Royal Malewane

We have been traveling to the Royal Malewane since 2003 and it is always our favorite safari lodge in South Africa! This year it was just as special as our first visit in 2003. The staff is always professional, the rangers are the best in the world, the food is delicious and special, and the accommodations luxurious. Our guide, Ryan Jack is very special. He’s been with the Royal Malewane team for many years and still approaches every game drive as if it was our first game drive. If you want a world class safari, you must put the Royal Malewane on your bucket list!

This was one the BEST traveling experiences I have ever had. The lodge sits in Kruger National Park with wild animals just outside your deck. An elephant drank out of my deck pool while I was reading! Constant wildlife outside my room. It was surreal staring at it all for hours at a time. The food was exceptional. The staff SUPER accommodating; friendly, assertive. My guide/naturalist Juan is the smartest man I’ve ever met. So incredibly knowledgeable about ALL of nature. These safaris make you feel so small I saw all of the big 5. This is the place to stay!

We happened to be on a shuttle bus with head ranger Ryan Jack after our safari. Airport construction left us at the curb in the airport and I was there with my friend who has some health issues and Ryan got on the phone with our hotel and driver and waited with us until we were safe in the shuttle. If you have the means to enjoy Royal Malewane, you are in good hands with Ryan Jack! He took a busman's holiday to get us situated.

Royal Malewane is a true luxury bush experience. We stayed at the newest property, Waterside Lodge, and had a fantastic 3 night stay. Arrival: We flew from Cape Town to Hoedspruit on a non-stop flight and were greeted at the small airport by our guide Matt. The airport is small but efficient and all the greeters are clustered by the baggage claim. We enjoyed a beautiful scenic drive to the camp and as we arrived to the entrance, received another warm welcome from the staff while we sipped a cocktail, got the logistics of the camp, and went over preferences. Room: We had luxury suite #2, a spacious room, beautifully decorated and curated with incredible art. The design mixes African and colonial elements with contemporary luxury and adds a healthy splash of color. We had a fireplace, sitting area, dressing room, indoor and outdoor shower, plunge pool and patio. Between game drives we loved the various areas of the room we could leverage to read a book, enjoy a coffee or catch up on a couple emails. The room featured a well stocked mini bar that is all included with your stay. Game Drives: You will meet your guide and tracker on your first day and they will be with you for the duration of your stay. They will customize the drives to ensure you are spending the time tracking the animals and experiences you are seeking. Luxury lodges obviously provide 5 star hospitality, but they also differentiate themselves with the quality, experience and knowledge of their guides and trackers. The learning and knowledge that you absorb through asking questions and getting to know the bush is part of the experience - be sure to soak it up! We had Matt and Stanley and gave them free reign to do what they do best - we saw everything - the Big Five plus so much more. We saw two leopard kills and lots of babies, very unique and special moments to see in the bush. Matt and Stanley were truly experts - you cannot believe how they pick up on sounds/calls and tracks to find the animals in the vastness of the park. Food: The lodge's chef, Chippy, came to greet us on arrival and asked about preferences and allergies/restrictions. From that meeting, we received personalized menus at each meal. You can order off the menu or whatever you want off menu. The food is wonderful - the perfect balance of fine dining and local flair - exactly the type of food you want in the bush. We love local South African food and made a point to try the local meats and flavors that Chippy incorporated into the menu. Breakfast was always a number of beautifully plated pastries, charcuterie and fruits - all before ordering a la carte - you will be incredibly well fed with the quality is top notch. The staff picks up on your preferences and even starts to make recommendations based on what you ordered and enjoyed previously - truly impressive and personalized service. Spa/Gym: The lodge has a small but well equipped gym that is perfect for a mid day workout. We used it twice and were th

Redefining the traditional safari experience at Waterside at Royal Malewane. Experience the wild heart of the African bush in comfort, style and privacy at Royal Malewane’s three luxury safari lodges and private bush villas, each one embodying an exquisite vision of design and ultimate hospitality. The most qualified guiding team in Africa delivers an unrivalled wildlife experience with conservation at the centre. With a uniquely bold design, the visual impact of a stay at Waterside completely redefines the traditional safari experience. The moment you step across the floating entrance bridge and arrive in the warm glow of Waterside, you’ll instantly feel the invigorating energy of the African bush. The view is an Edenesque panorama of bush centred around a bustling waterhole fringed by fever trees and wildlife. It is elemental by design and anticipates every need for a memorable modern safari. Royal Malewane is one of several high-end luxury lodges situated in the Thornybush Private Game Reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park. Lowveld savannah grasslands and wooden thickets play home to an abundance of African wildlife, including the African Big Five. The beautiful surroundings are a popular choice for local adventures, world travellers and celebrities alike. A Private reserve spanning 14 000 hectares lies adjacent to the Kruger National Park and have earned countless international awards for nature conservation and excellent hospitality. The beautiful luxury suites are designed with African style and elegance in mind capturing the vibrancy, colour and energy of Africa. Royal Malewane supports local designers and manufacturers adding unique character and spirit to each suite. Thankful to be with the Most Qualified Guiding Team in Africa. Royal Malewane’s guiding team has earned the right to be called the best qualified guiding team in Africa thanks to their impressive collection of high-level FGASA qualifications. When you choose a safari destination, it’s the guiding team that makes the difference to the memories you’ll take home with you. By tapping into a wealth of knowledge and generations of innate wildlife experience, our guests are in the capable hands of passionate people whose levels of expertise makes them the best in their field. A stirring and powerful story of nature. Game drives form the basic rhythm of the day on safari. You’ll find that to be out in the fresh air as the sun rises and sets is to be realigned with a pattern of deep and ancient significance. The Big 5 are are the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo and we saw them all. Could not recommend them more! Modern Dining with a South African Twist at Waterside. Stimulate your sense of taste and savour the personalised menus created in the Waterside kitchen where Head Chef Cheslin Cornelissen brings bold flavours and soul-stirring recipes from his Capetonian background. Waterside’s modern menus are designed to fuse their pride in nati

Will not disappoint!! Top notch experience, well appointed, staff professional and courteous waiting on you hand and foot. Food is exceptional, trackers and guide are knowledgeable. They go above and beyond to accommodate. A MUST . It would be difficult for children to stay here though.

During my stay at the Farmstead Lodge Royal Malewane from 6th to 10th July 2023, I encountered an unfortunate incident that significantly affected my holiday experience. On the 7th of July, I embarked on a safari ride into the wilderness. Our vehicle travelling along the unpaved road, operated by a tracker and guide employed by the lodge, inadvertently kicked up a large wooden branch (see attached pic) with its right front tyre. Regrettably, this branch struck me on the side of my face, near my ear, causing a deep cut that bled heavily. It took us at least 35 minutes to get back to the lodge, followed by at least another 30 minutes wait for medical assistance. The first responder had to refer me to the nearest hospital for further professional treatment including stitching (see attached pic). The lodge arranged for a complimentary transportation that arrived some 20 minutes later. Subsequently, I had to endure a painful 3-hour drive to a hospital, constantly applying pressure on the wound due to the bleeding. As this injury occurred only on the second day of my stay, it considerably marred my holiday experience. Even more concerning, I experienced bleeding in my eardrums, which compromised my hearing for a full two weeks after the incident. Now, a month after the incident, I'm left with a permanent 4-5cm scar on my right face, a lasting reminder of that day. The lodge informed that an investigation is ongoing on the incident. I can only hope that it will include a review of the operational protocols to avoid any similar unpleasant experience for visiting guests.