What do you do when your brother-in-law turns 60? You go on safari! As it turned out, it was his first ever safari, so we had to choose a destination that would give him most animals in a short period of time. The obvious choice was Mala Mala, one of the largest private game reserves in South Africa and famous for its large population of big cats. And did we ever see a lot of cats. Great pride of lion, plenty of lone leopard and even some cheetah cubs. For anyone that is serious about seeing animals, Mala Mala really delivers.
At Mala Mala you are encouraged to go on every game drive, and you can stay out as long as you like, enjoying the animals. Your guide would also love to take you on bush walks to learn about the smaller animals and plants, so pack your walking shoes as this is a really fun way to experience the bush. Most of the rangers at Mala Mala have been there for years and know every curve of the landscape. Since they don’t make use of trackers at Mala Mala, the rangers do double duty as animal spotters and informed guide.
Thankfully, Mala Mala had been renovated and redesigned since my last visit. It has moved out of the nineteen-fifties and into the 21st century. I wouldn’t put Mala Mala as the top of my pops when it comes to choosing the most stylish luxury lodge, but it is substantially improved. Let’s call it safari chic. To be fair, you don’t go to Mala Mala for the luxury though, you go there to see animals.
The rooms, pioneer style rondavels, are massive and many of them can take an extra adult or a cluster of kids. Be sure to ask for a room that overlooks the river rather than the dam. These river view rooms are lighter and the view is much better.
