Mala Mala Game Reserve, Main Camp

We first went to Mala Mala in March 2023. My husband and I loved it so much we returned. We had our friends, first time safari, join us and they were blown away. We stayed for 6 nights. Truly magical. Saw the magnificent 7. The cheetah and female leopard with her 2 cubs were the most memorable safari sightings we have ever witnessed (we have done 4 safari trips) . I was truly surprised to see the wild dog pack twice during our stay. Another special sighting. The service is always great. Food is always wonderful. The rooms are comfortable and spacious. Stayed in a luxury suite. Great view of the river. Daily visits by impalas, nyalas, monkeys and baboons. Saw elephants and giraffes across the river. Pool was being renovated but was able to walk to Sable Camp’s pool. The WiFi is slow but it’s expected. We celebrated 2 wedding anniversaries, ours and our friends. Mala Mala went beyond our expectations to help us celebrate. We had special a sundowner and a fantastic breakfast in the bush that was rudely interrupted by a bull elephant. Another memorable moment that all laugh about it. I hope to return some time.

I went to Mala Mala with my wife and my five kids…what an incredible experience what we have!! The Camp was fantastic, the food excellent, the attention great, and above all, the excursions were AMAZING!!.We had an incredible guide (Ranger) named Mike Kirkman. He was phenomenal in all aspects. Great knowledge of the animals, and the reserve (he found a Leopard following the scream of a Baboon!!), excellent driver (we get out in to the off roads many times….what an adventure!), a real gentleman, and above all a great person! We saw the big five, two days in a row, many other animals (including the wild dogs), plentiful of birds, and vegetation. In summary, Mala Mala reserve is the biggest place in the Sabi Sands, and you feel it!! Full of animals, adventures, and great service. In addition, I would like to mention that we had a health problem with our youngest kid, and the Hotel was really fantastic in the way that he treated us. I have no words to thank Mike (he was with us the whole journey), Philile (amazing host of the Camp), Rebecca (helping in all the details), Chantel (she does a fantastic and very efficient job), and Vusi!! In summary, it was a dream to go to Mala Mala, I hope that in the future I could have another dream….coming back!!

The safari experiences (early morning and evening each day) were each amazing -- we saw everything! Gabriel was our guide, and he is funny, kind, very knowledgeable, and adaptable to guests' preferences (although we just went along with whatever he suggested, and he never set us wrong). Late morning until optional 4pm tea is time to relax on your own, take a swim, check out the small but interesting gift shop, or use the exercise room. Meals were delicious, with a good variety. The staff is pleasant and very helpful. The lodging is quite private, "spa-like", and very comfortable and relaxing. We loved this trip! The reserve is vast, peaceful, pleasantly and naturally rustic, with a maze of dirt roads and offroad paths navigated expertly by Gabe our guide - we saw all manner of animal and other creature, birds, and vegetation, with Gabe explaining it all (really enjoyed pleasant stops for morning coffee and evening sunset cocktails served from the hood of our cruiser, to enjoy the view and chat with our small group of 6, and discuss what we had seen).

What an amazing place! Our four-night stay at Mala Mala was without doubt the peak of our trip to South Africa. Being able to carefully follow the animals off-road meant the sightings were phenomenal. Special shout out to Nic, our ranger, who was superb. The service, accommodation, food and wine was definitely 5-star quality. We hope to return before too long.

We had the opportunity to stay at Mala Mala for a couple of nights in March, 2024. This was our first Safari experience and it did not disappoint !! The wildlife was plentiful, diverse and a pleasure to view from just a few yards away. Mel was a great guide and helped us better understand nature and what we were seeing. The accommodations, food and vehicles were all top notch. We would love to return f we have the opportunity !!