Royal Malewane
Which Lodge is Right for You?
Royal Malewane is a collection of luxury safari lodges that are different from all the rest and it remains one of my favorite safari lodges of all time.
Located within the Thornybush Private Game Reserve, a lesser known Private Reserve within Greater Kruger within South Africa. The Greater Kruger comprises over 850,000 acres of protected land to the west of the Kruger National Park, with unfenced borders between the Park and the Reserve, allowing animals to roam freely and great potential for game viewing.
While most safari lodges lean hard into the traditional brown and green muted designs, Royal Malewane comprises four safari lodges, in addition to three private villas, each personally designed by Liz Biden with a unique style from modern clean lines, to classic bush style, to whimsical and colorful. At Royal Malewane, you will have control over your dining schedule and options to customize what you eat. The food is very delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed eating my meals while watching the resident hippo family in the watering hole. What’s really special about the meals at the Royal Malewane lodges is that you have complete dining flexibility. The menus will be completely tailored to your personal tastes and dietary requirements and there are no set dining times. You can eat whenever you would like. We even received menus customized to our allergies/dietary restrictions. This total flexibility is unlike anything I have ever experienced at another safari lodge!
No matter which property you stay at within Royal Malewane, you can use the facilities at the other lodges. I highly recommend taking advantage of the amazing spa facilities at Malewane Lodge. Your guide can plan this into your day - perhaps integrating a stop for breakfast or lunch here as well between your game drives. While most lodges just offer massages without spa facilities, this lodge features a truly incredible indoor/outdoor spa, including a heated lap pool and fitness center (and some sneaky monkey visitors).
Perfect for groups or those who want more privacy, Royal Malewane also offers villas and small lodges that are perfect for small groups to take over for a secluded retreat with customized service, private chefs, and dedicated game vehicles.
Royal Malewane also offers family friendly amenities in the accommodations that allow children, including child-friendly game drives, animal checklists, arts & crafts, board games & puzzles, and bush quizzes. The expert guides and trackers love to share their knowledge with kids of all ages and are masters at making that knowledge accessible to future rangers during game drives. Babysitting services can be arranged at an additional cost.
First things first, let’s go over the perks my Bessties will receive at Royal Malewane. We can add the following perks for our Bessties:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability (not applicable to Royal Suites or villas)
A $100 Gift from Royal Portfolio OR $100 donation to the philanthropic projects of The Royal Portfolio Foundation.
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Now let’s dive into the details about the hotel.
Activities
There’s a huge variety of activities available at any of the Royal Malewane Lodges:
Game Drives: Game drives create the basic rhythm of the day on safari. You’ll start the day on a game drive as the sun rises and finish your day on a game drive as the sun sets. On a game drive in top-of-the-range specialized game drive vehicles, you’ll search for animals, including the species in the Big 5.
Spa Treatments: Enjoy a spa day in between game drives. While you can get a spa treatment at any of the lodges, I strongly suggest enjoying your spa treatment at Malewane Lodge, which has extensive spa facilities. Make a day of it by asking your guide to drop you off there in between game drives and arrange to have lunch there pre or post treatment by their gorgeous spa pool. You can also enjoy the spa facilities.
Bush Walks: Take a walk with an expert guide in the bush to explore the details and tracks left behind by animals in the wild, with the possibility of encountering animals up close on foot.
Bush Sleepouts: Take your bush walk to the next level and have your guide arrange for a sleepout in the bush. Every Guide has spent years refining their bush experience and undergoing intense and demanding training to become certified Guides.
Horseback Riding: Go horseback riding in nearby Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, where you might encounter various birds and animals like giraffe, kudu, wildebeest, warthog, and impala.
Helicopter Patrol Flight: Viewing the reserve and the Greater Kruger from above offers a unique perspective on the landscape and what it takes to keep the wildlife safe. You’ll fly in a small helicopter with an experienced bush pilot and the reserve warden as he counts elephant herds and checks on the safety of the rhinos before rising over the Drakensberg Mountains landscape and through the Blyde River Canyon.
Rhino Dehorning Experience: Dehorning rhinos is proving to be an effective deterrent to poachers, in combination with other security work. Rhino dehorning is an ongoing project that requires considerable resources to be successful. By participating in this activity, you can help ensure that future generations will also get to see rhinos in the world
Rhino Dehorning Experience: Dehorning rhinos is proving to be an effective deterrent to poachers, in combination with other security work. Rhino dehorning is an ongoing project that requires considerable resources to be successful. By donating financially and contributing in person, you can help ensure that future generations will also get to see rhinos in the world. This activity must be booked in advance, as it depends on a variety of prevailing circumstances.
