NAMBITI GAME RESERVE
We pride ourselves on travelling and testing all of our destinations - this is what makes Indigo Safaris special. In 2014 Christopher took his own very young family to Nambiti Game Reserve. He was particularly interested in sourcing malaria-free, family-friendly safaris, and safaris. He was impressed and with what we saw and Indigo Safaris started offering tailor-made trips to Nambiti Game Reserve as stand alone safaris or as part of longer, multi-destination itineraries.
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.
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 4 hours drive from Johannesburg and 3 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 Game Reserves combines very well with the Drakensberg and the Battlefields.
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.
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 4 hours drive from Johannesburg and 3 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 Game Reserves combines very well with the Drakensberg and the Battlefields.
where to stay...
From our many visits to Nambiti Game Reserve, we have first-hand knowledge of the hotels and below you can find the ones we most commonly use. Those hotels include mainly our favourites sorted from low-key to deluxe, which are usually smaller hotels with very personalised service, but also some bigger places, if they are the best or only option available. Open, close, then open each tab again to display the images fully.
KwaZulu Natal ITINERARIES
Below you can find safari itineraries in three price ranges. But these lists are by no means exhaustive. For bespoke itineraries, please contact us directly to discuss your project.
