From hot air ballooning and boat cruises to intimate elephant experiences…

Hoedspruit and its surrounds are home to many different and extraordinary activities that can accompany your romantic weekend getaway or family safari with us, to let you indulge in the region’s wildlife and local environment. You can book all these activities through Jabulani upon your stay. Make it a safari to remember!

Top 7 Activities Around Jabulani

Big 5 Safari’s – Your first African safari experience will remain a cherished memory for the rest of your life. A game drive on a Big Five reserve is a humbling and soulful experience. At Jabulani, game drives are conducted by experienced and knowledgeable rangers in open, custom-built safari vehicles in a private game reserve of 16 000 hectares. Wake up in sync with the heartbeat of Africa, venture out to greet the dawn and have the opportunity of appreciating the sounds and beauty of the bushveld awakening. Later departures can also be arranged with your ranger.

Evening game drives beneath the glittering stars of the African sky present our wildlife in a totally different way. Using only a spotlight to track the animals, this is a thrilling safari experience that offers excellent sightings of nocturnal animals.

Hot Air Ballooning – Every good morning at sunrise, the balloons depart from the launch site near Hoedspruit. The terrain is a mixture of farmland and private nature reserves at the foot of the Drakensberg Escarpment. Although it is not a “big 5” safari flight, this location has proven to be the most popular in the Hoedspruit area and in the Lowveld, for that matter.

The Escarpment forms an amphitheater at this location, providing safe shelter from the prevailing winds. Having experimented with different areas in the Lowveld, they have come to the conclusion that this area offers the very best in terms of safety, accessibility and scenic splendor. 

Phezulu Helicopters – Explore the Blyde River Canyon. Passengers are collected directly from our lodge and then whisked away on an hour to an hour and a half scenic flight through one of the most beautiful areas in South Africa. Explore the Canyon by air and take in the magnificent sights of God’s Window, Three Rondawels and the Pinnacle to name a few. The extended scenic flight adds some of the many spectacular waterfalls in the Graskop area such as Lisbon and Berlin Falls.

Elephant Moments – An inspirational elephant experience. Nothing quite prepares you for your first encounter with the Jabulani elephants. Their mammoth size and vibrant presence are always humbling. Arrive at sunrise for your personal introduction to a very special family.

Canyon Boat Cruise – Take a scenic cruise on the Blydepoort Dam to experience astonishing views of the Blyderiver Canyon, a natural wonder that forms part of the Northern Drakensberg, boasting views of the Three Rondawels, Kadishi Waterfall and Mariepskop.

Gin Tasting – The Old Packhouse Distillery is situated on a farm near Tzaneen in South Africa and produces artisanal Gin. Only the finest ingredients are used in our handcrafted small batch gin. The gin exemplifies country living and truly a unique and wonderful experience for all gin lovers!

Lower Blyde River Tubing – Join Blyde Canyon Adventure Centre for an adrenaline packed hour of extreme tubing when the Blyde River water level is high. This experience takes place on the section below the Blydepoort Dam.

We truly hope that your stay in our part of South Africa will be a memorable one and that you get to tick some big items off your bucket lists! Get in touch with us to organise additional activities during your stay at Jabulani: res@jabulanisafari.com.