​Overview – Kapama GR

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many guidebooks to African destinations, including ‘The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa’.

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many Africa guidebooks, including ‘The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa’.

Philip is the author of many Africa guidebooks, including ‘The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa’.

Philip is author of ‘The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa’.

Kapama Game Reserve is a private Big Five reserve with several high-end safari lodges offering a range of activities, including day and night drives, bush walks and romantic sleep-outs below the stars. If you’re a keen photographer, you might like to fine-tune your skills in a field photography workshop. Although this large reserve lies very close to Greater Kruger, it is fully fenced and not part of a larger ecosystem.

 
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Best Time To Go May to September (Dry season)
High Season October to March (Few crowds)
Size 150km² / 58mi²
Altitude 405-569m / 1,329-1,867ft
+30 Photos

Pros & Cons

  • Plentiful wildlife includes all the Big Five, cheetah and African wild dog
  • Game drives, bush walks, night drives and romantic sleep-outs offered
  • Several luxury lodges with different styles and atmosphere
  • Excellent spas, fitness and wellness centers
  • Expensive packages and no self-drive option
  • Less authentic experience than in larger eco-systems

Kapama GR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

The reserve is a former cattle ranch and has been re-stocked with animals that would have previously occurred here naturally. All major safari animals are present, including the Big Five. Lion and cheetah are easily seen and even the shy leopard is quite habituated. Giraffe, wildebeest, greater kudu and impala are all numerous.

Scenery

Kapama's habitat consists of savannah woodland, grassland and riverine bush. Several waterholes and dams provide water throughout the year. Distant peaks of northern Drakensberg mountains form a beautiful backdrop to the reserve.

Weather & Climate

Kapama can get uncomfortably hot in summer, between October and April. These months tend to see the most rain, and the combination of heat and moisture make for sticky conditions. In contrast, little rain falls during winter, from May to September, and the temperature hovers around an agreeable 26°C/79°F.

Best Time To Visit

As the vegetation shrinks back in the Dry season (May to September), and wildlife hangs around the few remaining water sources, this is the best time for viewing animals. Activities may be interrupted during the stormy, rainy season (October to April), although birders will appreciate the chance to see migratory species.

Want To Visit Kapama GR?

47 Kapama Safaris

Kapama GR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Philip Briggs  –  
South Africa ZA

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

This well-run Big Five reserve is affiliated to a unique Endangered Species Centre
4/5

One of many private reserves set close to the Kruger National Park, Kapama differs from the likes of Sabi Sands, Timbavati and Klaserie in that it is a fenced ecosystem separated from other reserves in the region by farmland. On the one...

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Latest User Review
Shalini  –  
New Zealand NZ
Reviewed: Apr 22, 2025
Absolutely Incredible - Fabulous First Safari and the most amazing experience of our lives
5/5

Everything was PERFECT. Accommodation was excellent and the staff so friendly and accommodating. The meals were great and plentiful. We had the best safari guide Rassi (we called him our Indiana Jones) and tracker Witness who were very...

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