At Leopard’s View Game Lodge itself, life is more about being than doing - sit, relax and enjoy the animals, birds and trees; enjoy being deep in unspoiled African bush, with its sights and sounds and its tranquillity.

We can go out on a sunset or night drive ourselves, in our own vehicle, on our own property and in the local area where we have traversing rights, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the bush.

We are not just “big five” seekers on such drives – we spend as much time stopping and listening as we do driving, and look at anything from birds to insects to trees, and any mammal is of interest.

Even the insect life is great with, for example, butterflies in profusion around the euphorbias when they flower in autumn or early winter.

There is no better way to unwind and no better way to enjoy Africa than to sit in it and absorb all this from your surroundings.

Animals and birds can be viewed from the three Lodge decks and from the viewing tower and often approach very close, and we can take you down to the waterhole so that you can watch the activity there from even closer. Similarly, if there is an exciting and worthwhile sighting close to the Lodge, then we will take you there in our Land Cruiser game viewing vehicle.

We have a 200 mm reflecting telescope and, given a clear night, this provides fantastic views of the southern stars and any visible planets, the moon or whatever else is visible at the time - star gazing at its best!.

Since Leopard’s View Game Lodge is within the Greater Kruger Park, the full range of game animals can be seen at the Lodge or in Balule Nature Reserve. This includes the so-called “big five” but also the majority of the other species that occur in the Kruger National Park. Some habitat specialists are confined to other regions and to other vegetation types but most things are here.

The bird life is tremendous and one of the great pleasures of sitting on the viewing decks is watching the numerous different species coming to the nearby drinking pool or foraging in the adjacent trees and bushes.

Activities in Balule

If you would like to go out into Balule Nature Reserve on a morning or evening game drive, this can be arranged in collaboration with neighbouring lodges.  

Game drives last approximately three hours and generally start between about 5.30 and 6.30 a.m. in the morning (depending on the time of year) and around 4.30 p.m. in the afternoon. We recommend that you pre-book any drives you would like to go on to be sure of availability.

If you would like a game walk, this too can be arranged in collaboration with neighbouring lodges. Walks are generally after breakfast but can take place at other times. Once again, we recommend that you pre-book.

Game drives or game walks are charged for separately and the latest price is given on our Rates page.

Activities in the region

For guests who would like to undertake some activities during their stay, and especially if staying for several nights, Leopard’s View Game Lodge, is within easy travelling time and distance of many sights and attractions in the region. These range from game viewing to animal rehabilitation, walking and other more challenging activities.  Kruger National Park itself and Blyde River Canyon are perhaps the two most obvious excursions but there are many others

Kruger National Park:

Even though we are situated within the Greater Kruger Park, a day trip into the core Kruger National Park itself can be very rewarding and gives an impression of just how large the overall conservation area is.  A Kruger National Park trip is easy to do on a self-drive basis. Phalaborwa Gate is 65 km from the Lodge and can be reached in about 50 minutes. This gate provides access to the Letaba, Olifants and Mopani areas of the Park.  Orpen Gate is 89 km from Leopard’s View Game Lodge and the journey time is nearer to 70 minutes. Orpen provides access to the Satara and Timbavati areas. A good day trip, albeit a long one, is to go in at either Orpen or Phalaborwa gate and exit at the end of the day via the other gate.

We can provide a picnic breakfast and lunch for you, or these can be obtained at the rest camps that you pass during the trip, and most important, dinner, a sundowner and a welcoming fire will be ready for you when you get back.
As an alternative to self-drive, you can take a guided day trip to Kruger, organised with one of the local providers. In this case, you can simply sit and enjoy the experience. Pre-booking is recommended.

Blyde River Canyon and Dam

The Blyde River Canyon offers spectacular views from the look out point some 30 km south of the Abel Erasmus Pass, and a total of about 90 km from Leopard’s View Game Lodge.  This can be visited either as an end in itself or as part of a longer, whole day trip along the Panorama Route, which takes in various viewpoints, waterfalls and other sights along the escarpment.

Much closer (about 60 km away) is Blyde Dam: there are beautiful walks in the canyon (starting with gentle 2-3 kms ones)  and there are daily boat trips on the lake, providing wonderful views of the canyon walls.  There are longer, more arduous walks as well, and the 10 km Hippo Trail is particularly beautiful, although the walking is quite demanding.  If you decide to do this, we will provide you with a picnic lunch to sustain you.

There are white water rafting opportunities in the vicinity for the more adventurous.

Other Local attractions include:

• Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre
• Khamai Reptile Park
• Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre at Kapama – cheetahs, vultures and many other predators
• Balloon flights
• The Amarula Lapa (site of manufacture of the South African liqueur)

All of these attractions, as well as Blyde River Canyon and Dam, can be accessed by self-drive.  However, day tours can be arranged if required.

Warthog at bird pool

Buffalo at waterhole

Lion at waterhole

Crowned Plover

European Roller

Grey Go-away bird

Red Backed Shrike

Black-headed Oriole

Black Backed Jackal