Mabalingwe Game Reserve

[steamtrainfan]

I cannot see a thread on this reserve anywhere.

Does anyone have any info for me i.e wild life, road condition, accomodation etc etc....

I have checked their website but would appreciate some first hand comments.

They have a lovely special - R1980.00 for 2 people for 2 nights including Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in a 2 bed hotel room.

Kind Regards,

Richard G.

[iNdlovu]

STF, it's been quite a while since I was last there, but can only pass the following comment. Not a great place in my experience. I have never stayed in the timeshare chalets so cannot say anything about them, but have stayed in the campsite a few times. The last was the last straw. It is close to PTA or Joburg so gets extremely crowded on weekends. We stayed there for a few days on our way (roundabout) up to Zim and beyond. Tents/caravans/Trailers/Campers were almost on top of each other. Our neighbor was about 2 metres away and they proceeded to have a klippies and coke party until about 3 in the morning. The choice language was unbelievable, and at the top of their voices. Game was very difficult to find although on previous occasions we did have some great sitings of White Rhino.
Roads were quite rough/rocky back then, but may well have improved. The roads west of the airstrip are good sand. So to sum it up, go take a look but stay away from the campsite.

[Poplap]

STF, on a number of occasions Theuns and I have stayed in Ingwe-camp in studio chalets. For city folk it is a great getaway, close to Gauteng and relatively affordable.


As you know, I don't do camping. Well, almost not. :oops: So no comment there.

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We have in recent years visited Klein Kariba (http://www.klein-kariba.co.za/eng/) on a number of occasions (mountain huts) - obviously out of season, and preferably during the week.


Nice spa -O , horse riding, quad bike riding, wildlife... Though more a resort type of getaway than Mabalingwe... and obviously less tranquil and perhaps even a bit less romantic.

[Dzombo]

We went to Mabalingwe a few years ago. Spent 4 days there.
It was the year that there was the fire at Kwa Maritane and I couldn't get accomodation in Pilanesburg.

There were 2 families and we stayed at the most amazing 8 bed unit. Really well maintained and well fitted out. And not expensive for what it was.

The game viweing though.....was dire.
We did the usual morning and evening drives and all we saw were Impala and Warthogs. Litterally. My son who was 3 at the time kept on asking to see the elephants, but we didn't see them on the drives I did.
So I went to reception and asked where the most likely place was to find the elephants. I was told the the eles are collored and that the game drives have receivers and they can pick up the signal.
So off we went on a game drive. The game ranger who was a lovely lady who went out of her way to find us the eles, even extending the length of the drive, and we eventually found them.
And also, the official game drives have right of way on the neighbouring game farm. And I must say, we did see a few things there. (rhino, zebra, kudu).

Oh, and bad behaviour....happens everywhere. On the game drive, on the neighbouring farm section we were watching some rhino at a dam. Some idiot drove past with loud music....doef doef doef.... and the rhino turned and ran into the bush.

So to summarise.
Accomodation (where we stayed) - 10/10
Game viewing 2/10

Would not go back there again.

[steamtrainfan]

06/10/2011

Friends of ours were there two weekends ago. The accomodation was excellent BUT game viewing not so good. They saw 13 of the 15 elephant. They told us that the lions are in an enclosure and one has to pay to go in and see them being fed. We are so pleased we did not waste our money on their special.

[Dzombo]

This seems to be the general feeling.
And it is a bit of a zoo!

Strangely enough, we went to Mabalingwe on a friend's recomendation. He loved it! I think though he is a "horse" person and he loved the rides in the bush.