Private Eco Reserve & Hunting Lodge with Proven Hospitality Infrastructure

A privately positioned eco reserve set in the Crocodile Gorge Mountains, approximately 32 km from Mbombela (Nelspruit), offering scale, biodiversity, and infrastructure for an investor focused on building or expanding a destination-led eco resort or conservation retreat.

The setting delivers what eco travellers actively seek: elevation, dramatic mountain terrain, river gorges, and uninterrupted bushveld views within a pristine environment that feels removed, yet remains accessible. A tarred road leads directly to the main gate of the reserve, eliminating the typical access challenges associated with remote bush properties while preserving a strong sense of arrival.

The reserve lies within comfortable reach of both Kruger National Park (Malelane Gate) and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, positioning it well for international fly-in guests, curated safari circuits, or conservation-linked tourism.

The existing hospitality footprint provides a working base to reposition, refine, or expand. The 4-star lodge accommodates up to 34 guests and includes a dining area, bar, lounge, swimming pool, 20-seater conference facility, and supporting back-of-house infrastructure, including a dedicated meat processing facility. The layout allows for simultaneous use across leisure guests, corporate strategy sessions, conservation workshops, or curated safari experiences without operational conflict.

Accommodation is diversified to support tiered pricing and flexible market segmentation:

- Main lodge suites for full-service guests
- A five-bedroom guest house with its own pool for exclusive group bookings
- Additional two- and three-bedroom guest houses
- Two backpacker-style en-suite units suited to adventure, volunteer, or research segments
- A manager’s residence for on-site operational oversight
- A 15-metre diameter helipad enhances access for high-end tourism, conservation partners, executive retreats, or specialist wildlife clients.

From a conservation and eco-tourism standpoint, the asset offers ecological depth. Approximately 35 game species are present, including five cat species. Birdlife exceeds 200 recorded species, supported by more than 190 identified tree species. This biodiversity supports photographic safaris, guided ecology walks, birding tourism, educational retreats, and specialist conservation programming.

Water security strengthens long-term viability and expansion potential. The property includes 21 boreholes (six equipped) and 10 dams, providing resilience for lodge operations, wildlife management, and potential additional eco-accommodation nodes.

This is not a passive-income asset or a short-term yield strategy. It is suited to an investor-operator or conservation-led hospitality group who understands that value here is built through positioning, experiential design, environmental stewardship, and consistent management. The opportunity lies in shaping the reserve into a clearly defined eco brand—whether as a boutique safari retreat, conservation-focused reserve, wellness-in-the-wild destination, or hybrid hospitality model aligned with responsible tourism growth in Mpumalanga.

The agent of this listing holds a valid FFC and is registered with the PPRA.