Malaria Free Reserves in South Africa

If you have young children or you cannot take anti-malaria medication, South Africa is unique in Africa in offering several malaria-free Game Reserves. It used to be that you had a make a trade-off between the quality of the game-viewing and the absence of malaria, but this is increasingly not the case as all three of our featured regions, Madikwe Game Reserve, the Waterberg and the Eastern Cape private game reserves offer the Big Five (elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino and leopard) as well as plenty of general game.

What is fair to say is that the Eastern Cape, the Pilanesberg and the Waterberg are more accessible than the traditional safari areas. This means reduced travelling time, especially important for families, but the greater accessibility can also translate into less of a ‘African safari’ feel. However this is not the case with Madikwe Private Game reserve which lies in the far north-west of South Africa.

Travel to the Malaria Free Reserves
The Pilanesberg game reserve, the Waterberg and Madikwe game reserve lie to the north of Johannesburg and Pretoria where wide open plains of bushveld stretch all the way to the Limpopo river. Rising out of these plains are the ancient volcano ridge of the Pilanesberg (1½ to 2 hours drive from Johannesburg) and the dramatic natural beauty of the Waterberg (2½ to 3 hours drive) and beyond to the north that lies Madikwe Game Reserve. The Eastern Cape game reserves are around a one hour drive from Port Elizabeth and about 3 hours drive from the Garden Route so that many of our clients add on an Eastern Cape safari to a Garden Route holiday.

Madikwe Game Reserve
The 75 000 hectare Madikwe game reserve now boasts a healthy wildlife population including plenty of the Big Five as well as over 360 recorded bird species. Alongside the Eastern Cape game lodges, Madikwe is at the forefront of offering child-friendly safari experiences with some lodges offering children’s game drives and children’s rangers.

Positives
• Probably the most consistent game-viewing of the malaria-free game reserves
• Excellent wild dog sightings
• Classic African open bushveld terrain – you really feel like you’re on safari
• Can transfer easily to Gaberone for a direct flight to Maun (Okavango Delta)

Negatives
• It’s a long way from anywhere so you may choose to fly by charter which is pretty expensive for a family or accept that the transfer will be long
• You cannot easily combine it with another activity except Sun City

Recommendations
Jacis Tree Lodge
Tuningi Safari Lodge
Madikwe Safari Lodge

Waterberg
The Waterberg, only 2½ to 3 hours drive from Johannesburg, is a stunning area of natural beauty, a dramatic forested plateau dissected by ravines and waterfalls with panoramic views over the plains below. The area is home to several malaria-free private game lodges offering Big Five game viewing and luxurious accommodation. There are also some Safari Houses - game lodges which are booked by one family or group of friends. Horse-riding, for both beginners and experienced riders are a particular speciality of the region.

Positives
• Close to Johannesburg so easy for self-drive or road transfers and good for shorter 2 night stays
• Very beautiful

Negatives
• May not feel wild enough for some visitors
• Game-viewing is not as certain as in Madikwe or some Eastern Cape reserves

Recommendations
Entabeni Game Reserve
Marakele Safari Camp
Makweti Safari Lodge

Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is one of the prime malaria-free wildlife areas in South Africa. The original Addo Elephant National Park, with its private concessions, has been joined by several private malaria-free game reserves.

Positives
• Adjacent to the Garden Route so that you don’t have to fly to get to your safari destination
• Very attractive countryside
• Many lodges to choose from, some with excellent kids safari programmes

Negatives
• Most lodges are accessible and so you don’t get an overwhelming sense of being in the wilds of ‘Africa’
• Can be very cold in the winter months (June to early August)
• You need to pick your lodge carefully as the quality of game-viewing varies between the private game reserves of the Eastern Cape.

Recommendations
Shamwari Riverdene Lodge
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Blaauwbosch Safari Lodge
Gorah Safari Camp
River Bend Game Lodge