River Tent
A canvas suite on a raised teak deck with an outdoor bath and views over the hippo pool.
From ZAR 18,900 pp per night
Ravura
Private Game Reserve
Twelve tented suites on a bend of the Shakiri River,
with no fence between you and the national park.
A fictional reserve. Demo by Apidea
Welcome to Ravura
A family-owned reserve on the Shakiri River
Ravura was a cattle farm until 1987, when the Mokoena family took down the fences and let the bush grow back. The reserve now shares an open boundary with the national park, so the animals come and go as they please. The camp stands on stilts, high enough to stay dry when the river floods.
There are only twelve suites on 24,000 hectares, so you rarely share a sighting with another vehicle. You keep the same ranger and tracker for your whole stay. Part of every booking pays for the reserve's anti-poaching unit.
Our story and team
- 24,000Hectares of unfenced wilderness
- 12Tented suites and villas
- Big FiveLion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo
- 1 h 10 mScheduled flight from Johannesburg
- Low riskMalaria area. Ask your doctor before you travel
Accommodation
Where you'll stay
Rates include two game drives a day, all meals and local drinks, laundry, and the transfer from the airstrip.
Marula Pool Villa
A private villa with its own heated plunge pool overlooking the Ntsena waterhole.
From ZAR 24,600 pp per night
Family Suite
Two en-suite bedrooms joined by a shared lounge, with a private vehicle and ranger.
From ZAR 21,400 pp per night
The Owner's House
Four suites, a private chef, butler, ranger and the north bank of the river to yourselves.
From ZAR 158,000 per night
Safari Experiences
What you can do here
Your ranger plans each day around recent sightings and the weather. Most activities are included. A few need booking ahead.
Included
Morning & Evening Game Drives
Open vehicles, maximum six guests
Included
Guided River Outings
Hippo pools and kingfisher nests, with your guide
On request
Star Bed Sleep-out
One night on a platform under the stars
On request
Riverside Spa
Massage and treatments between drives
Included
Birding Excursions
About 280 species seen on the reserve so far
Included
Boma & Bush Dinners
Dinner around the fire, two nights a week
Wildlife
Home to the Big Five
River forest, marula woodland and open grassland support more than 80 kinds of mammal. Most guests come hoping to see these five.
Lion
Two resident prides
Leopard
Seen on most stays
Elephant
Breeding herds year-round
Rhino
Monitored daily
Buffalo
Herds of up to 300
Dry Season May to October
Thinner bush and animals concentrated at water make this the peak period for game viewing. Mornings and evenings are cool, days are warm and clear.
Green Season November to April
Summer rains bring lush landscapes, newborn animals and migrant birds. Expect afternoon thunderstorms and lower rates.
Dining
Food from the farms next door
Head Chef Lindiwe Dube buys from the farms on the reserve's border and grows her own herbs behind the kitchen. Breakfast is on the river deck. Dinner is in the main lodge, around the fire in the boma, or now and then at a table set up out in the bush.
- All meals, local wines, beers and spirits included
- A cellar of about 300 South African wines
- All dietary requirements catered for on request
- Private dining available in every suite
Conservation & Community
Where your levy goes
The conservation levy on every stay goes to the Ravura Trust. It pays for 14 anti-poaching rangers and their tracking dogs, daily checks on every rhino on the reserve, and two bush schools in the villages next door.
- Rhino monitored
- 63
- Rangers employed
- 14
- Staff from local villages
- 82%
- Children in Trust schools
- 460
Rates 2026 / 2027
Seasonal rates
Rates are per person per night sharing, in South African Rand, and include VAT. Conservation levy of ZAR 450 per person per night is payable separately.
| Accommodation | Green season 1 Nov to 30 Apr | Dry season 1 May to 31 Oct | Festive 20 Dec to 5 Jan | Single supplement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Tent | ZAR 18,900 | ZAR 23,500 | ZAR 27,800 | 50% |
| Marula Pool Villa | ZAR 24,600 | ZAR 29,900 | ZAR 34,200 | 50% |
| Family Suite (min. 3 guests) | ZAR 21,400 | ZAR 26,100 | ZAR 30,400 | n/a |
| The Owner's House (per night, up to 8) | ZAR 158,000 | ZAR 189,000 | ZAR 215,000 | n/a |
Children aged 6 to 15 pay 50% when sharing with two adults. Children under 6 are welcome in the Family Suite and The Owner's House only.
Guest Reviews
What guests told us
4.7 / 5 from sample reviews written for this demo
★★★★★
“We had Sipho as our tracker for four days. He found a leopard just by listening to the impala. Best guiding we've had anywhere.”
★★★★☆
“The kids loved the junior ranger morning and the staff were lovely. The second bedroom gets hot in December, so ask for a fan.”
★★★★★
“Four of the Big Five in three days. The rhino kept hiding from us! Great food. The road in from Hoedspruit is rough, so fly if you can.”
Gallery
Life at Ravura
Tap a photo to see it larger.
Reservations
Ready to plan a trip?
Our reservations team can book your dates, flights and transfers in one go.
Plan Your Visit
Getting here
By air
Daily scheduled flight from O.R. Tambo International (JNB) departing 10:15, landing at the Ravura airstrip at 11:25. Luggage limit 20 kg in soft bags.
By road
Approximately 2 h 30 m from Hoedspruit or 6 h from Johannesburg. Self-drive guests check in at Ravura Gate before 16:00.
Check-in & out
Check-in from 14:00 in time for the afternoon drive. Check-out by 11:00 after brunch.
Ravura Gate, Shakiri Road
Greater Lowveld, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Directions are sent with your booking
News from the reserve
A short email four times a year with recent sightings and any special offers.