MALAMALA GAME RESERVE LUXURY AFRICAN SAFARIS AT EARTH LODGE SOUTH AFRICA
MALA MALA GAME RESERVE LUXURY AFRICAN SAFARIS AT MAIN CAMP SOUTH AFRICA
Not even Tanzania’s famed Serengeti Game Reserve or the awesome Ngorongoro Crater fills your camera viewfinder faster with Africa’s legendary Big Five – at MalaMala, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros and elephant appear magically, as if on cue,” says acclaimed wildlife photojournalist Geoff Dalglish in his Sunday Times review. “Nor could Hollywood script the wide-screen wildlife encounters any more dramatically or frequently than nature does routinely in the private game reserve that is arguably South Africa’s most famous internationally.”
Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and Rhinoceros - the most sought after and dangerous of the world's big game. In previous centuries it was these five species which gripped the imagination of hunters and sportsmen, drawing them to Africa to experience the blood pounding thrill of hunting and shooting "The Big Five". It is in reserves like Mala Mala where this hunting and shooting still takes place, only the hunting is done by experienced rangers and Shangaan trackers, and the shooting is done with cameras. But it does not mean that the thrill and exhilaration of encountering these animals in an open Land Rover is any less gripping.
Folk lore and legend are rich with regards to the Big Five. Encompassing beliefs such as the following: " The Great One put the animals here for us to use wisely and respect, even as we hunted them, but he knew that without fear we might lose our respect for these creatures. So he put the five here to help us remember. The lion and leopard taught us fear of the night, that only the daytime was ours. The buffalo, the elephant and the rhino taught us to fear their strength, that we might respect the strength of nature."
MALA MALA GAME RESERVE LUXURY AFRICAN SAFARIS WILDLIFE
MALAMALA GAME RESERVE LION |
Lion: The Styx pride is doing very well for itself and it was the most viewed pride on MalaMala for January. The cubs are growing strong and the females are giving quite a lot of care, which is not usual for this pride. They spend most of their time around the Campbell Koppies area, however they moved as far east as the KNP and as far west as Sparta. They also ventured north into Gowrie
- Family Felidae
- Mass ± 120 kg (female) - 240 kg (male) / ± 440 lbs
- Height ± 110cm (female) - 120 cm (male) / ± 39 inches
- Walking speed 4 km/h / 2.4 mph
- Charging speed 80 km/h / 50 mph
- Potential longevity 20 years
- Gestation period 3.5 months
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MALAMALA GAME RESERVE LEOPARD |
- Family Felidae
- Mass ± 120 kg (female) - 240 kg (male) / ± 440 lbs
- Height ± 110cm (female) - 120 cm (male) / ± 39 inches
- Walking speed 4 km/h / 2.4 mph
- Charging speed 80 km/h / 50 mph
- Potential longevity 20 years
- Gestation period 3.5 months
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MALAMALA GAME RESERVE BUFFALO |
- Family Bovidae
- Mass – average male 686 kg, female 576 kg, max 870 kg
- Height 135 – 170 kg
- Charging speed 55 km/h / 34 mph
- Potential longevity 20 - 25 years
- Gestation period 11 months
- Record span of horns 147 cm / 58 inches
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Rhinoceros: Rhinos continued to be plentiful on the reserve for January. They seem to favour certain areas and this is understandable for the males that are territorial, however there have been a number of stable female/sub adult/juvenile herds that have remained in the same area for some time. These are very productive areas with good palatable grasses. Interestingly there were two occasions this past month where rhinos have interacted with lions.
- Family Rhinocerotidae
- Mass 3500 kg / 7717 lbs
- Height 160 cm / 63 inches
- Speed 45 km/h / 28 mph
- Potential longevity 45 years
- Gestation period 18 months
- Record length of front horn 158 cm / 62 inches
- Record length of rear horn 56 cm / 22 inches
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MALAMALA GAME RESERVE ELEPHANT |
Elephant: Elephants have been seen on most days this month. There numbers range from single bulls to large family herds. Overall the elephants have been very relaxed and provided the guests with excellent viewing and photographic opportunities. There have been some interesting interactions between the elephants and predators, especially lions on kills and leopards. The elephants seem to take great pleasure in chasing these creatures around. Other interesting sightings have been new born elephants as well as fine sightings of courting and mating behaviour.
- Family - Elephantidae
- Mass – average male 5000 to 6000 kgs, female 3000 kg
- Height 3.3 – 4 m (male), 2.5 m (female)
- Walking speed 10 km/h / 6.2 mph
- Charging speed 40 km/h / 24.8 mph
- Potential longevity up to 60 years
- Gestation period 22 months
- Record length of tusks 3,5 m / 137 inches
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MALAMALA GAME RESERVE WILD DOG |
Wild Dog: The wild dogs have also been scarce over the last report period. The large pack has lost a few members; predominantly some of the cubs have not been seen with the pack in recent times. The pack now stands at 16 members. The other smaller pack of three dogs was only seen twice in the last month, both times close to the KNP into which they quickly made their way. This pack is the adult female and two sub adults. They do not appear to be part of the large pack and hopefully they will meet up with another small pack and they will combine to be a stronger pack.
