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-   -   Mala Mala vs Djuma Vuyatela which to choose? (https://www.fodors.com/community/africa-and-the-middle-east/mala-mala-vs-djuma-vuyatela-which-to-choose-379696/)

paradisedb Jun 16th, 2008 06:22 AM

Mala Mala vs Djuma Vuyatela which to choose?
 
Which lodge would be best for game viewing? Djuma Vuyatela or Mala Mala? Does anyone know the difference in price between the two.

divine54 Jun 16th, 2008 07:43 AM

here is the link to djuma

http://www.djuma.com/rates.php

mala mala is at least 150% of their rates. also what i see from the website it's a huge difference.
i don't know their wildlife but assume it's similar as it is also in sabi sands.
but mala mala is the biggest concession so it might be more diverse based on range.

haven't been to djuma but love mala mala.

it's up to you in view to budget and also regarding clientele.

but must admitt that sometimes the mid-end clientele is much more approachable than the "upper class" clientele you find at mm.

all depending on personal preferences.

Krugerlover Jun 16th, 2008 08:24 AM

Djuma and Mala Mala have similiar accommadation. On the game viewing side Mala Mala will turn out supreme. Mala Mala has 19km of river frontage and this is a animal magnet in the winter months.

My vote will have to go to Mala Mala.

isabel25 Jun 16th, 2008 11:34 AM

I haven't been to South Africa yet, but the rates for Mala Mala Main Camp and Djuma Vuyatela are almost exactly the same.

We're heading to Mala Mala at the end of this month because of its reputation for superb game viewing. I love the style of Vuyatela though -- from the photographs, it looks like it is filled with art.

fullojoy Jun 16th, 2008 06:40 PM

We are staying at Djuma Vuyatela in Dec, and selected it over mala mala Sable camp. According to my agent, the property has been recently purchased by Seasons in Africa, and vuyatela will be refurbished shortly. My agent assures me that the change in ownership won't affect anything, and that the same staff will continue to work there, and it will still have the same "family friendly" feel to it. When are you planning to go?

brw Jun 25th, 2008 08:02 AM

divine,

Not sure I get your mid-end versus upper class dig. I've never stayed at Vuyatela so I can't comment on it but neither lodge qualifies as inexpensive and I found the other guests at Mala Mala (we stayed at Rattray's) to be very down to earth and friendly. While we were there, the guests seemed to range from solidly middle income to (probably) very wealthy. I'd go back in a heartbeat!

Bob

napamatt Jun 26th, 2008 04:59 PM

Bob

Knock it off - I'm feeling called "upper class" and you have to spoil it :D

napamatt Jun 26th, 2008 05:00 PM

I meant finally, guess I was feeling the class thing subconsciously :d

brw Jun 27th, 2008 09:53 AM

Matt,

LOL, let's settle for they made us feel like we were "upper class" whether we're middle income or rich. Not only were the other guests nice but the management, staff, games rangers and trackers were all wonderful.

We also got to meet the Rattrays (they had dinner with the guests one of the nights we were there) and they were very nice as well. They were there because one of the guests was a personal friend but they made it a point to speak with everyone and it was considerably more than just hello.

Bob


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