Manyeleti, in the local Shangaan dialect, means “The place of the stars”. It is not just a fancy name but a description of the star gazing magic that Manyeleti Game Reserve has to offer. In fact, people who have been guests of Manyeleti know that the stargazing there is incredible, so much so that there are those who say you could miss out on everything else and still leave completely convinced you had an amazing experience.
What makes this place so special?
There are multiple factors why, and this blog does a job of highlighting some of them.
Unique Location
Manyeleti Game Reserve is situated between the Timbavati Private Reserve, the Sabi Sand Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park. There are no borders present, meaning that animals are free to roam as they please. This should already speak volumes to you, given the remarkable wildlife and sights all three boast of. This unique location explains why the reserve is home to some of South Africa’s best game viewing including the Big 5 and many other wildlife species.
The reserve has developed a reputation of having low vehicle density, making the experience all the more pleasant. The reason why the vehicle density is so low, despite being sandwiched between 3 of the finest wild places in the country is because it is withdrawn from the most frequented tourist areas. It could be that Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve, all which are conventionally more popular without necessarily offering more, draw most of the traffic. The result is a much unperturbed, authentic traditional safari.
It is a private reserve with unique ownership
The game reserve is under the ownership and management of the local Mnisi tribe. It is also private, and it exclusively caters for guests who are ‘overnighting’ in the reserve. This rare blend of unique ownership (where the owner is not, say, one family, company or even the government but rather a traditional tribe) and private status completely transforms the game reserve experience into an exclusive and personalized one.
Phenomenal Climate
The Manyeleti Game Reserve climate is subtropical. The summers are thus not hot and dry, as is common with so many other places in Africa. Summers bring rains with them, resulting in hot yet wet conditions. Winters on the other hand are not wet. They are also not unbearably cold. Rather, they are cool and dry.
Incredible Places to Visit
In the Manyeleti Game Reserve, there are 3 options for you to visit, each of which houses a unique charm.
The Honeyguide Khoka Moya Camp (meaning “capture the spirit” in the Shangaan dialect) is a safari bush camp that is comfortable and family friendly.
The Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp offers some amazing and exciting wildlife experiences, along with awesome service and phenomena cuisine.
Tintswalo is a luxurious safari lodges, unique for very low vehicular traffic, allowing it to offer a very authentic traditional experience. The lodge also overlooks a waterhole that sees elephants as well as other big game frequent it.