Balule Private Nature Reserve

Why visit Balule Private Nature Reserve?

Balule offers Big 5 safari encounters and lower prices than other Greater Kruger reserves. Access control results in lower visitor numbers compared to the neighbouring Kruger National Park. Off-road driving (by experienced guides), night drives, and bush walks guarantee fantastic wildlife encounters. The number of vehicles at wildlife sightings is restricted to ensure an exclusive safari experience.

You will find a variety of camps and lodges on offer in Balule - from small rondavels to traditional thatched lodges and tented camps.

Big Five and other wildlife

The Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant) are regularly seen during game drives, as are wild dog and hyena. Balule also hosts giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, and waterbuck. Meanwhile, smaller creatures, including genet, mongoose, pangolin, and aardvark, are also observed.

Balule bushveld

Balule is one of the private game reserves making up the Greater Kruger, which shares an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park.

The 55,000 ha Balule features rocky ridges and valleys in the north - interspersed with thick riverine forest along the Olifants River banks - and undulating deciduous woodland further south - perfect safari country.

Excellent bird watching

Balule hosts over 360 bird species, including Pel's fishing-owl, southern ground-hornbill, brown-headed parrot, martial eagle, orange-breasted bushshrike, scarlet-chested sunbird and five vulture species.

Why Balule is a responsible safari choice

Your Africa Geographic safari to Balule contributes directly to the conservation of the park to the benefit of local people because:

• We donate a portion of every safari sold to selected conservation efforts at ground level.

• Your safari supports our conservation publishing efforts, which educate the world about Greater Kruger and other threatened ecosystems.

• Our chosen lodges support local community initiatives, ensuring that tourism benefits the nearby villages directly. They also adhere to strict environmental practices, such as limited vehicle numbers and sustainable camp operations, which help protect the ecosystem.