Lalibela Game Reserve

Lalibela Game Reserve is located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, close to Port Elizabeth and Addo, which means it is not only malaria free, but spans 5 ecosystems, resulting in a breath-taking diversity of flora and fauna.

Lalibela is a conservation project that currently consists of 10,500 hectares (approximately 26,000 acres) and is home to the Big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo & leopard) as well as other predators like cheetah, hyena, jackal & lynx.

Unique to our area of South Africa, we are blessed with vast areas Savannah Grassland, the biome that has by far the highest carrying capacity – this means that we are able to sustain truly vast herds of plains game like zebra, impala, wildebeest, red hartebeest, blesbuck and eland. This, in turn, allows us to sustain a remarkable density of free-roaming lions.

Our primary focus at Lalibela is the conservation of our indigenous flora and fauna taking into account the community in our area. This is achieved by a huge team of diverse and special people – all who share the vision of long-term sustainability in a fast-changing world

The 3 main aspects of any African safari are the game-viewing, the accommodation and the food – at Lalibela we take special care to ensure that heartfelt service combines with these three “ingredients” to make your Big 5 African safari experience a memorable one.

Lalibela is one big conservation project – we call it “conservation for conservation sake”

Whilst Lalibela is run on business principles, our owners have pledged that all surpluses generated on Lalibela are allocated to the conservation of the land, animals and wider community.

We believe that an important element of conservation is ensuring that surrounding rural communities benefit from tourism as this ensures their buy-in and this translates into a strong conservation ethic in the wider community around Lalibela.

As needs and priorities in the community change, so do our efforts and focus. Below are some of the community outreach programmes that we are actively engaged in.

CLINIC
We have upgraded the local clinic and play an active, daily role in ensuring that it runs smoothly.

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
We support and sponsor two soccer teams and two netball teams with equipment and uniforms and we also sponsor tournaments throughout the year.

CHILDREN’S FEEDING SCHEME & HOLIDAY CLUB
Every day, we provide nutritious breakfasts to all the children in the Seven Fountains community (approximately 80 children). During school holidays, we provide both breakfasts & wholesome lunches to the children and we also keep them entertained by providing various fun and educational activities.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS
We operate a clothing library where clothes donated by past guests can be loaned by the community for special functions like weddings, funerals etc. We also run a sewing project and other initiatives for adults that assist with “up-skilling”.

FUNCTIONS AND CELEBRATIONS
We support and are a part of various functions and celebrations within the community throughout the year, such as Mandela Day and Women’s Day.

COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT
Old Age Pensioners get treated at Easter and Christmas to formal lunches held at the recreation centre. Each receive a gift to take home and entertainment in the form of singing and dancing is organised for these pillars of society within the village.

MILLS MANOR

Mills Manor is an exclusive-use home style villa offering an idyllic and private safari getaway for families or small groups. The villa has a relaxed home-away-from-home ambience and comes with a private game ranger and vehicle, chef and housekeeper.

This 100 year old villa is an historic farmhouse – happy home to generations of families. The gables, high ceilings, large rooms and wide wrap-around veranda are typical of the Edwardian farmhouses of the region, built at a time when high wool prices and the ostrich feather boom allowed farmers to build stately family homes.

The villa is set on a hill overlooking a waterhole, which means that game viewing continues even after game drives. The Big Five and other game species are free-roaming throughout Lalibela and the waterhole at Mills Manor attracts regular visits from thirsty animals.

Facilities inside the villa include a welcoming bar, spacious lounge and gracious dining room. Outside there is a swimming pool and sun deck, a large fire pit and barbeque area where al fresco dinners can be served under the African sky.

The wide, shady veranda offers cool respite from the sun and a place to relax between game drives. With 5 double bedrooms, Mills Manor can accommodate a maximum of 10 guests.

All rooms are air-conditioned and have wide stack doors opening out onto verandas or indigenous gardens with valley views beyond.

KICHAKA LODGE

The main lodge at Kichaka is constructed in stone and thatch which blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. It overlooks a large water hole popular with hippo, giraffe, elephant and countless other game.

