THE ROYAL MORUBISI EXPERIENCE

Situated amidst the towering Waterberg Mountains in the Limpopo Province, the Waterberg Biosphere, as the name suggests, serves as a water reservoir for the region and is. A Big 5 safari destination. Renowned for its rugged beauty, the landscape is characterised by low-lying mountain ranges and escarpments, as well as a network of streams, rivers and lakes. It is the home of South Africa’s first-ever savannah biosphere reserve and is also home to many other nature reserves which provide a protected habitat for an array of wildlife. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing soak in natural hot springs, discover the ancient World Heritage-listed archaeological site in Makapans Valley, view abundant birdlife at the Nylsvley Wetlands and have a once in a life-time Big 5 safari experience.

Nestled along the serene Mokolo River, within the lush confines of Kaingo Game Reserve, Royal Morubisi River Lodge stands as a testament to the seamless blend of untamed wilderness and refined luxury. This exclusive lodge offers ten opulent rooms, each meticulously designed to afford guests panoramic river vistas, setting the stage for an intimate African safari encounter. Whether seeking the thrill of adventure, the warmth of a family gathering, or the romance of a secluded retreat, Royal Morubisi is a sanctuary for reconnection with nature’s splendour.

Luxury Suite

Set against the untouched backdrop of the African wilderness. Tucked away within the breathtakingly scenic mountain vistas of the Waterberg.

Safari Suite

Set within the captivating African wilderness of the Waterberg Biosphere, our Safari Suite guarantees a memorable safari adventure.

Leopard House

The Leopard House at offers the ideal setting for a family getaway, seamlessly blending adventure, and relaxation, situated deep within the Waterberg Biosphere.

River Lodge

Begin each day in this peaceful spot, where nature greets you right at your doorstep. Slide open the doors to a cosy outdoor setting, tailor-made for early morning reflections with a cup of coffee.

Upon your arrival at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport, your tour representative will greet you and escort you on a scenic 3-hour journey to the malaria-free Kaingo Game Reserve, renowned for its Big 5 sightings.

Upon reaching the reserve, indulge in cocktails and snacks at the charming safari lodge, crafted from natural stone and thatch roofs, exuding an authentic old-world African ambiance.

After settling into your accommodations, take the morning to unwind, rejuvenate, or venture out to explore the reserve’s captivating surroundings.

Delight in a delightful High Tea experience served at the Lodge.

Embark on a mesmerizing sunset game drive, immersing yourself in the enchanting beauty of the African bush and its indigenous wildlife.

Return to the lodge for a sumptuous three-course dinner, serenaded by the captivating orchestra and chorus of the African wilderness, ensuring your first night in the bush is truly unforgettable.

Activities

  • Welcome drinks at Royal Morubisi
  • Leisure Time
  • 15:00 High Tea
  • 15:30 Sunset Game Drive
  • 19:00 Dinner

Begin your day by rising before dawn to catch the wildlife at its most active. From 06:00 to 06:30, enjoy a refreshing spread of coffee, tea, rusks, fresh muffins, and pancakes before departing on a morning game drive from 07:00 to 10:00.

Fuel your adventure with strong coffee and South Africa’s iconic homemade rusks during your game drive to brunch.

Encounter Africa’s most iconic and dangerous wild animals, including lions, elephants, buffalos, and leopards, in the malaria-free Kaingo Game Reserve. With over 50 other mammal species and 350 bird varieties, the reserve offers spectacular scenery and extraordinary wildlife sightings during daily sunrise and sunset game drives.

Upon your return enjoy a bush brunch set-up to be encounter during your bush walks followed by the option of bird watching. Spend the rest of your afternoon enjoying leisure time to relax, swim, or nap.

(Indulge in high tea served between 15:00 and 15:30, followed by the sunset game drive from 15:30 to 18:30. Each game drive offers a unique and unpredictable experience, including stops for “Sundowners” as the sun sets, serving as the perfect prelude to dinner at 19:00.

Return to the lodge beneath the Southern night sky, adorned with stars and constellations unseen in the Northern Hemisphere. Enjoy a memorable [three-course] dinner experience, whether in the atmospheric boma, amidst the bush, or with freshly grilled fish, creating lasting memories of your African safari.

All activities offered throughout day 2-4 can be interchanged due to preference of the guests.

Activities

  • 05:30 Morning Coffee
  • 06:00 Sunrise Game Drive
  • 09:00 Bush Walk
  • 10:30 Brunch in the Bush Set-up
  • Afternoon Bird Watching
  • Afternoon Spa Treatments
  • Afternoon Leisure Time
  • 15:00 High Tea
  • 15:30 Sunset Game Drive
  • 19:00 Dinner in the Boma

Begin your day with an early rise to witness wildlife at its most active during the cool early mornings. From 06:00 to 06:30, savor a delightful spread of coffee, tea, rusks, fresh muffins, and pancakes before embarking on a morning game drive from 07:00 to 10:00.

Enjoy strong coffee and South Africa’s iconic homemade rusks during your game drive en route to brunch.

