Thaba Bolayi Reserve
In a nutshell
Thaba Bolayi Private Nature Reserve is a family owned and run reserve. We are situated in the Greater Mapungubwe area in the heart of Limpopo Valley bushveld. The reserve is 23km from Musina town, 36km from Beitbridge border and 50km from Mapungubwe National Park.
Thaba Bolayi Reserve offers:
o Various accommodation options
o Campsite
o On-site Spa
o On-site activities
o Guided tours to explore the region and South-Africa.
o Incredible natural, cultural and geological experiences.
The perfect base to explore the rest of the Northern Limpopo Region
The Reserve
Thaba Bolayi Private Nature Reserve boasts with four accommodation options to choose all nestled at the base of a gigantic granite outcrop, something for everyone. Our accommodation options include Maulwe Lodge, Hambana Lifestyle Lodge, Bolayi Lodge and Thaba Bolayi Backpackers. All the lodges are surrounded by beautiful native gardens and swimming pools are available for your enjoyment on those hot summer days. When booked into one of our accommodation options you can enjoy delicious meals at the reserves restaurant and take a relaxing break in our nursery.
We have a beautiful campsite on the reserve, appropriately named Rainmaker’s Rock Campsite because it is situated at the base of the granite outcrop which was the location for the ancient rainmaking ritual of the Monomotapa people.
We try to cater for all guests, from the adventurous to those who just want to put their feet up and relax. The reserve has several on-site activities which include guided bush drives, guided bush walks, bushveld dining experiences, birdwatching and different walking trails. If relaxation is the order of the day we have you covered at Maulwe Spa, the spa offers massages, saunas, cold jacuzzi and we also offer half and full day spa packages.
Thaba Bolayi Reserve is also very lucky to have our own on-site homeopath, Dr. Janetta Uys, to ensure that your body, mind and soul is at peace.
Dakani Adventures is a touring company based at Thaba Bolayi Reserve. Dakani Adventures offers various trips and tours with very knowledgeable guides, ranging from day trips in the area, multi-day trips to areas further away and even complete safari tours in South-Africa.
History and Geology
Thaba Bolayi Reserve rests on three important pillars. These pillars are natural beauty, cultural history and geological discoveries.
The archaeological findings that have been discovered on Thaba Bolayi Reserve is even 450 years older than the findings at the UNESCO world heritage site of Mapungubwe National Park. Everything started when one of the current owners (Janetta Uys) and her son (Pieter Uys) stumbled onto a hole in the ground, dug by a warthog, on the reserve. What made this hole special is that between the dirt that was dug up they found ancient claypot shards. Since this discovery a few archaeological digs have been done on the reserve. Some of the incredible findings are clay pots that date back to 450AD, a perfectly preserved grave from 900AD with artefacts from Middle Eastern and Asian countries and remains from smelters used to melt gold from rocks. Al of these findings were traced back to the Monomotapa Civilisation, one of the most advanced of its time. The Monomotapa Civilisation moved through the area where Thaba Bolayi Reserve is located to the area of Mapungubwe National Park and from there they settled in the area which is now known as the Great Zimbabwe Ruins.
Thaba Bolayi Reserve is extremely rich in different types of rock. We have some of the largest single granite outcrops in the world. A section of the Limpopo Fault Line runs through the Reserve and it is incredible to see the deformation surrounding it. We have an entire open air information centre dedicated to the rocks found in the area and we also provide geological tours to the Fault Line area.
Nature
Thaba Bolayi Reserve has incredible landscapes. With massive granite outcrops towering above the bushveld dotted with ancient Baobab trees. Thaba Bolayi is situated in an area with one of the highest densities of Baobab trees in the world, we have over 150 Baobabs on the reserve and it is truly breath-taking to experience these ancient living organisms. With the granite outcrops, magnificent Baobabs and beautiful bushveld sunsets we host landscape photography tours to try and capture the magic of the Limpopo Valley.
Thaba Bolayi Reserve has a rich variety of wildlife, some can even be seen inside the lodge area. At the Reserve we do not only concentrate on large animals, the smaller wildlife can sometimes be much more interesting. There is always something to see.
With over 190 bird species recorded to date on the reserve it is truly worthwhile taking a stroll through the gardens, drinking a early morning coffee in the bird hide or joining us on a birders bush hike. The Limpopo Valley is known for its high concentration of birds of prey and some species that do not occur widely in South-Africa.
