Side Trips

Jessica is a 10-year-old hippopotamus who lives near Hoedspruit. She is so special and unique because she is a wild animal that interacts with humans. Jessica has become somewhat of a worldwide celebrity. When you visit Jessica, you’ll view a short video on her story, feed her a snack, and then give her some tea (along with some pets and kisses).

You’ll arrive at Camp Jabulani at sunrise for a personal interaction with one of Africa’s most majestic creatures. You’ll hear the stories of how the elephants came to the camp. This incredible start to your day will include the opportunity to touch a few of the elephants, exchange trunk greetings, and feed them some treats.

Take a ride on horseback to get closer to nature on a trail created by the wildlife. The estate is home to giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, waterbucks, nyalas, impalas, kudus, steenboks, duikers, and warthogs. You may even come across leopards on your ride. Whether you’re a bird watcher or animal lover, a horseback ride is the perfect way to experience the bush.

The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre is unique in its focus on the conservation and sustainability of rare, vulnerable, and threatened species. During your visit to the Centre, you’ll get close to many endangered species including cheetah, wild dog, wild cat, ground hornbill, and sable, just to name a few.

Kinyonga Reptile Park focuses on conservation through education and research, volunteering, and internship placements. The park is home to a diverse variety of local and exotic reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids. Specialized courses including photographic tours, reptile orientation, and reptile handling courses are available. They can even help you with your reptile- or arachnid-related phobias!

This unique Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is home to many of South Africa’s abandoned, injured, and poisoned wildlife. Because of this, many of the rescue animals have become permanent residents and ambassadors for their respective species. You’ll have the opportunity to get up close and personal with them during your visit. The Centre also runs a successful breeding program for the serval, allowing them to reintroduce this species of cat to the wild. Be sure to visit the “Vulture restaurant” where you can see a number of vulture species. Your experience at Moholoholo will provide memories to last a lifetime.

The Cheetah Project is a program of Kapama Game Reserve. The program focuses on the expansion and maintenance of cheetah and other feline species. This reserve offers various excursions, including short tours and a full-day trip in which you learn extensively about the cheetah in its natural habitat.

Covering 60,000 hectares of pristine wilderness, the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve was established in 1972 as part of the greater Kruger National Park, and is one of the largest privately owned reserves in South Africa. A family concession inside the reserve allows us to have an open-vehicle safari. We can spend the entire day inside the Klaserie, surrounded by wildlife including the Big 5 (lion, rhino, elephant, leopard, and buffalo).

Kruger National Park boasts nearly 2 million hectares of unrivaled diversity of life forms, spectacular wildlife, and world-renowned historical and archaeological sites.

Tshukudu Private Game Reserve borders the world-renowned Greater Kruger National Park and combines home comforts with the exciting Big 5 safari experience (lion, rhino, elephant, leopard, and buffalo). The lodge has magnificent views of the Drakensberg Mountains and offers close encounters with some of the rehabilitated orphaned animals in their natural habitat.

Experience Hoedspruit from the air on an early morning hot air balloon ride. The terrain is a mixture of farmland, private nature preserves, and wildlife estates. The mountains to the south and west will add to your experience. Keep an eye out for an early morning game drive to see wildlife such as giraffe and wildebeest. Please be aware this adventure is weather dependent.

Enjoy the ultimate air & water day tour. You’ll be picked up by helicopter to experience the savanna from above. You’ll land in Phalaborwa, on the banks of the Olifants River (a tributary of the mighty Limpopo River). There you’ll board the Kambaku, a comfortable house boat, to cruise the river looking for crocodiles, hippos, buffalo, elephants, water bucks and a wide variety of other wildlife on the lush green banks of the river.

Blyde Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world, and is known as the world’s largest “green canyon” due to its lush subtropical foliage. On this river cruise you’ll see the magnificent Kadishi Tufa waterfall, the second tallest tufa waterfall in the world (around 660 feet). The formation that has been produced by the Kadishi falls resembles a face which is crying profusely, and is thus sometimes known as “the weeping face of nature.” Watch the river banks for crocodile, hippopotamus, and other wildlife.

The Klaserie Waterfalls are in the forestry section of Mariepskop Mountain, along the Drakensberg range. It’s a secluded area with views that go on for miles when you hike up to the top.

The history and culture of the African tribes come to life at Nyani Cultural Village. The cultural showcase is presented in a natural setting under the thatch roof open-air Boma theater, following the tribes from the past to present. After the show you’ll be led to the Shangaan village. There you’ll learn about the agriculture, family duties, and tribal customs. Interaction and hands-on participation is encouraged in building huts, grinding maize, and other activities.

Relax and rejuvenate with an African spa experience. Various treatments are available, including full-body massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures.