The expansive Manyoni Game Reserve is one of the most densely stocked
reserves in Northern KwaZulu-Natal and is home to an incredible
diversity of wildlife with a spectacular scenic backdrop.
When staying at Bayete Zulu Lodges you can be sure game drives will live up to your expectations. You have an excellent chance of close encounters with the Big 5, opportunities to view up to 70 recorded animals and for keen birdwatchers the reserve boasts over 400 bird species.
Game drives have access to almost 23 000 hectares making up the Manyoni Game Reserve and strict vehicle limits at animal sightings ensure an exclusive game viewing experience. Guides are also in constant radio contact with each other keeping track of animal movements. Being a private game reserve numbers on sightings are restricted.
The Lodges offer two game drives per day (the timing of which depends on the seasons), during which our experienced guides share their knowledge and love of the African bush with you – keeping you informed, but also entertained. Each drive, in open safari vehicles lasts between 2 ½ to 3 hours and includes awesome sightings along with a refreshment stop.
SET THE PACE OF YOUR SAFARI
When you are booked into an exclusive lodge you enjoy the luxury of setting the time of when you go out on your game drives.
ANIMALS
Along with the Big 5 of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, the reserve is also home to a range of other fascinating animals. You’ll find smaller predators such as wild dog, hyenas, cheetahs and other members of the feline family. The reserve also offers a wide variety of antelope as well as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hippo, jackal, warthog, various reptiles and a myriad of insects.
BIRDS
The Manyoni Reserve is a bird lover’s paradise and forms part of the new Zululand Important Bird Area (IBA). The reserve’s incredible biodiversity is home to over 400 identified bird species. Those of special interest are the white-backed vulture, red-billed oxpecker, black stork, pink-throated twinspot and spotted eagle-owl.
Aquatic birds such as the spoonbill, fish eagle, spurwing goose and african darter are attracted by the dams and waterholes dotted around the reserve. The experienced ornithologists are guaranteed to be enthralled by the amazing birdlife in the reserve which boasts many specials such as the crowned eagle, golden pipit, black coucal and scopps owl.
VALUE FOR MONEY & THE BEST GAME VIEWING EVER
The highlights however were the game drives, we saw a pride of 11 lion with 5 cubs of 6 weeks old playing in the river bed next to our vehicle… we had three cheetah walking next to us and also saw a herd of 36 elephant and 100 buffalo all close by… Once in a lifetime sightings of a lion killing a Nyala bull and a Martial eagle hunting and nearly picking up a black backed jackal.
TRIP ADVISOR