Owners, Steve and Cheryl Sturlese, along with Kevin and Jeanette Devitt have created a family friendly, luxury Homestead that encompasses all things bushveld, comfort, service and passion all built on a shared interest and love for Wildlife and meaningful conservation. 
Nestled in the Manyoni Private Game Reserve you will find a small piece of paradise, set in the North of the reserve. The name Hlekani was derived from the Zulu culture meaning ‘laughter’, creating a warm, happy and relaxed environment for all who visit this luxurious destination.

 

Hlekani Homestead is a private lodge that was built and designed specifically to overlook the Ubombo Mountains in the East, and overlooks the legendary Ghost Mountain of Mkhuze. Each room was meticulously designed with love, and each furnishing piece has some history and a story to tell. 

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The landscape consists of a varied landscape of mountains, open plains, acacia thornveld and dense riverine woodlands, boasting the Big 5 (Rhino, Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard and Lion), over 70 mammal species (Spotted Hyena, Brown Hyena, Nyala, Impala, Giraffe, Zebra, African Wildcat Serval, Black Back Jackal, Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Common Reedbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Bush Buck, Waterbuck, Steenbok, Red & Grey Duiker, Warthog, Bushpig, Ostrich) a diverse range of birdlife with over 400 species, as well as the re-introduction of both Cheetah and the endangered Ground Pangolin.  

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The reserve was confirmed in 2005 as a release site by the WWF and a founder population of Black Rhino were released into their home as part of the WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project. In 2009 the reserve was proclaimed by the government as a Nature Reserve under the protected areas act, giving it a strong focus on conserving biodiversity.

 

Hlekani Homestead has been the location for filming of The Bachelor (Sweden) in 2019 with a 5* review from Warner Bros. 
 

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