Encounter Africa’s most iconic and dangerous wild animals, including lions, elephants, buffalos, and leopards, in the malaria-free Kaingo Game Reserve. With over 50 other mammal species and 350 bird varieties, the reserve offers breathtaking scenery and remarkable wildlife sightings during daily sunrise and sunset game drives.

After brunch, served from 10:15 to 11:15, take advantage of free time to relax, swim, or nap. Alternatively, opt for one of the recommended activities between 11:15 and 15:00, such as a Rock Art viewing and Heritage Tour or a serene Mokolo River Boat Ride.

Indulge in high tea served between 15:00 and 15:30, followed by the sunset game drive from 15:30 to 18:30. Each game drive promises a unique and unpredictable adventure, complete with stops for “Sundowners” as the sun sets, setting the stage for aperitifs before dinner at 19:00.

Return to the lodge beneath the Southern night sky, adorned with stars and shimmering constellations unseen in the Northern Hemisphere. Enjoy a truly memorable [three-course] dinner experience, whether in the atmospheric boma, amidst the wilderness, or with freshly grilled fish, creating unforgettable memories of your African safari.

Activities

  • 05:30 Morning Coffee
  • 06:00 Sunrise Game Drive
  • 10:15 Brunch 
  • Afternoon Rock Art Viewing
  • Afternoon Heritage Tour
  • Afternoon Serene Mokolo River Boat Ride
  • 15:00 High Tea
  • 15:30 Sunset Game Drive
  • 19:00 Dinner 

Start your day with an early rise to catch wildlife at their most active during the cool early mornings. From 06:00 to 06:30, indulge in a selection of coffee, tea, rusks, fresh muffins, and pancakes before embarking on a morning game drive from 07:00 to 10:00.

Enjoy robust coffee and South Africa’s iconic homemade rusks during your game drive en route to brunch.

Encounter Africa’s iconic and most dangerous wild animals, including lions, elephants, buffalos, and leopards, in the malaria-free Kaingo Game Reserve. With over 50 other mammal species and 350 bird varieties, the reserve offers breath-taking scenery and remarkable wildlife sightings during daily sunrise and sunset game drives.

Following brunch, served from 10:15 to 11:15, relish free time for leisurely activities such as lounging, swimming, or napping. Alternatively, opt for one of the recommended activities between 11:15 and 15:00, such as fishing and archery, a romantic bush picnic for two, or rejuvenating spa treatments.

Indulge in high tea served between 15:00 and 15:30, followed by the sunset game drive from 15:30 to 18:30. Each game drive offers a unique and unpredictable adventure, complete with stops for “Sundowners” as the sun sets, serving as a delightful prelude to dinner at 19:00.

Return to the lodge under the Southern night sky, adorned with stars and glimmering constellations unseen in the Northern Hemisphere. Savour a truly memorable [three-course] dinner experience, whether in the atmospheric boma, amidst the wilderness, or with freshly grilled fish, creating unforgettable memories of your African safari.

Activities

  • 05:30 Morning Coffee
  • 06:00 Sunrise Game Drive
  • 10:15 Brunch 
  • Afternoon Archery
  • Afternoon Bush Picnic
  • Afternoon SPA Treatments
  • Afternoon Leisure Time
  • 15:00 High Tea
  • 15:30 Sunset Game Drive
  • 19:00 Dinner in the Boma

Begin your day with a captivating morning sunrise game drive, offering a chance to witness the awakening of the African wilderness. Pause at the canyon for a refreshing break, indulging in coffee and tea amidst the breath-taking scenery.

Prepare for your departure to OR Tambo International Airport, where you will be transferred to Cape Town International Airport, marking the end of your unforgettable safari adventure.

Activities

  • 05:30 Morning Coffee
  • 06:00 Sunrise Game Drive
  • 10:15 Brunch 

One of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth, South Africa, fondly known by locals as the ‘Rainbow Nation’, boasts 11 official languages, and its inhabitants are influenced by a fascinating mix of cultures. Discover the gourmet restaurants, impressive art scene, vibrant nightlife, and beautiful beaches of Cape Town. Enjoy a local braai (barbecue) in the Soweto township, browse the bustling Indian markets in Durban, or sample some of the world’s finest wines at the myriad wine estates dotting the Cape Winelands. Some historical attractions to explore include the Zululand battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, and Robben Island, just off the coast of Cape Town. Above all else, its untamed wilderness is astonishing: wildlife roams freely across massive unfenced game reserves such as the world-famous Kruger National Park.

