Manyeleti Game Reserve - UPDATED! The Lowveld's best-kept secret
Everything you need to know about South Africa's Manyeleti Game Reserve and its camps.
Book your accommodation in the Manyeleti Game Reserve:
MAIN CAMP: E-mail reservations@mtpa.co.za
HONEYGUIDE TENTED SAFARI CAMPS: Visit honeyguidecamp.com/
PUNGWE SAFARI CAMP: Visit www.pungwe.co.za/
BUFFELSHOEK & NDZHAKA: Visit wildlifeupclose.co.za/
TINTSWALO SAFARI LODGE: Visit www.tintswalo.com/safari/
Watch Tintswalo Safari Lodge's Virtual Safaris on KZhead: / @tintswalovirtualsafari
ArcGIS Field Maps smart phone app:
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The Manyeleti Game Reserve is a breathtakingly beautiful 23000 hectare piece of land tucked away between the world famous Timbavati Game Reserve, Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Fences between Manyeleti and these three iconic reserves have been dropped for decades, allowing animals to move freely between them, making the Manyeleti one of the best game-viewing areas in South Africa's Lowveld.
The Manyeleti Game Reserve is generally much more open than the surrounding reserves, with large open plains attracting great numbers of plains game like zebras, blue wildebeest and buffalo. In turn, these large herbivores attract plenty of lions - by far the most common big cat in Manyeleti. In 2020, more than 80 lions roamed Manyeleti's savannahs!
Leopards and cheetah also occur in the Manyeleti Game Reserve, but are seen less frequently than lions. African wild dogs are also seen from time to time, with as many as 5 or 6 packs traversing the reserve. Elephants are plentiful in Manyeleti and are seen on most game drives.
What many people don't realise, is that Manyeleti is open to day visitors. You can enter the reserve with your own car and drive all the main gravel roads. You are, however, not allowed to drive on the concession roads assigned to the private lodges. Unfortunately signage is very poor in Manyeleti and it's very easy to get lost. For this reason, few people actually do self-drives in Manyeleti. The fact that there are no proper picnic sites in the reserve contributes to this as well.
Accommodation options are plentiful and varied in Manyeleti. You can camp or stay in a self-catering chalet in Manyeleti Main Camp, which also has a restaurant and a swimming pool. It does not, however, have a proper shop or filling station.
There are also a number of private lodges to stay at:
The 5-star Tintswalo Safari Lodge is the most luxurious camp in Manyeleti and is located in the north-west of the reserve. Close-by lies the two Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps - Khoka Moya and Mantobeni, each with 15 large and comfortable safari tents. Both camps have electricity, wifi and swimming pools.
Pungwe Safari Camp in the far south of the Manyeleti is very rustic. It's a tiny unfenced bush camp with only four basic, yet comfortable safari tents. The camp has no electricity and donkey boilers are used for hot water when you want to shower or bath. If you love bush walks, Pungwe is the best camp to visit in Manyeleti.
Last, but not least, there's Buffelshoek and Ndzhaka - two community-owned camps that are small, unfenced and electricity-free. Both have five basic but comfortable safari tents. Buffelshoek lies in the far south-east of Manyeleti and Ndzhaka in the centre of the reserve.
I have added links to all the camp websites at the top of this description. I really hope you enjoyed this video about the Manyeleti Game Reserve and that you take the time to visit it soon. If you enjoyed this video, please give it a like and consider subscribing to my channel.
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I have just spent 6 nights at Manyaleti Main Camp and as a keen bush goer I loved it. I was very happy to stick to the main roads due to my small rental car but as I had spent five nights in the KNP I wasn’t too cat focussed. Although I had a stunning sighting of two male cheetah feeding on a very recent impala kill I saw the vultures coming in - that attracted an hyaena which stole the remains - all in all about an hour spent with these beautiful cats all on my own! The facilities at main camp were more than adequate and the chalets quite luxurious after spending the first five nights in a small two man tent on the fence line overlooking the dam wall - the management and staff were really friendly and efficient - a very laid back feel to everything - the AM restaurant is a real gem where the food and hospitality is first class considering the location and whilst I was there very quiet. I don’t believe this is an experience for your average foreign tourist who would be better catered for in the private lodges but for your more seasoned South African bos kinders who want a blast from the past and just want peace and tranquillity whilst bird watching or simply slowing down to the unique pace of Africa’s eternal heartbeat. The game viewing is really good too with most animals having been acclimatised to vehicles thanks to the private lodges protocols around sitings. All in all a very satisfying and fulfilling experience and a huge thanks to The Safari Expert for introducing me and I am sure many others to this “hidden gem of the Lowveld.
