Grietjie Private Nature Reserve is located in the northern section of the Balule Nature Reserve, 30 kms south of Phalaborwa, Limpopo Province. Balule Nature Reserve, and therefore Grietjie by incorporation, is within the Greater Kruger National Park and the UNESCO proclaimed Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve. This biosphere reserve is the largest of its kind in the world.
Originally Grietjie was one of 3 farms owned by each of the 3 daughters of a farmer. Later Grietjie was divided into smaller portions that were used as small farms and even later it became part of the so- called Greater Kruger and it was declared a Nature Reserve in The Balule area. The fencing between the Kruger National Park was taken down and slowly but surely the animals started migrating to Grietjie. This has resulted in a unique area where we are now able to live in-between the Big 5 and all the other animals.
One animal that became bountiful is the Elephant. The amount of Elephants per square kilometer is a lot higher than in the Kruger National Park.
Unique in this Reserve is that we have our own Brown Hyena clan. An animal that is only very rarely seen in the Kruger National Park.
The reserve encompasses some stunning landscapes with bergs and rocky outcrops to plains and riverine bush. The varied habitat supports a healthy diversity of wildlife and an impressive birding list of over 280 species sighted, including the rare Pels Fishing Owl. Big 5 species are encountered frequently during game drives on the reserve, but it is a special honour to be privy to the secret lives of the lesser known species.
The proximity of the Kruger National Park, the Drakensberg, the Olifants River and the Blyde River Canyon make Grietjie the perfect base for excursions and day trips.
