With Rukiya

Tailor-make your safari experience

Your
Safari

We have a variety of safari activity options for visitors to our camp. Tailor-make your safari to match our set-daily activities.

AM Game drives conducted on Open Vehicles in the Balule Nature Reserve with the Opportunity to see the Big-Five.
PM Game drives conducted on Open Vehicles in the Wild Rivers Nature Reserve, A Non-Big-Five drive which focus on different aspects of the Bush and includes a classic African Sunset experience.
Guided bush walks available upon request.
Embrace a comprehensive approach to the guided activities, which delves beyond merely spotlighting large animals to intricately explore the surrounding environment and fascinating facts about the entire bush as a whole.
Learn from our guiding team who rely heavily on the tracks and signs of the bush to find the animals on game drive.
Immerse yourself in bird watching from the comfort of the camps, surrounded by diverse bird species. The location, established trees, and river frontage create an ideal habitat for birds, including Pels Fishing Owls, African Finfoot, and Scaly Throated Honey Guides
Enjoy your breakfasts as a bush picnic style during the AM game drive.
Sundowners and snacks enjoyed during our classic African Sunset experience.
A Full Day Safari add-on option is available, experience the renowned Kruger National Park on a full-day tour. Discover the park's rich history and encounter a high density of wildlife, including the Big Five, along with diverse landscapes of mountains, plains, and tropical forests.

Please note that the below is advising the typical times at Rukiya, a “day” at Rukiya begins at 13h00, Check In time and Concludes at Checkout time, the flow of Activities on the Full Board Rate cannot be changed, however Guests are also able to tailor build their experience at Rukiya by adding and include Game Drives and other extra activities on to our Dinner, Bed and Breakfast Rate please feel free to contact us for more!

Full Board Typical Times

Unique
Wildlife Experiences

Details
Useful Info

When to Go

Safari Holidays lend themselves to all seasons.

May to October are our cooler months. These months are the dry, winter months, with chilly evenings and mornings, and mild daily temperatures. The bush is less dense and game viewing is often easier during this period.

November to April is summer season and travel is just as rewarding with scenic beauty and exceptional birdwatching, as migrant species flock southwards. The average rainfall for the year is 350mm, with most rainfall occurring during mid-summer. It generally occurs in the form of thunderstorms where a downpour is experienced, which very seldomly lasting longer than a few hours.

What to Pack

Throughout the year, lightweight neutral-coloured clothing is recommended, as well as suitable walking shoes.

There is a swimming pool, so bring swimming togs along, hats, sun glasses, and sunscreen, and remember to pack cameras, chargers, binoculars, and other gadgets or reference books for the area’s wildlife and landscape if you would like.

Early morning game drives can be chilly, especially during the cooler months of the year (May to October) and it is recommended that guests pack enough warm clothing, such as scarfs, beanies, and jackets.

What to Expect

Rukiya is immediately striking – the location of the camp is unbeatable, exclusive, and serene. Guests can expect to feel themselves unwind and absorb the elements of nature in superb comfort at this unique, riverside spot.

Wild Rivers Nature Reserve is not Big 5, but is home to the sleek and agile leopard, which has frequently been spotted around the lodge along with many other game species. Morning Game Drives take place in the Balule Game Reserve, which is located 10km away from Wild Rivers, so early morning game drives begin with a short drive before arriving at the Bulule Nature Reserve.

What you'll see
Wildlife

Preditors

There are hyena and leopard on the Wild Rivers Reserve, and lions from the neighbouring reserve can be heard calling in the distance. Nile crocodiles are present in the river in front of camp, and some of the smaller nocturnal predators can be seen out on night drive in the reserve: jackal, mongoose, civet, and genet, among others. Game drives in Balule offer the opportunity to see prominent predators, such as lions and African wild dogs, in addition to leopard and hyena.

Mammals

Wild Rivers Reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, but is not a Big-Five area, however leopard are often seen in the reserve. The Blyde and Olifants Rivers attract many herbivorous mammals, such as warthog, waterbuck, impala, zebra, giraffe, hippo, and many more. There are no buffalo, elephant, lion or rhino onsite, but one daily game drive takes place on an exclusive traverse in a section of the Balule Nature Reserve, so all of Kruger’s wildlife species can be seen.

Birdlife

Rukiya’s location on the banks of the Blyde River is the perfect residence for the elusive Pel’s fishing owl, while other speciality water-orientated birds here include African finfoot, African fish eagle, trumpeter hornbill, various kingfishers, herons, black crakes, storks, and bee-eaters. There are many birds of prey to be seen, as well as larks, orioles, weavers, babblers, shrikes, and numerous ground fowls.

Info