Lionspruit Game Reserve — Attraction in Nkomazi

This beautiful park is a sleeping Giant, entrance is off Wildgoose, its cheap to enter. If you drive around the fence from the exterior of the park it looks boring and dull. Once inside its like opening the cover to a beautiful book, a photographers delight, an abundance of wildlife including 2 white rhinos, 2 lions, lots of impala, some wildebeest, warthogs, bush buks, lots of kudus, duikers, we saw at least 12 zebra, we saw a herd of about 7 water buffalo, we also saw several giraffe. Im sure there are several I missed. There are 4 hides not huge ones but well positioned. Each at a watering hole, also each is very scenic, there is one spot where you could braai, has a covered area with 3 tables, 3 more tables that were recently painted and updated, a bar you can use, 3 spots to braai, proper toilets at this stop. This is a must visit spot if you go to Marloth Park, I suppose tons overlook this as the mighty Kruger is only 20 minutes away. The best about Lionspruit is its so serene and quite which is rare in Kruger. Dont get me wrong I LOVE Kruger but this is a great alternative for peanuts. FYI we were the only ones in the park yesterday, we saw the sign in sheet, they give you a map that you return when you leave, only 1 gate off Wildgoose. Pleasant guard took our info and answered any questions. I only took my 100-400 lens and wished I had brought a wider one as there is lots to give your camera a work out. Highly recommended ! Only reason I gave it 4 stars as there are no Elephants or Hippos due to what they need as the park albeit huge can only support what they have unless things change with the rain, the recent 8 cm the other day plus recent rains will make everything pop. We also saw tons of birds, Fish Eagle and 2 nests were nice to see. I have to confess this is my 4th time to Marloth over the last 5 years, I feel like I really missed out on a gem of a place that was only 5 minutes to get to the gate. I will surely go hopefully once a week from now on. Its run by volunteers with a minimal budget mostly from donations, have a big heart and make a difference and contribute by attending or making a donation it will make a huge difference and will surely be appreciated, pack a lunch and a few bevies and take your self guided tour, you will be surprised big time. in terms of privacy it gets 10 outa 5! Mother nature is what you want it to be if your patient and observant, we stopped a few times only to notice little things that were very entertaining and interesting, again next time...

The entrance of Lionspruit Reserve is in Wildgoose Street in Marloth Park . And is monitored and protected by the same Game rangers from Marloth park.

It's approximately 2500 hectares in size with a couple of watering holes for the animals. There are Buffalo, Rhino , Leopard, Lion , Giraffe , Kudu , Njala, Zebra, Impala , Wildebeest and other mamals in the reserve as well as a very large variety of bird species including different species of vultures, eagles , and other interesting birds

All roads in the reserve are dirt/ gravel roads

There are toilets at most of the view points and picnic areas

You have to bring your own cooking ware and everything you might need , also handy to keep a role of your own toilet paper with you

There are no shops or staff in the reserve.

New lions being monitored inside Lionspruit , and the picnic areas are also being attended to and well kept. The dams have been rehabilitated and a lot of Crocodiles have been relocated to Lionspruit, there's still a lot to do regards to rehabilitation of the reserve, but there is improvement. And there are new healthy lions occupying the Reserve ( one female has been fitted with a tracking collar being kept and monitored , she is from a new pride competing for the territory of Marloth Park and Lionspruit , and then there is also a New Young adult male lion from another pride competing for this territory being kept inside Lionspruit and being monitored with the female)

Also a lot of bird species and viewing areas are there for the avid birders and photographers.

Stick to the road maps and everything should be easy to find.

Lionspruit also has a rich history wich you can read up on or find out from some of the locals in the area.

No fires allowed inside the reserve but you can cook with gas...

Beautiful park. Although we did not see any lions, rhino's or leopards we saw tracks ot these animals, so they definitely have them in the park along with a variety of antelope. R120 per vehicle (at this moment in time November 2021). You do get a map of the park which is very easy to read. It is not preferable for light vehicles to drive in the park during rainy seasons... Rather drive a vehicle with a higher road clearance ... We were a bit nervous for damage with our Etios hatchback on some of the roads. As we did not enter the park with big expectations ... We've rather enjoyed the the small things of nature and were surprised...