Very excited as we have finally got confirmation on our second trip to Mala Mala ... we will be there 12 nights in May 2007. We decided last week to make this second trip.

MM is one of our favorite places and have wanted to return since we visited in Oct 2000. Cant wait.

Is May part of the busy season? Will there be rain?

Wondering how cold it will be in May? Agent that we booked with says we need a heavy jacket. We were there in October 2000 and remember the mornings being cool. Since it is start of winter assuming the mornings and evenings will be cooler, will a fleece jacket be sufficient with scarf and gloves?

Thanks - Granny Joan

Rain is quite unlikely. It will be cool and probably down right cold early and late. I would recommend a heavy jacket, hat and gloves and the judicious use of layers. If you're very warm blooded then a fleece might be sufficient, but I wouldn't want to take the chance.

Thanks for the info. Curious will it be windy? Is it the wind chill that will make it colder?

-Granny Joan

It will be windy driving down the road on game drives! Congrats on your trip. 12 nights will be awesome!

I doubt if the rangers ever drive that Land Rover more than 15 mph and that for a very very short time maybe at the beginning or end of the game drive. Almost all of the time you are hardly going at more than a jog. And if I recall, they have blankets in the vehicles for you to use. Interesting because I will be near by in three weeks from today, Kings Camp and Leopard Hills.
regards - tom
ps - but I will be back to Mala this Sept.

Thanks for info. A little scared that 12 days in one spot may be too many game drives, but know MM and looking forward to all activities and relaxing atmosphere.

Need a break and MM should be a fun time.

-Granny Joan

Tom,

Are you taking a heavy jacket or using layering with fleece, etc? I really hate dragging a heavy coat over. But I hate to be too cold. I remember the blankets.

How long will you be in the area? Nice that you will be going back to MM in Sept.

Our agent actually tried to get us to go to Kalhara and I had to insist we just wanted to go to MM for the entire trip. I guess she thinks people want to go to spa place, instead of for the animals. Ha.

I broke my back and wrist this winter and am recovering nicely and think the fresh air and game runs is just what I need to cheer me up.

Have a great trip!
-Granny Joan

Granny J - I haven't made up my mind as to jackets. Right now I'm thinking a light jacket. Also to layer, a safari vest, long sleeve shirt and t-shirt (undershirt). I don't like to be too warm, rather be a little cold than hot. I certainly will NOT take a heavy jacket or coat. And of course my Tilley hat. Some people like gloves but I don't. And maybe some heavy wool soxs to keep feet warm.

This Sept will be my third time in Mala. I have not been longer than 6 nights but know I could stay a lot longer. I envy your 12 nights. I arrive in Kings Camp (after Madikwe Hills) on May 15th for 5 nights, then to Leopard Hills for 5 nights. Both camps are just north of Mala.

While I'm at it, a rant at Mala. I was ready to go back to Mala and Mashatu in April/May. But Mala reservations were not responsive to my inquiries. After a dumb email reply from them, I even called the reservation manager and she was supposed to get back to me but never did. I also told her I was a repeat customer and was coming back in Sept. She had my name, if she lost my email address, I'm on file with them. Sooooo, I don't get it, they had rooms available but they just didn't seem to care about selling them. And they still went un-sold in April. (Tom, Nils, are you listening?). Seems like you got what you wanted on short notice, good for you.

regards - tom

ps - Mala Mala if you would like details of the above you may email me - tdgraham at sbcglobal dot net.
regards - tom

Tom,

I feel better knowing that you are not planning to take a heavy jacket as well. I thought a fleece jacket and carry along a lightweight rainproof jacket might be enough layered.

Sorry you weren't able to book Mala Mala. We went thru an agent and she almost messed it up. She was holding the 12 days in the Main Camp and then came back saying that they were booked and we could get the Sable Camp. We didn't want to pay extra for 12 days and asked to split between two camps. She came back with the 12 days at Main camp afterall.

Do you think this is a busy time or year for Mala Mala?

We will be leaving 16th May arriving JNB on 17th May for one nite and then onto Mala Mala 18th until 30th May. Can't wait.

