattering of tourist lodges, low visitor densities and plenty of Big Five wildlife, the Manyaleti is an exciting prospect for visitors looking for a good wildlife experience away from the maddening crowd and that won’t break the bank. The Manyaleti is unlucky in that it contains no major rivers and I have seen firsthand that the lack of surface water sometimes causes much of the wildlife to trek into neighbouring reserves during unfavourable times. It has also come from a legacy of poaching and animals tend to be a bit more skittish around game-viewing vehicles in this place. But, provided you pick your season and time your visit carefully, a safari to the ‘Place of Stars’ can be a productive and rewarding experience.

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Expert

Anthony Ham –

Visited: November-December

Anthony is a photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet, including the guides to Kenya and Botswana & Namibia.

2 people found this review helpful.

Manyeleti: Private Kruger Safaris

Overall rating

3/5

Wildlife:

Bush Vibe:

Scenery:

Birding:

Part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem, Manyeleti – which was one of very few reserves open to blacks during the dark decades of apartheid – has terrific wildlife that often wanders in from the national park to the east. That said, the slightly denser foliage can mean that you have to work a little harder here – it’s all relative – for your sightings than in some of the other private reserves along Kruger’s western fringe. But don’t let that put you off – prices here are much more reasonable than in, for example, Sabi Sand or MalaMala, and the birdwatching (over 300 recorded species) is excellent.

2 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No

Average Expert Rating

3.5/5

Wildlife
Scenery
Bush Vibe
Birding

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Manyeleti Game Reserve

Expert Reviews (4)