Royal Malewane

Wow. This team knows exactly how to make you “homesick” from your time at their lodge. My husband and I are missing everything about our stay and experience as we make the long journey home. The team here makes you feel cared for and certainly well fed, and our guide and tracker did everything they could to deliver wild animals and animal experiences, stunning sunsets, and personal comfort. These 2, Conrad and Kevin, are the stars of the show. We are experiencing a bit of separation anxiety after leaving these two today. :) Our suite (2) was well stocked with drinks and food, had a generous outdoor space and dipping pool, a nicely sized closet, bed and bathroom. We used the gym almost every day. It has a cable machine, free weights, a rower, treadmill and elliptical. There are also some kettlebells too. We enjoyed lazy days otherwise in between the game drives mostly being fed by the talented chefs and the excellent wait staff who remembered all of my food sensitivities. The gift shop was a great place to find some long sleeve shifts, light coats and gifts to take home. We had a small mishap while staying there and we have never seen an entire team work so quickly to make sure our stay was flawless. It is easy to understand while so many people make this a repeat stay. We are already planning our next trip with friends and family.

We have been traveling to the Royal Malewane since 2003 and it is always our favorite safari lodge in South Africa! This year it was just as special as our first visit in 2003. The staff is always professional, the rangers are the best in the world, the food is delicious and special, and the accommodations luxurious. Our guide, Ryan Jack is very special. He’s been with the Royal Malewane team for many years and still approaches every game drive as if it was our first game drive. If you want a world class safari, you must put the Royal Malewane on your bucket list!

Royal Malewane is a true luxury bush experience. We stayed at the newest property, Waterside Lodge, and had a fantastic 3 night stay. Arrival: We flew from Cape Town to Hoedspruit on a non-stop flight and were greeted at the small airport by our guide Matt. The airport is small but efficient and all the greeters are clustered by the baggage claim. We enjoyed a beautiful scenic drive to the camp and as we arrived to the entrance, received another warm welcome from the staff while we sipped a cocktail, got the logistics of the camp, and went over preferences. Room: We had luxury suite #2, a spacious room, beautifully decorated and curated with incredible art. The design mixes African and colonial elements with contemporary luxury and adds a healthy splash of color. We had a fireplace, sitting area, dressing room, indoor and outdoor shower, plunge pool and patio. Between game drives we loved the various areas of the room we could leverage to read a book, enjoy a coffee or catch up on a couple emails. The room featured a well stocked mini bar that is all included with your stay. Game Drives: You will meet your guide and tracker on your first day and they will be with you for the duration of your stay. They will customize the drives to ensure you are spending the time tracking the animals and experiences you are seeking. Luxury lodges obviously provide 5 star hospitality, but they also differentiate themselves with the quality, experience and knowledge of their guides and trackers. The learning and knowledge that you absorb through asking questions and getting to know the bush is part of the experience - be sure to soak it up! We had Matt and Stanley and gave them free reign to do what they do best - we saw everything - the Big Five plus so much more. We saw two leopard kills and lots of babies, very unique and special moments to see in the bush. Matt and Stanley were truly experts - you cannot believe how they pick up on sounds/calls and tracks to find the animals in the vastness of the park. Food: The lodge's chef, Chippy, came to greet us on arrival and asked about preferences and allergies/restrictions. From that meeting, we received personalized menus at each meal. You can order off the menu or whatever you want off menu. The food is wonderful - the perfect balance of fine dining and local flair - exactly the type of food you want in the bush. We love local South African food and made a point to try the local meats and flavors that Chippy incorporated into the menu. Breakfast was always a number of beautifully plated pastries, charcuterie and fruits - all before ordering a la carte - you will be incredibly well fed with the quality is top notch. The staff picks up on your preferences and even starts to make recommendations based on what you ordered and enjoyed previously - truly impressive and personalized service. Spa/Gym: The lodge has a small but well equipped gym that is perfect for a mid day workout. We used it twice and were th