Nambiti Game Reserve
We pride ourselves on travelling and testing all of our destinations - this is what makes Indigo Safaris special. In 2014 we took our own very young family to Nambiti Game Reserve. We were particularly interested in sourcing malaria-free, family-friendly safaris, and safaris. We were impressed with what we saw and now offer tailormade trips to Nambiti Game Reserve as stand alone safaris or as part of longer, multi-destination itineraries.
Some short Namibiti itineraries
4-day Kwazulu Natal Safari in Nambiti with Springbok Lodge from 6390 ZAR per person including transfers
4-day Kwazulu Natal Safari in Nambiti with Nambiti Plains Lodge from 9900 ZAR per person including transfers
Nambiti - wildlife
Nambiti is the only game reserve in the malaria-free bushveld in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, that boasts the Big Five (The Big Five is an old hunting term used for the five animals which were the hardest to hunt and kill: African elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) and has a selection of lodge styles. Now many travellers wish to spot all of these five animals (and only shoot with a camera!) on their safaris and not every safari destination has all five creatures in the same place. We are keen conservationists and don't advocate hunting with anything other than cameras. . An African safari is not however just about the big five species - there are so many other wonderful creatures to see, a range of habitats and landscapes to travel through, stunning places to stay and interesting cultural and historical encounters to be had. Hopefully you will also encounter some of Nambiti's 40+ other species of game including cheetah, leopard, giraffe, hippo, hyena, impala, eland and zebra plus an array of other creatures and plants. The Reserve’s 22,000 acres has excellent biodiversity; including savannah, thornveld, riverine bush, acacia trees and extensive grasslands that mirror the plains of central Africa.
Nambiti - Location and environment
The Reserve is completely malaria free as it falls far outside the low risk belt and it is just 3½ hours drive from Johannesburg and 2½ hours from Durban. Thunderstorms often occur in the late afternoon in summer after hot days. The dry winters are one of the best times of year to view the game as the animals concentrate around water, or bask in the sunshine amongst the clearings. Game drives are offered into the late evening and nightfall and game viewing under a canopy of African stars is an incredible experience. The Sunday River offers excellent Yellowtail fishing and there are a number of dams within the reserve that are well-stocked with various fish species. The abundance of natural water, perennial rivers and beautiful waterfalls on the Sundays River, make Nambiti a unique sanctuary attracting several rare bird species and an enviable array of raptors and vultures.
Nambiti - Other attractions
Nambiti is not solely a safari destination as you can easily combine it with many other activities. Less than an hour away, the majestic Drakensberg Mountain Range is a World Heritage Site full of extraordinary beauty and numerous activities, including hiking, quad biking, white water rafting, 4×4 trails, mountain biking, horse riding, canopy tours, rock climbing, kayaking and fly fishing.
The region also boasts numerous memorial sites and at the entrance to the Reserve there are memorials to the Boer and English troops who laid down their lives in the Battle of Elandslaagte. The hospital still stands within the reserve’s borders. Several battles of the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer wars took place on the land surrounding Nambiti.
The World-renowned battlefields of Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, Ladysmith and Elandslaagte are in the immediate vicinity. Many of these battlefields have been preserved as reminders of the rich history; Nambiti Reserve rests within this land, which had been described as “heaven on earth” by the Dutch settlers. Other local historical attractions include the Siege Museum, Town Hall Museum, the Statue of Ghandi, “The Twins” (two Howitzers cannons) and many more.
How Nambiti was born
While trout fishing, Rob le Sueur shared his dream with friend Gordon Howard. His vision was for a Big Five game reserve, but he had not yet come across a suitable property close enough to Durban. As luck would have it, Gordon heard of a number of cattle farms for sale east of Ladysmith, so one winter morning the two friends met for a horseback tour of the properties and, amazed at the outstanding beauty of the area, the duo set about acquiring the land. In 2000 Nambiti Private Game Reserve was born. Working closely with conservationists and wildlife experts, the area was restocked with naturally occurring wildlife. Over the next five years, internal farm fences were removed, alien vegetation was cleared and the now game-fenced reserve was restocked. Along with the endemic species driven out by farming practices, the Big Five and many other types of game were introduced. Over time, three more farms were acquired and in the following years superb lodges were built or renovated from existing farmhouses.
