African Ivory Route

The African Ivory Route was established with the adventure traveller in mind. A selection of unique and off the beaten track destinations were therefore a more important consideration than ease of access.

Access to some of the camps is adventurous and may require 4 wheel drive vehicles while others can be conveniently accessed with an ordinary vehicle.

The smallness of these camps, which all have only 10 beds each, make them intimate and exclusive and allows for a very personalized experience, where camp schedules can be customized to suit guests preferences, and friendly staff attend to the needs of guests, who usually leave as friends and sure to return.

Although camps can be individually booked, very interesting tours can be put together by combining two or more of these camps.

African Ivory Route offers two types of accommodation facilities - safari and cultural camps.

The exquisite localities of theses camps, which are all in prime wildlife, wilderness and scenic areas, are probably their most outstanding defining characteristic

They afford the type of authentic, rustic yet comfortable, quality bush experience one do not expect to find at such affordable rates.

All camps consist of five luxury en suite 2-bed tents on stilted wooden decks, with covered verandahs, and a thatched central kitchen and dining area and an outside braai place.

Except for Ntubu Camp, which is the only safari camp not located within a big five area, the other three all offer game viewing on foot, under guidance of experienced field guides, or from the camps game viewing vehicle, which can be scheduled in accordance with the guests preferences. The excellent locations of the camps makes relaxation in the comfort and shade of the camp during the hotter parts of the day which is recommended especially during summer months a pleasure.

Baleni Camp

This camp is situated in the eastern Lowveld on the banks of the Klein Letaba River adjacent to Sautini Natural Hot Springs, a sacred place about which legends abound and where local Shangaan women still produce salt the ancient way and was practised for 100s of years. This traditional activity, is practised more during the winter months and can be observed by visitors to the camp.

Exploring of the surrounding bush land by mountain bike or quad bike while dropping in on some of the rural villages found along the route, under guidance of a guide from the camp is an enjoyable way of experiencing more about the local culture and interacting with the local people.

Blouberg Camp

This camp is situated in a secluded spot surrounded by the foothills of the Blouberg with a small river along the high cliffs towering above the camp.

The mountain is the stronghold of the Ba-Hananwa people and the scene of a bloody battle between the ZAR and Kgoshi Malebogo late in the 19th century. A guided walk up the mountain, where no roads exist due to ists rugged nature and inaccessibility, and where a small community of the Hananwa still lead a very traditional lifestyle, is a rare and rewarding experience.

A delightful little camp in traditional style on top of the mountain caters for a relaxed two or more days excursion.

Buffelshoek Camp

Buffelshoek camp is in the south of Manyeleti Game reserve. It is a trails camp extension of Ndzhaka camp and an excellent base for viewing the Big Five on guided walks, game drives or from the comfort of the camp.

The tented encampment of Buffelshoek gives you an even closer experience with the African bush. This incredible camp is also located within Manyeleti, about 16 kms from Ndzhaka, and close to the unfenced border with Sabi Sands. Your experience of the African bush will not get more up close and personal than this! Big game often walks right past the camp

Typical activities whilst staying at Buffelshoek Camp:

The guided game drives in open vehicles are also offered at Buffelshoek, departing just after sunrise and again in the late afternoon. Guided game walks give you an up-close encounter with the fauna and flora of this beautiful part of Greater Kruger, enhanced by the incredible stories and explanations of your African Ivory Route guide.

Mafefe Camp

This camp is situated in a remote spot in the northern Drakensberg and can only be accessed with a four wheel drive vehicle. Access to the camp takes one along the Olifants River with various scenic views, where a few small villages are passed before the trail takes to the mountains. The scenery is magnificent and only a few local people still reside in this beautiful area, staying in traditional huts blended with the natural surroundings.

As there are so few inhabitants the adventure and scenery are probably the biggest draw card of this camp.

Conditions for hiking in the surrounding mountains are also ideal, and the unbelievable route where Louis Trichardt crossed the Drakensberg with his trek in the 1830s, is a walking distance to the east of the camp.

Modjadji Camp

This camp is located within the Modjadji Cycad Reserve where these majestic pre-historic plants also referred to as palms due to their exceptional height of up to 13 meters, naturally occur in forest proportion on a hillside at the back of the camp. This is home to the mystified Rain Queen Modjadji, hereditary ruler of the Balobedu people, reknown for her rain making powers.

