1 Saragossa Tourism Operations (Pty) Ltd.
Saragossa Game Reserve - A place away from time
Saragossa is a haven of tranquility in the heart of the African bush, located
on the banks of the Elands River, approximately 20 km east of the old railway
village Waterval Boven (Emgwenya). We are about half way between
Johannesburg and Kruger National Park.
This exclusive nature and wildlife retreat covers a variety of ecosystems,
from riverine forest to savannah to bushveld. With an aura of calmness and
beautiful nature, it is the ideal place to start or end your journey in South Africa.
Giraffe, hippo, zebra, blue wildebeest and eland are just a few of the indigenous species that roam
freely throughout the 1400-hectare reserve. Caracal, hyena, porcupines and many more can be
discovered.
Here at Saragossa, luxury accommodation goes hand in hand with food consciousness and gourmet
dining. Most of our meat, fruit and veggies are produced on our land. Saragossa is also a working
farm, with a commitment to organic, eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture. Meet our people and
let us show you what we do.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, discover the wonders of the African veld, and explore
Mpumalanga’s rich history. We offer a range of amazing activities as well as deep relaxation without
any fixed schedules.
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life and share our passion for this magical place.
Our Philosophy: Mindfulness
The professional and personal commitments of modern life challenge each and every one of us and
often wear us down. Once in a while we need to escape from this web of obligations. We carry with
us burdens of the past and fears for the future, but rarely do we take time to savour the delights of
the moment.
Saragossa is the perfect spot to slow down, to re-connect with yourself and the world around you. It
is our wish to make this a refreshing, rejuvenating experience for our guests.
We at Saragossa seek to be in harmony with ourselves, our land and our fellow human beings. We
treat our environment and resources with respect. Most of our produce is cultivated organically and
we aim to be self-sufficient. We protect the environment by using solar power, combating invasive
alien vegetation, recycling waste and rehabilitating endangered flora and fauna.
We observe a strict code of conduct in promoting fair trade and support for local commercial
enterprise. Our staff and our neighbours are valuable to us: we appreciate the pleasure and benefit
of cordial working relationships with them.
Let us share with you the harmony and bliss of this magical corner of the earth.
Experience the bounty and beauty of the African veld at Saragossa.
www.saragossa.co.za| [email protected] | +49 (0)30 68597711| +27 (0)87 121 0710
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Our Food Philosophy
Respecting ourselves, our land and our resources is one of the steps we take each day to live well.
That’s why the quality of our food is so important to us. We want to know what we eat and where it
came from. Food and the way we eat it have a great effect on our well-being. At Saragossa we think
it’s important to enjoy our meals, to eat slowly and in good company (or comfortable privacy,
whichever you prefer).
We produce fresh and organically home-grown ingredients for our meals: vegetables, fruit, meat,
and eggs. Other ingredients come from local farms and businesses.
We keep our own sheep, pigs, cattle, poultry, rabbits, fowls and venison in free-range and
appropriate to the species.
Enjoy our range of fresh herbs (basil, lemongrass and thyme for example), avocados, mangos and
nuts from our trees, crispy lattuce from the green houses. We put lots of thought into the creation of
our dishes and it’s all about diversity to us. We aim to make every meal an experience and a feast.
The Game being luxury accommodation prides itself with exquisite breakfasts, delicious lunches,
opulent high teas and gourmet dining.
Elands Valley
Elands Valley stretches lavishly along the Elands River and follows it from the area west of Waterval
Boven to Elandshoek further north where it joins the Crocodile River, and to Kaapsehoop in the east.
The Valley separates the Highveld, with its towering escarpment, from the bushlands and savannah
of the subtropical Lowveld. Citrus fruits and other crops flourish in this fertile region. Gold and lime
have also been found and mined. The landscape is a beautiful mixture between mountains and hills,
forests along the river and savannah – an irreplaceable area with the highest biodiversity status.
