Malamala Private Game Reserve

MalaMala is an independent private game reserve that shares unfenced borders with Kruger National Park to the east and Sabi Sand Game Reserve on all other sides. Having pioneered the upmarket private game reserve experience in the 1960s, it offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa, with easy, quality sightings of the Big Five and leopard, in particular. MalaMala offers some of the best wildlife viewing on the continent. The Big Five is usually checked off in two days, and leopard are easily spotted on most drives. All sightings are exclusive to MalaMala visitors because the reserve doesn’t give traversing rights to other properties, as is common practice in the neighboring Sabi Sand.

MalaMala is sandwiched between Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve with open borders on both sides. The vegetation consists of woodland savannah, dense riverine forest, acacia bushveld, open grassland and rocky outcrops. The Sand River flows north to south through the reserve for 20km/13mi and attracts abundant wildlife in the Dry season.

MalaMala offers superb viewing of all large safari animals, especially the Big Five. Lion, cheetah and leopard are easily seen, and off-road driving in open vehicles assures that sightings are of the highest quality. MalaMala is part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem, which makes for a very authentic wildlife experience.

MalaMala’s main attraction is its habituated leopards. Being able to follow these normally elusive cats provides fantastic opportunities to see seldom witnessed behavior. Lion, buffalo and elephant are common along the Sand River. White rhino is often spotted, but black rhino sightings are very rare. Wild dog travel in and out of the reserve, but tend to give good sightings when they are around.