Wildlife of South Africa

Fly from Johannesburg Airport into Kruger Park, arriving at Sukuza. You will be met by the team at Mala Mala for the road transfer to the lodge.

The iconic MalaMala Game Reserve is the safari industry’s blueprint for the luxury safari. In existence since 1927, this massive, thriving tract of land offers the most exciting and consistently exceptional wildlife experience on this side of the equator.

MalaMala was the first private game reserve in South Africa to recognize the importance of prioritizing land conservation and protecting the fragile ecosystem by prohibiting hunting and transitioning to photographic safaris.

MalaMala Game Reserve is one of the largest private Big Five game reserves in South Africa. It shares an unfenced boundary with the world-renowned Kruger National Park and lies strategically between it and the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve.

You will meet your ranger, who acts as your host and will look after you during your stay. Depart on your first game drive, and you will return to the lodge on time for a delicious dinner.

You can meet your ranger and safari companions on the safari deck as the sun rises over the bushveld. Hot and cold beverages and a light snack are available. The early-morning game drive follows. You will be spending a few hours in the bush, on the lookout for the Big Five and other general wildlife.

MalaMala has 20 kms (13 miles) of Sand River frontage. This perennial river is a magnet for animals in this pristine wildlife area and is the foundation of MalaMala’s unrivaled game viewing and wildlife experience. Preserving and protecting the environmental integrity of this unique piece of Africa has always been at the core of MalaMala’s existence. This philosophy has paid off, and international photojournalists and film-makers have made MalaMala their wildlife destination.

Return to camp, where a hearty brunch awaits you in the air-conditioned dining room or on the expansive safari deck. For the more energetic, join the bush walk after brunch. Alternatively, relax around the pool, browse the safari boutique, work out in the small gym, or take a siesta to make up for that early-morning wake-up call.

Meet on the expansive safari deck for hot and cold beverages and a light snack before departing on another unforgettable safari. As darkness approaches, your ranger will scan the bush with a powerful spotlight and point out elusive nocturnal wildlife – a highlight of the day’s safari. As dusk settles over the bush, look out for the Milky Way and try to find the Southern Cross.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Skukuza airport on time for the flight to Johannesburg and the connecting flight to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). When you arrive in Gqeberha, our driver will meet you for the road transfer to Samara. Depending on the road conditions, it takes 2.5 to 3 hours to reach the lodge.

Award-winning Samara Karoo Reserve is a conservation journey on 67,000 acres of born-again wilderness in South Africa’s heart-stoppingly beautiful Great Karoo region. Founded in 1997, Samara has pioneered the rewilding of this semi-arid yet uniquely biodiverse landscape, catalyzing an ambitious vision to expand the conservation estate to a 3-million-acre footprint in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot.

Today, the reserve is one of South Africa’s most diverse safari destinations. It comprises five vegetation biomes across strikingly varied topography, home to over 60 mammal species, including the Big Five and cheetah, and 225 bird species.

Check-in at Karoo Lodge, relax before an excellent dinner, and chat with your guide and hosts to plan your next days of game viewing.

With 67,000 acres of wilderness, there are many ways to enjoy Samara. Samara is a passionate conservation undertaking started in 1997 by Mark and Sarah Tompkins. Over the past 27 years, 67,000 acres of land have been restored. Samara is working with local stakeholders to create South Africa’s third-largest protected area, 3 million acres, in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot.

Samara is uniquely situated at the meeting point of five of South Africa’s nine vegetation biomes: Grasslands, Nama Karoo, Savanna, Thicket and Forest. This diversity of vegetation creates many habitats for species specially adapted to the Karoo’s arid environment.

One of the highlights of a stay at Samara is the opportunity to track wild cheetahs on foot.

After a last game drive and hearty breakfast, you will be transferred to Port Elizabeth airport.

You can then fly back home, extend your trip with a stay in Cape Town, extend your safari with another lodge within the Great Addo area, or even fly to Victoria Falls!