MalaMala To Launch New Website

We are thrilled to announce that we will shortly be launching a brand new website. www.malamala.com has been completely re-designed to embrace a simple yet effective layout, enhancing the strength of the company brand, whilst still delivering information of value to both regular and new visitors. Watch this space. We will be sure to let you know when the site is live.

A Leopard Never Changes It's Spots - Or Does It?

On the 31st May, guests at MalaMala were riveted watching the “Bicycle Crossing” male leopard. Early on the morning drive he was located heading east towards the sound of a herd of buffalo. The leopard began to stalk the herd (highly ambitious and uncharacteristic behavior for a leopard!). He edged his way very close before a bull got scent of him, and the herd stampeded. The male lay low but continued to stalk once things had settled down. Again he was detected, but this time the herd gave chase and cornered the leopard up in a very small tree. All he could do was glare down at the herd as he perched precariously amongst the branches.

Several buffalo actually had the ‘nerve’ to sniff the leopard’s tail! Spotting a gap, he eventually made a dash to safety. Interestingly, he was seen to stumble upon on a half eaten buffalo calf, presumed to have died naturally and to have been fed on by hyena. The male quickly stashed the carcass up another tree and fed at leisure into the night.

All’s well that ends well. Click here for more MalaMala sightings.

MalaMala and Mashatu’s childrens programme launch a resounding success

From Malaka Hilton, President Admiral Travel, following her stay at MalaMala:

"Not just five stars – but "Big Five Stars". The children’s amenity and activity packs, coupled with the high tempo of sightings are superb for keeping the younger safari travellers engaged. Certainly among the most child friendly and engaging children’s safari programs on the continent today. I look forward to returning many times with my own children." 12 June 2007

Mashatu Game Reserve offers an excellent quality wildlife experience

An excerpt from Mashatu’s journal - Friday 1 June 2007

“It was the first day of a new month and an unforgettable morning with the Majale Island Lion Pride. We found them on the island after which they were named before the sun had time to warm us up completely. The young adult lioness and her four cubs were accompanied by her grandmother. We were treated to a morning of fun and delight as the little ones played with each other, their mother’s tail, with granny’s paws and anything else they could find in the vicinity of the Shepherd’s Tree under which they were resting.

Mashatu welcomes a new predator scientist

Andrei Snyman has replaced Villiers Steyn as the predator scientist at Mashatu Game Reserve.

Andrei will be running the Northern Tuli Predator Project, which studies the population dynamics, movements and home range sizes of the Northern Tuli Leopard population. He is also conducting a lion research project focusing on the socio organisation of the Tuli lions. For the past few years Andrei has been studying lion population dynamics in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Andrei started with his National Diploma in Game Ranch Management, at the Tshwane University of Technology South Africa, from 2002 - 2004 and then proceeded onto a B-Tech Degree in 2005 – 2006. Andrei is currently working on his Masters Degree, specializing in lions and leopards. Andrei has an absolute passion for wildlife and is thus pursuing a career as a wildlife researcher specializing in large carnivores. 

Click here for further details on the project and the two leopards collared in July 2007.

Adventure takes on a new meaning at Mashatu Game Reserve

As extracted from the diary from Paul who heads up the adventure programme at Mashatu.

"Mike and Julie from the UK decided to have the true bush experience and booked 3 nights camping out in the bush with me on a wilderness walking safari. The first night we camped on the northern bank of the Limpopo River and did a short walk downstream from here before sunset.

At some stage we encountered the very fresh tracks of lions and heard monkeys notoriously giving their alarm call. Just then 3 bush pigs appeared out of the long grass on the southern bank of the river (South African side) and slowly made their way across the dry river bed to Botswana to a point about 20 metres from where we were sitting. We watched them quietly and as they disappeared out of our sight because of long vegetation. We gave them another 5 minutes and then went to look for them, however they had vanished into the thick vegetation and we started back for camp as the sun was quickly setting.

The monkeys were still giving their alarm call behind us as we were following the lion tracks towards our camp and then another troop of monkeys, just about 50 metres from our campsite also started alarming >>>

Click here to read more about this walking adventure, and other adventure accounts during the month of May."

A change of management at Mashatu Game Reserve

After a couple of years of successfully managing Mashatu Main Camp, Jeanetta Selier has decided to pursue her career in a research-related direction. Many will know her already as Mashatu's "Elephant Scientist". Jeanetta has spent the last eight years studying the resident herds of elephants on Mashatu Game Reserve, and will continue to afford the Mashatu visitor with an informative, highly entertaining and invigorating experience.

Bobson Kontle will replace Jeanetta as Main Camp Manager.  Bobson has been with us for a long time now, initially as a Ranger, then as Chief Ranger, followed by a spell at Disney World in the USA. More recently, Bobson has excelled as Operations Manager/Assistant Camp Manager of Mashatu Main Camp.  We are confident that Bobson will maintain the very high standards that we have set over the years and take Main Camp from strength to strength during his tenure, which will hopefully be a long and happy one. 

Mafuri Package – Mashatu Game Reserve, Pafuri and MalaMala Game Reserve

Explore and have fun in the most unbelievably pristine areas in Southern Africa

The journey starts off at Mashatu Game Reserve in the remote eastern corner of Botswana, at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers. This area is home to no less than seven of Africa’s giants: the African elephant, the lion, the giraffe, the baobab tree, the eland, the ostrich and the kori bustard.  Mashatu Game Reserve, an area of history and legend, offers some of the most exciting game viewing in Africa in open 4-wheel drive safari vehicles, guided by expert rangers and experienced trackers.

Transfer by road from Mashatu to Pafuri Camp situated on the northern bank of the Luvuvhu River within a lush riverine forest. The area is home to all the Kruger animal species, although Pafuri is most famous for its big herds of elephants and for special, rare birds such as the Pel’s fishing owl.

There is an optional extension to MalaMala Game Reserve via an air transfer from Pafuri Camp. MalaMala Game Reserve, the first private photographic safari destination in South Africa, offers an authentic African experience with incredible sightings of Africa's wildlife - including the Big 5.