Our History

Medbury Fruit Farms was founded in 1953 and initially the property was used as a fruit farm but was later converted into a dairy farm.
The property was purchased in 1996 by the current owner, Rugby Hall of Fame member and 1995 Rugby World Cup winner Mr. Hennie Le Roux. Hennie had a vision of creating a sustainable habitat for wildlife when he purchased Medbury, and started converting the property from a dairy farm into a game reserve. Through many months of hard work by 1997 all the internal stock fences were removed allowing the indigenous animals like bushbuck, grey and blue duiker, kudu, and bush pig, which were found in limited numbers on the farm, to roam freely on the reserve.

This paved the way for the introduction of other species, starting in 1998,  some of which had been displaced in the area by farming and livestock pressure, and the reserve is now a proud home to more than 25 species of wildlife including Buffalo, Giraffe and Burchells Zebra. 

Aloe Ridge was purchased in 1998 and this sizeable piece of land was added to the reserve. The peninsula where The Lodge is situated was purchased in 2010 and other small portions of land were purchased and added to the reserve over the years. The original building on the peninsula was initially called Laboma Lodge and has undergone several changes since 2010 to become the Crown jewel of Medbury known simply as The Lodge.

Crown River Safari welcomed its first guests in 1998 and has since then been the destination of choice for many hunters from all over the world. The name and logo of Crown River Safari is derived from 2 sources; Firstly the Crowned Eagles who were, and still, nest in a magnificent old Yellowwood tree located in a deep secluded valley on the property. This nest has been in use by the family of Crowned Eagles  since the early 1980’s and these fierce raptors return every year to the nest to raise a chick. Secondly, the peninsula that is the crown of the Kariega River valley. The confluence of the Palmiet and Kariega rivers at the Settlers dam push back lifegiving water to create the crown of a river behind the dam wall. Medbury surrounds between 80 and 90% of the Settlers dam and this mix of valley bushveld and open plains with abundant water helps a myriad of wildlife, birds and all manner of creatures thrive here.