Spread over more than 12 000 hectares of softly rolling hills near Bela Bela, the malaria-free Mabalingwe Nature reserve is host to the big 5, and also hippo, giraffe, hyena and sable to name but a few of the 36 species of wildlife. for more on this offer do not hesitate to contact me on +27 063 606 3946

Mabalingwe was originally a maize and game farm of 2,141 hectares, named Boschpoort, which was founded by the Wessels family in 1972. Originally, the only animals on the farm were kudu and impala.

In 1987, Basie Wessels developed Boschpoort into a holiday resort. The first 10 boshutte (chalets) were finished in 1988. In 1989, hippopotami, rhinoceroses, and sable were brought in.

By 1994, there were around 105 units set up. Parts of the farm were sold to sole proprietors to build houses. The farm was also enlarged then by the purchase of the neighbouring Gorcum farm.

In 1994, Basie's son Hannes, an architect by profession, returned to the farm to develop the caravan park. That year, Olievenfontein was purchased and added to the development. Elephant, earmarked to be culled in Kruger National Park, were rescued and resettled in Mabalingwe in 1995. In 1999, disease-free African buffalo began being bred in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, after which some of those buffalo were settled in Mabalingwe.