Nsele Game Reserve Vaalwater

Photographs of Nsele Game Reserve Vaalwater

Nsele Game Reserve Prices

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Email Nsele Game Reserve Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com

Currently there is only limited accommodation available as the intention was never to be commercial. This also ensures that the groups on the game viewer remain small whilst tracking the big cats.

Nsele Game Reserve Accommodation

We have a unique facility for couples that will ensure a lasting memory of your time spent here. Rates include catering.

1. Family Cottage
This facility is ideal for families or Couples that know one another. This “farm-Style” cottage has been restored to offer the following: 1 Main Bedroom with Queen size bed and en-suite bathroom, 2 Bedrooms with single beds that share another bathroom. Equipped kitchen with private Boma. Although the “Main Lodge” is not yet complete, the swimming pool is, and guests are welcome to make use of it.

Packages for this facility can be done on both fully and self catered. Please contact us for family packages. This cottage is located near to the new main lodge situated on a high vantage point overlooking a large plain where game viewing is exceptional.

Coming Soon:
Bush Camp & Luxury Main Lodge!

2. Hippo Lodge
This facility truly offers something unique for couples that want a completely private venue in an exquisite setting. Situated on the banks of our Hippo Dam this facility is a raised deck with drop down sides that has a dining room and lounge.

There is only ONE bedroom with a queen size bed and outdoor shower that looks on to the Hippo’s in the dam. The room has fixed walls with a large open glass door so the view from the bed is spectacular!

The couple that rent this facility has their dinner brought to the lodge. They are served and looked after by well-trained staff. After coffee the staff leave you in peace until the following morning. Located far away from anything else the couple can enjoy the night sounds that are so unique to the bushveld. Not forgetting the awesome sound of the Hippos themselves.

Please contact us to get latest rates and availability.

Big Cat Habituation
Habituation is the process of getting wild animals accustomed to the presence of a Game Viewing vehicle and to behave as if it is not there. Nsele reserve specializes in the Habituation of Leopards and Cheetahs. This is a very important part in the conservation of these animals.

In areas that are still actively farmed, these animals are shot or trapped by livestock farmers. They therefore have an inherent fear of any vehicle and therefore never adapt to game reserve areas unless they are habituated before being released in these reserves.

Farmers catch these predators and then call someone in to fetch the animal before it gets destroyed. Organizations such as the Wildlife Trust fetch these trapped animals and are brought here.

We then spend the next few months slowly gaining their trust. This is an extremely complicated affair but rewarding all the same. When these animals arrive on our reserve they are totally fearful of vehicles. Before releasing them on our reserve we fit a radio collar so that we can find their location anywhere on the reserve using the latest telemetry equipment.

Slowly but surely by using our well-experienced techniques we gain the animals trust. Eventually when our work is complete these animals ignore the vehicles completely and go about their business as if it wasn’t even there. One can see by the picture above this female Cheetah is investigating the front tyre with no fear whatsoever.

Once these animals are habituated they are then caught and re-released on other reserves all over the country. This ensures a good genetic mix in all areas. Then the process starts all over again. Nsele is now offering members of the public to stay at our reserve and whilst here will join us on these “tracking” drives.

These drives have all the benefits of a regular game drive but with this exciting component added in. Groups are kept small to keep the exclusive experience. Packages for times when these animals are tracked and darted will also be available. Please contact us to find out the dates of these events. With leopard in particular there is never a guarantee of finding these illusive creatures, but when we do it is amazing.

Our mission is to show Game Farmers that it is a better business proposition to protect these animals rather than destroy them. Unfortunately in the world we live in today, if something is not commercially viable it is replaced with something that is, at the expense of the natural wildlife.

By allowing the public to take part in the process and paying for the experience we will gain valuable data to show these CAT killers that preservation of these remarkable creatures is not only the right thing to do, but can also be a better investment for them. So please support our venture and book a weekend with us soon!

Directions From Gauteng:
Take the N1 Highway North (Polokwane), at the Kranskop Tollgate; take the left offramp to Modimolle (Nylstroom). Go striaght through Modimolle to Vaalwater (60km). In Vaalwater turn right onto the Melkrivier road. 10Km from Vaalwater turn Right on to the Vier-en-twintig Riviere Dirt road. Nsele is 15.5km on the right hand side.

Email Nsele Game Reserve Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com