24 Hours at Abelana Safari Camp - Tented Magic in the Bushveld

Abelana Safari Camp - The Tents

The camp seamlessly marries traditional safari aesthetics with modern comfort. A communal lounge with wooden deck invites you to unwind while taking in the panoramic views of the landscape. The open-air dining and boma area promises starlit feasts while the fire-pit whispers promises of deep conversations under the night sky.



The suites are a masterclass in elegance and simplicity. The sturdy canvas walls enclose a well appointed bedroom, with comfortable beds, soft plush bedding and touches of old world safari expeditions. The tents each offer an en-suite bathroom with a shower. Each tent is completed with a private deck and outdoor furniture - the perfect spot to enjoy your first morning coffee overlooking the bushveld.

Game Drives at Abelana Safari Camp - The reason we go on Safari right ?

John and Mr.T our formidable guide and tracker team filled the cooler box with refreshing beverages and we set off on our first game drive in this stunningly beautiful reserve; all the while John was explaining the vastly different topography of Abelana. The Granite Outcrops and Koppies (small hills and rocky areas) dotted across the horizon is so vastly different from what we are used to, that both Martin and I could not stop remarking about their beauty and majesty.

Abelana Game Reserve is a Wildlife Lovers Paradise and Bird Watchers Dream. With over 230 identified bird species in the reserve each game drive offers a unique and immersive experience into this remarkable wilderness region. A mere 10 minutes into our first Safari in the Abelana Game Reserve we stopped at the most beautiful dam, and like rapid fire from a machine gun, John started listing bird species. I was still looking through my camera viewfinder to keep up and photograph the scenery when suddenly he exclaimed "Oh look! Lions" and as I lifted my head up there were not just any lions, mating lions putting on a massive display for us.

Without missing a beat, John started imparting his knowledge about this specific pride, the pride dynamics, their history and of course gave us a bit of insight into their individual personas.

What Martin and I both appreciate about Abelana, is the scientific monitoring and research that his being done in conjunction with Leo Africa - Volunteers for Wildlife and Conservation. Most reserves will name the pride male, or if there is a particularly belligerent female she too will be bestowed a name. Abelana Game Reserve however sticks to the science and avoids anthropomorphism by not giving these animals cutesy names. Instead they are referred to as (and I am thumb sucking the actual information here) P21-5. Personally I feel this allows the lion to be monitored as a lion and not given an identity created by a fanbase. We stick to the facts. If P21-5 moves away from his territory and causes ructions with another male lion from one of the other prides, it is reported as such, and not Mufassa and Scar are having a go at each other again.

We like facts, but I digress. After watching these lions do what lions do best, when they are not lying around we continued our journey through the reserve in search of other residents that are fortunate enough to call this their home.

The entire game drive was a thrilling adventure, of Big5, Birding and of course the little things. John is an exceptional walking guide, and his knowledge expands far beyond the typical game drive information. The way he delivers this knowledge with whit, and sometimes even a song from the 80's makes for an enjoyable experience all round.

The next morning, our Game drive started with a song from John before setting out to find more birds, animals and trees. There is something special about drinking coffee under a thousand year old Baobab as birds welcome the dawn in chorus.

Abelana ticks all the boxes in terms of an authentic safari experience, they are a Big5 Reserve, so your chances of seeing the Big things are high, John and Mr T are master orators, trackers and bushmen and you are guaranteed an educational and entertaining experience from start to finish.

Food Glorious Food - Dining at Abelana Safari Camp

John and Marge, not only act as guide and gracious hostess, they are also the GM Couple that run the day to day aspects of Abelana Safari Camp. Marge runs a tight ship, and this is made clear in the exceptional food offering she and her staff produce in their kitchen. Abelana Safari Camp is not about fine dining or meticulous plating, in the words of the famed Gordon Ramsey, its simple food done exceptionally well. If Michelin style dining is what you are after, then Abelana Safari Camp is not the right fit for you. However if you want to experience true hospitality and authentic South African Cuisine - served with so much love and care, then you are in the right place.

High tea consisted of a myriad of sweet and savoury treats - an delicious dark chocolate cake, spinach and feta quiche and a few assorted nibbles. Enough to keep the wolf at bay, but not so rich and heavy that you are uncomfortable bumping around in the back of a game drive vehicle. This was accompanied by two of my all time favourite things, Iced Tea (home made of course) and Iced Coffee. I made Martin take a tall glass of iced tea while I inhaled my iced coffee before reaching for his glass of pure refreshing bliss. A good home made Iced tea, is a perfect blend of Rooibos and Ceylon, with fresh lemon and just a squeeze of honey. I was tempted to grab the bottle and stash it in my camera bag.