Banking and Currency

Currency 
Local currency: South African Rand 
Symbol: R 
ISO code: ZAR 
Subunit: Cent (1/100 of a Rand) 
Banknotes: R10, R20, R50, R100, R200 
Coins: 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2, R5 

Banking 
Card Transactions: Widely accepted 
ATMs: Yes 
Mastercard: Yes 
Visa: Yes 
American Express: Yes 
Diner’s club: Yes 
 
Banking Hours: Weekdays: 09:00 – 15:30 
Weekend: Saturdays: 08:30 – 11:00 
Public Holidays: Closed 
Foreign exchange services: Yes 

Travel, Transport and Getting Around

Air: 
Main airlines: South African Airways 
International Airports: O.R. Tambo (Johannesburg), Cape Town International, King Shaka (Durban) 
Domestic Airports: Numerous across the country 

Road: 
Driving on the: Left 
Tar roads: Yes, well-maintained in most areas 
Gravel roads: Yes, especially in rural areas 
Valid International Driver’s License needed: Yes 
Car hire available: Yes 
Taxis: Yes 
E-hailing services: Yes, including Uber and Bolt 

Bus: 
Inter-city bus services: Yes 
Local city bus networks: Yes 

Rail: 
Railway system: Yes, including luxury options like the Blue Train 
Subway System: Gautrain in Gauteng 

Water: 
Ferries: Limited, mainly in coastal cities 
Water taxis: No 
Leisure cruises: Yes, especially from Cape Town and Durban

Climate and Weather

Annual rainfall: Varies widely, Cape Town (winter rainfall, 515 mm), Johannesburg (summer rainfall, 713 mm) 
Average temperature: Varies, Cape Town 17°C, Johannesburg 15.5°C 

Summer: 
Average highs: 28°C (Cape Town), 26°C (Johannesburg) 
Average lows: 16°C (Cape Town), 15°C (Johannesburg) 

Winter: 
Average highs: 18°C (Cape Town), 17°C (Johannesburg) 
Average lows: 8°C (Cape Town), 4°C (Johannesburg) 

Best time to visit: 
The best time to visit South Africa is from May to September for wildlife viewing, as animals are more concentrated around water sources. For beach holidays, mid-December to March is ideal, especially in Cape Town. 

From
R45,000
per person, per tour sharing
5 Days / 4 Nights

Kaingo is a 16 400 hectare (41 000 acre) private game reserve in the Waterberg District, of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. A pleasant 2.5-hour drive from Johannesburg, makes Kaingo one of the most accessible premier malaria free big game reserves in the country. It is a declared protected area with Critical Biodiversity 1 classification and a core area of the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, which was officially declared by UNESCO in 2001.

As a declared Nature Reserve with the primary objective of Natural Resource Conservation the Reserve is run along pure, sustainable management and development principles, with an exceptionally low development and tourist footprint. Kaingo Reserve Foundation, a non-profit public benefit organisation is the appointed management authority of the reserve.

The grassy plains and savanna abound with animals such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and impala. It is the diversity of habitat on the reserve that encourages such a wide range of wildlife as well as over 300 bird species, including rare species such as African finfoot and Narina trogon.

Kaingo protects a unique and special environment and the reserve’s owners, and management is deeply committed to conservation and research. It is one of the few reserves where the full tourism income goes towards positive conservation. Every visiting guest directly supports the reserve’s primary objective of conservation.

Rich in human history there is also an array of rock art sites on Kaingo. With hundreds of images spread across 15 sites, Kaingo offers the biggest variety of rock art and archaeological finds dating to the Stone Age.

Fishing

Engage in fishing activities in the Mokolo River, home to 32 different fish species. The area offers picturesque spots for mostly catch-and-release fishing, with the option to have caught bass prepared by our kitchen chefs as a delightful snack.

Conservation

We’re striving to conserve the biodiversity, ecological integrity, landscape characteristics and cultural resources of Kaingo Game Reserve for future generations. As custodians of nature for the next generation we have an opportunity and thus responsibility to make a significant contribution to the protection of the Waterberg.

  • To restore natural environment
  • To re-establish & protect bio-diversity
  • To maintain the waterberg’s ecological process

Exceptional Wildlife

  • Home to the Big 5 and 72 other mammal species.
  • A birder’s paradise with 352 bird species.
  • Explore 32 species of fish in the Mokolo River.
  • Discover a variety of insects, reptiles, and plant species.

Rock Art Tour

  • Join an Ancient Rock Art & Heritage Tour to learn about the area’s ancient history.

Educational Bush Walk

  • Focus on the often-missed smaller details like animal tracks and signs.
  • Opportunity to encounter the Big 5 on foot.
  • Recommended attire includes closed-toe shoes, neutral clothing, and a hat.
  • Bring essentials like sunblock, sunglasses, water, binoculars, and a camera.
  • Age limit: 16 to 70 years, subject to guide’s discretion.

Mokolo River Boat Cruise

Embark on a serene Mokolo River Boat Cruise to witness the wildlife of Kaingo. Our expert guides ensure an educational journey through the reserves beauty. With the gentle boat pace, experience up-close encounters with animals and the diverse fauna and flora of the region.
Weather Dependant
*NB: 
River levels are low at the moment.

Safari Game Drives

  • Enjoy breathtaking scenic views, including rivers and mountain tops.
  • Experience drives led by knowledgeable and qualified guides.
  • Explore unique geology and diverse biomes.
  • Relish morning coffee and evening sundowners in stunning locations.