Granny Joan

Although I had a rant about Mala reservations, Mala has a real good thing, they have an availability calendar on their web site. Here it is for today as we speak - http://tinyurl.com/yvswfy
They certainly have availability but you can't tell how much without the room counts. So, no, not as busy as later on towards after August.

You may find yourself in Sable camp anyway. Our first time there they "upgraded" us to Sable. Both it and Main are excellent, no difference for me.

I leave California May 8th. You will be at Mala and I will be up the road maybe 10 miles. Where is your home base, USA???
regards - tom
ps - and now for my favorite Mala rant. You pay what, $600 pppn, you think that includes soft drinks/Cokes? Think again.

Thanks for the link to reservations for MM.

Idaho here. I guess you can say I should be use to temperatures in the range at MM during May. they seem to be very similar to our spring temperatures here and I don't wear a heavy coat.

Does the internet at MM work ok in the library? Is it a wireless connection? We plan on bringing our Mac laptop to download all those fab pictures during the stay and would like to keep our grown kids informed. Would love to tryout an ichat camera with grandkids from Africa, but figure the connection may be too slow or the time difference when we are available might be inconvenient.

-Granny Joan

IDAHO???? I gotta think you'll be fine in light wear. MM internet. I've used it only once briefly, a PC in the library downstairs. There might be others, know there is one in Sable camp. Sure, take the Mac but don't know about www connecting. Best way to find out is to call MM main office.
regards - tom

Connection is usually pretty slow.
Your own tolerance for cold should be the best judge of what you should wear. It will be cold, the rangers and trackers will be wearing heavy coats, hats and gloves, and in some cases shorts, but they have the engine heating their legs. Even if you find you dont have enough clothes, you can always buy more in the gift shop.

tom~would it be tacky to bring our own coke-light to malamala if we have any left over after Kruger? I drink about 8 a day and thinking about just sneaking them in in my suitcase. Yeah, for that much, cokes should be included!

I'm going to South Africa this summer and plan on taking a fleece and a down vest from North Face. It's super light, very warm and smooshes easily into a very small space.

Plus, I figure it will be great for protecting souvenirs on the return.

Me too hawaii, I drink a lot of Coke. What the h3!!, you have some left, bring it in. They probably won't care. If they do mention it, tell them "blackwell" said it was ok . Bottom line for me, the few dollars extra cost no big deal in the over all master plan. I just mainly think it smacks of cheapness for Mala to charge for Cokes. Not worthy of them. At the three camps I'm going to starting next week, Cokes, beer, wine is included in rate. Now we're talken
regards - tom

Personally, I think it's sacrilegious for them to charge for cokes.

FWIW, regarding weather at MM in May. Did some more poking around Mala web site and found this chart for temperatures by month, bottom of page -
http://www.malamala.com/weather.htm
In May the mean minimum temperature was 55F for the last 3 years. (April was warmer, June the same). That's not real cold to me. Of course there are daily variations. (Daily mean high was 81F).
regards - tom
ps - "mean" is average. Then we also have "mode" and "median".

Hi GrannyJoan

You are very lucky to be returning to MM for 12 nights. I am green with envy as they are having some fantastic gameviewing at the moment. MM is my favourite place, and you have waited a long time inbetween your first and second visits - I am nowhere near that patient!

MM also has very similar temperatures to where I live, and I rarely wear a jumper during the day, just long sleeved shirts - but here I never drive around in an open vehicle in the early hours of the morning or in the late afternoon and having been there once, you will understand this. So the coat wouldn't be required for wearing around the camp, only during gamedrives.

MM is pretty busy all year long, but being there 12 nights you may get some nights where only a few in camp, then again maybe not! The temp one morning very recently was 7, so you add vehicle movement, and it doesn't need to be that fast, then that makes it very cold. Nothing is more miserable than being cold, so I would be on the safe side and take what you think you may need, including the heavy coat, especially if you are recovering from a serious back problem. Once the sun is down or before it is up, it really is very chilly. Even end March beginning of April, there was a definite chilliness in the evening or early in the morning.

I have been there 25 nights, and I definitely do not think 12 nights is too long, in fact, I think it is smart to stay in one spot and not jump from camp to camp.

I regularly use the computer down in the Monkey club and it is slow, and sometimes you wait 15-30 minutes for someone to finish up.

Kind regards

Kaye