Helicopter Patrol Flight: Viewing the reserve from above offers a unique perspective on the landscape and what it takes to keep the wildlife safe. An aerial view of the Greater Kruger lets you see just how close human activity has come to the wilderness, and this puts into perspective the challenge of maintaining a balance between conservation and agriculture, and ensuring that the needs of both communities and wildlife are taken into account. You’ll fly in a small helicopter with an experienced bush pilot and our reserve warden as he counts elephant herds and checks on the safety of the rhinos and enjoy the chance to spot herds of elephant in the reserve before rising over the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains landscape and through the exquisite Blyde River Canyon.
The Ground-Hornbill Project Foundation: This project has been conducting vital research and conservation work on these remarkable birds for over 20 years. Known as the Thunderbird because of its unique call, these large black birds are highly endangered due to habitat loss and slow breeding rate. You can learn more about the species and join experts as they visit active nests to monitor the eggs and nestlings.
Elephant Conservation Project: Join this conservation project as they track down specific elephant bulls and work with vets and pilots to carefully fit the telemetry collars that capture vital data, such as social interactions, vocal communications, and genetic relationships.
K9 Unit Demonstration: Visit the counter-poaching dog unit at Royal Malewane, known as Tango K9, comprises Field Rangers and highly trained detection and tracker dogs, which forms an extremely effective counter-poaching team. The K9 Unit dogs far exceed human technology and have helped to dramatically reduce incident response times and the number of incidents in the reserve have dropped significantly.
Wild Dog Conservation Foundation Project: Join project scientists in their work to help conserve wild dogs. In the field, they will attempt to locate the pack, fit a new collar, or gather data. African wild dogs are highly endangered – only 5,500 free-ranging dogs remain on the continent.
Extraordinary Guides
The guides at Royal Malewane set themselves apart from the rest in the industry. Royal Malewane is often referred to as the “Harvard of the Bush”. The guiding team’s passion for learning and their ambition to be the best raise the standards of the safari industry as a whole. The Guides at Royal Malewane strive to achieve the highest Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) qualifications, as well as advanced rifle handling certificates. These qualifications ensure that you will enjoy an exceptional game-viewing experience. Many of the guides have professional guiding qualifications, such as the Special Knowledge & Skills (SKS) Qualifications, Dangerous Game, and Birding. Very few guides in Africa achieve these qualifications, which require extensive knowledge as well as technical skills. Even more, there are only 13 Professional Field Guides with FGASA Scout status in the world, and two of those are on the Royal Malewane team. There are also two of only 11 living Master Trackers in the world on their team, and they are the only two working in the Greater Kruger region. Collectively, the guiding team brings over 300 years of combined African bush experience. This means you will have the best possible experience while in safari, with guides that are true knowledgeable experts.
Which Lodge Is Right For You?
Malewane Lodge
Malewane Lodge was originally designed as the Biden Family’s home in the bush, before it became a safari lodge. It’s designed in a classic traditional safari style, with old world elegance and timeless luxury. Common guest areas include dining areas, a boutique, a library, a bar, a wine cellar, and extensive spa facilities. This lodge can accommodate a total of 20 guests across six 1 bedroom Luxury Suites and two 2 bedroom Royal Suites.
Each Luxury Suite accommodates two guests and features a private wooden deck, a private infinity edge pool, a fireplace, and an outdoor sala. The Luxury Suites are 1,780 square feet, including the private deck and plunge pool. Four of the six suites have king size beds, whilst the remaining two suites can be made into twin beds. Note that the Luxury Suites have a minimum age of 10.
Each Royal Suite accommodates up to two guests in each of the two spacious ensuite bedrooms, in addition to a living room and dining area. One of the two rooms has a king size bed, while the second one has a king size bed that can be converted into twin beds. The Royal Suites are 5,490 square feet, including the private deck and plunge pool. Royal Suites have their own private services, including a private chef, a host, and a private safari vehicle with a Guide and Tracker. Children of all ages are welcome in the Royal Suites.
Farmstead
Farmstead is a contemporary lodge with sweeping vistas over the bush. As a smaller, more intimate lodge, Farmstead works very well for couples seeking seclusion or smaller groups traveling together, as it's the perfect size for a buyout. Communal amenities include a dining area, a gym, a spa double treatment room, and a bar. Farmstead also has a collection of contemporary African art on display, with pieces by Kudzanai Chiurai, James Jana, and Lalela, among others. With only three 1 bedroom Luxury Farm Suites, it’s perfect for those who like super personalized attention. Suites are almost 2,000 square feet each and have bathtubs, outdoor showers, individual decks, custom-made hanging daybeds, and private plunge pools. Farmstead only allows children over 10 years old.
