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Lake Eland Game Reserve

Afrikaans name: Lake Eland Wildreservaat

A small herd of zebras in Lake Eland Game Reserve

Photo © Steven Herbert

KwaZulu-Natal

Lake Eland Game Reserve is a private game reserve that is situated near Oribi Gorge and is about a 40 minute drive inland from Port Shepstone. The reserve is around 5,000 hectares in size and is dominated by coastal grassland interspersed with patches of valley bushveld.

The Umzimkulwana River has cut a deep gorge lined with rocky cliffs. A rather rough road leads to a large dam.

Are you brave enough to cross the swing bridge?

Photo © Steven Herbert

One of the highlights of Lake Eland Game Reserve is a swing bridge spanning part of Oribi Gorge. It takes you to a view site on a rocky outcrop. For those that aren't too keen on heights (like me!) you can walk on a easy pathway to get to the same spot. This is well worth a visit.

It is a privately owned game reserve and offers various types of accommodation but day visitors are also welcome. The facilities and activities offered here include game drives, horse riding, walks, cycle tracks, a small restaurant and others.

Lake Eland Game Reserve Accommodation

2-, 5- and 6-sleeper chalets
Family home
Park home
Pipe dreams - sleep in a pipe!
Fisherman cottages
Caravan sites
Camping sites

Lake Eland Game Reserve Activities

Birding
Game viewing
Guided game drives
Zipline
Scooter tour
4x4 route
Mountain biking
Walking trail
Fishing
Horse-riding
Spa

Mammals that may be seen include Burchell's Zebra, Giraffe, Blesbok, Blue Wildebeest, Oribi and Eland.

Birding in the reserve is quite rewarding but can also be frustrating. The grasslands can be checked for Red-winged and Shelley's Francolin. Easier species to find include Cape Longclaw, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Rufous-naped Lark, Familiar Chat and Streaky-headed Seedeater. Other grassland birds Grey Crowned Crane and Cape Grassbird may be seen. The bushveld thickets may yield Orange-breasted Bush-shrike, various Bulbuls, Olive Sunbird, Black Cuckooshrike as well as Grey Cuckooshrike. Trumpeter and Crowned Hornbills are often seen or heard.