Lily622

If you could choose between MM Sable for three nights or Phinda Rock for 4, which would you choose?
I have almost decided on MM Sable - even though it's one night less, it's MM after all, supposed to be fantastic, and I have always wanted to go. Thoughts? (Sorry if this is a silly question - it's a great 'problem' to have!)

JPhermanus

Lily,

What a great choice to have! Well, personally I'll go for Mala Mala. Mala Mala will come out on tops regarding game viewing. Accommadation wise Phinda beats Mala Mala. Why not try and get 4 nights at Main Camp?

Whichever one you choose, you will not be dissapointed! Mala Mala for me.

Hope this helps,

JP

Lily622

JP,
Thanks for your post. I'm told MM Main is full. So, it's the three at Sable or 4 at Phinda... Phinda looks unique in terms of the lodge itself and its surroundings, but people seem to rave about the game viewing at MM while Phinda is perhaps not so consistent. I love seeing leopards especially and I've read that MM is the place for that. Just wondering though, if 4 nights at Phinda would be a better option (as it's a bit less $$ and more game drives).

JPhermanus

Lily,

I was at Mala Mala in july last year. I spent two weeks there and while I was there Guy Balme, leopard specialist working at Phinda, spent a few days at Mala Mala.

He said that the leopard viewing at Mala Mala was astonishing compared to Phinda. He mentioned that the number of leopards they saw in a week at Phinda is equal to the number seen in a day at Mala Mala. Phinda is very well known for its cheetah sightings. One can compare Mala Mala's leopard sightings to the cheetah sightings at Phinda.

If you want to see leopard, Mala Mala is the place to be. While on a game drive last year, the ranger I was with mentioned that they had a total of 163 different leopard sightings in June 2006. WOW!

I'll still go with MM Sable if I were you.

Cheers,

JP

Lily622

Wow is right!!! Well, no question about it now for me. If I could be more excited about the trip, I certainly am now! Thanks so much for that information - I appreciate it!
Best,
Lily 622

tuckeg

I think the choice depends on what you really want to see. If leopards, Mala Mala for sure, Phinda will be better for black and white rhino, lion, and cheetah. Birding is also better at Phinda. I would personally go for Phinda because with four days there you have a pretty good chance of seeing leopard there as well and I would take the extra day. Does anyone know if wild dogs ever show up in Mala Mala? I know they sometimes come out of Kruger and we saw them a Bongani. At Phinda they see about one a year last I heard.

KayeN

Hi tuckeg,

MalaMala do see wild dog. I was there in January and in March of this year, and both times I saw wild dog - a pack of 14 in January and a pack of two in March.

Kind regards

Kaye

napamatt

Wild dogs have been quite frequent visitors to MM of late, but wild dogs are a total crap shoot anywhere.
MM is very good for Lion, has been great for Cheetah recently, has abundant white rhino's, lots of elephants etc. The only thing missing is black rhino.

CarlaM

Mala Mala TV is fantastic, check it out: &lt

http://www.malamala.tv/wilddog.htm