MalaMala Game Reserve

MalaMala (Mala Mala) Game Reserve is situated in Mpumalanga

MalaMala Game Reserve has consistently won awards and accolades for exquisite service standards and is always ranked as one of the top small hotels in the world. The MalaMala Private Game Reserve is situated in the eastern part of South Africa in the province of Mpumalanga, and shares a common border with the Kruger National Park of over 19kms (12 mils). MalaMala is therefore is part of a conservation gene pool covering 5.5 million acres of land in the African Lowveld. Mala Mala game reserve itself is 16,000 hectares in size. The Kruger National Park is around 2,000,000 hectares in size. There are no fences between Kruger and MalaMala, and the animals are free to roam between the two reserves.

MalaMala Game Reserve is a five and a half hour drive from Johannesburg. Motorists from Johannesburg turn left off the N4 at Nelspruit and proceed to Hazyview along the R40 via White River. At Hazyview turn right along the R536 towards Skukuza Paul Kruger Gate, for 37.5 km. At the MalaMala Game Reserve sign turn left onto a gravel road and follow the MalaMala road signs to the camp for 29km.

Once at MalaMala Game Reserve, guests will be taken on all game drives through the reserve

The Habitat of MalaMala Game Reserve

The low lying region contains various habitats ranging from riverine thicket to open savannah. Historically, malaria mosquitoes and flies kept man out of the area for hundreds of years, and nature therefore flourished with no disturbance. When malaria prophylaxis were introduced, and tsetse flies were no longer found in the region, the area was discovered and proclaimed as a wildlife preserve and has won world wide acclaim for the greatest number of animal species found in one area on the African continent. The Sand River flows north to south through the MalaMala Game Reserve for 20 kilometres (13 miles), and is a big draw for herds of game from both Mala Mala and Kruger National Park.

MalaMala Wildlife

There are over 200 mammal species which are found to inhabit the area. MalaMala Game Reserve is a Big 5 Reserve, meaning that lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard inhabit the reserve. There are also many other sought after sightings to be had, including wild dog, cheetah, hyena, hippo and giraffe as well as various antelope species, warthog and bushpig.

MalaMala Birdlife

Bird lovers will find much to rejoice in at Mala Mala, as there are hundreds of species of bird which are recorded regularly at MalaMala due to the variety of habitats. The patterns of bird sightings are never constant, and there are often rare surprises which would give any twitcher a thrill. The rangers are able to discuss the birdlife with authority.

MalaMala Game Activities

There are safaris in 4x4 safari vehicles during the mornings and afternoons. After dark, spotlight safaris provide the opportunity to view nocturnal creatures and carnivores are frequently seen on the hunt. The experienced rangers will also conduct walks in the reserve on request. This is an unforgettable experience. The rangers at MalaMala game reserve have an excellent success rate and more than 75% of guests have seen all of the Big 5 during their visit.

Accommodation in and around Kruger National Park