MalaMala · Sand River
MalaMala Sable Camp
An intimate camp of seven thatched suites above the Sand River, in the MalaMala Game Reserve.
From R30 150 pp / night sharing
MalaMala · Thatched suites
MalaMala Camp
MalaMala's family-friendly main camp, with 19 suites and rooms and a private airstrip nearby.
FromR26 100pp / night sharing
The lodge
One of South Africa's oldest safari camps, with ten suites, eight rooms and a single suite beside the Sand River, and children of all ages welcome.
MalaMala Camp is one of the oldest safari camps in South Africa, set beside the perennial Sand River in the MalaMala Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger. The reserve has an unfenced eastern boundary with the Kruger National Park, so wildlife moves freely across it. The camp has ten luxury suites, eight luxury rooms and one single suite, all thatched and styled in earthy tones, each looking out over the watering hole or the floodplains of the river.
A large deck shaded by an enormous jackalberry tree looks onto the riverine bush, and dinner is served there, around the fire in a reed boma or in the air-conditioned dining room. Guests gather in the lounge and the Buffalo Bar, hung with photographs of the reserve's pioneer era, and the camp has a library, a pool and small gym overlooking the floodplains, a boutique and massages. Activities include game drives and bush walks, and one suite is universally accessible.
Highlights
- Very low density: MalaMala states about 1 bed per 200 ha and 1 vehicle per 950 ha
- Private airstrip about 10 minutes from camp
- Children of all ages welcome; family rooms on request
- Drinks, game drives and airstrip transfers included
In pictures
A look inside
Your stay
Where you sleep, how you spend the days
Accommodation
- Ten Luxury Suites with a bath, an indoor shower and an outdoor shower.
- Eight Luxury Rooms with an indoor shower only.
- One Luxury Single Suite.
Activities
- Game drives in an open 4x4 safari vehicle with an experienced ranger
- Optional guided bush walk after breakfast, on foot with a professional guide (arrange with your ranger)
- Massages and spa treatments in your suite
The fine print
What your rate covers
Included
- All meals and snacks
- Drinks (premium imported brands not in stock excluded)
- Game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles with an experienced ranger
- Nature walks
- Transfers to and from the MalaMala airstrip
- Limited laundry service
- VAT
Not included
- Premium imported alcoholic drinks not in stock
- Telecommunication costs
- Skukuza Airport transfers (a shared road transfer is R950 per person each way, 2026)
- Transfers to or from camps outside MalaMala
- Sabi Sand Wildtuin entrance fee when arriving by road
- Community levy, R250 per person a day
- A private vehicle (R6 350 a day for each empty seat of six) and photographic mounts (R250 a mount a day)
Good to know
- Children of all ages are welcome at MalaMala Camp. Children under 5 may only go on game drives in a private vehicle booked by the parents.
- Family rooms that take a third adult or two children are available on request.
- Meals are brunch, high tea and dinner, with an all-day menu for lunch.
Getting there
Finding your way to the bush
Routes and transfers
- MalaMala has its own airstrip, about ten minutes' drive from the camps; airstrip transfers are included.
- The nearest commercial airport is Skukuza; a shared road transfer costs R950 per person each way (2026).
- MalaMala does not run transfers from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, but can arrange them at extra cost for confirmed bookings.
- No arrivals at camp after 20:00.
Every stay is arranged around you. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will confirm availability and shape the rest.
Request availability
Tell us when you would like to stay
Send your dates and we will confirm availability and the rate for your stay.
Or email us directly
- Emailhello@lepden.com
We use these details to answer your enquiry, and send you news only if you ask for it. Privacy policy
Keep exploring
Similar lodges
Not quite right? These lodges offer a similar stay.
MalaMala · Plunge-pool villas
Rattray's Lodge
Eight freestanding suites with private plunge pools on the Sand River, in MalaMala's quiet lodge for guests aged 16 and over.
From R42 800 pp / night sharing
Sabi Sand · Exclusive-use villas
Cheetah Plains
Three exclusive-use villas in the Sabi Sand, with private game drives in silent, fully electric vehicles.
From R199 500 per villa / night