Somkhanda Big 5 Game Reserve

Somkhanda Big 5 Tourism has several thatched chalets and camping options. Each chalet has a private bathroom and facilities such as a ceiling fan, bar fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. Each chalet has access to a communal kitchen with basic appliances, Communal Swimming Pool and 2 x Braai Areas. All campsites have access to communal ablution facilities.

Somkhanda Community Game Reserve is a community owned Big 5 game reserve that stretches across 12 000 hectares of natural Zululand Bushveld. This majestic reserve, which was formally proclaimed as a Nature Reserve in 2011 is not only the first community owned game reserve that introduced the critically endangered black rhino as part of the WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Program, but it is also home to the critically endangered African wild dog.

Apart from using the reserve as an economic engine for the neighbouring and beneficiary communities through sustainable- tourism and resource utilization practices it places nature conservation as its core value. Somkhanda Community Game Reserve contributes significantly towards both local and metapopulation conservation management programs and has contributed towards the establishment of viable populations of black rhino and wild dog at various other protected area across Africa.

Apart from the healthy rhino and wild dog populations, the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve also offers a safe and stable environment to leopard, lion, spotted hyena, brown hyena, caracal, serval, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, blue wildebeest, zebra, nyala, bush buck, red duiker and a variety of typical bushveld game. As a result of these achievements, Somkhanda Community Game Reserve is promoted as a flagship project for land restitution and transformation in South Africa, as well as an example of conservation-based community development.