Botlierskop Game Reserve Mossel Bay South Africa

Situated in the Malaria free and Crime free Western Cape in South Africa, Botlierskop Private Game Reserve is blessed with a great diversity of habitat and wildlife. Visitors have an excellent chance of experiencing close encounters with rhinoceros, lions, buffalo, giraffe, rare black impala and many more, in an exhilarating 3 hour guided game drive.

This unique 4x4 game viewing drive in an open vehicle or quad bike, is a stimulating mix of bush craft and exciting game viewing for the outdoor enthusiast. Your experience starts at the restaurant, where the well trained and knowledgeable guides will welcome you and introduce you to true South African hospitality.

For those who love the smaller things in life, we now offer guided nature walks, packed with information and breathtaking scenery.

To experience the complete safari, stay in the luxurious tented suites with an en-suite bathroom, situated on the river bank in the midst of a bird sanctuary.

Botlierskop is a well stocked, free roaming private game reserve, which gives visitors the opportunity to view African wildlife from the safety of 4x4 vehicles, in its natural habitat. Rhino's, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, eland, bontebuck and 20 more species, make up a total of more than 1800 animals. We are also proud of our relationship with the IFAW, which enabled us to assist in the rescue of 4 African lions, which are also seen during the game drive. The meandering rivers, forest-areas, valleys, mountain tops and plateaus, ensure an adventurous scenic 4x4 route, with steep up and down hills.

Safari's at Botlierskop are a unique African experience. Guided by skilled, knowledgeable and well-trained guides, guests are sure, not only to embark on an adventure, but also to take a little bit of our rainbow culture back home with them. From fresh brewed coffee at the camp fire, to getting up close and personal with rhino's, lions, buffalos, giraffes, zebra's and many more. Be sure to experience our full day packages, which includes a game drive, lunch and a nature walk or quad biking. This can be extended to the ultimate package, including accommodation and many more. All the safaris are operated from the restaurant, The Fire Place (Die Vuur Herd), which gives our visitors the opportunity to enjoy either breakfast, lunch, South African style high tea, dinner or drinks before they set off on their guided adventures.

STORY OF THE ELEPHANTS

The Botlierskop team is happy to announce that the first elephants arrived at Botlierskop on 13 June 2004 and this will be the first time that elephant back rides are offered in the Garden Route.

The two elephants that joined the Botlierskop team, Sam and Tsotsi, are orphans surviving a culling[1] program in the Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. The male, Sam is 24 years old and the female, Tsotsi, is 19 years old. Tsotsi means naughty or mischievous for she was quite a troublemaker as a youngster.

Viv Bristow and his sons, the owners of the elephants, run the family business his farther started in 1973. They help out with problem animal control. Animals (mostly orphans) from the culling programs in Africa were sent to Europe to establish breeding programs there. That ensures a ‘back up’ population exists in Europe to repopulate Africa should that specific species become extinct.

Viv believes animals must generate their own income to support themselves. Sam and Tsotsi were first kept at The Lion and Cheetah Park in Zimbabwe. They were used for educational purposes: educating people about elephant behaviour, how they bath themselves, walking with as well as riding them.

The two also became movie stars and featured in a couple of movies in Kenya where trained elephants were needed. Some of the movies they featured in were:

FAR OF PLACE: Sam and Tsotsi featured, as well as others elephants.
ELEPHANT BOY: Both Sam and Tsotsi.
A film staring Isabella Rosselini where she bathed with Tsotsi.
PRIDE: Sam and Tsotsi will be seen in this movie and it is to be released December 2004.

In September 2003 with the political instability in Zimbabwe, war veterans also invaded Viv’s property. In order to save as many animals as possible, Viv moved some of his animals to the Ranch Hotel near Polokwane (former Pietersburg) in the north of South Africa.

The owners of Botlierskop approached Viv in the beginning of 2004 to bring his elephants to Botlierskop and continue the educational program he started in Zimbabwe. This will include: Elephant back rides and Elephant Picnic's.

T he Fire Place is a 120 seater restaurant, and is designed to accommodate and spoil your guests without compromising on intimacy and comfort. To further enhance the experience, locally produced life entertainment in the form of a pianist or African dancers can be arranged. Both these are highly recommended and adds to the uniqueness and special memories.