The lounge and dining areas have been constructed to give the best possible aspect over unspoilt bush. Large terraces stretch over the waterhole & provide a magnificent viewing deck.

The terrace also extends into a small island creating an enchanting outdoor dining area. Above the lounge is a library which also overlooks the waterhole. This room provides a quiet place to curl up with your favorite book or catch your favourite sporting events on the TV.

Complimentary WIFI is available in the main lodge as well as in the suites. A rim-flow swimming pool adjacent to the waterhole is perfectly placed and makes an ideal place to enjoy sun, cocktails and to admire the glorious views.

The 10 suites at Kichaka all have private plunge pools, baths, showers as well as “his & hers” basins. They have been perfectly positioned to maximise the sense of being in the bush

LENTABA SAFARI LODGE

Lentaba, the “lodge on the hillside”, sleeps 20 people in ten secluded thatched chalets (5 luxury and 5 classic), placed where magnificent indigenous gardens merge into the surrounding bush.

Each en-suite unit has a private observation deck to make the most of the views over the valley bushveld. The rooms at Lentaba are nicely spread out and each room has great views of the valley below.

The main lodge is decorated in a traditional African safari style and boasts a large lounge, viewing deck and a sunny swimming pool where you can spend a lazy afternoon.

The lodge has various places where guests can sit and unwind – there are two decks with commanding views of the valley and waterhole, an inside lounge as well as an outside lounge. Lentaba has three fire places and these add to the great safari ambience that Lentaba is so well known for.

The outdoor dining “boma” has a commanding view of a waterhole which is spotlit after dark for night game viewing. There is also a stylish indoor dining area. Brunch is served al fresco on the main viewing deck.

The overnight rate at Lentaba Safari Lodge includes accommodation, 2 game drives (evening & morning), all meals and all drinks at Lentaba and on game drives. To get the most out of your African safari experience we recommend that you spend 2 or 3 nights with us at Lentaba.

TREE TOPS SAFARI LODGE

Tree Tops Safari Lodge differs from our other lodges in that it is a tented camp. The luxury safari tents perched high on thatched platforms at “tree top” level are joined by raised walkways and offer spectacular views over the thickly-wooded valley.

The en-suite rooms, with their canvas walls and thatched roofs, have huge window areas and give guests the feeling of being right in the bush. Each room has a private veranda where guests can sit and relax in privacy.

As with our other lodges, Tree Tops Safari Lodge has a large lounge and open-air dining deck with a view over a small waterhole. Guests can sunbathe around the swimming pool or relax in the shaded gazebo.

Special care and consideration was taken during the construction of Tree Tops to minimise the impact on the pristine vegetation in the valley. Tree Tops Safari Lodge sleeps 10 people in 5 rooms. Tree Tops has a small waterhole between the lodge and the swimming pool.

Elephant are regular visitors to this waterhole and there is also a resident group of Nyala who are often seen from the rooms and walkways. Bird enthusiasts are often rewarded with sightings of the beautiful Knysna Loerie at Tree Tops.

The overnight rate at Tree Tops Safari Lodge includes accommodation, 2 game drives (evening & morning), all meals and all drinks at Tree Tops and on game drives. To get the most out of your African safari experience we recommend that you spend 2 or 3 nights with us.

MARK’S CAMP

Mark’s Camp is our family-friendly lodge – it has 8 stone & thatch chalets, decorated in a relaxed Pan-African style, and it can accommodate up to 18 adults and 8 children.

Each comfortably furnished chalet has an en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning and ceiling-fans for those warm summer nights. All of the chalets open up onto your own private viewing deck.

There are 3 room types at Mark’s Camp: • 4 Standard chalets that sleep 2 adults • 3 Family chalets that sleep 2 adults and 2 children under 12 • 1 Family suite that has 2 en-suite rooms as well as a lounge area – the suite can sleep up to 6 guests One of the appealing features of Mark’s Camp is the abundance of birdlife which can be viewed from the rooms, pool deck (Mark’s Camp has two swimming pools) or central lounge area.