Mark, thanks so much for this comprehensive feedback 🙏🏻🤩
Thanks for the note. Based on this review my wife and I really want to go.
Never knew you can drive yourself there, this year we booked a lodge in Manyaletti for 5 days. Say hello to Zali from me!
Good morning Villiers We just visit the Manyeleti this weekend, and what an experiance they are upgardeing the chalets in the main camp aswell as at Dixi koppie there are work done after your post how van i send you a few pics of what we saw. We were so lucky or fortunate thet we saw the big 5 in 2 day in only 2 self drives. thanks for showing us this gem thanks
Wow! That’s great news, about the upgrades and about the sightings! It’s for people like you that I make the videos 😎💪🏻
Beautiful sight amazing. Enjoyed thank for sharing
nice one !! been there when it was still fenced with Kruger...
Always interesting and honest!
Loved this. Thank you so much for showing me this awesome place!!! Stay well & stay safe!!
Beautiful Pictures and Landscape
Goeie video wat meeste vrae uitstekend antwoord. Dankie!
Very Good many important information
Thank you I love your program, Honest and too the piont, I'm a realist so your content suits me perfect!! That said I follow Virtual Safari and love there content. I've become very familiar with the lion prides and Coalitions in the Park, Definitely on my bucket list to visit this Beautiful Area!! Not sure when,, I'm from the states lol, but getting closer lol ! can't wait!! Great video ,,, thank you again !!
Thanks to your brilliant channel and specifically your Manyeleti video I'm headed there in 19 days!! Staying at Manyeleti main camp and doing self drive as well as a couple of OSV drives... I cringe to ask this question but I need to know whether or not I'll have cellphone signal in camp because I'll be there during the week and will have to respond to work emails etc. Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the update Villiers. I'm always torn between promoting Manyaleti and being selfish and keeping it the best kept secret in The Lowveld..😉
I hear you, Brian 😉 I’ve been promoting the 💩 out of Manyeleti since I first went there in 1997, and it still exactly the same… 🤪
Woodland Kingfisher having his say here too :)
Hi Villiers Is there proper directions to the main camp
Very informative video Villiers, thank you. I actually just requested the rates from MTPA earlier today. R795 for a refurbished chalet, which is very reasonable. And the menu options at the new restaurant seems good. When you say don't expect SANParks, do you mean more dilapidated that the rondavels in KNP??? And would the ground clearance on a 2018 Suzuki Vitara be high enough to manage most of the roads for self-drive?
Jackie, the rondawels are about the same as Kruger, but like you saw in the video, just a lack of attention to detail. Also, don’t expect maintained gardens, a nice shop, sightings board, etc. It’s VERY basic! But nice ☺️ The restaurant is brand new and is a great addition to the camp. Your Vitara will be able to do all the main gravel roads, but here and there some of the smaller gravel roads have washed away. If you get to such a point, simply turn around.
@The Safari Expert great, thanks for the info Villiers. Loved loved loved your video's on Khwai
Great video , we have booked three nights at honeyguide mantobeni, staying at orpen night before with a check in time of 1pm at honeyguide.Would it be feasible to enter manyeleti say about 10.30 and drive the H1 loop South past main dam and then follow H1 past jackal plains to get to honeyguide in time ? Love self drive and will have high clearance but not 4+4 . Keep up the great videos .
Hi. For sure! You should have more than enough time to do that loop before 1pm 😎
@@TheSafariExpert is that map you showed at beginning downloadable ? Any link thanks
Hello , what a nice video ! I learn a lot about this reserve ! We will go in a few months, what do you suggest between Buffelshoek and honeyguide camp ? We hesitate because they are both available… thanks a lot !
Buffelshoek is a lot more rustic, but in a nicer area if you ask me. If you want luxury, though, go for honeyguide instead
Loved the video. Would you recommend staying longer than 3 nights? I am a regular Kruger visitor and I am planning my first trip to Manyeleti. Not sure whether to stay longer or rather then go into Kruger.
For sure! It’s a stunning reserve. Just as long as you don’t expect Kruger-level facilities 😜
Great videos! We are planning our first safari and want to stay at Buffelshoek. Do we still need Kruger or Sabi after that or is this covering all? And how many days? We are nature lovers, but the camp is rather basic. As said, I never did this before.
How did it work out?
Great video, and I know you want to help promote tourism here, but now its less of a secret.....
Hi thanks for great video, trying to work out how easy it would be to drive through Manyeleti to get to gawrie gate?
Easy peasey 😉
It's full of snares . Maybe you can look for them as well.
I know 🙈 They need to do a bettee job at anti-poaching!
Hey Buddy, I am looking at travelling from Mareola Camp to Chitwa in the Sabi Sands soon. Does the Manyeleti link up with the Sabi Sands tracks / roads?
