Go in search of Africa’s wildlife on game drives with Guides and Trackers who live and breathe this wild environment. The aromas of the bush, the sunsets that make you stop and look, and the thrill you get from following the Big 5 on the hunt will stay with you long after your leave.

Exhilarating and detail-focused, a guided walk through our Greater Kruger territory will get you up close with creatures both great and small and introduce you to the fascinating workings of our African ecosystem. This is also an opportunity to encounter the Big 5 on foot.

Most people find themselves on safari looking for a certain level of healing, reconnection, nourishment for the soul. Our luxury spas, yoga studios, meditation spaces, and gyms create space for both mental and physical wellness and bring a therapeutic essence to your stay.

Have a hands-on approach to conservation and help play a role in preserving habitats and protecting endangered species, while embarking on some of the most thrilling wildlife experiences in the bush. These activities are subject to availability and require booking in advance.

Rhino Dehorning
Dehorning rhinos is one of the ways we are working to deter poaching in the Greater Kruger. Without their horns, rhinos are not valuable to poachers, and the incentive to poach rapidly decreases.

We invite our guests to participate in a dehorning operation with reserve management, wildlife vets, and pilots to have a helping hand in this crucial activity. It is an ongoing project and is incredibly resource-heavy, requiring the expertise of trained professionals, necessary drugs, equipment, fuel, and coordination to make just one dehorning possible.

APNR Ground-Hornbill Project
The large, iconic Southern ground-hornbill is an endangered bird in South Africa, with numbers rapidly declining outside of protected areas. The successful breeding and increasing population in the Greater Kruger is due to the conservation and research carried out by the APNR Ground-Hornbill Project run by the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology for over 20 years.

Our guests have the opportunity to join the experts in the field to monitor and assess the active nest site, and listen to an informative talk in the comfort of the lodge to learn about the complex existence of the world’s largest cooperative breeding bird.

Elephants Alive
Despite the seemingly booming elephant population in the reserve, elephants are in fact fighting for space, and it is of vital conservation importance to properly manage elephant distribution. Elephants Alive has been monitoring, researching, and conserving elephants in the Greater Kruger for almost 30 years.

At Royal Malewane, our guests can join the team as they track down elephant bulls and work with vets and pilots to carefully dart and sedate the animal in order to capture vital data and/or fit a collar funded through this programme.

EWT Wild Dog Project
African wild dogs – or painted wolves – are highly endangered with only an estimated 5,500 free-ranging dogs remaining on the continent, according to The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT).

EWT’s wild dog conservation project leader Grant Beverley monitors, studies, and protects the local wild dog packs using telemetry collars to capture vital information and help keep them safe from threats resulting from human-wildlife conflict. Our guests are offered the unique opportunity to join Grant in the field to locate the pack and get involved in fitting a new collar, or gather data from a monitored individual.

K9 Unit Dog Demonstration
Our counter-poaching dog unit is known as Tango K9; a team of Field Rangers and highly-trained detection and tracker dogs, who, working together, have added a crucial dimension to the counter-poaching activity on the reserve.

Our guests are invited to visit Tango K9 during their stay, where they can meet the Rangers and watch a demonstration put on by these incredible working dogs and handlers. Observing them in a training exercise allows you to see how this unique relationship is proving to be a force in the counter-poaching tool box. Seeing the dogs and Rangers work together is an amazing display of communication and trust.

Helicopter Patrol Flight
Seeing the expanse of the reserve from above shows you a whole new perspective on our location, our landscape, and what it takes to keep wildlife safe. It shows how human homes, cultivated farmland, and wilderness exist in such close proximity, and how much space really is running out as our human footprint grows.

Take a flight through the airspace over the reserve where you can spot herds of elephants and some of the larger animals from above, over the dramatic mountain landscape, and through the exquisite green canyon of the Blyde River nearby.

Photography takes patience and dedication. Our Guides are passionate photographers and have an insight into wildlife that is key to anticipating movement and behaviour – the recipe for the perfect photograph.

Waiting for a lion to yawn widely in the golden grass, or for a hippo to blow two streams of vaporised water out of its exposed nostrils is a game of patience that wildlife photographers know well. When the wait pays off, and your shutter clicks at just the right time, you take home an image that represents a moment between you and the wild.

Pursuing the perfect photo means journeying through the bush, your senses on alert, and allowing your environment to dictate the type of photo you produce. Ask your Guide for advice on settings or equipment suited to the bush, or ask us about rental gear that might elevate your photographic safari experience.

Birds already form a much larger part of your experience in nature than you might think. They perform the first song of the day, whistling melodies that become the soundtrack to your morning, and they bring the most beautiful and intricate details to the bush.

Some birds have migration routes that take them thousands of miles across the ocean, others live as long as we do, and almost all of them put on perfect performances to impress their mates.

There are over 300 different bird species at Royal Malewane, from the minute grey penduline tit to the immense lappet-faced vulture, and there are all manner of weird, wonderful and colourful feathered creatures in between. Immersing yourself in this fascinating world is a rich and rewarding wildlife experience.

If you are travelling with a bird list, we’ll tailor your experience to give you the best chance of checking it off. Let us know before you travel that you’re especially interested in birds and we’ll match you up with a nationally recognised birding Guide from our expert team and make sure we’ve got a copy of your sightings list.

