The Nambiti Private Game Reserve on which Elephant Rock Lodge is situated is a 10 000 hectare reserve. The diverse wildlife habitat includes the Big 5: Lion, Buffalo, Rhino, Elephant and Leopard, as well as Cheetah, Hyena and many other species. Bird life abounds with over 250 recorded species. Nambiti is ideally situated, 3h30 hours from Durban and 4h30 hours from Johannesburg, in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal battlefields. This includes Rorke’s Drift, Isandlwana, Elandslaagte and Ladysmith.

Elephant Rock Luxury Safari Lodge offers the thrill of Big Five game viewing as well as the creature comforts of a top-class resort. A staff ratio of one staff member per guest ensures phenomenal service and personalised attention to detail. Relax on the deck next to the delightful pool or enjoy a sundowner on the main viewing deck overlooking the waterhole. The bar is an ideal meeting place for pre-dinner drinks.

What better way to escape the heat of the day than to take a dip in the cool water of their rock pool or enjoy a G&T whilst relaxing on a sun lounger on the viewing deck overlooking the Elephant Rock Dam.

Suites

Elephant Rock Lodge boasts five well-appointed luxurious game reserve chalets, catering for a maximum of ten guests. two chalets are connected with an interleading door, functioning as an ideal family chalet. 

All chalets are well spaced for total privacy and include an en-suite bathroom, private deck and outdoor shower. 

All have either sweeping views of the active waterhole, or indigenous bushveld with abundant birdlife. Highly personalised service makes for a memorable stay.

Elephant Rock welcomes families with children over the age of 3 (infants are welcome if the lodge has been booked for exclusive use). Elephant Rock is fully fenced for added peace of mind.

Dining

Elephant Rock is proud to offer its guests a selection of dining venues. Choose from a sumptuous dinner next to the fire in the main lodge on a cold night, a traditional meal complete with roaring fire in the boma, a meal under the stars on the magnificent deck overlooking the waterhole.

Their Chefs pride themselves on the preparation of mouth-watering dishes that appeal to guests from all walks of life.  Breakfast is served upon returning from a game drive and consists of a combined Continental & English breakfast & hot dishes made to order. A light lunch is served prior to the afternoon safari and a sumptuous dinner awaits guests upon returning from the late afternoon safari. 

Guests’ individual dietary requirements are respected and visitors are requested to advise of any special dietary requirements at the reservation stage.

Safari

Nambiti Big 5 Private Game Reserve is situated in a malaria-free region in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. Offering diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife. The Nambiti Private Game Reserve was started in 1999 from what was originally a cattle and maize farming area. These farms were acquired and then the mammoth task of removing internal fencing and old buildings started. After all the unwanted man-made structures were removed, the task of removing all alien vegetation commenced – this is still ongoing. 

After some time the reserve was ready for the delicate task of reintroducing wildlife. Now after many years of productive management, the reserve has come full circle. The fauna and flora is flourishing. Most of the endemic species have returned, giving a particularly diverse range of species not found in most protected areas in South Africa. 

The reserve certainly has plenty of water – so vital to the flourishing wildlife and maintaining this ecosystem at such a high level.

The Nambiti Private Game Reserve is home to the “Big Five” as well as about thirty other game species, including cheetah, hyena and hippo. The bushveld on this game reserve has incredible biodiversity including savannah, grassland, thornveld and tall acacia trees of the Tugela Basin biome. The birdlife is prolific with several rare bird species found in the ravine bush alongside the two 40 metre waterfalls of the Sundays River, which flows through the reserve. Nambiti is close to both the Anglo/Zulu as well as the Anglo/Boer battlefields. The Battle of Elandslaagte was fought partially on Nambiti.

The South African safari game drive departs at 05:30, and you will soon be in the middle of the wilderness. A number of antelope, including zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and others, are on the move before the sun’s heat drives them back into the underbrush. The edge is taken off appetites by setting up an attractive table with handmade muffins, but not enough to ruin breakfast.

Your first glimpse might be a herd of elephants or a pod of hippos warming themselves on the dam’s beaches. Soon it will be time for sundowners. What could be better than enjoying a few cold cocktails in the African bush?