Mala Mala Game Reserve, Main Camp

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 !!

I returned to MalaMala Sable Camp for the first time since the mid 90’s and it is truly magical. The staff are impeccable, the lodging is superb, and the entire experience is quite simply magical. We had the pleasure of being guided by Jaco who is fantastic - very knowledgable and someone who truly loves his job. We saw so many wildlife! Will definitely return to this camp. Thank you to Jaco and all the staff for such a memorable, magical experience.

Before embarking on the trip, I thought this was just going to be one of those “once in a lifetime” but after the first drive, the safari bug bit me and I knew I was hooked. Our ranger Reggie tried to set the right expectations by warning us this is not a zoo and we certainly cannot predict what we will see (or not) but by the 3rd drive, we have already seen all of the big fives! If you wonder if it will be boring just to go out and see the “same” animals multiple times, it is an absolute no. We saw roaring lions scent marking, leopards on trees with a dead impala, vultures circling a carcass, a lioness running after waterbucks etc. Reggie, our ranger’s vast knowledge of the animals and surroundings greatly enhanced our experience. Mala Mala prides itself as a luxurious camp and it truly lives up to it. The room itself looks even better the ones on their website but the service you get is mind blowing. Staff are not just friendly but they are the warmest people that makes you feel right at home. Everyday after the evening drive, we will head straight to the bar for a drink and a quick chat with the barman (cheers to Collen) before we head for dinner. Dinner is a 3-course dinner, nothing less than what you would expect in a fine-dining restaurant. In short; Would I return to Mala Mala camp? Absolutely yes, and already in the planning for next trip!

This was our first visit to South Africa, and our first safari. I simply do not have enough praise to give Mala Mala camp. From the moment we arrived, to the moment we left the service was impeccable, faultless. The food was exquisite, alongside their choice of wines and drinks available from the bar. The food was plentiful, and often, you will never go hungry! Our Ranger Lucky was superb, never in my wildest dreams did I think that we would see the big 5 plus so many others species. Lucky is passionate about the animals, and their conservation,and he gives them the utmost respect. He inspired us to do more to protect them. Each trip was just so informative and knowledgeable. Our suite was wonderful, the quality of everything there is nothing less than 5 star. We even had a security guard to walk us back to our room each night, as the animals roam freely on the property, so thank you Simon, you made our walks each night very special. To summarise Mala Mala really does make dreams come true, it’s perfect. Thank you for making my husband’s birthday so special. We will be back, how could we ever go anywhere else now?