Balule Nature Reserve

Balule Nature Reserve is home to the "The Big Five" and is world renown for its varied animal and bird life. Balule Nature Reserve is part of the Greater Kruger National Park, which is the name of the combined area of the state owned section of the park (the Kruger National Park) together with its neighbouring private reserves (which include Balule Nature Reserve), between which the fences have been removed to again allow the animals to move freely along their natural migratory pathways. The Olifants River is at the heart of the nature reserve, flowing for around 20 kilometers through the district.

Kruger National Park is South Africa’s biggest and most famous national park. It is 19.633 km2 in size (about the size of Jutland in Denmark) and was established in 1926 by Paul Kruger, who was the leader of the Transvaal Republic. The goal was, and still is, to protect the African wildlife here, and the park has fully lived up to this goal: here it is possible to see up to 147 different species of mammals, 104 different reptiles, 507 bird species and 1,771 plant species, which includes 357species of trees and bushes.

As one of the biggest game reserves in the world the Kruger National Park is without equal when it comes to animal life. Importantly the infrastructure providing an extensive network of roads, and the camps where it is possible to spend the night, have minimal impact on the original nature of the park. Nearly all the traditional African big game species can be seen here in South Africa’s nature reserves and parks, of which the Kruger National Park has the widest range. More than half of the 718 bird species found in South Africa can be seen in Kruger National Park, which makes it one of the most interesting destinations for birdwatchers in the world. 

The closest towns are Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit, which are both around an hours drive from Balule River Lodge. Here you will also find the two airports, guests can fly to from Johannesburg.