Overview–southafrica

Amakhala Private Game Reserve

Amakhala is a relatively affordable, family-friendly private wildlife reserve. Like other private reserves in the Eastern Cape, it is fully fenced and relatively small in area. Four of the Big Five animals are quite easily spotted, the exception being the leopard, which is seldom seen. Depending on river water levels, Amakhala offers boat cruises, as well as walking safaris and traditional vehicle safaris.

Best Time to Visit

In Amakhala, the wildlife viewing is good all year. Since the climate is semi-arid, animals are always attracted to water sources – but marginally more so during the driest months of June through September. Nights become very cold at this time, making it essential to bring warm clothing for game drives in open vehicles.

May to September –Winter

The reserve won’t be very busy
Skies are sunny
Nights and mornings are very cold

October to April –Summer

An abundance of newborn animals can be found
Spring flowers and green vegetation transform the reserve
The presence of migratory birds ensures excellent birding
The reserve becomes busy

Scenery

Amakhala lies in the Indian Ocean coastal belt and the main game viewing circuit is overlooked by a horseshoe of sandstone mountains. The main vegetation type is Albany thicket interspersed with open grassland but there are also tracts of fynbos and acacia savannah. The scenic Bushman’s River meanders through the reserve and is best enjoyed by boat.

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

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Jul

Aug

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: January to December (All year)

High Season

From: October to March (The reserve gets crowded)

Size

From: 72km² / 28mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Amakhala is a well-stocked reserve with a good variety of animals including all of the Big Five. White rhinos and elephants are regularly seen. Several antelope species can be spotted as well including kudu, red hartebeest, springbok, and blesbok. The charismatic cheetah is one of the reserve’s flagship species. Two hippos have recently been introduced and there are plans to increase their number soon.

Wildlife Highlights

A river cruise on the Bushman's River provides a chance to see the rare Cape clawless otter. The reserve supports a good population of the endemic black wildebeest, which can often be seen together with the more common Burchell's zebras. Both lion and cheetah are likely to be seen over the course of a couple of days and lucky visitors might see brown hyena, but spotted hyena is absent.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Although always good, wildlife viewing is marginally better during the drier months of June to September. This is when animals search out permanent water sources and congregate around them.

General Wheather

Amakhala Game Reserve is considered semi-arid to arid. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year but there are two peaks: in February–March and October–November. Winter and summer occur at opposite times to Europe and North America. The temperature cools to freezing point in the middle of winter.

Winter –May to September

Nights and early mornings are very cold in the winter months. Game drives in open vehicles make warm clothing a necessity. Clear skies are typical for the winter season, and there is very little rain.

May – Winter begins. Temperatures of 9°C/48°F in the morning and 22°C/72°F in the afternoon are typical.
June & July – These are the coldest months. It sometimes gets to freezing point at night, with average morning temperatures of 7°C/45°F. Afternoon temperatures average 19°C/66°F.
August & September – The temperature warms up to around 21°C/70°F in the afternoon. Morning temperatures rise to about 9°C/48°F on average.

Summer –October to April

A typical summer means more comfortable temperatures, but slightly more rainfall. Although it is mostly sunny, cloud cover and occasional storms are possible.

October & November – The average morning temperature is 13°C/55°F, while afternoons average 24°C/75°F. It rains a bit more frequently in October, but it won't rain every day.
December, January & February – The highest temperatures of the year occur during this period, with daytime temperatures typically around 29°C/84°F. Mornings are mild and average 16°C/61°F. Rainfall tends to increase in February.
March & April – Though it seldom rains for days on end, March is the wettest month of the year. A cooling trend begins, with an average temperature of 26°C/79°F in the afternoon and 14°C/57°F in the morning.

Prons

Excellent wildlife viewing
Very accessible and easily combined with the popular Garden Route
Open-vehicle game drives and night drives
A variety of privately owned lodges and tented camps to choose from
Malaria-free
River cruise, canoe, and horseback safari available

Cons

Small and lacking wilderness appeal
Bisected by a busy main public road

How To Get There

Most visitors to Amakhala Game Reserve arrive via O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. You may start your tour from either of these destinations by organized safari or by driving yourself. The distance from Cape Town to Amakhala is 850km/528 mi. Many visitors choose to drive via the Garden Route, taking a leisurely week or two to do so before arriving at Amakhala.

As an alternative to driving, you can take a flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ), where you can rent a car. The distance from Port Elizabeth to the park is about 100km/62mi on a paved road and the drive takes approximately 1½ hours*.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) or Cape Town International Airport (CPT), and what tickets would cost.