Exclusive safaris on Kruger’s wild frontier.

Explore Each Reserve in Detail

Choosing Your Reserve

Each of Greater Kruger’s private reserves offers a slightly different take on the same open, unfenced wilderness, and travellers planning a trip often want more detail before settling on a base. Three of the reserves featured above have their own dedicated guides, alongside Madikwe further west for those weighing up a malaria-free alternative.

Sabi Sand Nature Reserve

Sabi Sand shares a 50km unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park to its east, and decades of conservation work have left its wildlife well habituated to vehicles, allowing close sightings of the Big Five. The reserve is particularly well known for its dense population of leopards, and its lodges have some of the longest tracking histories in the region. Further detail on lodges, seasons and sample itineraries is set out in our Sabi Sand safaris.

Timbavati Private Nature Reserve

Timbavati lies adjacent to Kruger within the same unfenced system and is best known for its naturally occurring white lions, a genetic rarity rarely seen elsewhere. The 530 square kilometre reserve supports all Big Five species alongside more than 350 recorded bird species across its varied habitat. A closer look at what to expect is available in our Timbavati safaris.

Klaserie Private Game Reserve

Klaserie covers 600 square kilometres of lowveld east of Hoedspruit and shares an entrance gate with Timbavati, forming part of the same open system. Established in 1969, the reserve keeps visitor numbers low and offers walking safaris alongside vehicle-based game drives, with sightings of African wild dogs among its regular highlights. Full detail is covered in our Klaserie safaris.

Madikwe Game Reserve

Travellers weighing up a malaria-free option might also consider Madikwe Game Reserve, roughly four hours from Johannesburg on the Botswana border. Established in 1991 on reclaimed farmland, Madikwe operates without self-drive access, so all game viewing takes place with a guide, including off-road tracking and night drives. The reserve’s sightings of cheetah, wild dog and brown hyena make it a popular choice for families with younger children who cannot take anti-malarial medication. More detail on lodges and seasons is available in our Madikwe safaris.

Together, these four guides give a fuller picture of how the reserves differ, helping guests choose a base that suits their pace, budget and the sightings they most want to see.