Tag: malaria

Shamwari Private Game Reserve: Six lodges, Big Five

Posted on by James

The Eastern Cape does not get the attention it deserves. Tucked between the Garden Route and the Wild Coast, largely bypassed by travellers heading straight to the Kruger or the Sabi Sand, it offers something that neither of those destinations can: Big Five safari in a malaria-free landscape that is distinctly, unmistakably its own. The thicket, the valleys, the Bushman’s River winding through the reserve; this is not bushveld transposed from the north. It is a different ecosystem with its own character, and Shamwari is its most established expression.

At 25,000 hectares, Shamwari Private Game Reserve has been one of South Africa’s premier wildlife destinations for over three decades. From April 2026 it operates under Kerzner International’s Rare Finds brand, a move that brings a new level of hospitality infrastructure to a reserve that already had serious conservation credentials. The wildlife numbers speak for themselves; over 5,000 animals across 275 bird species, with the Big Five resident and children aged three and older welcome on game drives.

Six lodges sit across the reserve, each with its own character and target guest. Eagles Crag is the most architecturally striking; nine glass-and-stone suites built into a valley cliff face with heated plunge pools and views that justify the positioning entirely. Long Lee Manor takes a different approach; a restored 1910 Edwardian manor house with old-world elegance, a waterhole boma and a Family Suite for guests travelling with children. Riverdene is the dedicated family option, with a supervised Kids Club, inter-leading rooms and a shallow children’s pool. For those wanting complete privacy, Sarili is a six-bedroom exclusive-use villa in the reserve’s southern section with its own guide, vehicle and butler.

The conservation programme running beneath all of this gives the stay genuine depth. A wildlife rehabilitation centre, Born Free big cat sanctuaries, a rhino project and a vulture breeding programme make Shamwari one of the more conservation-serious reserves in the country; not just as a claim, but as something guests can engage with directly.

Access has always been Shamwari’s one friction point for international travellers. Shamwari Air, now under Kerzner’s management, connects Cape Town and Johannesburg to the reserve’s private airstrip in under two hours. For guests combining Shamwari with a Cape Town stay, the logistics are straightforward.

Why Malaria-Free Safari Deserves a Second Look

Posted on by James

Africa’s greatest wildlife destinations sit mostly within what are technically malaria zones.

The Sabi Sand, the Okavango Delta, the Maasai Mara; the list of places where the game viewing is exceptional and the mosquitoes are a consideration (although minor) is a long one. It’s worth saying upfront that actual cases of malaria contracted at safari lodges are incredibly rare. The combination of screened accommodation, prophylactics, repellents and the simple fact that well-run lodges take this seriously means that the statistical risk for a healthy adult is extremely low. For the majority of travellers, this is a minor inconvenience managed without much thought, and it has never stopped the Okavango Delta or the Sabi Sand from being among the finest wildlife destinations on earth.

But not every traveller is in that majority.

If you’re pregnant, anti-malarials are off the table entirely. If you’re travelling with very young children, the calculus changes. If you’re immunocompromised, or someone who reacts badly to medication, the standard advice doesn’t apply cleanly. And for a growing number of travellers, the question isn’t medical at all; it’s psychological. The background awareness of being in a malaria zone, however statistically manageable, is enough to take the edge off the experience for some people. There’s no shame in that. A safari should be one of the most liberating experiences of your life, not a source of low-grade anxiety.

For all of these travellers, malaria-free safari isn’t a consolation prize. It’s simply the smarter itinerary.

South Africa has several of its finest game reserves sitting entirely outside the malaria belt. The Waterberg, Madikwe and the Eastern Cape are all home to serious Big Five wilderness areas where the wildlife is exceptional, the guiding is strong, and the only thing you won’t be thinking about at dinner is your evening medication. These aren’t compromise destinations. They are chosen by experienced safari-goers for the quality of the experience they deliver; the malaria-free status is an added benefit rather than the primary draw.

Choosing a malaria-free destination also says nothing negative about the areas that aren’t. The Okavango remains one of the most extraordinary places on earth. The Sabi Sand leopard sightings are unmatched. For guests who are comfortable in malaria zones, those destinations belong on any serious Africa list. Malaria-free is an option worth knowing about, not a verdict on anywhere else.

