Klaserie Drift’s New Safari Camp
Luxury has been given a new name at Klaserie Drift, on the banks of the Klaserie River in Mpumalanga, and that name is Misava, which means Earth.
Klaserie Drift owners and founders have opened Misava Safari Camp to the world, having breathed new life into one the original and oldest camps in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. This site was first purchased in 1936 by Edwin Crookes - before the reserve was even formally established in 1969. This pristine land stayed in the family for six decades until 1997, when it was acquired by the current owners, who have fiercely preserved its history.
Travellers now enjoy serene luxury in five opulent units, overlooking the wilderness and river, and passing wildlife and birdlife. Three of the site’s original rondavels have been carefully converted to sumptuous five-star rooms. Two additional villas were built from the ground up, as premium accommodation for honeymooners, romantic getaways and travellers in search of ultimate luxury in the bush.
Each suite has received a native Shangaan name, after the five elements: Misava (Earth), Mati (Water), Moya (Air), Kwetsima (Spirit), and Ndzilo (Fire). Decorated in quintessential Klaserie Drift splendour and simple charm, the suites are equipped with modern conveniences and comforts. These include air conditioning and ceiling fans, king-size beds, TV’s with full DSTV bouquet, luxury amenities and turn-down service, private decks overlooking the wilderness and, of course, free WiFi for on-the-spot Instagramming.
A close-knit team with a family feel, the Klaserie Drift team deliver a warm, personalized safari to travelers in search of a soulful African getaway. Misava Safari Camp is a small boutique lodge, offering exclusivity and a five-star experience to a maximum of ten guests at a time. The 60 000-hectare Klaserie Private National Park is the expansive home to no more than five commercial lodge groups, which guarantees guests undisturbed enjoyment of the best animal sightings, low vehicle density and personal attention.
A labour of love
The transformation of Misava Safari Camp has been a personal event for those who live and work at Klaserie Drift, with all hands on deck.
The owners, a married couple, took a hands-on approach to the project with Adriaan Maarschalk, a qualified architect, taking charge of the architectural plans for the old rondavels and the new villas. Meanwhile, almost all the paintings in the lodge and in the suites are the artworks of co-owner and artist, Mariette Maarschalk, each offering a window into her deep love of Africa. Many of the other art pieces around the lodge were salvaged from the original self-catering camp on this site.
General Manager, Talitha Jansen was given responsibility for the suite interiors, to decorate and outfit the rooms to the opulent, yet uncomplicated, standards of Klaserie Drift. Meanwhile, on the ground, building and construction fell to GM, Dawie, who supervised the teams laying foundations and bricks, installing fittings and fixtures.
All this, while Klaserie Drift continued to operate at full steam at their Amani Safari Camp, with management, chef, and service teams pulling their weight, as well as a ranger team that’s now turning heads for having two full-time female rangers on board!
Lodge amenities that facilitate rest and rejuvenation
According to General Manager, Dawie Jansen, Misava Safari Camp adopts Klaserie Drift’s service style of ‘casual luxury’, offering all the bells and whistles of a five-star lodge without being ostentatious or overbearing. The boutique safari camp offers visitors the tranquility of a well-stocked library, hours spent basking in the African sun beside a glistening infinity pool, or headspace to exhale and unwind at the open-air bar.
Guests of Misava Safari Camp are treated to daily game drives into the raw wilderness of the Klaserie Private National Reserve. Here they are gifted with sightings of the magnificent Big Five, herds of game, and some of Africa’s delights, such as pangolin, mobs of meerkats, the iconic wild dog, and cheetah coalitions. Guests may opt for an exclusive safari experience by booking their own private game drive vehicle, with a dedicated ranger and tracker at the helm.
For those who wish to experience a deeper, more personal connection with nature, Misava Safari Camp offers guided walking safaris, which can be enjoyed in the place of a morning game drive.
Delicious African-fusion meals may be served in-suite on private decks, around a blazing boma, on the lodge deck, in the open-air dining room, or in one of many wild locations around the reserve. As a small lodge, guest itineraries and special requests can be flexibly arranged.
Misava Safari Camp awaits
Currently closed for the COVID-19 lockdown, Misava Safari Camp will reopen its doors the moment the tourism industry is given the green light. The passionate and deeply invested people at Klaserie Drift wait with bated breath for local tourists and eventually, international travellers, to once again adventure to the African wilds of the Greater Kruger National Park.
On the Horizon
Still to come at Klaserie Drift, a new tented camp is set to open in 2021, expecting to welcome guests to an intimate, raw African experience coupled with the same indulgences of other Klaserie products.
For booking enquiries at Klaserie Drift, please contact the property directly: (015) 793 2077 or (082) 456 0673 // info@klaseriedrift.co.za