Balule Nature Reserve
Balule Nature Reserve is in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Southwest of Phalaborwa, and north of Hoedspruit. The perennial Olifants River flows for approximately 20 km through the centre of the reserve.
Balule Nature Reserve is located in the subtropical lowveld. Because the lowveld has different eco-zones this allows for a variety in the flora, where trees dominate the bushveld.
In the early 1990’s a number of landowners in the Balule came to appreciate the need to drop fences between their properties – allowing for the animal gene pool to expand, avoiding overgrazing and letting the wildlife traverse in a more natural way.
The two reserves to the east between Balule and the Kruger Park are Olifants Game Reserve and Klaserie Game Reserve. The fence between Kruger and Klaserie Game Reserve came down first and the Kruger authorities soon realized that was the best way to proceed.
Balule was thus incorporated into the most famous Game Reserve in the world, and an impressive 40 000 hectares were added to Kruger Park overnight.
Balule forms –together with the other private reserves- the Greater Kruger Park ecosystem. Because all fences are dropped the animals are allowed to roam freely between the Kruger Park and the private reserves on its western boundaries.
Large numbers of lion, cheetah, leopard as well elephant, buffalo and rhino now move freely between Balule and the western border of the Kruger Park. More then 250 bird species occur in the area.
Balule Nature Reserve is located in the subtropical lowveld. Because the lowveld has different eco-zones this allows for a variety in the flora, where trees dominate the bushveld.
In the early 1990’s a number of landowners in the Balule came to appreciate the need to drop fences between their properties – allowing for the animal gene pool to expand, avoiding overgrazing and letting the wildlife traverse in a more natural way.
The two reserves to the east between Balule and the Kruger Park are Olifants Game Reserve and Klaserie Game Reserve. The fence between Kruger and Klaserie Game Reserve came down first and the Kruger authorities soon realized that was the best way to proceed.
Balule was thus incorporated into the most famous Game Reserve in the world, and an impressive 40 000 hectares were added to Kruger Park overnight.
Balule forms –together with the other private reserves- the Greater Kruger Park ecosystem. Because all fences are dropped the animals are allowed to roam freely between the Kruger Park and the private reserves on its western boundaries.
Large numbers of lion, cheetah, leopard as well elephant, buffalo and rhino now move freely between Balule and the western border of the Kruger Park. More then 250 bird species occur in the area.
