Top 5 malaria free safaris in South Africa

A safari in certainly one of South Africa’s malaria-free reserves is a superb choice for anybody who loves the thought of seeing Africa’s superb wildlife in its pure atmosphere, however is anxious about malaria.

While it’s fairly straight ahead for most individuals to take anti-malarial precautions, there are some preferring to keep away from each malarial areas and the anti-malaria medicine. That is very true for households travelling with younger kids or these with pre-existing medical situations.

Thankfully there are some glorious safari locations in South Africa which provide an genuine luxurious safari in a malaria free atmosphere with out compromising on the expertise.

Madikwe Sport Reserve

At over 75,000 hectares, Madikwe is without doubt one of the largest of South Africa’s malaria free reserves, and its location close to the Botswana border on the sting of the huge Kalahari Desert offers it a really epic panorama.

This can be a fantastic safari vacation spot, and is dwelling 66 species of mammal together with the Massive 5 of lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo in addition to the uncommon and endangered wild canine. There are giant populations of antelope, zebra, giraffe and different recreation within the reserve, and round 300 chicken species make this an actual birders paradise.

Madikwe might be reached by street in about four hours from Johannesburg, nevertheless probably the most thrilling solution to arrive is by airplane, touchdown on an untarred airstrip in the midst of the reserve.

There are various stunning lodges within the reserve, and all will supply an analogous recreation viewing alternative with morning and afternoon recreation drives in open four×four automobiles which can take you off in the hunt for the Massive 5 and different species. One of many best lodges within the space is Madikwe Hills, which boasts a spectacular view from its setting on a hill amongst enormous boulders and historical tamboti bushes. The lodge has simply 10 spacious and opulent suites, and every has a separate front room in addition to a four-poster mattress, an attractive toilet, and personal deck with plunge pool overlooking the reserve. The honeymoon suite is especially romantic, with a claw-foot tub set outdoors in a sheltered spot that gives each full privateness and views throughout the reserve under.

Kwandwe Sport Reserve

Kwandwe is a 2 hour drive north of Port Elizabeth in an space of the Japanese Cape that’s well-known for its malaria-free recreation reserves. While some visitors will select to fly into the reserve, Kwandwe’s location implies that could be very widespread with visitors following a self-drive itinerary alongside the Backyard Route from Cape City to Port Elizabeth.

This stunning 22,000 hectare reserve is dwelling to hundreds of animals together with lion, black and white rhino, buffalo, leopard and elephant, in addition to numerous antelope, zebra and different species.

There are simply 5 properties within the Kwandwe reserve: three unique use villas that are finest suited to households and small teams, and two 5* safari lodges which may cater for and households alike.

Regardless of which lodge you keep at you may be assured of a really superb 5* safari expertise, with stunning lodging, distinctive meals, and thrilling recreation drives taken with skilled and educated guides.

Shamwari Personal Sport Reserve

Shamwari is situated proper subsequent to the Addo Elephant Nationwide Park, and round an hour’s drive north of Port Elizabeth. That is the longest established of the non-public reserves within the Japanese Cape, and is well-known for its glorious recreation viewing, luxurious 5* lodges and attentive service.

The lodges in Shamwari supply a variety of various kinds of lodging, from the delicate, modern safari expertise of Eagles Crag, to a standard manor home setting at Lengthy Lee Manor, luxurious tented suites with non-public plunge swimming pools at Bayethe and fewer extravagant tents on the extra distant Explorer Camp.

While the 5* lodges at Shamwari focus totally on morning and night recreation drives, Explorer Camp gives a singular strolling expertise, and is good for visitors on the lookout for one thing just a little extra adventurous. The camp itself displays the unique safari thought of being on foot and sleeping across the fireplace at evening inside the consolation of a bush tent. The 2-night strolling trails are run on Friday and Saturday nights over the summer season months with an extra third evening accessible on request.

Welgevonden Personal Sport Reserve

The 34,000 hectare Welgevonden Personal Sport Reserve is located a few three hour drive north from Johannesburg, within the Waterberg Plateau, and is totally malaria-free.

Morning and night recreation drives got down to discover the reserve’s 430km street community in the hunt for the massive 5 and different species comparable to giraffe, kudu, zebra, warthog and the uncommon roan antelope.

Mhondoro Safari Lodge within the coronary heart of the reserve and accommodates simply 14 visitors in a refined safari atmosphere that mixes among the better of African and European design. In addition to the attractive deluxe suites and romantic honeymoon suite, the lodge boasts an govt suite and household suite, every of which may accommodate as much as four visitors making them excellent for households or teams of associates to share. All the rooms have non-public decks overlooking the waterhole or over the reserve, and the lodge has a swimming pool which is a well-liked consuming spot for elephants. No person ever forgets the primary time they’re in a swimming pool and an elephant begins consuming from it!

Marataba

Marataba is a malaria-free 23,000 hectare non-public concession on the foothills of the Waterberg Mountains and varieties a part of the Marakele Nationwide Park within the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The Marakele Nationwide Park is a haven for a powerful number of wildlife, because of its location within the transitional zone between the dry western and wetter japanese areas of South Africa.

Marataba might be reached by street in roughly three.5 hours from Johannesburg, or alternatively you possibly can fly into a close-by airstrip in below an hour and the lodge will accumulate you from the airstrip and drive you thru the reserve in an open safari automobile.

There are simply two lodges within the Marataba concession: Marataba Safari Lodge gives 15 canvas and stone tented suites that are tastefully furnished with a recent twist; and the extra distant Marataba Mountain Lodge gives stylish, Scandinavian type, glass-fronted wood suites perched on the facet of a mountain overlooking the reserve.

Along with the 2 lodges, Marataba additionally gives an exquisite treehouse expertise. Constructed round a tree on the foot of a rocky escarpment with spectacular views throughout the reserve, the Thabametsi Treehouse gives the chance to take pleasure in a non-public dinner in the midst of the bush after which sleep out below the celebrities in probably the most spectacular and romantic of settings.

Paul Campbell is a Co-founder and Managing Director at Journey Butlers. Journey Butlers are specialists in tailored safari and seashore holidays to Africa and the Indian Ocean.

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