Breakfast is included. Dinner, safaris and spa treatments can be added.
Biodiversity
Marloth Park wildlife around Leriti
Leriti Safari House is a luxury safari lodge within Marloth Park, a wildlife-rich reserve close to Lionspruit Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park boundary. Some wildlife is experienced from the lodge, some in the reserve around us and some belongs to the larger wilderness beyond.
Wildlife at Leriti
Wildlife that moves through the lodge
Zebra, kudu, nyala, impala, warthog, mongoose, monkeys and other bushveld species often move through the area around the lodge. Every sighting is natural, so no two days are the same.
The main guest relaxation areas are fenced, creating a comfortable separation between guests and animals. You can swim, read, eat or relax outdoors with peace of mind while still feeling close to the bush. The idea is not to remove you from nature, but to let you enjoy it safely. Wildlife stays part of the atmosphere, while the lodge gives you a calm and protected space to settle into.
Birdlife
Birdlife at Leriti
Birdlife is one of the most constant parts of life at Leriti, from early morning calls in the trees to larger birds moving overhead, and the lodge sits within the same Lowveld birding landscape that makes the Kruger region so remarkable. Regular visitors include hornbills, purple-crested turacos, grey go-away-birds and smaller species such as kingfishers, rollers and wagtails.
Birds of prey are part of the wider Lowveld landscape too, with fish eagles, bateleurs and other raptors often seen or heard in the area. Fresh fruit and nuts are put out daily, bringing a steady rhythm of visitors into view for guests who enjoy birdwatching.
Kruger and Lionspruit
The larger wilderness nearby
Lions belong to the wilderness areas around Leriti rather than the everyday wildlife seen at the lodge. Nearby Lionspruit Game Reserve is known for lion and rhino, while the Kruger National Park supports a much wider range of large wildlife.
Marloth Park itself is not a Big Five reserve. For the broader Big Five safari experience, guests head into the Kruger, about 25 minutes’ drive away through Crocodile Bridge Gate. Leriti’s position between these landscapes is part of what makes a stay here distinctive: everyday wildlife around the lodge, and a very different safari experience a short drive away. Sightings are never guaranteed, and that is part of what makes them meaningful.
The smaller details
A place shared with the wild
Much of the life of the bushveld is in the smaller details: grasses and indigenous plants changing with the seasons, insects in the gardens, reptiles warming in the sun and birds responding to weather, food and water. After rain the reserve can turn greener and more active almost overnight; in the drier months the landscape opens up and the colours soften.
Biodiversity at Leriti is not separate from the stay. It is the soundscape, the changing vegetation and the small visitors around the gardens. The experience is not about having nature arranged for you. It is about being close enough to notice it.
Responsible viewing
Close, calm and respectful
Selected feeding areas around the lodge are supplied with boskos, a supplementary bush food used with the input of local rangers and veterinary knowledge. Zebra, kudu, nyala and impala may choose to visit, creating quiet chances to watch wildlife at close range. Where appropriate, our team may offer a closely supervised feeding moment. It is never a performance: the welfare of the animals and the safety of guests come first.
Often seen around the lodge
- Zebra, kudu and nyala
- Impala and warthog
- Mongoose and monkeys
- Hornbills and turacos
- Kingfishers and rollers
Good to know
Wildlife questions
What wildlife can guests see from Leriti?
Zebra, kudu, nyala, impala, warthog, mongoose, monkeys and a wide variety of birdlife often move through the area around the lodge. Wildlife sightings are natural and never guaranteed.
Are there lions in Marloth Park?
Lions are associated with the larger wilderness areas around Leriti rather than the everyday wildlife seen at the lodge. Nearby Lionspruit Game Reserve is known for lion and rhino, and the Kruger National Park supports lion and a much wider range of large wildlife.
Is Marloth Park Big Five?
No. Marloth Park is not a Big Five reserve. Guests at Leriti experience its everyday wildlife around the lodge, while the nearby Kruger National Park offers the broader Big Five safari experience on our private Kruger safaris.
Can we go on a guided bush walk?
Yes. Guided bush walks in Marloth Park can be added to a standard stay, and one is included in the Bush Bliss package.
Do you feed the animals at Leriti?
Selected feeding areas around the lodge are supplied with boskos, a supplementary bush food used with the input of local rangers and veterinary knowledge. Animals choose whether to visit, and any guest involvement is closely supervised and kept calm.
Does the wildlife change through the year?
Yes. After rain the reserve can turn greener and more active almost overnight. In the drier months the landscape opens up, the colours soften and wildlife moves to a different rhythm.
Is it safe to relax outdoors at the lodge?
Yes. The main guest relaxation areas are fenced, so you can swim, read and eat outdoors with a comfortable separation from the animals that move through the reserve.