Bonamanzi Game Reserve, in Hluhluwe, northern KwaZulu Natal, is highly recommended as a family safari destination. At this Natural Heritage Site, expect luxury accommodation, excellent hospitality and amazing game viewing experiences.
Bonamanzi loosely translated means ‘Look, Water’ in Zulu. This is probably because it is bordered by the spectacular Lake St. Lucia Isimangaliso Wetlands and the magnificent Hluhluwe River.
The 4000-ha reserve is actually home to four of the Big Five and other game. The absence of lions means at Bonamanzi you and your kids can enjoy safe and interactive bush experiences – walks or drives, with or without the company of a trained field guide.
This is good news as the reserve is also recognised as one of the best birding destinations in Southern Africa. Remember, it’s the African bush so caution needs to be taken on these trails.
If you still want to see lions, within a short 30-minute drive of Bonamanzi is the Hluhluwe/Imfolozi ‘Big Five’ Reserve and your hosts do offer game drives to the park.
The area enjoys a wonderful climate all year long with splendid summers and warm winters. Come, relax and enjoy three peaceful eco-systems – coastal grassland, tropical forest, and woodland.
Many of their previous guests agree that Bonamanzi is an amazing holiday destination!
Accommodation at Bonamanzi Game Reserve
Bes spoilt for choice. The accommodation at Bonamanzi ranges from comfortable 3-star combo’s to luxury chalets.
Choose between the Lalapanzi Camp; Dinizulu Camp; Game Lodge; Tree Lodge; Tree Houses; Camping; Nyala Lodge and the Bundu Rustic Camp.
Note – The Tree Houses and Tree Lodge are self-catering options and ideal for families and groups, who prefer to have the authentic bush camping experience.
The Lalapanzi Camp has 38 en-suite rooms with a pool, a restaurant, a pub and a viewing lounge. Built on stilts, the self-catering Tree Lodge consists of three bedrooms connected by a boardwalk. It can accommodate a group or family of six.
Also built on stilts are rustic two-sleeper and four-sleeper self-catering tree houses. These four-sleeper units are on two levels – the bottom level has a small, fully-equipped kitchen while the upper level has a small lounge area, one twin room and one double room, a basin and toilet as well as a deck.
The Dinizulu luxury camp can accommodate up to six people in three double chalets with showers, a bath, a pool, a private dining area, and an entertainment area. The camp is very private.
Meanwhile, the self-catering Game Lodge can accommodate up to 10 people in five en-suite bedrooms. Three of the bedrooms are in the main Lodge.
At Nyala Lodge are nine air-conditioned twin bedrooms that can sleep 18 people. Three of the outer rooms are en-suite and the other six internal rooms share two showers and two toilet facilities.
The comfy Bundu Rustic Camp has 12 units with a separate two-bedroom cottage. In total the camp can accommodate 28 guests and has everything needed for a comfortable stay.
Amenities at all the accommodation options include large beds, TVs with DStv, cutlery and crockery, reverse osmosis water, air-conditioning, towels, linen, a stove with oven, fridge, microwave, toaster and kettles.
Make an online booking HERE.
Facilities at Bonamanzi Game Reserve
Bonamanzi has all the facilities that you might need for a comfortable family outing. This includes secure, ample parking for your vehicles as well as clean, private ablutions.
Not intending to venture out, relax around a swimming pool after enjoying meals from the Lalapanzi restaurant.
Things to do in Hluhluwe
At Bonamanzi Game Reserve, you and your family can immerse yourselves in the wilderness. Your hosts have many exciting and interactive bush experiences available including informative guided walks, game drives, boat cruises down the Hluhluwe River, bird safaris as well as unguided walks that you can take on their marked trails.
Reviews from previous Bonamanzi Game Reserve guests
“Great sites – excellent ablutions – really enjoyed wandering around on the self-drive trails. Great birding. Great experience on the boat cruise. Spacious camp sites that are well spaced. You always feel like the place is empty. Enjoyed the bird life and photography at Queens dam,” wrote iantay2020 on their TripAdvisor page.
491gary added; “Awesome weekend in the bush. We will definitely be back providing the self drive throughout the park is an option. Also would like to try the restaurant once it opens. We could not find fault with any part of the weekend.”
“We stayed at the new sand forest camp sites with friends which made us feel like we were the only people for miles. Each site has its own private ablution and the shared scullery makes dishes easy. The reserve itself if lively and we were allowed to do our own private game drives which were really nice. The location also makes day trips to Mkuze and Hluhluwe easy, we really enjoyed the hides and picnic sites at Mkuze. The evenings under the stars and sundowners and bush braai at the dam are a must,” said Rob T.
Bonamanzi Game Reserve is located at 324 Bushlands Road, Hluhluwe, KwaZulu Natal. Here is their location on Google Maps. For bookings, call +27 (0) 83 634 0895 / +27 (0) 72 027 3452; email info@bonamanzi.co.za or visit them online at bonamanzi.co.za. Follow them on Facebook HERE.
