Independent hotels in Mala Mala Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park

"The minute we arrived we were greeted by lovely staff and elephants at the pool. What followed was a once in a lifetime experience. The positives - Beds are super comfy with electric blankets for those cold nights and a fan for the warm days. The food was AMAZING. I LOVED being seated with fellow safari mates and getting to know people from across the world even though we are total introverts. Our guide Leighton was brilliant, knowledgeable and an excellent driver. And the wildlife…. Wow. I still can’t believe we saw so many lions, leopards and cheetahs, not to mention everything else. Being birders we were worried that we would be ignored and never get a moment to identify a bird but Leighton balanced the needs of the guests so well and had an excellent knowledge of all animals. The only downsides… when we arrived we were so hungry but because our flight was delayed we missed the afternoon safari and had to wait until everyone returned before we could access any food - a wait of 2 hours was really tough and no one explained what was happening. Highly recommend explaining the daily itinerary to people on arrival and having snacks available for purchase. Loved the Couples shower but unfortunately not enough hot water for 2 people. "

"We were surprised at how comfortable the room was. Great nights sleep and perfectly positioned for early morning access to the NP."

"Beautiful, we drove in and drove out, which was a great experience. make sure you book the right airport and you won’t have to drive your own car although we loved driving around ourselves in addition to the wonderful game drives. The staff and the Safari drivers were the best. The garden rooms were lovely and we saw many animals and baby hippo, newly born from the view on the train track"

"Staying at simbambili was the best experience of our life. The lodge was stunning, the food was exceptional, the attention to detail was like no other, but above all the team that worked there made you feel like family. I looked at dozens of lodges before choosing for our honeymoon, so when I finally landed on Simbambili, it was due to the amazing reviews and location. When we arrived it was even better than what we could have imagined. Magical is really the word that comes to mind. Our days started with our Ranger Solomon and Tracker Roy, took us out on our drives. They were so passionate and knowledgeable. Then came back to a very cheerful Caroline who welcomed us, and then every meal Rich was there to take care of us. There was a watering hole at the lodge and constantly we were able to see so many animals coming up for a drink. Look no further for your dream safari, it’s at simbambili!"

"Great place to stay. Authentic, great vibe. "

"Love it so much "

"Lovely room, breakfast & dinner were included. Safaris were additional. They had a great spa. Gift shop, coffee shop, a couple bars & pools. We would recommend it for anyone. "

"This was our 5th visit to Elephant Plains. It's the most affordable option in the Sabi Sands and an excellent place to stay. Since our 2022 visit, they have updated the rondovels. They're super comfortable with everything you need. Staff were great. They seem to have simplified the food options (an improvement) and the quality is great. You go to the Sabi Sands for the exceptional leopard sightings and amazing safaris. This place does not dissapoint - in one drive we had 2 leopard cub sightings, a female on a kill, close elephant encounters and lions. It's worth every cent! For self-drivers (at May 2025), the roads to Gowrie Gate are horrendous and haven't improved much in 10 years. Map out your journey before hand. We used both Google Maps and the maps provided by EP. Gowrie Gate entry was R510 (cash or card) and the conservation fee added to your bill at EP was R620 so factor that in too. Elephant Plains is a must do!"

"This is an exceptional property in the Manyeleti Game Reserve adjacent to the Kruger National Park. It is a magical place where Impala's roam the property and the elephants come to drink water from the pool. The "tents" are very nice with toilet facilities and showers and comfortable beds. The food was good, but the staff are the best! They do everything they can to meet your needs and wants. Everyday there are two game drives into the reserve where you can get very close to amazing game animals. The guides on these drives are very good at their jobs. Ours was named Brilliant and he truly was brilliant. He can find animals, birds and snakes at distance and at night in places I can barely see. He is amazing! We want to thank the staff for making our stay very special-Dan, Mavis, Trevor, Previous, Noa and other...and especially Brilliant!"