Mashatu to Mala Mala Question
 

For those of you who have done the Mashatu and Mala Mala combo, I was wondering if you can tell me how long it took you to transfer by car from Mashatu to Mala Mala? And did you miss the afternoon game drive at Mala Mala because of the transfer? Also, can they arrange transfers or would we need to have our own car? Thanks!

I did the drive from Sabi Sands to Pont Drift and we did it in 2 portions to make sure we reach the borderpost according to its opening times.
The drive from SS to Makhado (2 hrs drive from Pont Drift) took us approx. 4 hours on excellent roads. And the rest the next day - also excellent roads. All tarred.

So IF driving non-stop and crossing the Limpopo in the early morning hours you will make it by car to SS by 03pm. But you still need a car.

I am sure they can arrange road transfer.

There is also a flight but that does only service once a week either route as far as I know - but I am not too sure about the flight.

As you are doing the combo MM should be able to put together a nice itinerary incl. transfers.

SV

Thanks! Yes, I already have the trip arranged with the flight transfer between the two camps but I was trying to find somewhere to save some money if I could. It sounds like it's a pretty long drive...perhaps I'll see what the price difference is and then decide. It sounds like I'd make it for the afternoon game drive so that's a plus.

Carrie

Hi Carrie. We (4 of us) did this self drive combo last July and split the cost for the rental car in half which was less expensive than if I had gone solo and paid for single charter air. The total cost of the car was $800 for 2 weeks, fully insured and this was the 4x4 Nissan Xterra SUV.

We stayed in Tzaneen, SA (half way point between Mash & MM)overnight. We left Tzaneen around 10ish a.m. and arrived at Mala Mala after the game drive departed and Nils drove us out to meet up with our vehicle. I would find out the cost for a road transfer vs air. I think you mentioned you are going solo so I would venture to say that the charter is going to be your best bet, time and cost wise. Gas, toll roads and park fees were extra but not alot.

All the details and prices are on their website:

http://www.malamala.com/waytogo3.htm

When are you going? I am so envious as I would love to do that combo again. Who is helping you with your arrangements?

PS: Just had a funy flashback of all of our luggage. We would have needed to charter a 2nd plane just for the bags, huh Cindy =) It was convenient having our own car as we could take as much as we wanted and saw alot of the gorgeous scenery, which is fantastic driving through the Drakensbergs. The self drive is nice with a few traveling companions.

Just noticed that link in my last post has changed and the info that used to be there is gone. Here is one from the Mashatu website that has some of the details I was talking about: http://www.mashatu.com/travel_road.htm

carrie,

i did this drive in a rental car last december. you could not do this in one day because you can't leave pont's drift until it open at 800 am (the SA border police actually showed up late at 830am). if you are starting in malamala, i doubt you could leave at sunrise (615) and get to ponts drift before it closes. either way, you would miss both game drives.

i suggest you spend two nights at pafuri in-betweem malamala and mashatu. pafuri has a full board rate and a b&b rate to accomodate guests going to malamala and mashatu. you can miss the first game drive at pafuri in the afternoon and the final morning drive without paying for it.

pafuri to malamala is 6 hours and pafuri to mashatu is four hours (to ponts drift).

craig beal

Thanks for all the replies...I appreciate the information. After reading the above, I'm inclined to keep my flight instead of trying to drive. I don't want to cut time out of my Mala Mala visit for transit if I can help it.

Hi CarrieT

I did this drive in January 2009 from MalaMala to Mashatu. As this was the first time I have included Mashatu we went with a road transfer - it took just under 9 hours and this included bathroom breaks only, so it was a long drive for me. We had to be at the border post to 4pm and we made it by about 3.45pm - a bit too close for comfort really. We go again in December this year and this time I am starting at Mashatu then I am driving to MalaMala but stopping at Pafuri for 2 nights, of course I could have done 1 night. I will do the morning drive at Mashatu as that 1st leg is only 3 hrs, and will then do the afternoon drive at Pafuri. The morning gamedrive at Pafuri we will miss, but will be there in time for the afternoon gamedrive at MM. So I am missing 1 gamedrive at Pafuri, which while I don't like it, I can live with it as I really did not want to miss out on Mashatu altogether. In the middle of next year I will be by myself and will not be doing Mashatu, but at the end of the year I return with a niece, and I will do the same - go to Mashatu, stay at Pafuri then onto MalaMala.

