Experiencing the Wild Beauty of the Klaserie: A Remarkable Safari Adventure at Misava Safari Camp, South Africa
The Klaserie Private Nature Reserve is big. Very big. In fact, it covers a total of 60 000 hectares of pristine bushveld and shares unfenced boundaries with the Timbavati, Balule and the Kruger National Park. There are 20 commercial lodges within the reserve, and we were fortunate enough to stay at Misava Safari Camp, a 5 star lodge overlooking the Klaserie River.
Everything about Misava is unpretentious and understated. Accommodation consists of 4 Garden View Suites and 2 River View Suites. Two of the Garden View Suites are interleading and form a spacious Family Suite. The Garden View Suites are set in the beautifully landscaped indigenous gardens of the fenced lodge and are a little smaller than the River View Suites, yet they are very comfortable and there is a rate difference between them and the River View Suites. We were fortunate to stay in one of the River View Suites. They have stunning views of the Klaserie River and are spacious with all the bells and whistles one would expect of a 5 star lodge including a mini bar, indoor and outdoor shower, beautiful bath and air-conditioning. We were given time to freshen up after our road transfer from the airport which took approximately and hour and a half, of which over an hour was spent travelling through the reserve. En route to the lodge we saw a huge herd of elephants at the bridge crossing the Klaserie River. Being so close to these gentle giants is truly an emotional experience.
Lunch was served at the main pool overlooking the Klaserie River. We have been to many lodges and can assure you that the view from the pool is extremely hard to beat. Lunch was delicious and you can see that time has been taken to put together a menu that is healthy but no sacrifice has been made when it comes to taste. Needless to say, the service was spot on. Service in some lodges can be a bit over the top, but not in this case, thankfully.
After lunch we headed off for an afternoon siesta before embarking on the afternoon / early evening game drive. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about her job. We are not fans of racing from one big five sighting to the next and she picked up on this. She took the time to stop for the small stuff and yet we saw leopard and later on, lions on a giraffe kill. As the sun was setting, we stopped for a sundowner and take in the spectacular sunset over the river.
Back at the lodge we had a quick freshen up before dinner in the boma. Misava does not have a traditional boma but rather open-air dining around a fire. The boma overlooks a waterhole, which is lit up, and there were a couple of visitors during dinner, including a solitary hyena. What a magical end to the day.
On morning game drive, before our departure, we were able to enjoy the sun rising and watch a herd of zebra milling and frolicking on a beautiful open plain. It was a chilly morning so the hot drinks and eats at our coffee stop were most welcome. Taking a slow meander across this extraordinary landscape, we were fortunate to come across a crash of rhino, and a couple of old buffalo bulls…..what a morning! The Klaserie certainly delivers when it comes to the big five, and so for us, the big five were ticked off.
If you’re looking for a classic five star lodge that offers all the frills and fuss but does not break the bank, then Misava Safari Camp ticks all the boxes and is right up there with one of the best experiences we have had.