We put together something ideal for amateur and professional birders alike. We’ll tailor the experience according to your level of interest and take things as slowly as necessary to locate and check off the specials of the area. Be warned – birding is seriously addictive!

Burst through the clouds in a helicopter and emerge on the other side to a flooring view of the world’s largest green canyon. Out one window is the savannah of the Greater Kruger, and out the other is the rise of the Drakensberg mountain range.

Flying out of Royal Malewane in a helicopter means every flight begins and ends with a view of the Greater Kruger wilderness below, and the time in between is a breath-taking show of mountains, canyons and plunging waterfalls. It’s a unique way to gain a fresh and thrilling perspective on the diverse landscapes that make up the wonderful mosaic that is South Africa.

Timed to fit between your morning and afternoon game drives at Royal Malewane, this aerial round-trip offers spectacular views of the world’s most impressive green canyon. The flight takes you over a remarkable diversity of landscapes, including soaring towards the mountain peaks for an eagle’s eye view down into the verdant depths of the canyon below.

En route, you’ll feel the temperatures drop suddenly as you climb from the lowveld of the Greater Kruger towards the high-altitude grasslands and waterfalls above.

This exclusive excursion combines the serene beauty of a helicopter scenic flight with the adrenaline thrill of the Graskop Gorge Lift. From the Royal Malewane Airstrip, you’ll fly directly to Graskop airstrip, from where you’ll connect with a vehicle transfer to the unique Graskop Gorge Glass Lift. Descending 51 metres down the cliff face lets you gain a greater appreciation for the scale and majesty of the canyon. This is where natural beauty and engineering excellence come together to create an experience you’ll never forget.

Once you reach the bottom of the gorge, you can explore the indigenous forest as you stroll along the raised boardwalk as part of a self-guided journey through a wondrous ecosystem featuring birds, butterflies and ancient, gnarled trees. Suspension bridges over streams lead you to the iconic Panorama Waterfall, before you make your way back to the lift for the ascent and return flight.

Introducing children to nature at an early age encourages a lifetime of discovery and wonder at the Earth’s great and small creatures. It is the start of a connection with our wildlife that deepens youngsters’ perspectives and builds curiosity that will lead them into the future.

The bushveld is a wonderful blend of playground and classroom, and our Guides particularly enjoy introducing children and teenagers to the wonders of Nature. With a full programme of activities for kids of all ages, and optional extra child-minding services, there are also opportunities for parents to enjoy some alone time in complete peace of mind.

Our Guides are some of the most qualified in Africa. More than that, they’re passionate about creating exciting, stimulating family safari experiences in the bushveld, and back at the lodge.

Royal Malewane is a place where every moment is quality time, and families are always welcome.

Using a golden thread of luxury, Royal Malewane sews together special celebrations in an African paradise. From milestone birthdays to surprise proposals and secret elopements, we celebrate love in a place that ignites fire in our hearts.

The bush represents romance, excitement, and connection in a raw and wild place that is impossible to forget. Imagine saying yes under an African sun, or waking up on your honeymoon with a view of elephants passing your room.

Play a round of golf on a course that beautifully blends with and complements the natural environment. A helicopter flight to the exclusive Leopard Creek Country Club will land you at one of South Africa’s premier courses designed by golfing legend, Gary Player.

Leopard Creek is considered one of the top 100 golf courses in the world. The beauty of it is that the manicured greens morph into the wild surroundings of the bushveld, so golfers are playing their best game while in the company of the Kruger’s natural inhabitants.

Leopard Creek was conceptualised in the 1980s and brought to life according to a vision that united a love for wildlife, and a love for the game of golf. Luxury leisure facilities, a spa, a restaurant, and celebrated sculptural art define this premier country club.

Open your mind to what might lie beyond our atmosphere, and see it alight in the sky from the wild plains of our African paradise. Far away from the city lights, our galaxy twinkles in the darkness, and our Guides take you on a journey to learn more about our stars and constellations.

From the darkness of the bush, you’ll see every swirl and sparkle of the Milky Way as it shines through the night overhead. Planets, satellites, pointer stars, navigational markers, and constellations that come with stories and superstitions are pointed out by our passionate and informed Guides.

A star safari is about an after-dark adventure, so jump into the game viewer with your Guide and keep your eyes open for a chance to see some of the nocturnal animals you won’t see on safari during the day. Spend a quiet moment out in the bush admiring the big night sky overhead, listen to the melodic calls and communications of an active African night.

Our overall aim is to expose children to the importance of ecotourism and inspire an environmentally sustainable future. Through sponsored school excursions into the reserve, the younger generation can start to form meaningful connections with wildlife, and see the value in protecting it.

At the core of conserving our wildlife and wild spaces is supporting the growth and development of environmental education in our neighbouring community. Through our Foundation, we are able to create meaningful change in the lives of the children of the Sigagule and Langutelani Crèches; and through game drive experiences, help pupils and teachers of the local Sihlekisi Primary School discover the wonders of the wild.

Our guests have the opportunity to join us on a visit to these schools located in a village nearby and to see first-hand how these support networks work.