The Lie of the Land
MalaMala is situated in the eastern part of South Africa in the province of Mpumalanga. It shares a common border of 33km / 26 miles with the Kruger National Park and is part of a conservation gene pool that covers 5.5 million acres of land in the heart of the South African Lowveld.
This low lying region of flat bush country contains habitat types ranging from riverine thicket to open savannah.
On Safari
Only guests accommodated in one of the three MalaMala Game Reserve camps may traverse this immense tract of privately owned game land.
Our photographic safaris are conducted in open 4-wheel drive vehicles which allows for total freedom of movement and the ability to leave the road and track down Africa's Big Five - Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo.
After dark, spotlight safaris provide the opportunity to view nocturnal creatures and carnivores on the hunt and walking safaris with an armed ranger can be arranged on request.
This phenomenal rate of viewing success is directly attributed to the fact that MalaMala comprises 45000 acres or 18000 hectares of pristine game viewing land, making it the largest privately owned game reserve in South Africa, with human density and impact on the land being kept to an absolute minimum. Another reason is the unfenced border between MalaMala and the Kruger National Park, which allows herds of animals to migrate unhindered to the perennial Sand RIver which flows north to south through the MalaMala Game Reserve for 45 kilometres or 28 miles.
The Rangers.
Regardless of how big a game reserve is and how many animals it contains, you may still not see the Elephants for the trees unless you are accompanied by experienced game rangers and trackers.
Your MalaMala Game Ranger will be your host in camp and take care of your every need while sharing his knowledge and love of the bush with you.
Conservation.
MalaMala subscribes to the most scientific ecological management programme with assistance from the top scientists in the field.
In this regard Michael Rattray, the Managing Director of the MalaMala Game Reserve, has twice been the recipient of the coveted Ossie Doyer Trophy for 'The Conservationist of the Year'. He has also been the only person in South Africa to have received the State President's Award for eco-tourism. Finally, he is the longest serving curator of the National Parks Board of South Africa. MalaMala is a conservation success story, proof that man and nature can co-exist in perfect harmony.
Because of its latitude and elevation, malarial mosquitoes and tsetse flies kept man and his domesticated beasts at bay for centuries, allowing nature to flourish undisturbed.
Tsetse flies are no longer prevalent within this region and malarial prophylaxis has now opened this area up for man to enjoy.
Today this area is known to have the greatest diversification of animal species on the African continent.
Over two hundred different species occur in abundance whilst the ever changing bird life provides even the most experienced ornithologist with rare finds.
The success of our safaris can be measured by the fact that more than 76% of our guests are members of our exclusive 'Big Five Club', which means that they have had contact sightings of the Big Five.
These highly qualified, formally trained men, with university degrees in the natural sciences, are thoroughly conversant with all aspects of ecology.
They are ably assisted by Shangaan trackers who accompany the game drives. The trackers are equipped with an intimate bush knowledge and instinct, which will give you a fascinating insight and bring you into closer contact with the African bush.