Elands River is an important perennial water source for the Valley, the Lowveld and the southern part
of Kruger National Park. Its beauty is reflected in the remarkable waterfall in Waterval Boven.
In days gone by the Valley is believed to have been inhabited and farmed by Khoikhoi and, later, the
Basuto. By the time the first Europeans arrived, those early inhabitants had been driven away by the
Swazi, who subsequently settled here. Nineteenth-century records tell of encounters between the
Swazi and the occasional game hunter, or pioneers passing through in an era when travel was only
possible on foot, horseback or by ox-wagon.
Things changed dramatically in the 1890s, when the Netherlands-South African Railway Company
(ZASM) built a railway to connect landlocked Pretoria to Delagoa Bay (today’s Maputo Bay) in
Mozambique. The advent of the railway boosted trade in the Valley.
In 1895 the railway between Waterval Onder and Waterval Boven became known for its four
kilometres of rack railroad that climbed up the escarpment and for the famous ZASM tunnel that had
been blown into the rocks for this purpose. This narrow-gauge sideline – a remarkable piece of
engineering – was one of few racktracks in the world.
In 1920, upon completion of a new train line along the waterfall, the tunnel became the first road
leading directly into the Valley, which had previously been accessible only on foot or by train. It was
only in 1972 that an adjacent tunnel and the N4 national highway were built to link Johannesburg
with Nelspruit and Maputo.
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The Valley’s most famous inhabitant was Paul Kruger, the last president of the South African Republic
(Transvaal), who spent several months here in 1900. Forced to flee from Pretoria at the height of the
Anglo-Boer War, he took up residence at the Krugerhof, near Waterval Onder, while his government
was based at Machadodorp. Word has it, that president Kruger preferred the warmth of Waterval
Onder to the cold of the Highveld. As a result, his ministers had to shuttle back and forth to manage
the affairs of state. Kruger later fled to Europe, via Mozambique, and remained there for the rest of
his life. He died in Switzerland in 1904. Though initially buried in Europe, he was finally laid to rest in
Pretoria.
Other noteworthy places in the Valley – to name just two – are the old goldmining village
Kaapsehoop (or Kaapsche Hoop), which is also known for its wild horses and the rare blue swallow,
and the Sappi Pulp Mill, the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and a giant in the paper
trade.
Nowadays, with agriculture no longer profitable, only a few commercial farms have remained in the
Valley. It is home to retirees who enjoy nature and country living.
Source
Davies-Webb, Paddy (2009): Memories of the Lowveld’s Elands Valley, 1854-1983, Recollections of a
lifetime in the Valley and its surrounds. ISBN 978-0-620-44799-7
Fauna and Flora
Saragossa Game Reserve is located in the province of Mpumalanga. It is situated in the high
Middleveld and most of it consists of rolling grassland. Mpumalanga’s escarpment and Lowveld form
a transitional area between grassland and savannah biomes. Hundreds of kilometres of savannah are
suddenly transformed into the densely forested ravines and waterfalls of the escarpment, only to
change once again into the subtropical splendour of the Lowveld.
Saragossa nestles in a valley, characterised by a rich diversity of trees and plants, ranging from the
paperbark thorn tree (Acacia sieberiana) in the flatlands to the mountain cabbage tree (Cussonia
paniculata) on the slopes. Fiery aloes stand sentinel on the hills.
The wildlife at Saragossa is indigenous to this area. Only a century ago, these animals still roamed
freely through the valleys and flatlands.
Just a few of the species you might encounter on your visit: kudu, impala, water buck, eland, giraffe,
zebra, ostriches, mountain reedbuck, blue wildebeest, blesbuck, steenbuck, duiker, blue duiker, the
rare red duiker, nyala, bushbuck, hippo, caracal, black-backed jackal, civets, genets, thick-tailed bush
babies, honey badgers and countless species of birds, including the Narina trogon. A list of our birds
is available at the Lodge or upon request.
