Mala Mala Game Reserve, Main Camp

Yes, the accommodations and food were outstanding. And the animals showed up in abundance and variety. But without Steff as our teacher, guide, confidante, tracker, and all-around-best-friend after four days, our experience at MalaMala would not have been half as memorable, informative and inspiring. It's not easy taking care of five people spanning three generations, including two female children. But with grace, wit and a firm hand on the few occasions it was needed, Steff pulled it off. She explained to the eight year old why it was good neither for her or the baby hyena to try to pet it. And she made it fun for the kids, parents and grandparents alike. She is as accomplished as she is modest, a woman who excels in what has been a man's job. Only problem is our next game driver cannot possibly measure up, so a return trip with the next set of grandkids to Mala Mala is the only way to go.

We loved Mala Mala! If you are looking to not drive long before you see the animals- this is your place. As soon as we jumped in the truck, we saw animals right away. Our guide Mrisho was amazing. He had a great personality, was so accommodating and so well versed with his knowledge of the animals and the land. We loved our dinner in the Boma with the dancers. Our highlight was also spending a day in the village with the Lotus Heritage foundation. We love this country and feel so grateful to visit.

Another 5 star convert Mala Mala Camp sets the gold standard for luxury safari operations committed to genuine, impactful conservation. It's a place where your incredible wildlife encounters are intrinsically linked to the vital work of protecting that very wildlife and its habitat. You leave not only with unforgettable memories of leopard sightings and lion roars but also with the profound satisfaction of knowing your visit actively contributes to safeguarding this irreplaceable wilderness for generations to come. **For a safari experience that blends unparalleled wildlife viewing with a tangible, positive impact on conservation, Mala Mala is exceptional. They say its the small things that matters most. The private guide who meets you at Skukuza airport (my vote for cutest regional airport in the world) and hands you lemon scented face towels n ice cold water. The specially constructed open top Lsndcruiser with thick blankets n hot water bottle for the freezing mornings and ice cold insulated aluminium water bottles for searing hot afternoon safaris. Way more staff than the maximum royalty treated pampered maximum 30guests the camp allows at any one time. Blessed to have Benson as our guide. 20years experience. Senior guide tracker. He drives, looks n listens to everything. He stops abruptly n says, listen to the sounds the lilac crested hornbills are making. Something is amiss. Drives off into thick bushes, drives down a steep riverbank n parks us 3 metres away to a pride 6 female lions proud. No amount of money can buy that kind of excitement. Come. Spend your money. You deserve your time at Mala Mala Camp.

We can hardly say enough good things about our ranger/guide/driver/ new favorite person in the world Mrisho. He made Mala Mala a dream come true — in fact, beyond what we could dream. We often were the first to spot creatures, and he was amazing at predicting what they would do. Full of information, super alert, and we laughed with him all day long. He was gentle with our elderly lady, too. He was great at responding to what we were interested in, sometimes to a ludicrous degree, like we’d joke it would sure be cool to see a leopard again and poof, he’d find a leopard next to us. He made safety judgement calls we appreciated, and he gave us the most incredible experiences in the wild. I can’t believe where he drives that Land Rover! Thank you D in the bar, Francina in the dining room, Mercy in the spa, Edie our escort, and everyone else who made Mala Mala an incredible experience. It is a beautiful place.

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.