Balule Game Reserve

Balule offers the best of both catered and self-catering camps. Experience superb service and cuisine prepared by award winning chefs, or choose to do your own cooking at the self-catering camps.

The lodges in Balule presents comfortable accommodation to guests in air-conditioned chalets and ensuite rondawels with an attractive Afro-ethnic theme, that enhances one's feeling of being in Africa

There are regular big game sightings and a lot these sightings happen right in camp. The Big 5 roams around at leisure and, due to the Balule being a private reserve, guests are taken off-road to discover these animals in thicker bush.

Balule is about a 20 minute drive from Hoedspruit (the nearest town) and has easy access to the surrounding reserves, meaning that a combination safari is effortlessly arranged.

Naledi Bush Camp is an affordable safari camp in the Balule and has excellent reviews on Tripadvisor. The camp is owner managed and run, ensuring guests are very well looked after and there is a personalised feel about camp.

Pondoro Game Lodge is the Balule's most luxurious option. Guests looking for huge, luxurious suites and almost half the cost of the big Sabi Sand names need look no further than right here.

Toro Yaka and Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge are two more affordable options in the Balule Game Reserve. Mohlabetsi is 4 star rated and keeps things intimate with only 4 African rondawels, while it also accommodates especially for families in 2 family suites.

Ezulwini Billy's Lodge is a private safari lodge situated on the banks of a seasonal river in the Balule Game Reserve. The area around the camp is home to a resident lion pride as well as a variety of plains game.

How to Get There

There are daily flights from OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg International) to Hoedspruit Airport (also called Eastgate); Phalaborwa airport can also be used to access Balule Game Reserve.

Once guests arrive at the local airport they will either connect with their road transfer, or pick up their hired car and self-drive to the lodge they have been booked at.

All the Balule Game Reserve lodges are accessible via self-drive with a sedan rental car from anywhere in South Africa. To self-drive from Johannesburg will take approximately 6 hours.

Sun Safaris agents will book all their guests flights and connecting road transfers and car hires, and all the details will be included in the tailor-made itineraries.

Balule Game Reserve Game Viewing and Activities

The biodiversity of the lowveld region is staggering, supporting more than 2000 plant species including over 380 recognised tree species, of which 200 attain tree size in the area (50% of all trees found in Southern Africa).

There are approximately 150 mammal and 500 bird species. There are also 33 species of amphibians, 49 fish, and 114 reptiles occurring in the area. The birdlife is abundant in the various indigenous trees, and wild animals like wildebeest, warthogs and zebra are regularly seen. At various water holes situated in the reserve one can experience in close proximity, elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, as well as a host of other game species.

The absence of border fences with the Kruger National Park means that the range of wildlife roam freely between the reserves, and there is no limit to what guests may see on game drive. Some of Kruger's famous collared Big Tuskers also show themselves in the Balule.