Hlosi Game Lodge
Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo
Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Spekboom
Can support Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 4,000 a night
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Amakhala Game Reserve
Malaria-free safari destination
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Big FiveMalaria-free
About Amakhala Game Reserve
Amakhala is a malaria-free Big Five reserve on the Bushman's River, an hour from Gqeberha, formed when a group of neighbouring farming families took down their fences and returned the land to wildlife in 1999. The lodges are run by those families, which gives the reserve a more personal character than most, and the thicket and river valleys hold elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard alongside cheetah and giraffe. It sits within easy reach of Addo, which makes it a natural pairing for a Garden Route trip that ends in the Eastern Cape. The reserve runs its own conservation foundation and research programmes.
Things to do: Game drives · Hiking · Safaris · Scenic drives · Canoeing · Fishing · Horse riding
Where you can stay: Luxury lodges · All-inclusive
Wildlife near Amakhala Game Reserve
What people record most across Eastern Cape. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Eastern Cape, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Amakhala Game Reserve
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
Bukela Game Lodge
Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo
Albany Thicket biome · Giraffe · Cheetah
Can support Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Inside park
When to visit Amakhala Game Reserve
Amakhala Game Reserve is dry for most of the year: no month averages more than 51 mm of rain, and October is the wettest. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 29°C, and July the coolest, with average lows of about 8°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37 | 29 | 17 |
| February | 50 | 29 | 17 |
| March | 44 | 28 | 16 |
| April | 39 | 25 | 13 |
| May | 27 | 24 | 11 |
| June | 30 | 21 | 9 |
| July | 25 | 21 | 8 |
| August | 31 | 22 | 9 |
| September | 30 | 23 | 10 |
| October | 51 | 24 | 12 |
| November | 50 | 25 | 13 |
| December | 46 | 27 | 15 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 282 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
2 stays we sell in Amakhala Game Reserve. Tap a pin for the listing.
33.5366° S, 26.0688° E200 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Amakhala Game Reserve wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Amakhala Game Reserve: your questions
Where is Amakhala Game Reserve?
Amakhala Game Reserve is in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Is Amakhala Game Reserve malaria-free?
Yes. Amakhala Game Reserve is in an area recorded as malaria-free, which is why it is a common choice for families with young children and for a first safari. Malaria risk can shift with the season and the year, so confirm current advice with a travel clinic before you go.
Does Amakhala Game Reserve have the Big Five?
Yes. Amakhala Game Reserve is a Big Five area, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
What wildlife can you see near Amakhala Game Reserve?
In Eastern Cape, commonly recorded species include animals such as Red Hartebeest, Oribi, Yellow Mongoose, Cape Mountain Zebra and birds including Red-necked Spurfowl, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Cape Parrot, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
When is the rainy season at Amakhala Game Reserve?
Amakhala Game Reserve is dry for most of the year: no month averages more than 51 mm of rain, and October is the wettest. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 29°C, and July the coolest, with average lows of about 8°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 282 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Amakhala Game Reserve?
The best time to visit Amakhala Game Reserve is Year-round (best Mar-May, Sep-Nov).
What is there to do at Amakhala Game Reserve?
Popular activities at Amakhala Game Reserve include game drives, hiking, safaris, scenic drives, canoeing, fishing, horse riding.
Where can you stay in Amakhala Game Reserve?
Places to stay inside Amakhala Game Reserve include Hlosi Game Lodge and Bukela Game Lodge. Request them on Spekboom and pay once your dates are confirmed. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Amakhala Game Reserve
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Kwandwe Private Game ReservePrivate Game Reserve · 61 km
Luxury safari experience
Big Five · Malaria-free
Addo Elephant National Park
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Addo Elephant National ParkNational Park · 84 km
Famous for elephant herds and Big Seven
Big Five · Malaria-free
Shamwari Game Reserve
Private Game Reserve · 10 km · Eastern Cape, South Africa
Premier private Big Five reserve
Big Five · Malaria-free
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Amakhala Game Reserve.
Malaria-free parks and game reservesBig Five parks and reservesPrivate game reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in the Eastern CapeAll protected areas