Guided visits to the kraal of the Rain Queen can be arranged for visitors to the camp, while various cultural activities including dancing and story telling can be experienced. Traditional cuisine can also be enjoyed.

Mtomeni Camp: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve

This 42 000 ha provincial game park, which shares an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park about 10 km north of Phalaborwa, has a truly untamed character, with its predominantly mopane bush veld, transected in the north (for approximately 20 km) by the Groot Letaba River. Large herds of buffalo and elephant is what Letaba Ranch is best reknown for, while lion is often heard at night.

Mtomeni Camp, named after the magnificent jackal berry trees which grace this spot and which shade the lapa area in front of the kitchen, is situated on the bank of the Groot Letaba River.

Each of the sleeping tents has an excellent view on the river, which harbors a vibrant population of hippos which can be heard daily in the camp.

Due to the rudimentary nature of the vast road network and roads often found obstructed by trees being pushed over by elephants, self driving in Letaba Ranch is confined to a main road artery along the Groot Letaba River up to the KNP boundary and from the north to the south. A game drive with the AIR field guides will however ensure an intimate trouble free and rewarding experience.

Mutale Falls Camp

Situated in Makuya Nature reserve, in the northern part of the Limpopo Province, sharing a 50 odd km unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park, for the greatest part along the Luvuvhu River, from Pafuri in the north almost to Punda Maria in the south, this 18 000 ha provincial park with its rugged baobab dotted landscape, river gorges and weathered sandstone ridges has a very distinct wilderness character and particularly appeals to those who like it really wild.

Perched on a high cliff, Mutale Falls Camp overlooks the Mutale river which transects the northern part of the park. Both the central kitchen/dining facility and braai area as well as all of the sleeping tents afford exquisite views over the river and surrounding bush land. The picturesque Mutale Falls, also known as Mavhelane (Vhenda for boiling pot) Potholes is a short walking distance downstream from the camp.

The use of a 4 wheel drive vehicle, or at least one with good ground clearance, is recommended for visiting this park and for reaching Mutale Falls Camp, which is approximately 16 km from the main entrance gate of the park.

Ndzhaka Camp: Manyeleti Nature Reserve

This 23 000 ha provincial game park, sharing unfenced boundaries with both Kruger National Park through the Orpen Gate and Sabi Sands Private Nature Reserve, presents game viewing in Lowveld Savannah comparable to the best to be found anywhere. The area is reknown for its lion, leopard and white rhino, while elephant are in abundance and large herds of buffalo are common. Manyeleti, which means place of stars, is indeed an appropriate name for this park, which most visitors come to agree with.

Ndzhaka Camp snuggles in the shade of lush riverine bush a short distance downstream from a large and very scenic dam, in the center of the park.

Self drive in Manyeleti is confined to a skeleton road network which is rather like a spine from north to south with a circular return from the south back to the center.

Nthubu Camp: Masebe Nature Reserve

This 4 500 ha provincial park is situated in arguably one of the most picturesque spots in all of the Waterberg. It is characterized by dazzling sandstone cliffs, in the sheltered overhangs and hollows of which San Rock Art bears testimony of the people who inhabited this land in ancient times, and of what animals they encountered here which included elephants, rhinos and buffalo. Today all of these animals no longer roam these areas but the reserve harbors most of the other game species that naturally occurred here. Birding is particularly good at this camp, which also presents an ideal habitat for raptors like black eagles, feasting on the abundant hyrax on the cliffs.

Masebe has a particularly strong spiritual vibe, which makes it an ideal retreat for those in need to revitalize the mind and spirit. Natural rock shelters present ideal natural meditation salas for those practicing this type of therapy.

Ntubu Camp is situated on the bank of a river of the same name, which is a tributary of the Klein Mokgalakwena River which transects the reserve in the west.

Fundudzi Camp

This camp is situated in the Soutpansberg mountain forest on a terraced hillside within the Land of Legends in the Tshivhase area where the village vibe can be experienced, especially at night when the drums start beating and the Marimba starts playing.

This camp is an ideal base both for experiencing the Vha-Venda culture and for exploring the many natural attractions abounding in the surrounding mountains, known for its myths and legends.

Cultural and natural phenomena are closely connected, of which the sacred lake Fududzi, steeped in fascinating myths and is best narated by the local tourist guides