At 57,000 acre, Manyoni is one of the largest privately-owned game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal. It was formed in 2004 from a strategic partnership between the WWF, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and 17 landowners who committed to conservation and dropped their fences to create one protected wilderness area in Zululand.
Manyoni has over 70 mammal species, including all the Big 5, cheetah giraffe, zebra, hyena, blue wildebeest, kudu and other smaller antelope. Sitting at 434 recorded species, Manyoni is one of the best birding spots in South Africa, with special varieties including the pink-throated twinspot, Green twinspot, African broadbill, rudds apalis and Neergards Sunbird
The reserve has diverse habitats spanning from rolling grasslands to steep rocky hills, savannah thornveld and riverine forests. It is a Biodiversity Stewardship Reserve, which recognizes it as a custodian of shared natural heritage. This is evidenced in Manyoni’s strong focus on conserving and protecting indigenous flora and fauna.
The reserve is deeply rooted in the ethos and practice of conservation. Early on, it became a key site for WWF’s Black Rhino Range Expansion Project. Since the introduction of a founder population, Manyoni now boasts a thriving community of black rhinos.
Conservation remains a top priority on the reserve, with numerous initiatives dedicated to safeguarding endangered species like cheetahs, leopard tortoises, and white-backed vultures. In tandem with these conservation efforts, the reserve, lodge management, and the Zululand Conservation Trust are committed to implementing programs that uplift and empower neighboring communities in Zululand.
P450 Rhino River Lodge
Manyoni Private Game Reserve
Bayala 3960
Po Box 2950
Pietermarizburg
3200
