Surprisingly for a reserve located in one of South Africa’s tourism hotspots, the Lowveld, the Manyeleti Nature Reserve is an unexploited and unpolished gem of a destination. I’ve just recently returned from my first visit to this special place, accompanied by friend and colleague Hannes Rossouw.
The Manyeleti Nature Reserve was established in the 1960’s by the government of the Apartheid homeland Gazankulu, for exclusive use by non-white visitors. Covering an area of 227km² and sharing unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park and the Timbavati and Sabi Sand Private Game Reserves, administration of the reserve passed to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government following the end of Apartheid in 1994.
Manyeleti means “Place of stars” – looking up at the night sky will confirm this to be a very apt name – and is covered mainly by open savanna-type vegetation communities, with dense riverine forest along the course of the usually dry Nwaswitsontso River. Several large dams inside the reserve provide a year-round water supply and are focal points for the reserve’s wildlife and, consequently, human visitors.
During our recent visit to the reserve, Hannes and I were hosted for one night at each of Ndzhaka and Buffelshoek Camps, and I am proud to say that DeWetsWild is now a contracted reservation agent for both. In co-operation with Hannes Rossouw Photography we will also be holding regular photographic safaris and workshops there – we’re already taking bookings for the first of these scheduled for June 2024. The camps are rustic and off the grid, and with each accommodating no more than 10 guests in 5 comfortable en-suite safari-style tents, with all meals and two daily game drives included, are perfect for an authentic bush experience. Ndzhaka is set among the enormous trees on the banks of the Nwaswitsontso almost in the centre of Manyeleti, its grounds frequented by nyala, bushbuck and waterbuck. Buffelshoek on the other hand is located on a remote open plain towards the reserve’s south-eastern corner, with herds of game and predators moving around and sometimes even through the camp to reach the local waterhole.
On the perimeter of Ndzhaka Camp a small trough of water is like a magnet to visiting antelope. I set up my little trailcam there to see what might come visiting while we’re out on our game drive or asleep in the tent.
In upcoming posts on DeWetsWild I will be sharing some of the incredible sightings we enjoyed during our visits to Ndzhaka and Buffelshoek in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve.
DeWetsWild 
Gorgeous 😍
Manyeleti’s an amazing place for sure! We’re lucky to still have places like this.
Definitely have to to visit! And yes we are! Not many around sadly
Nadat jy so mooi verduidelik het waarvandaan die naam Manyeleti kom, was dit nogal besonders om die foto van die mannetjie leeu te sien wat ook so opkyk in die lug in (asof hy wil beaam dat mens die sterre in die lug wel so helder kan sien). Pragtige foto’s en video’s van al die wilde diere, voëltjies en natuurskoon. En dis lekker om te lees dat DeWetsWild so goed doen in die verskillende parke & natuur reservate!
Baie dankie, Corna! Harde maar uiters bevredigende werk. En as mens op die koop toe dan sommer kan foto’s neem terwyl jy “werk” gaan ek mos nie kla nie!
Dit klink goed Dries!
Baie dankie, Aletta!
☺️
Amazing we saw some in Kenya when we were there over decade ago.
Agree – We loved it last year.
Glad to hear from someone who’s been to Manyeleti!
Ek wens amper mens kan die plek ‘n geheim hou. ‘n Klomp mense gaan dit bederf verseker.
Dis maar altyd n gekompliseerde saak, Petru. Sonder die inkomste van toerisme sal die reservaat nooit staande bly nie.
Dis seker maar die waarheid. Sug!
All the best for your new venture! Your header is a wonderful enticement to visit the bush 🙂
Thanks very much, Anne!
These are such nice pictures
Thank you very much!
Lyk soos ‘n regte paradys. As ek so kyk en lees raak ek sommer rustig en tevrede met die oomblik om so saam julle te kuier. Die lilac-breasted Roller het my gadagtes ver terug gevat na Etosha waar ek troupant eerste keer gesien het(1974) ook eerste keer’n gompou.
Etosha is nog stewig op my “bucket list”, Ineke, maar ek is bly dat ek darem Manyeleti kon aftick!
Etosha was ‘n belewenis. Die gids en ook as busbestuurder was uitstekend gewees. Hy het geweet wat daar is en hoe als gesien kan word. Ook stories en geskiedenis van die omgewing.
Very impressive, Dries.
I thought so too, Tracy. What a place!