Join Wildlife Worldwide team member and wildlife photographer Jordan Fry on a week-long safari to MalaMala Game Reserve, a trip that is sure to bolster your portfolio with incredible images of Africa’s most iconic species.
There are very few places in the world that can boast wildlife sightings as prolific as MalaMala Game Reserve. Positioned in the far east of Sabi Sands Game Reserve and sharing a direct fenceless border with Kruger National Park, MalaMala occupies one of the largest traversing areas of any property in Greater Kruger, and this tract of bush is exclusive to vehicles from MalaMala camps.
This privacy along with exceptional game viewing makes MalaMala a dream destination for wildlife photography, with continuous sightings, regular predator interactions, remarkable light conditions and top quality guiding. Not to mention MalaMala was the first game reserve in South Africa to transition from hunting to photographic safaris — what better place is there for a photo trip?
20 kilometres of the Sand River flows through MalaMala, attracting a wealth of game to the area. The reserve is home to 147 species of mammals and over 300 species of birds, and travelling in the middle of the dry season should provide us with the best chances to spot as many of these animals as possible.
Nyala and bushbuck are often seen grazing around the lodge with kudu, impala and waterbuck all commonly seen antelope, whilst sable occasionally venture onto the property, coming from Kruger. Elephants also regularly frequent the lodge and are found throughout the reserve in their numbers, along with buffalo. A number of lion prides also cross territories in the reserve, so there is always a chance we could run into warring factions embroiled in conflict, with big males challenging each other either alone or in coalitions.
Leopards here leave their elusive reputation behind as they are often seen partaking in various behaviours such as hunting, mating and relaxing on tree branches, rocks and termite mounds. A good white rhino population here ensures that this is one of the best places in Africa for Big Five viewing, with the added bonus of being able to encounter both transient cheetah and African wild dog, the latter of which occasionally den on the property.
MalaMala Camp provides us with a luxurious stay for 7-nights, a perfect base to look out across the Sand River and scan for iconic species. Members of the Big Five and other predators are regularly spotted from the lodge itself, sometimes multiple species at the same time. Put simply, MalaMala is one of the best photographic destinations in Africa with unrivalled opportunities to capture fantastic portrait images and behaviours, and with our guiding team we can choose our moments to pull back and capture remarkable scenes of animals in their environment.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart UK
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Day 2:
Arrive at Skukuza via Johannesburg, and transfer to MalaMala Game Reserve
On arrival at Skukuza Airport, we will collect our luggage and then transfer to MalaMala Camp in an open safari vehicle, cameras at the ready to take advantage of any sightings we encounter on our one-hour journey.
MalaMala Camp is positioned on the west side of the river to enjoy panoramic views of the waterway and bush beyond. The human footprint on the opposite side is non-existent with no manmade structures, leaving the vast majority of the reserve to the wildlife, stretching all the way to Kruger National Park.
Once we have arrived at the lodge, there will be time to settle into our accommodation before reconvening on the main deck, spotting wildlife along the Sand River and enjoying some high tea prior to our first afternoon drive.
Accommodation: MalaMala Camp, 7-nights
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Days 3-8
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Explore MalaMala Game Reserve
Over the next week, we will follow a similar pattern each day, rising early with a wake-up call, tea and coffee as the sun begins to rise, and the bush wakes up around us. The dawn chorus will accompany us as we board our private game viewer for morning drives, ready to take advantage of the soft morning light as we scour the reserve for photographic subjects. We cross MalaMala’s famous West Street Bridge, occasionally spotting lions directly below as we venture deep into the reserve in search of photographic opportunities.
There is no time limit on sightings at MalaMala, therefore we can spend as long as we like at a particular sighting to take advantage of the changing conditions or to wait out interesting behaviours. With access to an exclusive vehicle, we can spend as much time in the field as we see fit.
Our photographic leader will be on hand throughout to offer guidance and assist you in maximising the trip's opportunities when it comes to photography. Paired with a local guide, who will provide expertise when it comes to the reserve, surrounding area and its wildlife, they will ensure that you are in the best position at each sighting to take advantage of the light conditions to achieve the best photographic outcomes.
The open-sided vehicles are perfect for all-round visibility and photography, and with a maximum of six passengers per vehicle (excluding local guides and photographic leader), there will be plenty of space to spread out and photograph freely.
In order to avoid the intense heat and harsh light in the middle of the day, we will usually return to the lodge at around 10.30 (unless we are enjoying a fantastic sighting) for brunch. This period of the day can be spent relaxing around the lodge with a good book, catching up on some sleep, working out in the gym, cooling off in the pool, or sifting through the photos taken in the morning whilst watching wildlife in front of the lodge. Our leader will be on hand to help out with digital processing techniques, and can demonstrate how they would process their own images. This activity is completely flexible.
As mid-afternoon rolls around, we meet on the lodge decking and enjoy a spot of high tea before venturing out into the bush again. Heading out shortly before the sun sets puts us in a favourable position to locate a sighting where we can sit and wait, ready to take advantage of the magnificent evening light afforded to us. As darkness descends photography becomes slightly more difficult, however with the aid of a spotlight we may still be able to capture some wonderful images as no flash is allowed.
As not to disturb the animals, we try to avoid illuminating it directly; our guides have ample experience of spotlighting and will control the spotting light from the front seat of the vehicle. During our evening drives we may even have the opportunity to capture some rare nocturnal species to add to our portfolio, such as genets, civets, porcupines, springhares, owls and endearing bushbabies.
After each successful day, we will return to the lodge for a delightful dinner where we can discuss the day's sightings, share images and enjoy a celebratory drink.
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Day 9:
Morning game drive, fly back to Johannesburg and onward to the UK
Today marks the conclusion of our safari at MalaMala, and after an early morning wake-up, we head out for our final game drive.
We return to the lodge later in the morning, with time to pack before brunch, followed by a transfer to Skukuza Airport for our onward travel arrangements.
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Day 10:
Arrive in the UK
Luxury
