Experience the wild heart of the African bush in comfort, style, and seclusion at Royal Malewane, The Royal Portfolio’s safari collection in the Greater Kruger National Park. Royal Malewane is a luxury safari lodge in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park that exudes the romance and beauty of a bygone age while offering modern comfort and convenience. It is a magical place that stays in your mind forever.
Royal Malewane is a part of the Royal Portfolio, an uber-luxe collection of iconic hotels and lodges around South Africa. The Royal Portfolio's hospitality is a constant throughout every part of the Royal Malewane experience.
On this visit to South Africa, I was eager to check out as many safari lodges as I could squeeze into my week-long itinerary in the Kruger and a visit to Royal Malewane was understandably high on my list.
The Greater Kruger National Park stirs deep emotions. Visitors experience meaningful and often life-changing encounters with wildlife, replacing bustling city life with the tranquil sounds of untamed nature. Time slows down as your body adjusts to the natural rhythms of the African bush. The Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa and one of the world’s biggest wildlife sanctuaries.
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Location of Kruger National Park in South Africa
Luxury Lodges and Private Villas
Choose from four luxury safari lodges: Malewane Lodge, Waterside, Farmstead, and Masiya’s Camp, each offering a series of exquisite suites. The lodge offers special safaris and activities to keep children of all ages entertained and engaged. For ultimate privacy, select one of our exclusive-use private villas: Africa House, Waterside House, or Farmhouse.
- Malewane Lodge: A classic and traditional bush style lodge, Malewane Lodge was the original Biden family holiday home, converted to become the first luxury lodge in The Royal Portfolio collection.
- Waterside: Bold colours and African-inspired art bring life to this spacious family-friendly lodge, where traditional thatch meets the more modern elements of glass and steel. Accommodating 16 guests, Waterside offers four Luxury Suites, two Aloe Rooms and one Baobab Suite.
- Farmstead: Sweeping views over the bushveld set the scene at this contemporary lodge. Farmstead accommodates six guests in three Luxury Farm Suites (welcoming children over 10 years).
In addition, Royal Malewane features three exclusive-use private bush villas (Africa House, The Farmhouse and Waterside House).
Royal Malewane Lodge
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The Rooms: Safari-Chic in a Timeless Way
The private suites feel like walking into the glossy pages of a magazine. Furniture is traditional-a four poster bed enclosed in mosquito netting, dark woods, rich fabrics in muted colors-and there are enough decorative touches to make it feel lived-in and cozy. Bathrooms are spacious, with a standalone tub, double vanities, and walk-in showers opening to an outdoor version that's also one of several entrances to the real show-stopping part of the room: the spacious wrap-around deck. Each suite has its own private cabana and plunge pool, which elephants and nyalas don’t hesitate to walk right up to and sip from. There's nothing quite as breathtaking as finding yourself face to face with an elephant at eye level.
No matter the size of your room, each suite is luxuriously and intricately decorated in traditional colonial style, managing to transport you to another era entirely. Have you ever had one of those “pinch me” moments where you walk into your room and think you’ve been given the wrong keys? Me neither, ’til now!
Unrivalled Safari Experiences
Royal Malewane is home to Africa’s most experienced and qualified guiding team, which ensures your safari is unlike any other, and you tap into the very best of the African bush. Encounter the wonders of the Greater Kruger ecosystem under the expert guidance and care of an award-winning safari team, both in your lodge and in the bush. When you choose a safari destination, it’s the guiding team that makes the difference to the memories you’ll take home with you.
Game drives at the Royal Malewane were incredibly different to anything I had seen in the Sabi Sands or Botswana. Of course, we also saw many giraffes, zebra, a leopard with its’ kill, and even elephants swimming - another rare sighting for me!
As with many luxury safari lodges of this calibre, the lodge offers an all-inclusive package complete with the room rate, three meals per day, beverages, mini-bar and game drives inland rovers twice daily.
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Safari Experiences:
- Drive in the Wild:Go in search of Africa’s wildlife on game drives with Guides and Trackers who live and breathe this wild environment.
- Birding Safaris: You’ll leave your safari with a renewed sense of appreciation for these colourful members of our world.
Also, don’t be surprised if your suite is impeccable but outdoor tables and chairs are a bit scattered-the baboons like to redecorate.
Wildlife in Kruger National Park
Dining at Royal Malewane
Menus are personalized to each guest’s dietary restrictions and preferences, and the theme is abundance; you’ll never go hungry here, and can eat on your own schedule. The day starts with cold breakfast at dawn: yogurt, fruit, muesli, and pastries, with coffee and tea made to order. After the morning game drive is second breakfast: each table is filled with a cheese and charcuterie, a fruit plate, and a more pastries before staff even bring out menus for ordering an entree (as if the full table wasn’t enough of a meal on its own). Lunch offers a selection of small plates great for sharing or for having a lighter bite in the warmer hours of the day. Dinners at the lodge are three-course affairs, at minimum, with an extensive local wine list for pairings. If you’ve ever been curious about game meat, options here can include venison and even warthog. Don’t skip out on dessert, even if you feel like you’ll never be hungry again-the desserts here always hit.
Dining is always memorable, with every effort made to ensure spectacular locations as you enjoy personalised meals and delectable international cuisine.
On my first night at Royal Malewane I and two other couples were treated to a “bush dinner”, an outdoor tent experience unique to Royal Malewane.
Spa and Relaxation
With a heated lap pool, steam room, and hot and cold African baths, the spa is the perfect place for midday relaxation and recharging. Signature treatments emphasize local products, and the earthen treatment rooms create an oasis within the lodge.
Service and Hospitality
Every member of the team is personal and professional, catering to every need and want for the guests and thinking ahead to not only ensure a delightful stay but also proactively seeking ways to make the guest experience even more luxurious and memorable. Rooms are kept impeccably tidy and with new personal touches each time you return to your room. From table-side check in to chats with the night guard (who escorts guests to and from suites after dark), you can really tell that the staff is not only well-trained and highly capable in their areas of expertise, but also immersed within the company culture in order to create a cohesive experience that comes through authentically via the community of Malewane.
Lounge Area
Conservation and Community
The Royal Portfolio operates a conservation and research center on the reserve with many different initiatives dedicated to conservation in Greater Kruger. You can arrange for a tour of the center, as well as activities and excursions emphasizing conservation. On property, they have implemented a hydronic heating and cooling water system to service water heating, air conditioning, and more. There are also ongoing efforts in investing in energy efficient devices, and reducing water usage and plastics. Sigagule Crèche - a visit to the local community is inspiring, humbling and educational.
Accessibility
The lodge is not the most accessible given the winding boardwalks, but there are ramps where needed and the staff can make additional accommodations where possible to ensure a seamless experience for those with accessibility needs.
Additional Activities
Should you have a longer stay and seek additional activities beyond the game drives, the property can arrange for excursions that range from helicopter rides over the Blyde River Canyon to golfing at Leopard Creek.
Direct Booking Book directly with us. Guest Enquiry Not ready to book just yet?
Royal Malewane: A Summary
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa |
| Lodges | Malewane Lodge, Waterside, Farmstead, Masiya’s Camp |
| Private Villas | Africa House, Waterside House, Farmhouse |
| Experiences | Game drives, birding safaris, community visits |
| Dining | Personalized menus, bush dinners, local cuisine |
| Spa | Heated lap pool, steam room, African baths |
| Conservation | Research center, eco-friendly practices |
Royal Malewane - An unique safari experience- LUXE.TV
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