Blessed with a large waterhole in front of the lodge, it is not uncommon for guests to see antelope, giraffe, elephant and predators coming to the waterhole! Mark’s Camp has an outdoor dining “boma” for fireside dinners and open-air brunches, as well as a gracious indoor dining area.

The overnight rate at Mark’s Camp includes accommodation, 2 game drives (evening & morning), all meals and all drinks at Mark’s Camp and on game drives. To get the most out of your safari experience we recommend that you spend 2 or 3 nights with us.

CHILDREN ON SAFARI

Families with children under the age of 12 are welcome at Lalibela and are accommodated at our family lodge, Mark’s Camp. At Mark’s Camp we have family rooms which can accommodate 2 adults and 2 children.

We also offer a special children’s programme for children aged 2 or older, which includes special activities, children’s game drives and meals. For those under 2 years of age, we provide experienced child-minders & nannies.

GAME DRIVES
The children’s game drive has been specially designed for young children, with their own game ranger and game-viewing vehicle. The children’s game drives are shorter than those of the adults and stick to the main gravel roads of the reserve.

Because of the unpredictability of small children, care is taken to avoid getting close to dangerous animals. Children might still have the opportunity of seeing the Big Five from a distance but this is not guaranteed.

The primary focus of the children’s game drive is on antelope, bird and insect species. It is a sensory safari and exposes the children to the sights, smells, sounds, feel and taste of Africa.

Children from the ages of 2 to 7 years old will go out on the children’s game drive. Due to the vehicle being specially designed for children’s game drives, only one adult per family may join the children’s game drive. This is due to weight constraints and seating capacity.

Children aged 8 and older are permitted to join the adults on an adult game drive. Children under the age of 8 ARE NOT allowed on the adult drives. Children under 2 may not participate on any game drives. Child minders are available to take care of children under 2 while adults are on game drive.

In addition to the children’s game ranger, our Children’s Programme Coordinator will accompany the children’s game drive.

The morning children’s game drive departs at approximately 08h00 and returns in time for brunch. The afternoon children’s game drive departs at approximately 16h30 and will return at about 18h00 in time for the children’s dinner.

MALARIA-FREE SAFARI IN THE EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA
We pride ourselves on our ability to offer you the best in Big 5game viewing. At Lalibela we are blessed to have phenomenal sightings of the Big 5 as well as the various other species that visitors so enjoy seeing.

In addition to the larger, more known wild animals, Lalibela has various lesser-known species and our rangers delight in exposing our guests to these – the curious spring hare is as fascinating as the mighty African elephant!

GAME-VIEWING
Naturally the game-viewing is one of the most important aspects to a safari stay and in this respect we are governed by the rhythm and times of nature.

Since predators are generally inactive during the daytime, most hunting is done in the early hours of the morning and late in the evening and because this is the time when predators are most active, the antelope also follow these times – they relax in the shade in the daytime and are alert and active in the early mornings and late evenings.

For these reasons, our game drives take place in order to coincide with when the wildlife is most active – early morning and late evening! This does mean early starts, but guests soon get used to it and their body clocks adjust to Africa time remarkably well!

SAFARI CUISINE
We believe that warm hospitality and memorable food are as important as the game-viewing element of your safari experience. At Lalibela, food is true safari cuisine with an emphasis on local specialities, ranging from centuries-old recipes to exciting new contemporary African dishes.

Dining at Lalibela is unforgettable whether it is brunch on a sunlit deck, or a safari cuisine dinner in an indoor dining room or outdoor boma.

The atmosphere at our lodges is one of “relaxed informality” and we encourage interaction between guests at the dining table. Dining at all of our lodges, whether indoors or outdoors, is always around a large central table.

The table is a place where our guests discuss the day’s activities with their ranger, make new friends from around the world or just enjoy the local tastes and flavours in a relaxed African setting.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY AT LALIBELA
You get 2 game drives for each night that you stay with us (an evening game drive and a morning game drive) – we recommend that our guests stay a minimum of 2 nights, but ideally 3 nights, in order to get the most out of the safari experience.

Your accommodation, all your meals and all your drinks (at your lodge and on game drives) are also included in our overnight rate

Website: www.lalibela.net

Rooms: 38

Price: from 600 EUR per night