Things to do near
Mabula Private Game Reserve
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Animal Parks
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (6.3 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Ready for a mind-blowing experience with elephants in Bela Bela?
More than the usual 'touch and feed' elephant experience; Adventures With Elephants provide thrilling hands-on interactions for kids and adults with their wonderfully tame elephants.
Learn more about elephants and witness their intelligence, compassionate nature and delight in interacting with their human companions. Friendly, experienced and qualified elephant handlers share their in-depth knowledge and passion for their charges.
Choose experiences ranging from Swims on the Elephants, Elephants Interactions, Elephant-back Safaris, Starlight Safaris or tailor-made activities including weddings, teambuilding, corporate functions and filming.
Adventures With Elephants is located on a stunning wildlife reserve situated just an hour and a half drive north from Pretoria, adjacent to Zebula Country Club.
+27 (0) 14 734 7700
adventures@zebula.co.za
www.adventureswithelephants.co.za
Golf Courses
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (10.8 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Zebula Golf Course offers a superlative golfing experience on a Peter Matkovich designed golf course.
Teeing off on this pristine 1 200-hectare bushveld estate is a considerable pleasure with its wildlife spectators, tranquility and vast open spaces.
Giraffe, zebra, eland, kudu, gemsbok, Nyala, impala, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, warthog, bushpig and many more species could be watching while you hit an ace.
Combining the wonders of golf with wildlife and the quintessential African environment is the fulfilment of a long standing dream for Peter Matkovitch.
Designed to blend unobtrusively into the bush, Zebula also adheres to eco-sensitive development guidelines. Other celebrated Peter Matkovitch courses are Leopard Rock, Spier, Steenberg and Arabella, the highest ranked new course in South Africa.
Zebula Country Club also features a restaurant, cocktail bar, TV lounge, swimming pool, fully equipped gymnasium, Jacuzzi, squash court and tennis courts.
Nature Reserves
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (10.8 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Spot the Big Five in a malaria-free reserve in the Waterberg Mountains.
Conveniently situated, Mabalingwe Nature Reserve is an easy two-hour drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria – a great escape from the stresses of urban living.
Gripping sightings of elephant, white rhino, leopard, hippo, giraffe, hyena and sable antelope are routine on this lush Limpopo game park. Spread over 12 500 hectares of pristine wilderness, the rolling hills of the reserve is the birthplace to 32 species of wildlife.
Birders will be kept busy ticking off numerous special sightings with more than 250 bird species on record. Visit Mabalingwe at any time of year and discover some of life's forgotten pleasures - it's definitely worth a trip!
Golf Courses
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (18.7 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Tee off on the world first Biosphere Golf Course in the Waterberg
The combination of 18 championship golf holes and the untamed wilderness of Africa promises to be an exceptional playing experience.
Against a stunning backdrop of hills and nestled in the valleys, the course is divided by numerous gorges and water features on the magnificent estate. Entirely sensitive to the natural bushveld, the well-manicured USGA standard greens, bunkers and tees provide an attractive contrast to the wilderness.
The Waterberg Biosphere Course is an outstanding addition to golfing in Limpopo and this unique concept will see the integration of a championship par 62 golf course with the Biosphere Nature Trail. Keen golfers will be able to play this course in less than three hours and see wildlife en route.
Golf Courses
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (18.8 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Designed by Peter Matkovich, Elements Private Golf Reserve has been rated among the top golf courses in South Africa.
Keeping in theme with it's natural surroundings, the course's intention is to act as a sanctuary away from the city, hence the reference as a reserve. This is a 18-hole course, complete with a clubhouse, driving range, pro shop, and even a swimming pool.
Guests need to be accompanied by a member.
Hiking Trail
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (21.4 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Diepdrift Hiking Trails are situated on Diepdrift Private Nature Reserve near Bela Bela on the Rooiberg / Thabazimbi road. To see wildlife on foot and for a real taste of the bushveld, do the two-day circular Hippo Hiking Trail.
Crocodile and hippo can be seen at the pool – be exceptionally careful here. Other animals to spot on the trail include giraffe, sable, nyala, eland, kudu, red hartebeest, Burchell’s zebra, impala, blue wildebeest, reed buck, waterbuck, gemsbok, bushpig, warthogs and small antelope.
