Average User Rating
Rating Breakdown
Write a User Review
Hennie van Heerden (wildlife photographer)
Visited:
November 2010
Reviewed: Jun 1, 2012
The ultimate safari experience in South Africa
4 times I've been to Mala Mala (stayed in 3 of their 4 camps) and I've yet to find a flaw. The camps are luxurious to extremely luxurious; the food and wines are excellent. Rooms (and in Rattrays 'khayas', bungalows) are outstanding.
The wildlife viewing is among the best in Africa, the rangers are knowledgeable and pleasant company. Best thing is that they wear ear-pieces so no crackling radios while watching wildlife.
But the best about Mala Mala Game Reserve is that the wildlife comes first, always. The game viewing is done with ultimate respect for the animals' wellbeing.
Markle1
GB
Visited:
September 2008
Reviewed: Jun 17, 2012
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very Special Experience
This was my first Safari experience and a colleague recommended that I should go to Mala Mala and it didn't disappoint. The excellent, knowledgeable guides and spotters, great wildlife viewing opportunities at the end of winter (September, dry season) fantastic accommodation and the fact that you could fly directly there from Johannesburg all were big positive points.
Ken A.
Visited:
August 2012
Reviewed: Dec 17, 2012
Spectacular Game Viewing and Experience
Not enough superlatives to describe the experience. The wildlife was varied, active and spectacular. Great viewing of many types of animals (lions, buffalo, elephants, hippos, rhino, giraffes, etc.) but the stars were the many leopards. Having stayed at the Rattrays lodge, there were only 4 guest per vehicle. Never more than 2 vehicles at a sighting. Impossible to imagine a more knowledgeable or friendly guide and of great assistance in positioning me to get the best photographic lighting. Service could not have been more attentive. Accommodations were world class. Food was quite good, with dinners eaten outdoors in a communal setting. A special experience.
artist13
US
Visited:
January 2013
Reviewed: Mar 16, 2013
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Visiting Mala Mala Game Reserve was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
Everything about our safari was perfectly arranged. Our lodging and food was excellent. Our guide was an expert and was able to find wildlife, such as lion prides, hidden in the bush. Everywhere we drove there were amazing animals. We quickly saw the Big Five. Mala Mala is a huge game reserve adjoining Kruger National Park, and we had the place to ourselves with the animals and only the other Mala Mala guests.
Mala Mala has a wide range of scenery, from its river valley to rocky outcrops.
We did go in the rainy season, so we did have some rain every day. I definitely hope to return some day.
zapiture
ZA
Visited:
July 2016
Reviewed: Aug 7, 2016
Email zapiture | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Claire Roadley
GB
Visited:
May 2018
Reviewed: Jul 4, 2018
Email Claire Roadley | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Just keeps getting better!
The game viewing again was amazing and a real highlight
Read more
was watching two leopards mating right in front of us as well as seeing loads of different lion with our guide Lucky, who grew up in the reserve. It far exceeded all expectations and I cannot wait to go back again.
Mala Mala offered complete luxury, a perfect escape from reality.
The accommodation and service were top notch, offering a personalized experience that went way above my expectation. Amenities were fine, but I was not there for the amenities as much as the wildlife. In two days we saw just about everything I had hoped, going out of our way to try and complete my list. The guides were knowledgeable and made sure that my experience was amazing. I would highly recommend a trip here in the future. I drove myself to Mala Mala, an option that was fine but I would not do this again. Too much time was spent on the road rather than at the camp.
Carrie Auerbach
US
Visited:
February 2013
Reviewed: Jun 26, 2013
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A beautiful, fantastic experience for all of the senses that changed my life forever!
I believe that this trip could not have been more perfect. The weather was luscious, as was the food. We stayed in 5 star hotels and I am sure I would have been as happy in 3 star based on my love of the scenery and wildlife. The food was amazing, the wine was even better.
I believe Mala Mala is dearest to my heart because of its history. I had read Paul Theroux's book and particularly loved the chapter about Mala Mala. Our guide was knowledgeable to the extreme! (Thanks, David) --
I also thought that not using trackers at Mala Mala was very interesting and made the guides work that much harder at appeasing all the guests needs.
I wish I could have stayed longer. I believe I will be back.
Kevin H. Brown
Visited:
May 2013
Reviewed: Aug 12, 2013
Mala Mala was absolutely AMAZING!
Brett and Yuri were amazing guides. It was a great experience and we got to see the Big 5 in just 2 days.
Arjuna & Nehra Nadaraja
AU
Visited:
August 2019
Reviewed: Feb 16, 2020
Email Arjuna & Nehra Nadaraja | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Top quality and intimate wildlife viewing - luxury done well without going over the top
Wildlife viewing at Mala Mala is as intimate as it could ever get. The accommodation was beyond expectations - it was luxurious but without pretence. The quality of food was top draw, but served with a delicate simplicity. The gentle professionalism of the camp staff was welcome and the passion, knowledge and professionalism of our wonderful Ranger, Nic Nel, capped it all off.
With Nick’s invaluable expertise the wildlife viewing over the four days provided us a truly unforgettable experience that included:
― daily leopard sightings, including the Nkoveni female making a kill and the Island
Read more
bend female and cub sharing a kill;― several prides of lion, including the four inquisitive three-month old cubs of the Kambula pride as well as the rare sighting of two females in a tree fighting over a leopard-kill of an Impala;
― daily sightings of white rhino, including young;
― numerous elephants, including an incredible half an hour in the middle of a 20+ herd and the unforgettable antics of the young ones showing off;
― spending time at a spotted hyena den with curious and ungainly pups playing around, but being totally alert scampering into the den at the slightest sound or shadows cast by birds flying overhead;
― buffalo, kudu, a honey-badger, ostrich, hippo, owls, eagles, voyages of giraffe, baboons, saddle-bill storks with young, the unusual hamerkop heron, kingfishers and much more.
We cannot see how the wonderful Mala Mala experience can be bettered. The one negative of this place - saying goodbye. What was to be our ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ safari is not so! We are already planning our next visit. Totsiens for now.
