Balule Nature Reserve Lodges

While guest numbers in the reserve are limited, wildlife numbers most certainly are not and Balule is well-known for its superb population of animals. The reserve is home to the Big 5 elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhin along with other safari favourites such as giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest. The banks of the Olifants River are heavily populated with various antelope, pods of hippos, and sun-basking crocodile particularly in the dry season when water sources are scarce.

Visitors can choose to stay in luxury chalets and rustic en-suite rondawels, with several lodges happy to tailor-make itineraries according to visitors’ preferences. Self-catering bush lodges are also available. Activities in the area include game drives, guided bush walks, star-gazing, horse-riding, white-water rafting, boat trips on the river, and cultural-village visits to name a few. Balule can be accessed from Phalaborwa, Eastgate, and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.

Balule Nature Reserve offers a range of accommodation options to suit every need and budget. The reserve can be accessed from three nearby airports or otherwise via a six-hour car ride from Johannesburg. Brimming with activity from the typical game drives to the not-so-typical golf game featuring herds of giraffe strolling across the fairways.

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