At this juncture it is important to mention, that there was another guest in Camp, a delightful gentleman who was also a vegetarian (we wont hold this against him) He had wanted to experience a traditional South African Boma Braai (BBQ to our international audience) and for those that have been on safari before, know - that this is a meal that is punctuated by meat, so I was interested to see what marvels Marge would produce from her kitchen.

Dinner was spectacular. While there was a fair amount of animal protein being cooked over the open fire, she had procured Vegetarian Spare Ribs (who knew) so that he could also have the smokey Mopane wood flavour, and then there was every vegetable imaginable represented in some manner or form on the Table. A Cauliflower Salad, that I have tried so many times to reproduce without much success that was simply delicious. The Aubergine, the Gemsquash, the Baked Sweet Potato, the salads - it was enough for me to almost become a vegetarian for the night. All the comfort and warmth that Marge had put into that meal was palpable and that is before we even got to the proteins.

The fusion of traditional African flavours with modern culinary techniques made each bite an experience in itself.

We are fortunate to have travelled to a number of Ultra Luxury Lodges over the years, and we have dined at exceptional restaurants locally and internationally, but nothing compares to comfort food, prepared in the African bushveld over an open fire under the starlit sky.



Brunch the next morning was an equally grand affair, personalised baked egg phyllo cups, grilled mushrooms, toast and all the usual suspects that make for a great breakfast, Vegetables (remember there Vegetarian) and a cheese and charcuterie board that was nothing short of spectacular. 

Stories Under the Stars

After dinner we made our way back to the camp fire. Sitting around a Campfire in the bush regaling stories creates an invisible thread that captivates and connects everyone around it. The flickering flames casting dancing shadows is the perfect backdrop to share safari stories. Between Martin and John there were a number of great tales shared, close encounters with leopards, the wisdom of elephants and each story painted vivid pictures of the wonderful lives we are blessed to live.

For centuries man has gathered around a fire, telling stories be it from generation to generation, fables and life lessons or warnings, and so often this special experience is lost in the more modern, brick and mortar lodges. Yet, here at Abelana Safari Camp, it draws you in, and reconnects you to a time long past and forgotten. It allows you to be still within yourself as you stare into the fire and to reconnect with those around you, and with yourself.

By far, this was and still is my biggest draw card for visiting Abelana Safari Camp. The golden thread that John and Marge have so meticulously woven through the entire guest experience culminates in ending your night around the fire while lions roar in the distance and Hyena's whoop at each other and you sit quietly sipping an Amarula over ice.

A Good Nights Rest

While some people have a bit of trepidation at the thought of sleeping in a tented camp - ironically it is where Martin and I generally have our best nights rest. The tents are large and sturdy, with strategically placed windows to create enough of a cross breeze to keep you cool, and in winter these can be closed to keep you warm. There is also a large fan in each room for the nights where it can get hot and muggy outside - while we visited in the heat of summer the tents were so well designed that we did not even require the fan.

The gentle breeze, chirping crickets and the occasional rustling outside makes for a lullaby like no other. We went to sleep peacefully as the same mating lions we encountered earlier roared in the distance, only waking the next morning before the first light broke the horizon. While I am generally grumpy about getting up early, this time of the day when the bush quite literally comes alive with birdsong and light is one of my favourite "me" moments. To sit quietly with a cup of coffee and be a spectator to the worlds greatest choir is a privilege not many people get to experience, so I make sure to never take these peaceful moments for granted. 

Farewells & Reflections

Abelana Safari Camp is exactly what it says on the box. It is an authentic safari camp that transports you back in time, when life was simpler, and the pace was slower. The Meru-style tents are comfortable, clean and well appointed. There are no fancy bells and whistles - its simple without being simple. There are so many emotional complexities in being so deeply immersed in nature and the wilderness that are heightened by staying in a tented camp. There is an undeniable romance to sleeping in a tent, the simplicity, the solitude and the sense of being one is a luxury that no brick and mortar suite can replicate.

John and Marge are kind, gentle and passionate about their Camp. No request was ever too much, and everything was done with genuine care and love. These are people who have forged a life living in the remote wilderness area's away from modern amenities and their unrivalled love for this lifestyle is visible in every small touch and everything that they do.



If you are looking for an ultra modern, luxury camp with Wifi throughout the entire lodge, this is not the place for you; however if you are yearning for peace, tranquility and a place to reconnect, be it with your children, spouse or nature then Abelana Safari Camp is just what you need.

My recommendation, run, don't walk. Book your Martin Meyer Safaris Abelana Safari Camp stay now, before the world gets wind of this immaculate piece of paradise.

Did you know ? Abelana Safari Camp features heavily in all of our 2025 Conservation Safaris - take a look at our current itineraries below - alternatively get in touch and we can personalise your own private Conservation Safari!