Rattray's Camp at Mala Mala

Kate's visit to Rattrays @ Mala Mala 5*

By Kate Added: 06 July 2008

Quite simply - Rattrays does what it says on the tin!  Mala Mala created a luxurious game lodge which could compete effectively at the very top of the luxury safari market and that is exactly what Rattrays does….

However the whole Mala Mala philosophy hasn’t changed with Rattrays – the focus is still very much on the game-viewing and on maximizing your experience of the bush.

Rattray’s does’t try to offer a spa in the bush, or food that you might see in a New York restaurant. They provide two bathrooms so that you don’t hassle about who is showering first when getting ready for an early morning game drive. They provide spotlights on the main veranda just in case you see a leopard as you are enjoying a drink at night.

However they do offer very luxurious, elegant and extremely spacious accommodation
Their ‘khayas’, as their rooms are called, are almost too large. I spent about 10 mins wandering around trying to find all the light switches to turn off in my huge room. There’s an entrance lobby, leading into a giant bedroom and sitting room. Off to one side is the ladies bathroom with ball and claw bath, and dressing room with capacious wardrobe space – I think you’d have to be staying for two weeks to fill all those cupboards. On the other side is the man’s bathroom with double shower, and similar large dressing room. From there you can head out to the terrace which has a heated plunge pool and outdoor shower. Then from the sitting room area, you head out to the front stoep which is very expansive with, of course glorious views of the Sand River.

The style is classical and elegant. ‘Understated’ luxury.

They also have a main swimming pool, gym and massage tsala but they were at pains to point out that they simply do massages and not a full range of treatments. I could almost seeing him wrinkling his nose in disgust at the thought.

Game-viewing
The game-viewing in the Mala Mala Game Reserve is always a strong point, and this visit reaffirmed that. We spent a good amount of time at ‘sightings’ – we must have spent 25 mins with a leopard at a kill in the early morning before another vehicle came along. But that was because our ranger decided that we would go out early in order to see it by ourselves, which was clever of him.

Other points to mention
• Rattrays offers bush cuisine of good quality but not fancy food
• only 4 guests on a game vehicle so there’s plenty of room and individual attention
• extensive river frontage with animals coming to drink right in front of the lodge
• lots of old photos showing the Mala Mala history – in the bar and in the library