KAINGO GAME RESERVE

July 4, 2025

I recently had the opportunity to visit Kaingo Game Reserve, located within the Waterberg biome along the R33 past Vaalwater. Due to traffic, the journey took around four hours.

The reserve spans an impressive 16,000 hectares and is home to a variety of wildlife, including plains game, 18 elephants, 6 lions, and 3 cheetahs. Leopards are also present, though they are highly elusive and rarely seen.

In 2020, several rock art sites were discovered on the property. Currently, only one of these sites is accessible and open to the public, while the others are still being documented and dated.

Visitors can also enjoy boat rides and catch-and-release fishing on the reserve.

The area boasts over 300 bird species, including the African Finfoot, making it a great destination for birdwatching enthusiasts.

The reserve is home to two lodges: River Lodge and Founders Lodge. I had the pleasure of staying at River Lodge, and it was an absolute treat.

From the moment I arrived, the warm and welcoming staff made me feel at home. The food was exceptional, full of flavour and beautifully prepared.

The deck overlooks the Mokolo River, where crocodiles are often seen basking on the banks. The haunting call of the African Fish Eagle echoes along the water, adding to the magic of the setting — it truly felt like a scene from a nature documentary.

The rooms are spacious, and the bathroom feels like something out of a luxury magazine — elegant and indulgent. Each room has its own private patio, offering uninterrupted views of the river.

At night, the stars stretch endlessly across the sky, with the Milky Way clearly visible, glowing brightly above the stillness of the bush.

The second lodge on the reserve is Founders Lodge, offering a distinctly different experience. Nestled deeper in the bush, it’s surrounded by tall trees that attract a rich variety of birdlife, making it ideal for nature and bird enthusiasts.

A pond on the property is home to fish and frogs, and during the summer months, the chorus of frogs fills the night air — a soothing soundtrack to the bush.

The lodge features spacious gardens, perfect for children to run, explore, and enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment.

To ensure peace of mind, the camp is enclosed by an electrified fence, keeping wildlife from wandering through the grounds.

A man-made watering hole nearby offers a beautiful vantage point where guests can relax and watch wildlife come and go throughout the day — a tranquil and rewarding way to connect with nature.