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Makalali Private Game Reserve

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

A 26,000-hectare reserve committed to wildlife rehabilitation, Makalali Private Game Reserve is set in pristine bushveld and offers Big Five safaris.

Once a cattle farm, Makalali underwent a restoration process to revive the splendour of the African wilderness and reintroduce animals that were once driven away. Now, the reserve is home to over 1,000 wild animals!

Must-Visit Areas in Makalali Private Game Reserve

Makalali Private Game Reserve is set in pristine bushveld and offers Big Five safaris | Photo: Getty

Imagine starting your day seeing the sun warm up the wilderness and massive elephant herds making their way across the plains:

River Lodges: Ideal for Game Viewing

Five-star safari lodges dot the banks of the Makhutswi River, affording guests prime wildlife viewing opportunities as animals come to play in the water and drink.

Many accommodations also feature private plunge pools, boma-style dining, and well-appointed suites with indoor and outdoor showers.

Community Projects: Make a Difference

Makalali Private Game Reserve does its part to uplift the local community through initiatives like the Environmental Monitor Programme that combats unemployment as well as the illegal wildlife trade.

The Siyafunda volunteer programme also provides support to a local orphanage. Volunteers are welcome to bring old clothes, school supplies, or food during visits.

When’s the Best Time to Visit Makalali Private Game Reserve?

For the best game drives and walking safaris, plan your trip for the dry season | Photo: Getty

For the best game drives and walking safaris, plan your trip for the dry season, from May to September. During this time, vegetation is less dense and there are fewer waterholes, which makes spotting wildlife easier.

Wildlife Found in Makalali Private Game Reserve

Makalali is a Big Five safari destination | Photo: Lion Sands

Makalali is a Big Five safari destination, so you’ll be able to spot lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes.

Other species that call this reserve home include cheetahs, wild dogs, and hyenas. If you’re lucky, you may even spot pangolins and aardvarks.

How to Get to Makalali Private Game Reserve

From either Cape Town International Airport or OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, you’ll fly to Hoedspruit, the closest airport to Makalali. Once there, it’s an hour’s drive to the reserve via lodge transfer.

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Trustpilot review

"Chrizaan was wonderful. She took our requests to heart and created a once in a lifetime trip for us. The transportation was arranged flawlessly and the safaris were breathtaking. We saw so much and did so much but it didn’t feel rushed. I would recommend Ch..."

Jacqueline Berkebile, United States28 May 2026

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Google review

"Justin helped craft the perfect honeymoon for us! There are so many options when it comes to choosing a tour operator that I feel so fortunate we landed on Discover Africa. The experience felt seamless from start to finish. Our trip felt perfectly tailored ..."

Alex Dwornik, United States17 Apr 2026

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Safari Bookings review

"A trip of a lifetime. Great guides covering Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyana, Ngorongoro crater and southern Serengeti, where we saw herds of elephants, giraffes, antelope, zebra, wildebeast, cape buffalo, eland, jackels, hyenas, mongeese, hippopotomi,..."

Paul Couch, United Kingdom16 Mar 2026

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"Megan with Discover Africa did an excellent job planning our trip. We are from the US and it was so great to get her help. It made our trip so much easier. We flew into Cape Town and were there a few days. Then we were flown to Kruger National Park. Our sta..."

Catherine Hughes, United States14 Oct 2025

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"We had a wonderful experience with Discover Africa and, specifically, Dev Panaino. Dev helped us plan a dream vacation to South Africa and Zimbabwe and made the planning from our end effortless. We met with Dev via Zoom calls for the initial trip planning, ..."

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"We were looking for a safari tour for our honeymoon and it has been an extremely wonderful experience with Discover Africa Safaris and it has been a pleasure working with Susan Veldman who was very well organised in putting together a customised Safari itin..."

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