Kind regards

Kaye

Has anyone ever gone to Mashatu from Maun or Gabarone? Or do you always have to get there via S.A.?

ShayTay
Can be done by road, Gabarone to Pont Drift (Mashatu pick up point) about 550km (6 and half hours drive), Maun to Pont Drift about 880km (9 and half hours). Mashatu did send us driving directions on request. In the end we decided to go via SA and stayed in Mapungubwe NP near Pont Drift a few days too. Don't know about air transfers, but you could ask.

Thanks, Tockoloshe.

Shaytay-

When we were in Mashatu in June, I actually asked the staff about getting to work from within Botswana. They always do, but the way they spoke about it, it sounds like visitors have to go through Pont Drift. One of them jokingly offered to drive us! There are directions on the Mashatu website about going from Gabs but it looks a bit iffy. We are going to try it next time.

Carrie-

I just did the MalaMala area to Pafuri to Mashatu drive (with a driver). It was really easy with no long drives and I have to say it was really pleasant and didn't have to miss a game drive (we did miss one, but it was not necessary). On our way from Mashatu to JNB, we had to stop in Polokwane and then to JNB on an SAA Airlink flight. I would have preferred a driver to go direct to JNB. If the flight from Mala Mala to Mashatu is MM to JNB to Polokwane to Mashatu (phew - I'm exhausted just thinking about it) you might want to consider the drive with a stop in Pafuri for a couple of days or a night in Mopane Bush Lodge just outside Mashatu.

LOL - it all does sound rather confusing! :-) The flight is actually direct from Mashatu to Mala Mala's airstrip from what I understand. Apparently these flights are scheduled every Sunday so I've planned to leave Mashatu on a Sunday.

Sadly, I'm thinking of cutting one day at Mala Mala to try and save a little instead of cutting the flight. I had 6 nights planned there, but 5 will probably be ok. I know, does an extra $575 really mean that much in the long run? Well, I'd say no except I'm buying my very first house and the responsibility of a mortgage payment is scaring me ;-)

christabir, was this your first time at Mashatu and how did you like it? Also, did you stay at Mala Mala or was it one of the other lodges?

Loved Mashatu! We were at tented camp which is quite rustic, but the staff was amazing, the weather was awful, and we saw so many animals we were a bit overwhelmed! We were there for 4 nights in June and can't wait to go back. I wish it was easier to get to. Six nights is a long time for any one camp (just my opinion - lots of others disagree). Have you considered stopping in Pafuri for two nights? It's a lovely place, and you will save some money. The landscape is fascinating and the drive gives you a little time to spend seeing a bit (just a bit) of Africa outside the camps. We had drivers and we got a little history lesson and great stories during our rides.

We stayed at Arathusa which no one here talks about much. It's "inexpensive" but IMHO a very good value - especially that our rondovelle overlooked a waterhole that the animals were always visiting. Loved it, but I'm not sure I would recommend it for anyone who wants or needs a lot of pampering, but not nearly as rustic as Mashatu tented. The service was good, but nothing like what you would expect from MM. If you do a search, you should be able to find my trip report from Arathusa, Pafuri and Mashatu and lots of pics, too. LOVED every second!!

You are going to S Africa while in the process of buying your first home? Wow! Well, remember you'll be getting that $8000 tax credit and you are getting a house for a lot less than you would have 2 years ago, so spend away! Congratulations. Pretty exciting time.

Carrie

I did the drive Mashatu to Mala Mala in 2003. We missed the morning drive at Mashatu, but they gave us breakfast and we had great game viewing overlooking the water hole. At 7am they drove us to the border crossing. We waited about 20 minutes for them to open, and were met on the SA side by our driver from Green Rhino Transportation.

We drove main roads to Kruger stopping twice for 10-15 minutes each for bathroom / refreshments. We arrived Main Camp at 3, in time to check in and head out on game drive.

I like the idea of driving up through Kruger and staying at Pafuri also.

But a direct transfer from one to the other by plane would be great - as long as the weather actually allows it to happen. Summer rains make flights a haphazard affair - in winter with clear skies no problem.

ttt for SDs