Saragossa Game Lodge
A luxury boutique hideaway, Saragossa Game Lodge is nestled in the heart of the reserve,
surrounded by dams, streams, savannah and bushveld. The original homestead, built in the 1920s,
was recently restored to preserve its old world atmosphere and original charm. In keeping with the
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grand colonial style of the lodge, all suites and rooms are decorated with the same understated
elegance of bygone years.
The leisure rooms include a cosy lounge, a bar with an open fireplace, a cigar lounge and whiskey
bar, a wine cellar and a dining room. The spacious veranda looks out onto grasslands where animals
come to graze.
Up to 18 guests can be accommodated in the main lodge and the villa. The lodge comprises four
garden suites, two lodge rooms and a honeymoon suite. The separate villa has two double
bedrooms.
The lodge has a large heated swimming pool with Jacuzzi seats, a pool bar and a scenic wedding and
events venue (lapa).
The pool is centrally situated for guests to use at any time. During the day the pool bar serves drinks
and snacks while guests can relax and enjoy the sun and stunning surroundings.
Indulge in a soothing massage, relax at the pool, go on a game drive or simply sit on the veranda and
watch the animals come to drink from the streams.
Enjoy with us the beauty of Africa and the bliss of this magical place.
Room types
The garden suites are suitable for single or double occupancy. Each has a comfortable and spacious
lounge with a fireplace and private patio, a bedroom and an en suite bathroom equipped with a
shower and bath. All suites and patios overlook the gardens around the lodge.
Our lodge rooms are designed to accommodate one or two guests. They consist of a spacious
bedroom and a modern bathroom with shower and/or bath.
The honeymoon suite is a spacious, beautifully designed room with a freestanding bath overlooking
the dam. It also has a bathroom and shower, a walk-in wardrobe and a fireplace on the private
terrace.
The freestanding villa is situated in the middle of the bushveld, a two-minute walk from the lodge. It
has got two bedrooms with twin or double beds, a spacious, beautifully designed lounge with a
fireplace, a large kitchen and dining area, a private heated pool, a sundeck, outdoor shower and
firepit with magnificent views of the mountains.
All rooms have king-size beds, Egyptian cotton bed linen, bathrobes, a mini bar, coffee and tea
making facilities, a hairdryer, a safe and ceiling fans. They all have a private entrance leading into the
garden and pool area.
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Wedding Venue
Weddings are always special. They are a time to celebrate love, to share love, to be in love!
We at Saragossa believe that each and every couple should have the most beautiful, joyous day –
and deserves nothing less than the best. When we say “weddings”, we mean it! We mean to take the
weight off your shoulders and to make your wedding the event you dream of.
Saragossa has no boundaries in terms of wedding venues. Your ceremony can be held anywhere on
the reserve and farm – imagine yourself in the bush, on a mountain top, in a pecan grove…we are
sure you will find the spot of your dreams.
Our classic venue for receptions is our Lapa, which is hewn from the rocks of the area and covered in
thatch. It is set next to the Saragossa dam, with wonderful views of the sunset and mountains. A
wooden walk way over the water adds to the spectacular opportunities for stunning wedding photos
with hippos grunting in the background.
This perfect breathtaking backdrop will leave all guests talking about any wedding for many years to
come. No matter what the colour scheme may be, whether it is neutral colours or bright and funky
this is the venue for you. Add a few lanterns to the already romantic setting, with a roaring bonfire,
or dance the night away…we will be able to provide something perfect for you.
We can cater for 2 to 120 wedding guests. We offer packages for accommodation, and modular
prices for ceremony and reception. Custom made packages are available as well. Please contact us
for more information.
“To the lovers, may your joys be as bright as the morning, and your sorrows but shadows that fade in
the sunlight.”
www.saragossa.co.za| [email protected] | +49 (0)30 6859 7711 | +27 (0)87 121 0710