Reserve – Page 27 – Pure Breaks

Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp

Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp is nestled within the 8,000km2 Greater Mara, part of the Serengeti-Maasai Mara ecosystem. The ancestral homelands of the Maasai tribespeople are one of the most incredible ecosystems on the planet, enjoying warm temperatures year-round, with low humidity, this other Eden is a paradise for the wildlife, which includes the Big 5, 450 different bird species, and many, many more. These lush pastures attract 1.3million wildebeest and zebra each year, who migrate en masse from the Serengeti, in what has been classed among the Seven Wonders of the World. The Elephant Pepper Camp is situated in the North Mara Conservancy, and enjoys exclusive access to some of the ecosystem’s most pristine landscape. Being reserved exclusively for the native wildlife, as opposed to land in the Maasai Mara reserve, which is also grazed by cattle, this Conservancy is a haven for wildlife, who flock to the area for its abundant natural resources.

Rubondo Island Camp

Rubondo Island Camp is the only lodge on Rubondo Island, offering guests an exclusive opportunity to stay within the largest island national park in Africa. Rubondo’s eight luxury chalets are positioned along the shores of Lake Victoria, where guests can admire the sweeping views of the tranquil water and lush surrounding forests from the moment they awaken, until the sun slips away at dusk. Rubondo Island is home to a crucial chimpanzee rehabilitation project which was launched in the 1960s. Guests are able to get involved in this unique project and learn about its history, as well as embark on treks into the vast forests and see the resident chimpanzees for themselves. Rubondo Island is largely covered in pristine greenery, with three-quarters of the island covered in forest. This provides an excellent habitat for the many exotic birds (including egrets, cormorants, pied kingfishers, grey parrots, and African darters) and butterflies who rest within the trees. Guests may also encounter wild elephants on land, or lounging hippos and crocodiles in the lake’s waters. This private and remote camp offers an incredible chance to encounter all kinds of creatures in a peaceful and unspoilt setting.

Lemala Ngorongoro Camp

Lemala Ngorongoro Camp rests beside the rim of the grand Ngorongoro Crater, within the tranquillity of a lush acacia forest. The camp is made up of 9 luxury safari tents that overlook the sloping landscape and provide easy access to the crater floor. This allows guests to reach the crater earlier than those staying at other camps in the area, offering more exclusive game drives and incredible early morning photographic opportunities. The tented accommodations blend into the natural landscape, providing minimal disruption to the wildlife and not taking away from the stunning panoramic views that guests can enjoy from the edge of the crater. Below you lies verdant grasslands, rich wildlife, dense woodlands and salt lakes. Enjoy the view from the comfort of your private verandah, or join in exciting discussions with your fellow guests in the comfortable mess tent, complete with sofas, bookshelves and grand furnishings, as you swap safari stories and form lasting connections before a delicious evening meal.

Bomani Tented Lodge

Bomani Tented Lodge lies just a 5-minute drive from the Hwange National Park, allowing safari-goers easy access through the lodge’s private gate. The lodge is located within its own private reserve, meaning that guests can enjoy incredible wildlife sightings from the comfort of the Bomani’s grand viewing platform which overlooks the Bomani Pan, where elephants often gather to drink and bathe in the pleasant water. The camp is small and intimate, consisting of just 11 tented accommodations and suites. This allows guests to delight in a personal and exclusive safari experience in the heart of the African bush, surrounded by unspoilt views and a peaceful atmosphere. Enjoy a range of fun activities such as a visit to the local village on horseback, exciting game drives and observing candid wildlife from one of the lodge’s hides. End the day with a sundowner as the sky fills with burning colours and the plains surrounding the Ngamo Forest Area are bathed in an orange glow.

Borneo Rainforest Lodge

This pristine Rainforest is also home to more than 340 species Birds, 124 species of Mammals, 72 species of Reptiles, 56 species of Amphibians and a staggering 200 species of plants per hectare. The mission of the Borneo Rainforest Lodge is to preserve the rainforest for the generations to come by limiting human activity and to minimise the carbon footprint. It does this by managing the water, chemicals and waste that the accommodation uses in a sustainable manner and support the local community through jobs and utilising every resource the surrounding area can provide.