Some short Namibiti itineraries
4-day Kwazulu Natal Safari in Nambiti with Springbok Lodge from 6390 ZAR per person including transfers
4-day Kwazulu Natal Safari in Nambiti with Nambiti Plains Lodge from 9900 ZAR per person including transfers
Nambiti - wildlife
Nambiti is the only game reserve in the malaria-free bushveld in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, that boasts the Big Five (The Big Five is an old hunting term used for the five animals which were the hardest to hunt and kill: African elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) and has a selection of lodge styles. Now many travellers wish to spot all of these five animals (and only shoot with a camera!) on their safaris and not every safari destination has all five creatures in the same place. We are keen conservationists and don't advocate hunting with anything other than cameras. . An African safari is not however just about the big five species - there are so many other wonderful creatures to see, a range of habitats and landscapes to travel through, stunning places to stay and interesting cultural and historical encounters to be had. Hopefully you will also encounter some of Nambiti's 40+ other species of game including cheetah, leopard, giraffe, hippo, hyena, impala, eland and zebra plus an array of other creatures and plants. The Reserve’s 22,000 acres has excellent biodiversity; including savannah, thornveld, riverine bush, acacia trees and extensive grasslands that mirror the plains of central Africa.
Nambiti - Location and environment
The Reserve is completely malaria free as it falls far outside the low risk belt and it is just 3½ hours drive from Johannesburg and 2½ hours from Durban. Thunderstorms often occur in the late afternoon in summer after hot days. The dry winters are one of the best times of year to view the game as the animals concentrate around water, or bask in the sunshine amongst the clearings. Game drives are offered into the late evening and nightfall and game viewing under a canopy of African stars is an incredible experience. The Sunday River offers excellent Yellowtail fishing and there are a number of dams within the reserve that are well-stocked with various fish species. The abundance of natural water, perennial rivers and beautiful waterfalls on the Sundays River, make Nambiti a unique sanctuary attracting several rare bird species and an enviable array of raptors and vultures.
Nambiti - Other attractions
Nambiti is not solely a safari destination as you can easily combine it with many other activities. Less than an hour away, the majestic Drakensberg Mountain Range is a World Heritage Site full of extraordinary beauty and numerous activities, including hiking, quad biking, white water rafting, 4×4 trails, mountain biking, horse riding, canopy tours, rock climbing, kayaking and fly fishing.
The region also boasts numerous memorial sites and at the entrance to the Reserve there are memorials to the Boer and English troops who laid down their lives in the Battle of Elandslaagte. The hospital still stands within the reserve’s borders. Several battles of the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer wars took place on the land surrounding Nambiti.
The World-renowned battlefields of Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, Ladysmith and Elandslaagte are in the immediate vicinity. Many of these battlefields have been preserved as reminders of the rich history; Nambiti Reserve rests within this land, which had been described as “heaven on earth” by the Dutch settlers. Other local historical attractions include the Siege Museum, Town Hall Museum, the Statue of Ghandi, “The Twins” (two Howitzers cannons) and many more.
How Nambiti was born
While trout fishing, Rob le Sueur shared his dream with friend Gordon Howard. His vision was for a Big Five game reserve, but he had not yet come across a suitable property close enough to Durban. As luck would have it, Gordon heard of a number of cattle farms for sale east of Ladysmith, so one winter morning the two friends met for a horseback tour of the properties and, amazed at the outstanding beauty of the area, the duo set about acquiring the land. In 2000 Nambiti Private Game Reserve was born. Working closely with conservationists and wildlife experts, the area was restocked with naturally occurring wildlife. Over the next five years, internal farm fences were removed, alien vegetation was cleared and the now game-fenced reserve was restocked. Along with the endemic species driven out by farming practices, the Big Five and many other types of game were introduced. Over time, three more farms were acquired and in the following years superb lodges were built or renovated from existing farmhouses.