Wedding ceremonies are as popular at Botlierskop as our roaring fires, lions and venue! On the wooden deck many a happy couple has exchanged vows in front of friends, family and the presence of natural beauty and overwhelming tranquility.

The game reserve has many opportunities for breathtaking photography and to make sure your memories are as precious as your wedding day, ask the wedding co-ordinater to direct you to the best available options.

The provision of Botlierskop's standard supply of furniture, decor and equipment is at no extra charge

This includes:

Tables & Chairs
African Table Settings
Table Numbers
Cutlery, Crockery & Cruet sets
All Glasses
Table Cloths & Serviettes
Centre pieces, candles & candle holders
Ice Buckets
PA System
Fully licensed bar

All luxury tented suites on wooden decks offer breathtaking views of the river and tranquil mountainous surroundings and are situated in a bird sanctuary with free roaming animals.

The tents are elegantly decorated in a colonial theme with four poster beds and mosquito nets. Each secluded tent has an en-suite bathroom, a mini bar, telephone, private deck and personal ranger service. Most of the tents also offer their own private jetties for guests to explore fishing opportunities and all the tents are linked to the restaurant and lounge area with elevated walkways

The guided 2,5 hour quad bike drive offers an exhilarating drive through picturesque fynbos, rocky mountains and scenic valleys. Viewing the amazing African animals from a quad bike is a complete different experience. It offers the daring and young at heart an experience of a lifetime. Not much can beat viewing a white rhinoceros at eye level.

The quad bikes are not a threat to the animals, allowing you to get particularly close. The guide will always be there to direct you and keep you at a safe distance. The guides take great care in showing every visitor how to drive the bike.

There is a great need for many tourists visiting Botlierskop Private Game Reserve to experience nature on foot. Botlierskop also wants to cater for the needs of the growing Avitourism market (tourism based on birding or bird watching) by offering them a walking safari.

The Nature Walk consists of a 2 hour guided walk through diverse habitats like riverine forest, marsh areas, fynbos and plains. During the walk the guide will point out, identify and explain the medicinal use of some trees.

A directional microphone system will be used to record and call some elusive forest birds like the Knysna Lourie, Knysna Woodpecker and Narina Trogon.

There is also a good chance for the guest to see all 5 Kingfisher species resident on the banks of the Moordkuil river flowing through the game reserve.

The guide will point out and identify the tracks of animals ranging from the very elusive Cape clawless Otter to the Cape Buffalo. Guests might also be fortunate enough to see various game on foot, ranging from the small bashful Bushbuck, the large Eland and even white Rhinoceros. All this will be complemented with a small picnic at the halfway mark where guest might be joint by a troop of Vervet Monkeys.

The Nature Walk will truly enable guest to experience and appreciate nature at an exceptional close level.

A large open-air deck, overlooking the valleys, brings together fauna and flaura with relaxing African sounds in the distance. Here, where heaven and earth collide you can relax and enjoy glorious sunsets on summer nights, while two indoor fireplaces can assure a cosy winter atmosphere. This elegant thatched roof and volcanic rock restaurant provides the perfect setting for a unique dining experience you won't want to miss.

At "The Fireplace", you can indulge into our well renowned Traditional Buffet, serving true South African cuisine with a modern twist and not to forget our scrumptious salads, light lunches and ever so famous specialty coffees and confectionaries!

Here guests can enjoy refreshments before and after game drives while relaxing with the tranquility of the river, valley and unspoiled vegetation as backdrop. It serves as meeting place from where game drives depart as well as an oasis to replenish thirsty souls on the return.

Take the Klein Brakrivier/Little Brak River (Exit 401) off-ramp
Turn Left at STOP
Turn Right at T-junction
±4km ahead, turn Right at Botlierskop signboard, onto the Gonnakraal road.
±4km ahead, turn Right at earth toned gate.
Pick-up service from Mossel Bay available

Take the Klein Brakrivier/Little Brak River (Exit 401) off-ramp
Turn Right at STOP and cross the bridge over the N2
Turn Right at T-junction
±4km ahead, turn Right at Botlierskop signboard, onto the Gonnakraal road.
±4km ahead, turn Right at earth toned pillar gate.
Pick-up service from George available