Mansfield Private Reserve

Amazing experience, checked off on the bucket list, the experience of hiking with wild animal seeing them without cages or barriers. Living even if it's just for a couple of days without electricity in a tent in the middle of nowhere. Just a camp fire as company. The only thing that would've made the 5 star experience, the roads to the camp site, not recommended that you attempt it with normal people carriers, even with a 2.5D bakkie it was tough going.

We booked the 6 sleeper farmhouse and was welcomed by a not very friendly guy. We booked in and was expecting to be taken to the house. Instead of us driving there we found out that the office was actually attached to the house, with a door. That door was locked though. He said that there weren't anyone else booking in, so we would have our privacy. That was not the case. They were working there every day. We could hear the conversation when people came to book in. We didn't have the privacy we thought the house was going to give- the house was not advertised as having it's office attached. If it was, we would not have booked it.

Nice quiet private nature reserve with great family facilities. Fully equipped house and nice hiking trails.

This review is only for the camping experience. The dirt road from the main road is full of potholes. In the reserve the roads are not maintained and in a very poor condition. It is not advisable for normal road caravans to visit the reserve. Although the camping area has lawn, there are hundreds of earthworms under the lawn pushing small muddy heaps through the lawn creating quite a mess when it is wet from the dew in the mornings. We walked a lot on the internal roads (the hiking trail does not exist any more). The bird life is quite rewarding - spotted 55 species. The planes from the training airbase which is close by, creates a constant noise during the day. Think the campsite will work best for groups.

Our stay in the farmhouse on Mansfield Estate has been stunning so far. Lovely staff, serene environment, spacious, fairly priced, well equipped, family friendly. Slightly out of town/secluded so make sure you're stocked of all your immediate essentials, but if you're after a break from city living, then this is the place.