Duration: 2 days
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 22 km
Warning: Be extremely cautious at the pool – hippo and crocodile are very dangerous
Hiking Trail
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (22 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Offering 21 species of antelope, rich birdlife and two unusual hiking trails, Diepdrift Private Nature Reserve near Bela Bela is a great option for weekend hikers in Gauteng.
The Diepdrift Sable Hiking Trail follows an undulating course over Elandsfontein and Diepdrift farms before crossing a mountain range and into a kloof. The reward at the top of the plateau is knockout panoramic views of the bushveld landscape. Keep an eye open for sable, nyala, waterbuck, giraffe, kudu and Burchell’s zebra.
Duration: 2 days
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (steep ascents and descents)
Distance: 24 km
Golf Courses
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Rooiberg (25.6 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Rooiberg Golf Club is surrounded by game farms and offers a typical bushveld experience. Par Rating:72
Animal Parks
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (35.7 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Bambelela offers two and a half hour guided tours offering in-depth knowledge and first-hand experiences about hand-raising wild animals and primates. Some of the animals can be touched and there are great photo opportunities.
Orphaned and injured African animals are cared for with the aim of rehabilitating them back into the wild. Bambelela are working on being officially recognized as a Vervet Monkey Sanctuary in the Waterberg.
Tours are by appointment only. Cost per adult is R100 and R50 for kids (under 4 years free).
Popular Attractions
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (36.1 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Grab your kids for mega wallowing and splashing about at Forever Resorts Warmbaths.
Even if you’re not crazy about family-oriented resorts, a trip to Bela-Bela wouldn’t be complete without a dip in the bubbling hot mineral spring. But if it’s a quiet getaway you’re after be warned – on weekends and school holidays you might be joined by thousands of holiday makers.
The source of the ancient spring gushes out 22 000 litres of water at 52 degrees Celsius every hour. Rich in limestone minerals including calcium carbonate, sodium chloride and other salts, the water is popular for healing treatments.
Apart from the hydro therapy of the Jacuzzi, indoor hydro pools and the main pool, the resort offers cable water skiing, go-karts, mini quads, a fufi-slide, pedal boats, target shooting, 'Monster Web' climbing, putt-putt, kids play park, speed slide, wave pool – the list is endless!
Day visitors are welcome from 07:00 – 17:00
December rates subject to change: adults R130, children 3 – 13 R100.
Hiking Trail
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (36.4 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Wag 'n Bietjie Hiking Trail treks through mountains, ravines and indigenous forest, offering superb views and mountain streams in summer. The hike can be done over two or three days. A fantastic base camp at the foot of a mountainous amphitheatre accommodates 40 hikers in wooden cabins. There is a big lapa with braai facilities and an inviting swimming pool awaits foot weary hikers.
Duration: 2 – 3 days
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 22 km
Hiking Trail
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (36.4 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Uitsig Route forms one of the out-and-back-to-base-camp overnight days on the Wag 'n Bietjie Hiking Trail. This circular 4 km route climbs up a steep mountain and traverses cliff tops with incredible rock formations. The sweeping views of the bushveld are stunning.
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 4 km
Hiking Trail
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (36.4 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) The Kloof Route strikes up mountain slopes and into a series of kloofs and a small waterfall. This circular trail forms part of the out-and-back-to-base-camp overnight days on the Wag 'n Bietjie Hiking Trail.
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (steep descent)
Distance: 6 km
Hiking Trail
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (36.4 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Be prepared to tackle some steep climbs up mountainous slopes on the Kruin Route. This circular trail forms one of the stages on the out-and-back-to-base-camp Wag 'n Bietjie Hiking Trail. There is an option of taking the Kloof Route back after the halfway point.
Duration: 6 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (steep climbs)
Distance: 12 km
Popular Attractions
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Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (41.7 km from Mabula Private Game Reserve) Ever dream of zipping above the trees like Tarzan and Jane?
The Waterberg Zipline takes guests on an exciting, two-hour adventure sliding from one platform to the next. Professional guides share interesting facts about the local animals and plant life. The views of the Waterberg Mountains are stunning.
073 591 2280 / 082 903 6041
www.waterbergzip.co.za