Phinda or Mashatu?

A couple of thoughts here. If you do Mashatu or Phinda, I would do these camps at the beginning of your trip and not the end. Wildlife in the Sabi Sands will be the best out of the bunch, so I would do them last. Phinda will give you cheetah, which will be the most likely camp out of your list, but at Mashatu you will have relaxed elephants and tons of plains game like eland, kudu and other antelopes.

We went to Phinda and loved it, but your costs would be lower, I think, if you chose a Mashatu/Mala Mala combination.

Phinda has cheetahs and a 6 or 7 different ecosystems. We went to Sabi Sands and Timbavati after Phinda, and while we saw some larger groups of animals at Londolozi and Ngala, we didn't really see different animals--except leopards at Londolozi (we did see a shy leopard at Phinda).

If you choose Phinda, I can recommend Forest Lodge and Thulani as a guide. I'm sure the other lodges are as nice or maybe nicer--but I loved the rooms at Phinda.

Haven't been to Phinda, but I give two big thumbs up to Mashatu. Cheetahs, leopards, lots of lions, ostrich and elands. We had a blast there - and at main camp you can go see the San art. Can't recommend it enough - and it's a great value, IMO.

If you do an andBeyond camp in Sabi Sand along with Phinda (also andBeyond) you might get a better deal. Mala Mala and Mashatu are owned by the same group.

Click on my name to find my trip report for Mashatu.

Why Leopard Hills? You are already at MM which is the largest private property in the Sabi Sands ....... You may as well spend some more time there in one spot. That Western Sector of the Sabi Sands is really a small parcel of land traversed by several lodges there, including the And Beyond ones....

You could easily do, MM, Mashatu and Phinda instead ........ just a thought and get several different eco-systems. Mashatu, I have not been out of the 3 - but, if they are providing you a free transfer makes sense to use that opportunity.

I have been to Kings Camp four times, MalaMala three times and Leopard Hills once. All three are great safari camps. Hari has a good point about why LH with MM. LH makes the most sense if you are indeed going to Kings Camp, to take advantage of their 8 for 6 deal, LH and KC. But a combo of Phinda, Mashatu, and MM would be my first choice for exactly the reason Hari said. IF the cost is in same ball park.

regards - tom

If you go to Mashatu stay in the Tent Camp. It's such a great experience and although it is a tent, it's not like camping at all. And it is a totally different environment than Sabi Sands. Simply beautiful. I was there 3 nights in 2003 and 6 nights in 2008 and I was not ready to leave either time. I think we saw cheetahs 5 out of the 6 days in 2008. Plus wild dogs. Plus hundreds of elephants. Here are a few pics from 2008. http://www.pbase.com/cjw/africa_2008_mashatu

Definitely do as Andy said. Save MalaMala for last. It's usually the icing on the cake. I've been there 3 times. 2004 (6 nights), 2006 (5 nights) and 2008 (4 nights).

I can't comment on the other lodges. These 2 have my heart. ♥
In the end it won't matter which camps you choose because they are all great and you will have a wonderful trip!

I've been to Phinda Forest, Mala Mala and Mashatu Tented. All three are very good. I would second what sundowner says about Mashatu Tented - it's not like camping and is cheaper than main camp.

If you can, stay at all these three, as they are all quite different and that will give you an amazing safari. Phinda is very good for cheetah and Mala Mala for leopard.

I don't think it will work to do Mala Mala last if you do all three but if you do just two camps then I agree it's better to save it until last.

We had our own charter between Phinda and Sabi Sands (not cheap). The fact that you are being offered a free flight between Mala Mala and Mashatu is a good deal.

FREE airfare between Mashatu and Mala Mala!? Where did you find this? Would be very interested to know more please.

http://www.malamala.com/itineraries/The%20African%20Definitive%20Experience%20Package2010.pdf

Dear CarlaM . . . here is the link to the Mala Mala & Mashatu package.

Thanks everyone!

I've been to Phinda and have an account of all the lodges on my blog, for a party of four you may want to go to one of the smaller lodges where your party will take up most of the lodge, Vlei or Rock, lodge, The Homestead is also a good option, but may be a bit on the expensive side. All the lodges are great, we had an amazing stay and a bonus about Phinda is you can also visit the St Lucia Isimangaliso Wetland Park for birding and hippos and crocs on the water.
www.kimssouthafrica.blogspot.com

I have done the Mashatu/Mala Mala combo and would do it again in a heartbeat. That's why I'm always looking for any kind of deal. I've seen that package you posted and when broken down, the airfare is included in the price, not free. I figured with the 2010 prices it comes to $400US each and 4 people must travel together. Still worth it IMO but FREE would be better =)
The camp rates are higher now for 2011. I would highly recommend this package.

The MalaMala/Mashatu package linked above is only valid for four passengers. But - I love MalaMala and Mashatu and agree they are incredibly different and diverse. I have been to MalaMala many times and always seen the big five. Not sure about calm elephants at Mashatu. I seem to get chase all the time including at Mashatu in 2008.

Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond