While having the opportunity to witness each
member of the Big Five in their natural environment
was a treat, an even rarer moment occurred on our
final morning game drive when we encountered a
magnificent leopard up in a tree with its kill from the
previous evening. For nearly two hours we quietly
watched and tracked the leopard as it dragged its prey
down from the tree and through the bush. Our game
ranger and host, Brett, assured us that this was a rare
moment as even experienced game rangers can go
months, even much longer, without seeing a leopard,
particularly one with its prey. It was a splendid ending
to our safari and a wonderful start to the second part of
our adventure that would see us on to Cape Town.
Traveling between cities in South Africa and beyond is
quite easy and convenient thanks to Airlink and their
Star Alliance Partner airlines, including South African
Airways. Our direct flight from Skukuza Airport to
Cape Town International Airport was a little over two
and a half hours and gave each of us time for a nap and
recharge before landing in the Mother City.
Guest of MalaMala can choose from three different
camps offering an array of accommodation styles
ranging from a stylish and traditionally inspired Main
Camp; to the Sable Camp, a more intimate version
of the Main Camp, perfect for those seeking a more
private and intimate safari; to the ultra-exclusive and
luxurious Rattray’s on MalaMala that offers a glimpse
of an era long past, when distant travelers to Africa
married the magic of the wild with elegance and
refinement. Stays are inclusive of meals, Internet,
game drives and walks.
At MalaMala, safaris are conducted in open four-
wheel drive vehicles, allowing for total freedom of
movement and the ability to leave the road and track
down Africa’s unique animals including the Big Five —
African lion, African leopard, white rhino, African
elephant and Cape buffalo. Morning and evening
game drives are the highlight of each day, with plenty
of relaxation, food and drinks in between.
One particular game drive found us surrounded by
a herd of elephants as they and their calves made their
way through the bush, and on another we found
ourselves stopped in the middle of a herd of Cape
buffalo numbering nearly 300 of the massive creatures.
TOP
MalaMala Main
Camp is the
oldest and most
historic private
game reserve in
South Africa and
the first to make
the transition
from hunting to
photographic
safari’s.
FEATURE STORY
FS
36
THE AFFLUENT TRAVELER
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Feature Story
