Mabalingwe Nature Reserve

Mabalingwe is a privately owned Big Five reserve in the Waterberg foothills about 28 km west of Bela-Bela in Limpopo, founded in 1989. Be clear about what it is: a holiday resort inside a game reserve, with timeshare blocks, sectional title chalets and private lodges spread across the bush, not a remote safari park. That makes it one of the closest places to Johannesburg and Pretoria where a family can see lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard, swim, eat out and let the children loose, without malaria tablets.

Getting there

Allow around an hour and a half to two hours from Johannesburg or Pretoria on the N1 north to Bela-Bela, then about 28 km west. Figures for the reserve’s size vary between about 8,500 and 9,500 hectares depending on which recent expansion is counted, so do not expect a quick circuit; the camps are spread out across the bush.

When to go

Mabalingwe is in a malaria-free area, so there is no health reason to avoid summer. The dry winter, May to September, gives the best game viewing with thinner bush and animals at the waterholes, but mornings are cold on an open vehicle and regulars tell first-timers to dress in layers for the 06:30 drive. Summer is hot with afternoon storms and the bush turns thick and green. Weekends and school holidays are busy; midweek is noticeably quieter.

What to do

Guided game drives run on a fixed timetable: an early morning drive at 06:30 (not Wednesdays or Sundays), a mid-morning drive at 10:00 every day, a sunset drive at 16:30 and night drives on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are dedicated bird-watching drives on Thursdays and Saturdays, and over 220 bird species are listed. A predator park is open to visits Tuesday to Saturday mornings. Guided nature walks, 4x4 trails, archery and air rifle shooting are offered, and a partner operator runs horseback safaris. Weekend Eco Club and Teens’ Club programmes keep children aged six to sixteen busy with spoor identification and bush cooking. Beyond the wildlife there are swimming pools, tennis, squash, padel, mini golf, the Mbali Day Spa, a farm shop, a coffee shop and several restaurants and bars.

Good to know

The reserve is laid out for people staying in it. Accommodation runs from the 34 thatched chalets at the main complex and the four self-catering camps (Ingwe, Kubu, Phiri and Kwalata) to a caravan park and whole-ownership lodges let privately. If you are not staying, phone ahead about joining a drive rather than turning up. Book spa treatments and drives in advance over holidays. Elephants and lions roam freely, so stay in your vehicle on the roads, and never feed the animals that wander through the camps.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Mabalingwe Nature Reserve (facilities and experiences), Mabalingwe Nature Reserve (blog), Mabalingwe Game Reserve, Tourism Update.