Kapama Game Reserve safaris, tours & holiday packages
Track the Big Five
The private reserve offers the usual guided game drives and walks, but stands out for its elephant interactions and as the site of Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.
Situated near the small town of Hoedspruit, west of the Kruger Park, Kapama Private Game Reserve comprises 130 square kilometres of lowveld bush set aside as a reserve by the Roodt family in 1986. Subsequently restocked with lions, leopards, cheetahs, white rhinos, elephants, buffaloes and a variety of antelope, it supports 40 large mammal species in total, as well as 350 bird species.
Four lodges Kapama River Lodge, Kapama Southern Camp, Kapama Karula, Kapama Buffalo Camp and two spas Kapama River Lodge Spa and Kapama Karula Spa and all offer a fairly standard private reserve package inclusive of game drives in an open 4x4 and guided walks.
The Hoedspruit Eastgate airport is just 10 minutes’ drive from the reserve entrance, and Kapama offers complimentary transfers for fly-in guests in open game viewing vehicles directly to any of the four luxury game lodges on the reserve.
“A night-time elephant-back safari at Kapama is one of the most memorable and exciting experiences I've had in the bush – not least because ours had to be cut short when we found ourselves in the middle of a stand-off between the elephants carrying us and a bemused-looking pride of lions. ”
More on Kapama Private Game Reserve holidays
Kapama stands out from other private reserves for two reasons. The first is guided personal elephant interactions giving guests the opportunity to get up close and personal with the elephants and to learn more about their behaviour and natural habitat.
The second is the presence of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, which provides sanctuary to a number of rare mammals, most notably a king cheetah, a rare morph whose semi-striped coat is linked to a recessive gene. It should be noted that Kapama lies apart from the main block of private reserves sharing open borders with the Kruger Park. It is thus a self-contained unit, fenced in its entirety. So while the Big Five are regularly observed here, game drives tend to feel slightly more contrived and controlled than in the top properties at Sabi Sand or Timbavati.
Kapama Private Game Reserve Map
Kapama Private Game Reserve's location on Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions about Kapama Private Game Reserve
All game reserves in Madikwe, the Pilanesberg and the Eastern Cape are malaria-free. go there.
Most lodges and hotels will have safes for your valuables either in your room or at the reception. go there.
The local currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). There are numerous currency exchange outlets and the main credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Diners) are normally accepted everywhere. Most petrol stations and toll roads take credit… go there.
Whether you are in the Southern or East Africa you will generally be able to see the big five. The difference really comes in when considering antelope as they are based on your chosen location. go there.
This is all dependant on the countries that you will be visitng and due to the status of certain vaccinations changing at times, please consult our experts before getting vaccines. go there.
In some parts of Southern Africa it is safe to drink the tap water, however it is highly recommended to stick to bottled water (mostly supplied) during your trip as even drinkable African water is completely different in taste and… go there.
The dry winter months of May to September is the best time to visit the Kapama Game Reserve. Game viewing is excellent during this period as the flora will thin out. The wildlife will also gather around water sources such as waterholes,… go there.
Reviews on our Kapama Private Game Reserve safaris
This was my first safari. I didn’t expect to be so pampered. Everything was first class. We had everything provided for us before even asking. We had a dedicated team at our service. Megan was on call whenever we needed something and she…
Saada
from Nigeria
Tanya was an absolute delight to deal with. From the first phone call she was extremely polite, professional and very eager to facilitate my requests regarding our safari. Our 3 nights at the V & A Hotel were fabulous and Motswari Game…
Debbie
from Australia
Perfectly tailor-made tours that take all your wishes and requests into consideration. All my expectations were beyond fulfilled.
Henrik Wetterstrand
from Sweden
Living afar and trusting in an organisation with whom you have no previous knowledge can lead to feeling of mistrust and wondering whether what we have paid for actually exists. A little more proactive communication would have eased those…
Tony Russell
I just wanted to thank Discover Africa and Karl Svendsen - the safari was great - we saw many more animals than expected including cheetah, leopard, many lions and even a three-day old elephant calf. Additionally, we had our own hippo…
Margaret Dean
Planning the trip was managed extremely well especially since travel was at a busy time of year and not much notice was given. All communication was by email, and was responded to promptly and efficiently. Different options were provided…
Suzanne McKeen
Related Articles
Celebrations in Africa: Steven’s South African safari [Traveller story]
Steven’s South African Safari Route Map I had the pleasure of chatting to Steven, an Australian who spent 17 days in South Africa. Steven travelled with his partner Callum. The pair were invited along by Callum’s parents, Jeff and… read more
Why you need travel insurance in 2018
You’ve finally booked that dream safari in Africa and as you touch down at your destination, you’re filled with trepidation, wonder and excitement for the trip of a lifetime. The sights and sounds of a foreign country can be… read more
All You Need To Know About World Biosphere Reserves
According to the United Nations, world biosphere reserves are internationally recognized areas comprising of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. The main objective of these reserves is to help ensure environmental, social and economic… read more
Three Famous South African Shipwrecks
Once people believed that the world was flat and it took a few brave and intrepid souls on ships with billowing sails to educate those back home about the vastness of our earth. As technology and the resulting pressures of an emerging… read more
