Manyeleti Game Reserve is situated between the Timbavati Private Reserve, the Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
Founded in 1963,
Manyeleti Game Reserve shares open borders with not only the
Kruger National Park but also the
Sabi Sand to the south and
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve to the north, thus making it a crossroads for game travelling in any direction. Many took one look around, at the lush green tree thickets, occasional small rocky hillocks and vast flowing savannah grasslands and decided to stay put! Manyeleti has at any given time a large number of mammals including the
Big Five and some 300 species of birds, making it a haven for the wildlife and the birding enthusiast.
Situated off the beaten track with not a tarred road in sight and only a smattering of lodges spread out over its 23,000ha of pristine bush, Manyeleti has an undeveloped charm which is only offset by the calibre of the lodges themselves. With excellent game viewing and
luxurious accommodation options, Manyeleti is a fine choice for your Kruger safari.
Manyeleti means “Place of Stars” in the local Shangaan language, a name which the reserve lives up to on a clear night. The guides at the luxury lodges in Manyeleti often know a surprising amount about the night sky, so don't hesistate to ask. Manyeleti is unusual in that the Mnisi tribe which lived and occupied this land for many generations before it became a game reserve instituted a successful landclaim for the area. Now they manage the game reserve themselves and are commited to retaining the integrity of the game reserve and unlocking the tourism potential to the benefit of the Mnisi people and surrounding communities.
All the lodges within Manyeleti are privately owned and lease a concession of land within the reserve. There are 200km of gravel roads over 22,750 ha, although here your safari vehicle won't be restricted to the roads. Look forward to some bundu bashing to get closer to the days spectacular sighting. It is a hot area which experiences summer rainfall but it is often fairly dry, especially on the grasslands. The by product of the dry conditions experienced in some times of the year is that the animals often congregate around the waterholes and so are much easier to find than when the bush is at its greenest
