Jembisa lodge is situated on the 2 500 ha Palala River Reserve and offers a variety of accommodation ranging from and exclusive lodge to various self catering options and can accommodate between 2 and 10 people per unit. Guests are welcome to do their own game drives although guided game drives and walks can be booked. The Palala river bisects the reserve for seven kilometers and along its course African Finfoot, White-Backed Night-Heron, Little bittern and Half-collared Kingfisher, can be found. The dense riverine shrubs is a good spot to look for terrestrial brownbull, yellow bellied greenbull, White throated Robin and African Firefinch. A birdhide has recently been constructed at Kingfisher cottage making it an ideal spot to stake out the above mentioned birds.
In the north of the reserve a spring fed wetland is host to numerous local specials and an early morning visit will reveal White-backed duck, Black crake, African Jacana and African snipe. Buff spotted flufftail is often heard calling from deep within the reedbeds. The adjacent woodland is also a good place to see lizard buzzard and Black cuckooshrike. Bushveld birds are well represented in the rest of the reserve with amongst others, Striped Kingfisher, Purple roller, Grey Penduline tit, Temmincks courser and Little Sparrowhawk. Kurrichane buttonquail also occur.From Vaalwater take the Melkrivier turn-off and follow the road for 40 kms. Turn left onto a dirt road at the first Jembisa sign. Follow the road for 5.9 kms and turn right still following the Jembisa boards. Follow the road for until reaching the main gate to Jembisa on the right hand side. Palala River reserve forms part of the Birds in Reserves Project with the ADU at the University of Cape Town and one can submit checklists if contributing to this project.
Cost: self catering R200.00 – R275.00 pppn. Main lodge R2000.00 PPPN
