What happens when a Zululand sugarcane farmer has a dream and a unique plan? There’s a highly successful sugar cane farm employing over 1 000 people. And alongside, on a tract of wild land, there’s a specialist wildlife photography destination with magnificent luxury lodging set in 70km2 of private space.
Zimanga is renowned for its nine diverse, customised photography hides for waterbirds and small birds, for wildlife, large mammals and even bee eaters. Some hides are underground, some mobile, some towers, some in the forest, and one for overnight stays replete with toilet. Access to the comfortable, soundproof hides depends on the duration of stay at the Homestead, but it’s a very easy way to spend an enjoyable day – watching and waiting for that perfect shot.
Game drives also provide excellent and active photographic opportunities, with no time limit on sightings and everyone has a side seat for clear views. Knowing there will never be more than three vehicles out on the entire reserve, means plenty of breathing space for both wildlife and photographers too. Not just the Big Five, but a total of 80 mammal species and 400 bird species call Zimanga Private Game Reserve home. And being in the heart of Zululand in KwaZulu-Natal, game viewing is excellent all year – as is the weather.
Back at Doornhoek Homestead, life is easy, relaxed and decadent. It’s your private, modern villa in the bush, fully catered and attentively run. The exclusive-use Homestead sleeps seven guests in air-conditioned en-suite rooms, which lead off a magnificent open living area that spills onto a leisure deck and pool. The wilds are all around, and so too the wildlife. Giraffe, cheetah, zebra, various antelope and smaller critters may pass by in the middle distance, while the Big Five are never too far away. Don’t be surprised if an elephant or three come to slake their thirsts at the rim flow pool, while you sit just metres away. It’s an unforgettable experience seeing these gentle giants so close.
Time at the Homestead is an idyllic way to spend quality time with family and loved ones; it couldn’t be more chilled and easy with your own private game-viewing vehicle and guide, and the in-house chef dishing up delights at meal times. Then at sunset, gather round in the comfortable, sunken fire-pit under wide skies and ponder just how good it is to be in Africa. As the stars come out, dinner will be served to the sounds of the wild, which is surely the finest background music.
Reviewed by Keri Harvey
What we love
- The raw, packed stone walls in the living space
- A massive tree root fashioned into a coffee table
- That there are no barriers between the homestead and surrounding nature
- Seeing elephants pass by so close and calmly
- Magnificent, cool, uncluttered suites and natural wood furnishings
- Big windows and glass doors that bring the outside inside
- That the entire reserve is offered for exclusive use – just imagine …
Need to know
- There is wifi throughout the Homestead
- Travelling time is 2 hours from Richards Bay, 3 hours from Durban and 6 to 9 hours from Johannesburg
- Guests can arrange private air charters to Mkuze airstrip, just 10 minutes from Zimanga