Masiya’s Camp
Masiya’s Camp is the newest addition to the Royal Malewane Lodge collection, having just opened in 2025. This new concept allows for a unique experience under canvas in an ultra-modern style, with every comfort you could need. Communal spaces include a dining area, an interactive kitchen, a pizza oven, an outdoor braai area, a lounge tent, a central heated swimming pool with loungers, a boutique, and a bar. Each of the six uniquely designed canvas draped suites, each offering a private and tranquil retreat. Each Luxury Tented Suite is over 1,000 square feet, 2,476 square feet when including the outdoor spaces. Each suite includes a King sized bed that can be split into two beds, a freestanding bathtub, indoor/outdoor showers, air conditioning and ceiling fans, underfloor heating, and a private deck with a heated plunge pool. Masiya’s Camp only allows children over 10 years old.
Waterside
Waterside, which opened in 2022, is the most colorful of the options in terms of design. While most safari lodges lean hard into the traditional brown and green muted designs, Waterside has a fun whimsical and colorful style that sets it apart from most of its neighbors. Communal areas include lounge areas, dining areas, library, family game room, spa, gym, yoga room, wine cellar, and outdoor bar. This Lodge accommodates 16 guests in the four Luxury Suites, two Aloe Rooms, and one Baobab Suite.
The two 1 bedroom Aloe Rooms are 442 square feet and have ceiling fans, air conditioning, outdoor showers, and private plunge pools. The four 1 bedroom Luxury Suites over 1,600 square feet each, including a private deck, outdoor sala, and plunge pool. Rooms can be made up in twin or a king configuration. Amenities in the room include fireplace, ceiling fans, air conditioning, private plunge pools, and outdoor showers.
There is one Baobab Suite, a two-bedroom suite that is over 3,000 square feet, including the private deck and plunge pool. The Baobab Suite comes with a private safari vehicle with a Guide and Tracker. This suite is ideal for families but it also works well for 2 couples or friends traveling together!
Children of all ages are welcome at Waterside but a private vehicle may be required for the kids to go on safari, depending on their age, the guide's evaluation of the children, and the room type booked.
Private Villas
Royal Malewane also has 3 private villas within its collection, ideal for multi-generational families or groups traveling together. The villas all have private pools and include private services for the guests, including a private chef, private host, and a private safari vehicle with a Guide and Tracker. Children of all ages are welcome in the villas, making them ideal for families. The villas include:
Waterside House sleeps up to 8 guests in 4 bedrooms. It has direct access to Waterside Lodge and its facilities via lit pathways.
Farmhouse sleeps 6 adults and 2 children in 4 bedrooms (one with child-sized beds). It has direct access to Farmstead Lodge and its facilities via lit pathways.
Africa House sleeps up to 12 guests in 6 bedrooms. It is a two-minute drive from Malewane Lodge.
Pricing
Your rate at the Royal Malewane Lodges includes your accommodation, all meals and snacks, Wi-Fi, full minibar, house wines and local beverages, all coffees and speciality teas, transfers to and from the local airstrip, laundry service, 2 Game drives daily and bush walks, and tax.
Rates exclude champagne and cellar selection wines, conservation and community levies, spa treatments, transfers to and from other locations, private game drive vehicles, boutique purchases, telephone calls, kosher meals, and photographic equipment.
Rates are the same across the Royal Malewane Lodges for the Luxury Suite product, so you can choose the lodge that is the right fit for you instead of focusing on price differences. The exact price will depend on the number of nights, the other lodges you are staying at, etc (as that changes what kinds of offers you are eligible for). The best offer available is the 6th night free offer. What’s amazing for this offer is that it is applicable across the Royal Portfolio, meaning you could do 2 nights at their amazing Cape Town property, The Silo, or their fantastic property in the Winelands, La Residence, combined with 4 nights on safari at one of the Royal Malewane lodges. This offer is currently just active for 2025 but we are hopeful that it will be extended to 2026 and beyond.
We suggest you budget a minimum of the following amounts per night for gratuities at a safari lodge in South Africa:
Ranger/Guide: R 500 per couple per day (approx 27 USD)
Tracker: R 250 per couple per day (approx 14 USD)
Butler: R 250 per couple per day (approx 14 USD)
Lodge/Camp Staff: R 500 per couple per day (approx 27 USD)
Getting Here
Hoedspruit airport is an easy 30 to 60 minute game drive to the lodges (depending on which specific one you are staying at) and has direct flights to both Cape Town and Johannesburg. Waterside is the closest to Hoedspruit, whereas the other lodges are a bit further into the reserve. Alternatively, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Nelspruit, airport code MQP), a 2.5 hour drive away, offers more frequent daily flights, as well as additional direct flight options, such as Victoria Falls. Royal Malewane has its own airstrip and private charter flights can also be arranged to anywhere within South Africa and neighboring countries.
Recommended Stay Length
I would generally recommend at least four nights here, unless you will be combining with another stay at a neighboring lodge or reserve, in which case, you could get away with a stay of three nights.
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