Grootbos Forest Lodge

Wind your way through an ancient Milkwood Forest as you stroll between your luxurious suite and the lodge itself, feeling serenity settle over you like a delicate mist. Grootbos Forest Lodge is a masterpiece of sophisticated and contemporary design, reflecting the breath-taking natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Nowhere else would you be able to enjoy one of the world’s most biodiverse environments and the changing colours in the Southern sky quite like this.

With its clean lines, elegant ceilings and expansive windows, Grootbos Forest Lodge is the place to retreat to for blissful contemplation and for connecting with yourself or nature. Fringed by the peaceful Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, the Forest Lodge features 16 freestanding luxury suites, accentuating the rolling hills of fynbos and majestic mountains. On a clear day, it’s possible to see all the way to Cape Point.

Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse

Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse is located in the luscious midlands in the diverse Kwa-Zulu Natal province of South Africa. Situated in the rolling foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, guests will be surrounded by colourful gardens, winding rivers, and towering mountains. The suites at the farmhouse are quirky and colourful, each designed in a unique style, with two self-catering villas which can accommodate larger groups or families.
Spend your days hiking in the surroundings, immersing yourself in nature, or participating in exciting activities such as a helicopter trip or visiting local craftsmen. Return to the farmhouse for a meal to remember – a gourmet 5-course dinner made with fresh and flavourful local ingredients. Guests staying here will create memories to last a lifetime.

Fugitives Drift

Fugitives’ Drift is a Natural Heritage Site which overlooks both Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, where 22,000 Zulu warriors defeated the invading British troops in 1879. Guests can travel back in time with a tour of the battlefields and explore the land where the Zulu warriors defended their country. Fugitives Drift rests within a 5,000-acre game reserve which is home to an abundance of wildlife and birdlife. As well as tours of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, guests can enjoy nature walks and fishing excursions along the reserve’s 22 km of river frontage.

Fugitives’ Drift was fully renovated in 2017, transforming the lodge into a luxurious selection of private cottages with en-suite facilities and verandahs that offer incredible views of the sloping valleys, meandering river and sweeping plains. This historical setting also features a museum, as well as a refreshing swimming pool and library.

Three Tree Hill Lodge

Three Tree Hill Lodge rests within the Spioenkop Game Reserve, overlooking the verdant Mfazimnyama Valley and against the backdrop of the magnificent Drakensburg Mountains. The family-run lodge is an ideal location for exploring the incredible nearby sights such as the Anglo-Boer War Battlefields in KwaZulu Natal, the Northern Drakensberg Mountains, and the Anglo-Zulu War Battlefields. Three Tree Hill is a Fair Trade certified lodge which prioritises sustainable and responsible tourism, while providing a luxury experience for guests in an area of exquisite natural beauty.

The 9 cottages, including 3 family units, are set among the abundant plant life and feature a natural colour scheme to allow them to blend into the beautiful natural landscape. The lodge’s owners, Simon & Cheryl Blackburn, are friendly and both have a strong passion and keen interest in Africa’s wildlife, history and culture, and are happy to share their local knowledge with all guests.

Leopard Mountain Safari Lodge

Leopard Mountain Safari Lodge is located within the diverse and beautiful Manyoni Private Game Reserve. With only 8 safari suites, a personalised and exclusive service can be given to guests even when at full capacity. The suites are luxurious and spacious, filled with natural light and with private balconies and pools, which offer sweeping views over the bushveld below and the rugged Lebombo Mountains. Guests can begin their day by exploring the reserve during sunrise on a game drive, spend their afternoons indulging in a massage before heading back out into the bush on an afternoon game drive, and enjoy evenings sat around the crackling fire pit in the boma, feasting on delicious food before relaxing in their private pool gazing over the moonlit mountains and star-filled sky.