Babanango: South Africa's Majestic New Wildlife Reserve Born from a Remarkable Revival

Just five years ago, the once barren river valleys and vast highlands now protected by the Babanango Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were empty of wildlife, scarred by years of cattle grazing and uncontrolled hunting.

‘The large animals had been wiped out, and most of the smaller species had fled,’ recalls Musa Mbatha, the reserve’s wildlife and conservation manager.

In 2018, a groundbreaking collaboration between local Zulu communities, provincial authorities, and a private conservation organization set in motion a bold plan to restore Babanango as a vibrant sanctuary, creating the largest game reserve in South Africa since the end of apartheid.

Today, a typical game drive through this vast private reserve might reveal cheetahs, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, rhinos (both black and white), hippos, and more than a dozen antelope species, including impalas, hartebeests, waterbucks, wildebeests, and elands. All these animals were relocated from other reserves across Southern Africa.

And the reserve's transformation is far from over. A lion pride is set to arrive in March, followed by a herd of elephants in April.

‘That will be a 'cold' release,’ explains Babanango guide Hendrik Fehsenfeld about the elephants. ‘Straight from the truck into the wilderness.’ Unlike smaller animals, which are first placed in an enclosure to adjust before being released.

‘But the most remarkable part,’ says Andrew Baxter, the reserve's general manager, ‘is that many species have returned on their own.’ This includes leopards, servals, caracals, aardvarks, aardwolves, and a wide variety of small mammals, birds, and reptiles that had disappeared over the years.

‘Once we stopped the hunting and removed the cattle, the recovery of nature was astonishing,’ says Baxter. ‘The resilience of the land was incredible.’

‘An ideal location for a new game reserve.’

Babanango boasts a rich and complex history. By the early 1800s, it was part of a powerful Zulu kingdom under the reign of the legendary Shaka. As the kingdom expanded, it came to be seen as a threat by the British colonists along the Natal coast.

In 1879, under a fabricated pretext, the British launched an invasion of Zululand. The region became the site of key battles, such as Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, close to Babanango. Armed with superior weaponry, the British eventually triumphed, and the land previously used by the Zulu people was allocated to white settlers.

After the end of apartheid and South Africa’s efforts toward reconciliation in the 1990s, the area was returned to its traditional Zulu owners. However, it remained sparsely populated and largely unused.

‘The KwaZulu-Natal government conducted a land survey and concluded it was an ideal spot for a new game reserve,’ says Babanango guide Xolani Mhlongo. ‘They then sought out investors to bring the vision to life.’

A key part of the project was ensuring the employment of as many local people as possible.

‘About 85% of our team comes from the three surrounding communities,’ Mhlongo explains. ‘The trust also supports local children by sending them to school and drilling boreholes for drinking water. We aim to educate the next generation about the significance of conservation and the vital role the reserve plays in supporting the community. We want them to understand that it’s not just about luxury vehicles driving around watching wildlife.’

A formidable challenge

The creation of the game reserve involved several complex hurdles. The first major task was negotiating agreements with the four Zulu communities that surround the park, particularly those who were wary of outsiders taking control of their ancestral lands.

To ensure cooperation, the reserve offered to designate small areas along the park's edges for Zulu cattle grazing, provided there was no hunting or human settlement in those zones and that the land wasn’t overgrazed.

An electric fence was installed around the reserve’s perimeter to secure the wildlife within and deter poachers and hunters from entering. The boundary is further safeguarded by regular patrols on horseback, by vehicle, and even by helicopter.

Before reintroducing the wildlife, the reserve had to round up and relocate over 3,000 Zulu cattle that were grazing freely across the land.

‘First, we had to determine who owned the cattle,’ explains Mbatha. ‘Some were branded and belonged to local communities, while others were likely stolen and hidden here by thieves until they could be sold.’

The next step involved sourcing the animals, purchasing them, and transporting them to the reserve. Upon arrival, they were placed in temporary enclosures (or ponds in the case of hippos) near the reserve's northern entrance for a brief adjustment period.

Once released, the animals were given the freedom to roam the reserve and settle into their new environments across various habitats.

‘The cheetahs immediately headed south,’ says Xolani Mhlongo. ‘Towards the area of Babanango that’s closest to where they were originally raised. Maybe they were trying to find their way back home, but it’s also the open grasslands where their speed makes hunting easier.’

Several other species also flocked to the highlands, including red hartebeests, which, much to the management's frustration, quickly became the cheetahs' preferred prey. ‘I wish they'd pick something less costly to hunt,’ says Baxter.

Some animals require adjustments, particularly the rhinos, who had their horns trimmed down to reduce the risk of poachers getting past the reserve’s security measures.

Visitor facilities also had to be developed. An old, somewhat worn-down hotel near the southern entrance was refurbished into the Babanango Valley Lodge. On the northern side, the stylish Zulu Rock Lodge was built atop a mountain, offering refreshing breezes and panoramic views.

A third accommodation option, the Madwaleni River Lodge, is set to open in July. Located on the southern bank of the White Umfolozi River, it features luxurious designer safari tents surrounding a central hub with a restaurant, lounge, and spa.

What's next?

Game drives are already in full swing, and visitors can also take part in bush walks, stargazing sessions (with a remarkably clear night sky), and helicopter tours focused on conservation. Additionally, the reserve can arrange transport and private guides for tours of the historic Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift battlefields.

A zipline is the first of what management hopes will become a range of outdoor adventure sports available to visitors.

Fehsenfeld envisions introducing fly fishing on the Umfolozi and its tributary rivers, along with multi-day guided backpacking treks. ‘It would be a life-changing experience,’ he says. ‘To trek through these valleys, over grassy mountaintops, and sleep under the stars, knowing that lions and elephants roam nearby.’

Baxter is considering adding guided kayaking on the Umfolozi River, a Via Ferrata rock climbing circuit, and a hiking trail along the reserve's perimeter. Trekkers would spend their nights in traditional Zulu homes. Another idea is offering tours of the reserve’s many archaeological sites, including the ancient stone fortress perched atop Madwaleni Mountain, a massive granite dome overlooking the Umfolozi River.

‘I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far,’ says Musa Mbatha, who grew up in a community near what is now the reserve and worked as a herd boy on white-owned farms. ‘I’ve witnessed many changes on this land since I was a child.’

Meanwhile, Mbatha and his team eagerly await the arrival of more animals, which seem to instinctively know that Babanango has become a sanctuary of safety.

Getting there

The easiest way to reach the Babanango Game Reserve is by flying into King Shaka International Airport in Durban, South Africa, and then taking an EZ Shuttle or another transfer service to the reserve’s northern entrance.