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.

Sunrise over Manyeleti

Six Pod Mahogany trees, growing in two clusters of three each, and the only ones of their kind in the reserve, is a curious feature of Manyeleti.

Sunrise over Manyeleti

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.

A big male Lion in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Young lion in Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Lioness with a very full belly

A very alert Lioness

Young leopard in Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Young leopard in Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Cheetah in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Cheetah after being chased up a tree by Wild Dogs in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Wild Dog in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Playful Wild Dog pups in Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Giraffe

Elephant calf

White Rhino bull in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Hippos in a dam in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Hippo in a dam in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Hippo in a dam in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Waterbuck

Waterbuck calf

Blue Wildebeest

Nyala Bull

Young Nyala bull at Ndzhaka Camp in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Kudu cows being very curious about a troop of baboons

Steenbok ewe

Steenbok ewe

Red-billed Oxpeckers on a nyala bull

Arrow-marked Babbler

Black Flycatcher

Black-backed Puffback

African Hoopoe

Young Saddle-billed Storks

Grey Heron

Brown Snake Eagle

Lilac-breasted Roller

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.

Ndzhaka Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023

Ndzhaka Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023

Ndzhaka Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023

Ndzhaka Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023

Ndzhaka Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023

Buffelshoek Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023

Buffelshoek Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023

Buffelshoek Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023

Buffelshoek Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023

A morning coffee stop in the bush at Manyeleti, compliments of Buffelshoek Camp

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.