Other Tours & Visits

The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre concentrates on the conservation of rare, vulnerable or endangered animals with emphasis on the Cheetah. Tours, hands-on student programmes and interesting activities are offered at the centre.

The HESC is focussed on education of learners, students and the general public in conservation and conservation activities; eco-tourism; the release and establishment of captive-bred Cheetahs back into the wild and the treatment and rehabilitation of wild animals including orphaned Rhino that are brought to the centre.

The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre has established itself as one of the leading private research and breeding facilities for endangered species in the country. Governed by a progressive and modern management approach, it concerns itself with the breeding and maintenance of several endangered indigenous wildlife species in Southern Africa.

Kinyonga Reptile Centre is an accredited ISZS (International Society of Zoological Sciences) facility that is dedicated solely to the preservation and conservation of reptiles. It was established in 1984 by Donald Strydom, a renowned herpetologist in South Africa who is called upon by many international organizations for his knowledge and experience with reptiles.

Kinyonga Reptile Centre has a variety of projects involving the reptile population in the area. These include capture and release, the Baboon Spider conservation and rehabilitation project, as well as general research, and lastly, the reptile centre which is open to the public. Kinyonga is also actively involved with accredited reptile related training courses.

The Kinyonga Reptile Centre is situated 15km outside of Hoedspruit.

This area has a particularly high concentration of snakes and therefore there is a high frequency of interactions between snakes and people, making this a prime location for reptile-related research and public education. 

This place is home to many of South Africa’s abandoned, injured, tortured and poisoned wildlife and a highly respected contributor to wildlife education in the country.

Situated in the majestic “Mariepskop”; this unique Rehabilitation Centre is home to a wide variety of animals and birds. Some of them are rescued Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards and most of them have really adorable names. The Centre has a long standing Serval Breeding Project, which has been really successful until now. Another fact of Moholoholo is that they are the only facility in South Africa to have successfully bred the endangered Crown Eagle. They also have a number of ‘permanent residents’ that reside at the centre at their cost and are used as ‘ambassadors’ for these species.

The public is therefore able to get an ‘up close and personal’ experience of these incredible creatures, while they have the ability to practically demonstrate to the public the problems that wildlife is facing.

Experience the magic of lighter-than-air flight over the Lowveld game areas adjoining the Kruger National Park. The Sun Catchers Hot Air Ballooning pilots and guides will ensure a safe, enjoyable and informative adventure that will be one of the highlights of your visit to Big Game Country…

Flights are conducted throughout the year, with mid-summer sunrise at 05h00 and mid-winter sunrise at 06:30. You meet 20 minutes before sunrise at the respective launch sites.

Located near Hoedspruit, they offer hot air balloon safari flights over Kapama Game Reserve and other lodges and game reserves that have suitable terrain within the Greater Kruger Park area.

You meet up before sunrise and coffee is served while you watch your eight-storey high hot air balloon being inflated and prepared for flight. After a safety briefing you should be airborne in time to witness the sunrise. Then a change in altitude to search for a favourable wind that will allow you to drift gently over the landscape on your hot air balloon safari.

Sooner or later you have to come down again from your ballooning experience. After about an hour’s hot air balloon safari flight, the pilot will select a suitable landing site where the retrieve crew should be in attendance. Passengers don’t have to be physically fit, but landings can sometimes be bumpy, so if anyone’s pregnancy is approaching term, it would be best to book their flight at a later date.

To enter the basket, passengers have to be able climb over the 1.2m high rim of the basket. Be prepared to stand on your hot air balloon safari for at least an hour. Youngsters are welcome but should be at least 1.2m (4 foot ) tall, so they can see over the rim of the basket. Sparkling wine and fruit juice is served after the hot air balloon safari, depending on weather conditions.

A minimum of two passengers and a maximum of 12 per hot air balloon safari.