Mala Mala
 

Best times to go? Tried finding space for Aug 2008. Booked. any other ideas?
Rhoda

I've been to MM in late May. Not very crowded, but colder weather. Just need to pack gloves, fleece hat/scarf & jacket ... or buy there.

I've been also in October which was a very nice time as well.

-Granny Joan

Hi Rhoda

I have been to MalaMala in the following months - Jan, March, May, June, July, Nov and Dec. Certainly June and July can be cold, but if you are prepared, they are my preferred months as longer gamedrives. But I also like the warmer months, even though the gamedrives are shorter, do not like that, but you see different things! So every month has its own rewards, just find a time that isn't fully booked that suits you!

When booking a few months ago for Dec 2008/ Jan 2009, Main Camp was fully booked for two different nights, so that was a little surprising when booking so far ahead, but I got around that by going to Rattray's for a few nights!

Kind regards

Kaye

I've been in June and it was cold during the mornings and late afternoons and in September which was cool in the mornings but warmed up early (maybe 9ish) and was warm through the day until evening. Game viewing was great both times. Did you email them about availablity or look at their booking website? Sometimes rooms they have blocked out as reserved on their website do open up.

Late June was just fine.

I will be at MM at the very end of October (2007; just a few weeks away and still twitching with anticipation!) and plan to post a trip report...

Hi Kaye,

I can't wait. Still 3 months to go!

rgds,
Hari

Hi Hari,

Yes, not too long, as I leave Australia 15 Dec, and will be gameviewing pm of 16 Dec. But still too long to be waiting, especially when I look at the cyberdiary and see all the great things that are being seen!

I will need to put some thought of what I would like to see this trip, certainly the lion cubs would be top of my list - and I would love the Styx Pride to have some cubs by then, although the idea of one male with two prides and young cubs is really testing his strength, as he will need to rule for close on two years to see them through. Apparently that may not be enough either as a pride I saw at Londo, has vanished through Eyrefield Males and starvation, and they had around 7 subadults, which was just awful as well past the age where you would expect them all to be dead!

Kind regards,

Kaye

2 weeks from today and we will be headed to Mala Mala....

Also I called Delta and asked if we could get on the Air France flight back home. They allowed us to move so we will spend 2 days in Paris. It will be a good down time after 6 days of safari.

Rhoda, I would email or call them with the dates you are interested in for August right away.

Kaye, the lion situation is so intriguing to say the least. I have been seeing the Styx pride on the Africam (Nkorho Lodge)off and on lately and the other day there were also 2 males spotted there. They really get around! I hope those little guys make it!!!

Cary999 (TomG) is back from MM and working on photos and trip report, he told me he saw the cubs on 3 different days.

Yes, I saw the 9 cubs on 3 different days of the 6 I was there (Sep 14-20th), or, 3 times out of 12 game drives. Not often enough for me :-) During the day when the three lioness and male are out hunting or more likely sleeping, the cubs hide in the very tall dense reeds in the Sand river. Impossible to find. Five were about three months old and four about two months old. Noticeable difference in size and look. The young ones still have that round face while the older ones are beginning to develop a lion face, big jaw.

regards - tom
ps - I have done very little towards reviewing photos and writing trip report. Spending a lot of time helping my sister (who is not local) in her trying to view her digital photos and videos. Her first step into digital photo water and a learning opportunity. (She has been dunked only once so she has not yet drowned. Bless her heart). Give me a least two more weeks.

I will be at mala mala main camp for 3 nights starting November 26. Just thought I'd ask if anyone else will be there too. Would love to run into fellow fodorites!

I'll be there October 31, and then Leadwood Nov 1-2, and Mashatu Nov 4-5.

nancy

October 29 - 31 for me, after 10 days in Bots...

rickmck

You are so lucky Tom to have seen the cubs - so no whinging about not see them all the time! In March, they saw them (this was the Eyrefield Pride cubs, but a different lot of cubs), the morning I arrived, but we heard them a few times in the reeds but they were not seen again in the 25 days I was there, and we saw the adults a fair bit. By the time I got home I really did know they had all died! Tom, I will be happy to see them half the days I am there as well!

So I would be really pleased to see them a couple of times in my next visit! Carla, MM are seeing a bit of the Styx Pride again as well, and they are, my favourite pride of lions!

No, will not be there until December, but have already booked for June/July 2008 and Dec 2008 into Jan 2009, and have booked for 5 or 6 nights at Mashatu in the middle of our time at MM for something different, and because I can now do it, without missing a gamedrive!

Kind regards

Kaye

KayeN, how are you doing the transfer between MM and Mashatu without missing a game drive?
I saw the Styx pride three times. The last time at night feeding on a zebra they had killed.

regards - tom

Hi Tom

I believe it is a charter plane, which goes from MM airfield to somewhere to refuel in Botswana, then onto Mashatu -no need for customs if I remain at the reserve and I return the same way. We leave about 10.30am and get there in about 90 mins, in time for lunch.

While it was a bit expensive, it wasn't ridiculous and with the very reasonable price of Mashatu, I really want to see eland and ostrich again! I shall have a niece with me, and Becky will be 18 then. We very well may have other passengers, I do not know, and as it is so far away, I am not sure of the flight costs at all. We return the same way, with a further stay at MalaMala.

I very well may have seen, what you saw - the Styx Pride on a zebra - as it was on the cyberdiary. Who was your ranger/tracker team at MM, Tom?

Kind regards

Kaye

Rhoda, I was holding space for the single room at MM in August but just released it as I will be going to Mala Mala and Mashatu in July with Sundowner (Cindy)!! Just imagine me doing cartwheels right now :D

Kaye, maybe we will be crossing paths? That would be awesome. We haven't decided on whether to drive or fly to/ from the camps. But it sounds like there are interesting things to see if you drive. We have 276 looonnnnggg days to work on it.

Carla, I'll be able to describe the drive from MM to Mashatu when i get back in late November. We're spending a night in Makhado enroute.

Nancy

Nancy,

Will you be renting a car or hiring a driver? Any details you can offer would be helpful. Company? Cost? Feel free to email me if you like. What made you decide to stay in Makhado vs Tzaneen?

Sorry Rhoda about piggybacking. Will continue on my own post.