Article: Melissa Phera from Ideas
Image: Beeld

Western Cape
Buffalo Hills Game Reserve
Enjoy an African safari on the Garden Route at this reserve, situated 15 minutes from Plettenberg Bay and 25 minutes from Knysna. It covers a large part of the Bitou River Valley and provides opportunities to view buffalo, rhino, wildebeest, giraffe, bontebok, eland, sable antelope, bushbuck, leopard and more. Other activities include guided 4 x 4 game drives, birding, mountainbiking, fly-fishing and even astronomy evenings in a stargazer’s boma.

Accommodation: En-suite rooms or safari tents. Ideas readers pay R700 per person per night, including dinner, bed and breakfast, a guided safari game walk every morning and afternoon, a cultural tour and a mampoer tasting. Valid until end September 2007. Day visits can be arranged, but advance booking is essential.
Contact: Call Tony on 044 535 9739, e-mail buffalohills@mweb.co.za or go to www.buffalohills.co.za.

Aquila Private Game Reserve
The reserve is situated near Touws River, about 90 minutes from Cape Town. Enjoy morning and evening game drives to view wildebeest, Burchell's zebra, springbok, gemsbok, steenbok, caracal (lynx), blesbok, bat-eared fox, ostrich and more. There are also 172 species of birds in the area. Other activities include horse-riding, quad-biking and 4 x 4 trails.

Accommodation: Stay in premier luxury chalets and luxury chalets from R1 760, including a welcoming drink and breakfast, lunch, dinner and two game drives daily. Day game drives can also be arranged from R880 (self-drive) to R1 480 (with transport).
Contact: Call 021 421 4998, email res@aquilasafari.com or go to their website at www.aquilasafari.com.

Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant National Park is an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth. The park is home to more than 450 elephants, Cape buffalo and a variety of antelope, as well as the flightless dung beetle, which is found almost exclusively in the area. Sunrise, day and sunset game drives are available. Take in the unrivalled natural diversity and rich historical and archaeological heritage.

Accommodation: The main camp consists of chalets, rondavels, cottages, cabins and safari tents, all self catering with optional cleaning services. R280 to R1 650 per person, depending on the type of accommodation and the number of people.
Contact: Call 012 428 9111, fax 012 343 0905, e-mail reservations@sanparks.org or go to www.sanparks.org

Shamwari Game Reserve
This award-winning reserve has been named the World's Leading Conservation Company and Game Reserve for five consecutive years. It is the biggest private game reserve in the Eastern Cape, spans 20 000 hectares and boasts five ecosystems. The reserve is situated along the Bushmans River between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown. Take game drives in the mornings and evenings, or arrange guided walks with armed rangers. You can also visit the traditional African arts and culture village, Khaya Lendaba, situated next to Shamwari.
Accommodation: There are five lodges and prices start at R600 per person, depending on the type of accommodation and time of year. Most accommodation types include all meals and some include alcoholic beverages.
Contact: Call 042 203 1111, e-mail reservations@shamwari.com or go to www.shamwari.com.

Kwazulu-Natal
Ubizane Wildlife Reserve
The reserve is adjacent to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, about two hours’ drive from Durban. It features more than 350 species of bird and game, including rhino, giraffe, wildebeest and various antelope. Enjoy your game viewing in open-topped vehicles. You can also go on bus and foot safaris or horse-riding.
Accommodation: Choose between safari lodges and luxury safari tree lodges on stilts with private balconies. All bedrooms are en suite. Safari tree lodge R1 400 per person sharing, R2 100 single. Safari lodge R575 per person sharing, R805 single. All rates include meals and game drives.
Contact: Call 035 562 1020, e-mail reservations@ubizane.co.za or go to www.ubizane.co.za.

Intibane Game Lodge
The lodge is situated about three hours from Durban on 2 000 hectares of unspoilt savanna bush, between the well-known Hluhluwe-Umfolozi and Mkuzi Game Reserves. It is home to a variety of wildlife and birds. Activities include game drives, Zulu culture tours, big-cat spotting and reptile tours. The area also offers deep-sea fishing, boat cruises, whale watching, snorkelling and scuba diving. An outing with a game capture team can also be arranged.
Accommodation: There are a total of 30 thatched, air-conditioned, en-suite chalets, each sleeping two. Each chalet has a private deck. R450 per person, including breakfast. Game drives R250 per person.
Contact: Call 035 562 0920/1/2, e-mail intibane@tiscali.co.za or go to their website at www.intibane.co.za.

Limpopo
Ubundu Game Lodge
This lodge is situated in a birding paradise. Only two-and-a-half hours from Oliver Tambo International Airport, near Bela Bela, the area boasts more than 300 recorded bird species and there are bird hides at each watering hole. Also keep an eye out for a large number of antelope, zebra, rhino and giraffe.
Accommodation: Five self-catering wooden cabins at R450. Stay in the complex for R350 (fully catered), R190 (self catering), or in the bush camp for R110. All rates are per person per night.
Contact: Call 014 735 0689 or go to www.ubundu.co.za.

Gauteng
Heia Safari Game Reserve
The reserve is approximately 45 minutes from Johannesburg and Pretoria, and spans 650 hectares at the foot of the Zwartkop Koppies in the Muldersdrift area. Zebra and giraffe roam freely on the land surrounding this threestar hotel, and you will also see rhino, buffalo, hippo, wildebeest, impala, kudu and more than 176 species of birds when you enjoy a 90-minute game drive. You can also visit Phumangena uMuzi, an ethnic Zulu village situated in the reserve. Enjoy traditional meals, dancing and story-telling. Booking essential.
Accommodation: R710 per person per night. R540 single. Game drives R140 per person, minimum four people.
Contact: Call 011 919 5000 or go to
www.sa-venues.com/ga/heia_safari_ ranch.htm.

Mpumalanga
Djuma Game Reserve
The reserve forms part of the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve and is home to an array of animals, including the Big Five. Go on cultural drives, bush walks and view more than 200 bird species in the surrounding bushveld. Guides also have extensive knowledge of culinary and medicinal uses of various plants in the area.
Accommodation: