4 Best Hotels in MalaMala Game Reserve, Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park

Stone and thatch air-conditioned rondavels with two bathrooms and an outside shower are decorated in creams and browns and luxuriously furnished with natural finishes like copper and wood, colorful handwoven tapestries and rugs, terra-cotta floors, and original artwork. Public areas have a traditional safari feel, with plush couches, animal skins, and African artifacts. Shaded by ancient jackalberry trees, a huge deck overlooks the Sand River and its continuous passing show of animals. Browse in the air-conditioned Monkey Room for books and wildlife videos, sample the magnificent wine cellar, sun yourself by the pool, or stay fit in the well-appointed gym. The food is tasty, wholesome, and varied. Children over four are welcomed with special programs, activities, and goody-filled backpacks; children under four are not allowed on game drives. One guest room is geared toward travelers with disabilities.

The breathtakingly beautiful Rattray's Camp merges original bushveld style with contemporary African luxury. Stay in one of eight opulent villas with spacious double bathrooms, dressing rooms, and private heated plunge pools. The entrance hall, with art by distinguished African wildlife artists such as Keith Joubert, leads to a huge bedroom with a wooden four-poster bed, lounge with comfy furniture, writing desks (for crucial nightly journal entries), antique Persian rugs, and a dining nook. Floor-to-ceiling windows with insect-proof sliding doors face the Sand River and open out onto your own game-viewing deck. Public areas include viewing and dining decks, an infinity pool, lounge areas, a library, a bar and an impressive wine cellar.

This exclusive camp with seven ultra-luxurious suites lies at the southern end of Main Camp and overlooks the Sand River and surrounding bushveld. If it's privacy and exclusivity, or a perfect family or friends getaway you're looking for, then this is the spot. With its own pool, library, and boma, it's smaller and more intimate than Main Camp, but it shares the same magnificent all-around bush and hospitality experience. No children under 12 years old are allowed.

If you’re looking for a truly exclusive experience, this lovely camp set high on stilts overlooking the Sand River at the southern end of the main MalaMala Camp fits the bill. Perfect for couples or a family or friends gathering, enjoy total privacy in your spacious air-conditioned suite or sit out on your big wooden viewing deck and enjoy the passing parade of game. There’s a great Out of Africa feel to the comfortable accommodation which echoes the colors of the surrounding bushveld, but Karen Blixen could never have imagined this present-day luxury.