Yep. If you exit Kruger at Orpen’s outer boom gate, turn immediately left and enter Manyeleti in the north. Then drive all the way to the Main Camp in the centre if the reserve and take the exit road to the south-western gate. From there it’s about a 30-45 min drive to Gowrie Gate - the entrance to the northern Sabi Sands.
Morning Viliers when last were you in the main camp i just want to know if it is still in good shape
Andries, not this year, sorry. It’s never GREAT, but I haven’t heard any horror stories in recent times…
This was a new discovery for me. Thank you. Can you let me know if a Ford Ecosport which is slightly higher than a normal car do those roads?
Yes. It will be able to drive most of the main gravel roads.
We are hiring same car and wondered if S1 needed a 4by4 or EcoSport ok ? Dry weather of course
@@kind2cats hi. I havent gone to Manyeleti yet since my comment. I’m sure Safari Expert can advice more
Good evening Villiers… I am currently at Manyeleti Main Camp, I have the app with the map set for Manyeleti, but I am struggling to find Jackal Plain… could you please let me know where about the plains are?
Drive from the Main Camp towards the Main Dam and when you pass over the small bridge and get to the T-junction, turn right instead of left. Then keep going straight until you get to a big open plain with a hairpin turn to the left. That’s the Jackal Plains. Enjoy 😎
Hi if self driving around manyelti can you use the facilities, rest room etc at main camp without staying there? it seems the only clean ablutions for the general public in the reserve.
Yes, you can use it. There are also basic ablution facilities at the entrance gate. Take your own toilet paper with.
Hi. How do you book at the main camp? What are the rates for a self catering chalet for two people? Thank you for sharing. Wayne
Wayne, the email address for Main Camp bookings is in the video description. I think I paid something like R750/chalet/night in January 2022.
@@TheSafariExpert thank you much appreciated 😁
It's astounding how little information there is online, relative to SanParks Kruger, for self-drive/catering visitors considering staying at the main camp. Does the map provided at the gate give reserve route distances or estimated travel times? The lack of picnic sites with toilet facilities is a big negative.
No, it doesn’t Rory. And you’ll be lucky to get one at all.
Not been yet but have downloaded field map app and manyeleti and is very detailed. Going in August hoping to loop the H1 around .
Which one would you pick for 2 nights before heading to Olifants in mid December?
John, the rates vary greatly at the camps, so your budget may play a role. Personally I love rustic, so I love going to Pungwe in the south, but game viewing is typically a bit better up north around Tintswalo and Honeyguide because there are more vehicles out.
Hi, do you recommend staying here versus staying in Kruger? I saw a camp (Honeyguide) that I liked, but I reas Manyeleti has few animals
Mariela, Kruger’s public camps are much nicer than Manyeleti’s, but Kruger is also much busier than Manyeleti, and that’s why I go there. Game viewing-wise it’s about the same as Kruger if you ask me. Going to a place like Honeyguide is your best chance of seeing lots!
@@TheSafariExpert thank you for responding. Another question...knowing you cant guarantee sightings, would you recommend manyeleti or timbavati ? The idea is to stay for 3 nights
@@marielaaguilar9030, it depends. Certain parts of Manyeleti are better than certain parts of Timbavati, and vice versa. I don’t think you can go wrong in either if you stay at private camps.
@@TheSafariExpert thank you! We are chrcking out Shindzela and Honeyguide Mantobeni and cant decide!
@@marielaaguilar9030, game viewing from Mantobeni is usually excellent 🤩
Hi in the past I've seen quite a few reviews saying that the Manyeleti Main Camp is dirty and feels like dump. We are not looking for luxury, but do hope to stay at a clean place. How do you find the main camp?
Audrey, it’s basic but clean. Just don’t expect SANParks. It reminds me a lot of ZIMParks.
@@TheSafariExpert Thank you Villiers. Can't wait to visit Manyeleti!
Hi! Where can I get the printable roadmap for Manyeleti? Thanks a lot! 10:11
Marilize, I have no idea 🙈
@@TheSafariExpert Then I just have to visit! Thanks 😄
What chalets are the best for the view
Andries, unfortunately I don’t know their numbers - I’ve always just taken what they’ve given me, because they typically use the chalets that are in the best condition.
How far is main camp from orpen gate
It’s about an hour’s drive
What are the opening and closing times at the camp?
John, I think it's 06:30 in winter and 6:00 in summer, but to be honest, the gate has always been unlocked when I leave for morning drive, so I just leave when it gets light in the mornings.
What is the distance from main camp to orpen gate
I'm not 100% sure about distance, but it will take you about 30mins to and hour.
Question. Are all these smaller reserves that are "attached" to Kruger
Indeed