Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre 
From Sabie travel on the R532 and R533 via Pilgrim's Rest to the R36
junction. Follow the R36 via Ohrigstad and the Strydom tunnel and
then follow the R527 and R531 towards Klaserie. The Moholoholo Wildlife
Rehabilitation Centre is 15 km along the R531.
The Centre has become a haven for the rehabilitation and care of sick and injured animals and
birds. Wildlife is brought to the Centre from all corners of South Africa, and once healthy
enough are re-introduced into their natural environment. There are however some species which
have been rehabilitated but due to the long term effects of their injuries, still stand no chance of
survival in the wild. These animals and birds are kept on the premises and used in educational
tours.
The Centre is open to the public twice a day, Monday to Saturday. Sunday tours are only held
at 15h00, over long weekends or during the school holidays. The tours start at 09h30 and 15h00
and last approximately 2 hours. It is advisable to book in advance, especially if you wish to
have a personalised tour. There is also a tea garden at the Centre.
Cheetah Breeding Centre
From the Moholoholo Centre follow the R531 towards Klaserie and turn off
left on the R40. The turnoff to the Hoedspruit Research and Breeding Center for Endangered Species is
3 km along the R40 towards Hoedspruit.
The Centre conducts unique research on endangered species such as cheetah, wild dogs and lion.
Tours of the Centre starts with an informative video presentation where interesting background
information on the animals, the research being conducted and the progress of the project is presented.
An experienced guide will then accompany you on a tour of the Centre where the highlights will
include the viewing of more than 60 hand-reared cheetahs, the vulture restaurant, wild dogs and the
rare Barbary lion. A walk with Jabulani the elephant is also an optional extra.
After the tour you can enjoy a light meal and refreshments in their tea garden or shop in the curio
shop.
Silk Farm
From the Cheetah Breeding Centre drive back, past the Moholoholo Centre for 2 km to the turnoff of
the Bombix Silk Farm on the R531. A tour of the Silk Farm will reveal the life cycle of the silk
worm and the skills required to recover, spin and weave the silk treads into luxurious duvets.
Swadini Reptile Park
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In 1984 the Swadini Reptile Park was founded and developed by Donald
Strydom a pioneer in the care and rehabilitation of "problem
reptiles" in the Hoedspruit region. The Swadini Retile Park is
now a renowned South African landmark and Strydom has had his
work featured on international television networks such as The
National Geographic Channel and The Discovery Channel.
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A gravid African Rock Python is measured before being released back into the wild. |
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The Swadini Reptile Park has been collecting data from animals caught in the wild for the past
16 years and has been inspired to initiate a number of research projects through HERP (Help
Endangered Reptile Project) dedicated to the conservation of reptiles through education and
research. At present the Swadini Reptile Park captures and releases over 300 problem animals
each year. These include snakes, lizards, crocodiles, tortoises, frogs, spiders and scorpions.
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Largest Baboon Spider in the World (7cm body length) |
Boabab Tree
From the Reptile Park continue for 17 km on the R527 in the direction
of Tzaneen and turn right on the R36. The Boabab tree is a short
distance from the turnoff.
The Boabab tree (Adansonia digitata), and in particular this
tree, is one of the Big-5 in the plant kingdom. Boabab trees
grow to a circumference of 28 m and live to be thousands of years
old. The fruit pods contain large quantiies of tartaric acid
and African folklore tell us that God, in his anger with the stupidity
of mankind, planted the Boabab tree upside down.
Tufa Waterfall
From the Boabab tree continue on the R36 towards Ohrigstad. On
exiting the Strydom Tunnel, stop at the parking lot. The Tufa
Waterfall can be seen across the valley.
A tufa waterfall is formed when water running over dolomite rock
absorbs calcium. Mosses which grow on the rocks in the stream
extract carbon dioxide during photosynthesis which precipitates the
calcium from the water to deposit it as layers of tufa on the surface of
the waterfall - a process that takes millions of years. The
waterfall continue to flow underneath this rock-hard outer shell.
There are only a few active tufa waterfalls in the world - one of which
is at the Blyderivierspoort Dam.
Webmaster's
Note:
This conclude Option 1 of the Big-5
Route. Follow the R36 towards Ohrigstad and return to
Sabie via Lydenburg (R37),
or via Graskop (R532), or via Pilgrim's Rest (R533). |
Option 2
Kruger National Park 
The world renown Kruger National Park's (KNP) closest entrance gate to Sabie
(the Numbi Gate) is 63 km from Sabie. Travel to Hazyview on the
R536 and turn right at the T-junction (R40 road). The turnoff to
the Kruger Gate is less than 2 km on the left (R536) and the turnoff to
the Numbi Gate (R569) a further 10 km from Hazyview on the R538 to White
River.
The KNP measures 400 km from north to south, and approximately
70 km at its widest point, covering a total surface area of almost 2
million hectares. The KNP is home to 147 mammal, 114 reptile, 33
amphibian, 50 fish, 500 bird and 300 tree species. The KNP will
soon be incorporated into the Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou (GKG)
Transfrontier Park. The GKG Transfrontier Park covers an area of
more than 35 million square kilometres and will be one of the largest
wildlife conservation area in he world.
General Rules:
No pets or firearms are allowed. (If you do carry a firearm, declare it
at the entry gate.) Stay in your vehicle at all times, except
inside the camps, at picnic spots or at designated viewing points.
Animals inside the KNP are wild and, therefore, unpredictable and
potentially dangerous - no matter how docile they may appear. Do
not attempt to reach out, pet or feed the animals.
Speed Limits:
The speed limit on all tarred roads is 50 km/h and on gravel roads 40
km/h. Suggest you travel at no more than 30 km/h to spot the
maximum number of wildlife.
Day Visitors:
During peak season (long weekends and school holidays) the KNP usually
limit the number of day visitors on a first-come-first-served
basis. Ensure that you are at the gates at least 30 to 40 minutes
before they open.
Gate Times:
(Times are for both Entry and Camp gates, unless indicated otherwise)
Historic site
Gravel road
Rainy day route
Area Map
