Khaya Ndlovu
Khaya Ndlovu Game Reserve (2004)
Kruger Park Region, Limpopo Province, South Africa
This 1 300 hectare, Big Game reserve forms part of the greater 15 000 hectare Blue Canyon Game Conservancy. The Sandspruit River winds its way through the farm and choice residential sites have been carefully positioned near the river bank or for spectacular mountain views.
This is truly a unique development as the reserve is located close to the town of Hoedspruit, and has a very low density with only 45 stands. It gives owners the best of both worlds, bushveld living in a major reserve and yet minutes from the shops of Hoedspruit. Local residents have also been given the opportunity to traverse this reserve which carries white rhino, lion, elephant, leopard, hippo and all the charismatic plains game species indigenous to the area.
N'tsiri
N’tsiri Game Reserve, Big Five (1980)
Kruger Park Region, Limpopo Province, South Africa
N’tsiri set the standard for all syndicated private game reserve developments. It was the first ever syndicated shareblock concept in a wildlife estate. Such was the popularity of this ground-breaking idea that the initial 50 shareblocks sold out within a week. Today, it is not uncommon for owners who bought in for R20 000 at the project’s inception, to sell for more than R3 million.
Ingwelala
Ingwelala Game Reserve, Big Five (1983)
Kruger Park Region, Limpopo Province, South Africa
This privately owned 210-unit Ingwelala shareblock is situated in the heart of Umbabat Private Nature Reserve, approximately 65 kilometres from Hoedspruit. Bordering on the unfenced Kruger National Park, N’tsiri and the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Ingwelala offers the thrill of being in Big Five country with over 230 species of birdlife.
The concept of Ingwelala was to combine quality with affordability. It will be a long time before any other development can offer a similar quality bush experience at a comparatively low cost. Each owner has access to more than 3 000 hectares of prime Big Five reserve.
Roodekrans
Roodekrans Game Reserve, Big Five (1982)
Kruger Park Region, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Roodekrans Game Reserve’s later addition to N’tsiri brought the total number of shareblocks from 50 to 65, increasing the total area of the reserve to 3 000 hectares. Even though these developments were done so many years ago, they remain today as great accomplishments.
Welgevonden
Welgevonden Big Five Game Reserve (1995)
Waterberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Among private game reserves, Welgevonden has few equals. Hidden deep in the foothills of the Waterberg, Welgevonden is a private Eden of over 26 000 hectares of unspoiled wilderness. Once a hunting and cattle ranch, over time its natural abundance of wildlife was complemented by the introduction of the Big Five, the result of one of the largest game relocation programmes ever undertaken on private land.
Welgevonden is a popular safari destination. It is only a two and a half hour drive north of OR Tambo Airport, in a malaria free area. Over 50 owners have freehold title to 500 hectares and traversing rights on over 26 000 hectares of the Reserve’s numerous habitats. Developed in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank and the Du Plessis family, Welgevonden is a rare example of how areas of Africa’s wilderness can be enhanced and protected through innovative project development.