- Family: Canidae
- Weight: 20 – 30 kg
- Height: 60 – 75 cm
- Speed: 66 km/h / 41 mph
- Life span: 10 years
- Diet: small to medium sized antelopes
- Their Latin name, Lycaon pictus, means "painted wolf-like animal."
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MALAMALA GAME RESERVE CHEETAH |
Cheetah: Cheetah viewing this month has not been as active as in previous months. The coalition of two young males has not been seen as frequently in the Clarendon area and the single male cheetah has also been conspicuously absent. It is likely that with more water available over a larger area due to the rainy season the cheetah are spending more time in the larger section of their territory in the KNP.
- Family Felidae
- Weight: 35 – 65 kg
- Height: 70 – 90 cm
- Speed: up to 110 km/h/ 70 mph
- Life span: 10-15 years
- Gestation period: 3 months
- Diet: small to medium sized plains game
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MalaMala Game Reserve daily summer itinerary (September to May)
There are no typical day’s at MalaMala – each is different based on the wild animals and their movements and no return time to camp is the same. Rangers will take full advantage of cheetah hunting or a leopard feeding in a tree and obviously the guests requirements are considered.
- A 05h30 wake up call by your ranger heralds the dawn.
- Meet your ranger and safari companions at 06h00 on the safari deck as the sun rises over the bushveld. Hot and cold beverages and a light snack are available.
- The early morning game drive follows.
- At approximately 09h30, you will return to camp where a hearty breakfast awaits you in the
- For the more energetic, join the bush walk after breakfast.
- Alternatively relax around the pool, browse through the safari boutique, work out in the small gym or perhaps take a siesta to make up for that early morning wake-up call. Feel free to explore the camp but please do not walk beyond the camp perimeters unless accompanied by a ranger.
- A buffet lunch is served from 13h30 though some prefer to sleep through after their later breakfast.
- Once again meet at 16h00 for hot and cold beverages and a light snack on the expansive safari deck before departing on another unforgettable safari.
- A cooler box with the veritable sundowners is carried on the land rover and a consensus amongst your fellow safari-ites will determine whether the G & T is worth more than the leopard sighting! An African sunset is memorable and oft emotional sight.
- As darkness approaches, your tracker will scan the bush with a powerful spotlight and will point out the elusive nocturnal wildlife - a highlight of the day’s safari. As darkness settles over the bush, look out for the Milky Way - a truly spectacular sight – or try to find the Southern Cross.
- Return to camp at approximately 20h00, allowing time for you to freshen up before meeting your friends and rangers for pre-dinner drinks in the cosy Safari Bar.
Dinner is served at 21h00 in the reed enclosed “boma” under an ancient Jackalberry tree. Alternatively, when the weather is suitable, a candlelit dinner is served on the safari deck overlooking the Sand River. While seated around a log fire under the starry African sky, enjoy the superb food and excellent wines - yet another highlight of the MalaMala experience
MalaMala Game Reserve daily winter itinerary (June to August)
There are no typical days at MalaMala – each is different based on the wild animals and their movements and no return time to camp is the same. Rangers will take full advantage of cheetah hunting or a leopard feeding in a tree and obviously the guest’s requirements are considered.
- A 06h30 wake up call by your ranger heralds the dawn.
- Meet your ranger and safari companions at 07h00 for an early breakfast.
- The morning game drive follows.
- At approximately 11h00, you will return to camp. You are now able to relax around the pool, work out in the gym, browse through the safari boutique or perhaps take a sietsa to make up for the early morning wake-up call.
- Feel free to explore the camp but please do not walk beyond the camp perimeters unless accompanied by a ranger. For the more energetic, join the bush walk before lunch.
- A buffet lunch is served from 13h00 though some may prefer to sleep through.
- Once again meet at 15h00 for hot and cold beverages and a light snack on the expansive safari deck before departing on another unforgettable safari.
- A cooler box with the veritable sundowners is carried on the land rover and a consensus amongst your fellow safari-ites will determine whether the G & T is worth more than the leopard sighting! An African sunset is a memorable and often emotional sight.
- As darkness approaches, your tracker will scan the bush with a powerful spotlight and will point out the elusive nocturnal wildlife - a highlight of the day’s safari. As darkness settles over the bush, look out for the Milky Way - a truly spectacular sight – or try to find the Southern Cross.
Return to camp at approximately 19h00, allowing time for you to freshen up before meeting your friends and rangers for pre-dinner drinks in the cosy Safari Bar and a delicious dinner in the reed enclosed “boma” under an ancient Jackalberry tree. While seated around a log fire under the starry African sky, enjoy the superb food and excellent wines - yet another highlight of the MalaMala experience. Alternatively, when the weather is suitable, a candlelit dinner is served on the safari deck overlooking the Sand River.
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