The bond of family runs strongly throughout the history of Jabulani Safari, both in the business and in the herd of elephants that call the reserve their home. One of the Secret Getaway team Jenna Sleep experienced this firsthand.
About Jabulani Safari
Award-winning and awe-inspiring, this is a Relais & Chateaux accredited safari lodge. Whilst it boasts all of the perfect touches of first-class accommodation & hospitality, it is the soul of the destination that resonates so strongly with guests. The Roode family have 20 years of an extraordinary story to share, framed with pride upon the walls, and embodied in the elephant herd that remain for all to witness & wonder at.
In 1997 a calf, Jabulani, was rescued & rehabilitated... when the time came for the calf to be integrated into the wild herd, there was some difficulty as they repeatedly rejected him. In 2002 an urgent cross-border call was sent out from Zimbabwe when a herd of orphaned elephant were due to be culled in the land reformation process. The Roode family accepted the call & the herd was transported to the Kapama Reserve. The matriarch, Tokwe, accepted young Jabulani and due to the amazing blended make-up of the herd of orphaned elephants a unique type of herd was formed. In order to support the hefty costs of caring for such a unique group of elephants, the luxury lodge - Jabulani Safari - was built, allowing many visitors, both international & local, to witness the amazing conservation journey that has been carried out here.
A Firsthand Jabulani Experience
"My spontaneous trip to Jabulani Safari with my brother was one of the most memorable bush breaks of my life. The Jabulani team go out of their way to ensure your stay is as special as it could possibly be.
READ: SA's Best Bush Breaks | Plan an Affordable Safari
The lodge itself is utterly beautiful, with each of the Suites enjoying views of the surrounding bush from the deck with a sparkling private plunge pool.
What made our stay incredible were the experiences we had the privilege to enjoy... We were enraptured by our elephant encounter with a few of the (rather large) males from the Jabulani Herd - we had the honour of feeding Jabulani himself, as well as Sebakwe and Fishan, whilst being regaled of their stories and how they came to be a part of the herd.
The respect shown to these elephants by their doting handlers is beyond apparent and allowed me to feel comfortable whilst enjoying this unforgettable experience.
When it came to the game drives, our game ranger, was top-class and did her best to ensure that we got to enjoy some brilliant sightings, whilst still giving the animals enough space to remain relaxed in their natural environment.
EXPLORE: Secret Getaway's Latest Bush Breaks
We were lucky enough to spot a female leopard weaving her way in and out through the bushes along a river bed. A big highlight for me was witnessing a pack of wild dogs on the hunt - their speed is phenomenal and the sounds they make carry through the bush for some distance.
Delicious snacks and drinks were then enjoyed as the sun dipped down toward the horizon and the Jabulani Herd returned to their quarters, slowly ambling past us in their silent magnificence. Whilst we only had one night to enjoy this special place, it was a night we'll never forget, and I plan on returning again as soon as possible!"
About the Kapama Reserve
Kapama Game Reserve is a fenced reserve bordering the Kruger National Park, renown for it's elephant herd at Jabulani Safari and a close working relationship with an amazing animal rehabilitation centre in Hoedspruit, HESC.
Initially bought as a possible cattle grazing farm area, it was discovered unsuitable and so eco-tourism was developed. The reserve covers approximately 16 000 hectares of prime big game territory, Kapama Game Reserve was proclaimed a private game reserve in December 1993 . The name comes from ‘Kapama’, a Swazi king whose tribe inhabited and hunted in the northern Drakensberg mountain region around Mariepskop back in the 1880s.
A game relocation programme was introduced, and the Game Reserve now supports a wide variety of game including elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, and large populations of giraffe, impala, blue wildebeest and kudu. Predators include lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and many smaller species. Bird-watching is most rewarding on the reserve and more than 350 bird species have been recorded, including the rare Gymnogene and Knob-billed duck.
If you go
The reserve is a 5hr drive from Joburg, or for those guests who prefer to fly, both Airlink and Cemair have flights into and out of Eastgate Airport, Hoedspruit (Transfers from Hoedspruit Airport to major lodges are easy to arrange with private collections possible if the lodges do not offer this service in house).
EXPLORE: Experience a Jabulani Getaway yourself
Website: jabulanisafari.com
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