What follows in this series are three properties that make that option an easy one to take…

Best Malaria-Free Safaris

Posted on by James
The risks of malaria are lower than they’ve ever been for safari travellers, what with the advancements in prophylactics, the ubiquity of mosquito repellants, mosquito nets and other preventative measures. The fact that it is still out there however, can be a deterrent for some travellers, especially pregnant women or families with young children.
Thankfully, there are some wonderful options for safari in malaria-free areas where the game viewing is plentiful, the accommodation is luxurious, and the safari experience is as good as you’ll find it anywhere on the continent.
Here are four of our favourite malaria-free destinations:

Kwandwe Game Reserve

Eastern Cape, South Africa

Renowned for quality guiding, authentic and diverse experiences, and the thousands of animals and wildlife that call the reserve home, Kwandwe offers a range of meaningful activities and accommodation options to create lifelong memories.

With only 26 rooms spread across the succulent-studded landscape, Kwandwe has one of the highest land-to-guest ratios in South Africa. With both intimate, tranquil lodges and exclusive-use villas, there’s an option to suit families, couples, groups of friends and solo travellers.

Couples can enjoy the tranquility that Great Fish River Lodge and Ecca Lodge offer, where stand-alone suites are privately located away from each other as well as central guest areas.

Families of up to four will love the flexibility that a Family Suite at Ecca Lodge offers, complete with a private safari vehicle.

Kwandwe’s three sole-use safari villas – Fort House, Uplands Homestead and Melton Manor – are ideal for families or small groups of friends looking to enjoy an entirely intimate and exclusive safari experience.

Tswalu Private Reserve

Northern Cape, South Africa

Tswalu is the largest private reserve in South Africa, covering 1200 square kilometres (over 460 square miles). Located on the edge of the southern Kalahari, this vast and remote reserve is a destination in itself, offering the only safari of its kind in an ecologically significant and unique landscape rich in biodiversity.  Their luxury safari camps provide the backdrop to privately guided encounters with diverse wildlife in one of Africa’s last remaining semi-arid wildernesses.

Tswalu’s story is one of restoration, regeneration and hope. Protecting biodiversity and securing habitat for wildlife to thrive has been at the core of this ambitious conservation project for over 25 years. Our mission has always been to restore the Kalahari to itself. Every night a guest spends with them helps to offset the cost of conservation in a privately protected area while positively impacting those who call the Kalahari home.

Madikwe Private Game Reserve

Norhtern Cape, South Africa

Situated on the border with Botswana close to the Kalahari Desert, Madikwe Game Reserve is the fifth-largest game reserve in South Africa. As one of the lesser-known reserves, this hidden gem is regarded as one of the best conservation areas in Africa and offers visitors a Big 5 safari experience over 750km².

Roughly a 4.5 hours drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, Madikwe offers a number of luxurious lodges as well as community lodges in a malaria- free zone.

The Big 5 are represented in the reserve and you are likely to spot lion, leopard, elephant, rhino or buffalo. During your visit you will also have the rare privilege of possibly seeing highly endangered African wild dog.

In 1994, a small group of six wild dogs were introduced into Madikwe. This founding group has seen a challenging time with rabies outbreaks, territorial clashes and encounters with lions.

Despite the odds, Madikwe now has a thriving wild dog population with three hunting packs roaming the area. They are somewhat accustomed to safari vehicles, offering spectacular photographic opportunities. Madikwe Game Reserve’s conservation efforts to protect the ‘painted dog’ are in place to help conserve this majestic species.

Marataba

Limpopo Province, South Africa

Prepare to be enriched by the sweeping Waterberg Mountain vistas and impressive wildlife diversity, including the Big Five with special sightings of rhino, our signature species.

Maratab’s two luxury lodges cater to both soulful explorations and active family safaris. With game drives, bush walks and a water safari, you’ll get closer to nature than ever before, and our people will take care of your every need.

Game drives, in open safari vehicles, head out each day at sunrise and again in the late afternoon to find Marakele’s many fascinating animals. Get within close range of Africa’s most impressive species, with some surprise stops along the way.

If you have a love for nature, history and culture, you’ll feel right at home at Marataba. Our special retreat lies within a private section of the Marakele Contractual National Park – meaning ‘Place of Sanctuary’ in the local Setswana language – which protects abundant wildlife, San rock art and Iron Age sites. The park itself falls within the greater UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and is the only savannah biosphere in the world. You’re literally staying in a piece of profound natural and historical importance – we told you it was special!

This is just a small insight into some of our favourite malaria-free destinations, but there are plenty more to choose from, and not just in South Africa.

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com if you are looking for a malaria-free safari, as we can tailor-make the perfect itinerary for you.