Safari Experience

Guests come to Lalibela in order to combine experiencing great game-viewing with great food together with the chance to completely and utterly unwind. The safari part of a holiday to Africa is generally the highlight and we certainly do our utmost to ensure that our guests are able to relax, indulge and experience in style!

Naturally the game-viewing is one of the most important aspects to a safari stay and in this respect we are governed by the rhythm and times of nature. Since predators are generally inactive during the daytime, most hunting is done in the early hours of the morning and late in the evening and because this is the time when predators are most active, the antelope also follow these times – they relax in the shade in the daytime and are alert and active in the early mornings and late evenings.

For these reasons, our game drives take place in order to coincide with when the wildlife is most active – early morning and late afternoon! This does mean early starts, but guests soon get used to it and their body clocks adjust to Africa time remarkably well!

The game drives will take between three and four hours, with a sundowner stop at sunset and a coffee stop in the morning. The afternoon game drives usually return to the lodge after dark in time for dinner. Game drive times are seasonally adjusted as the seasons change.

Optional late-night game drives by arrangement with the lodge are available at an additional cost. These late-night game drives depart after dinner and their main focus is on  nocturnal species.

Lalibela is proud to be part of a cluster of game reserves in the Eastern Cape. Together, we all make up the Indalo Protected Environment, which is a legally protected conservation area.

Whilst choosing which game reserve to visit can be tricky, these are the  compelling reasons to choose Lalibela for your Eastern Cape safari: 

• Lalibela is one of the very few Eastern Cape game reserves that is comprised of one contiguous, fully self-sustaining block where all species roam freely. There are no separate camps for lions, buffalo, elephants etc on Lalibela;
• Lalibela is the only game reserve in the Eastern Cape that has more lions than game viewers and our rigid vehicles per sighting policy ensures world class encounters without distraction;
• Lalibela is the only Eastern Cape game reserve where 100% of surplus revenue is ploughed back into community and conservation. No profits will ever be taken out of the Reserve;
• Unique to the Eastern Cape, the predominance of grassland savannah on the Reserve supports a way higher density of game than any other Reserve in the Eastern Cape, with truly startling numbers of plains game species supporting the impressive predator load; and
• Lalibela is one of only two Eastern Cape game reserves that has no public roads running through it – so you will never encounter members of the public whilst on game drives at Lalibela.

Standard Big 5 Walking Safari

In addition to game drives, guests have the option of booking a Big 5 Walking Safari during their stay at Lalibela. A walking safari, led by our qualified rangers, offers a unique and rewarding authentic experience of the African bush. While searching for wildlife, your guide will also point out animal tracks, dung and birds which will give you a unique understanding of the fauna and flora indigenous to the region.

* No children under the age of 18 years are allowed to participate in a Big 5 Walk. 16 & 17 year old’s are at the discretion of the Head Ranger.

Soft Walking Safaris

Not only did the “Big 5 area” of Lalibela increase in size, but the acquisition of an additional 2,000 hectares adjacent to the existing Big 5 area, means that Lalibela now has a pristine wilderness range that will be used as a breeding area, and to reintroduce endemic game species to the Eastern Cape.

In this new predator-free area, “soft” walking safaris have been introduced. This breeding area offers a more relaxed “on foot” safari experience for the whole family where you can get up close and personal with game such as zebra, giraffe, warthog and various antelope in a safe environment.

*Big 5 Walking Safaris & The Soft Walking Safaris need to be booked on arrival or during your stay at Lalibela as they are weather dependent.

* Guests need to be staying overnight for a minimum of a 2 night stay.

*Guests to settle the cost directly with the lodge.

Your stay at Lalibela includes your accommodation at one of our six lodges, all meals, all drinks at your lodge and on the game drives (excludes premium wines and spirits) and two game drives per night stay. You get 2 game drives for each night that you stay with us (an evening game drive and a morning game drive) – we recommend that our guests stay a minimum of 2 nights, but ideally 3 nights, in order to get the most out of the safari experience.

Our overnight rates exclude our Conservation and Community Fee, transfers, gratuities and items of a personal nature.

To view our rates click here.

For more information on Lalibela Game Reserve, please feel free to email us at [email protected]