Personally, I'd love to do those camps - and on the same trip. Even if MalaMala and Leopard Hills are a little too similar. But they will have a different look and feel and they do not share the same traversing/game drive area. And both are luxury so the others will find no complaint there. And I'd do them in the order you have listed except maybe flip MM and LH. If logistics (airfields etc) of it works out better for you.

regards - tom

I recently did the Sabi Sands/Pafuri/Mashatu trip. It was perfect for us as we got to see a lot of different areas. There are a few reasons why this works so well. Getting to/from Mashatu is inconvenient as the flight has to go through Polokwane. If you go to Pafuri, it's an easy 4-5 hour drive (we got drivers for our transfers and it worked out perfectly and cheaper for us, and we were just two - for 6 it will save A LOT of money) and you don't miss a game drive at either location. For 6, you'll have your own game drive at Pafuri, so I would cut the last one a little short, ask for breakfast by 9:30 and leave for SS by 10 or 11 AM. If you don't do Pafuri, it's a flight from Mashatu to Polokwane to JNB to Mala Mala and only on certain days, and it takes all day and missed game drive in MM (I think). So the Pafuri thing makes it work really well. But Pafuri is not a great wildlife camp, but I must say that we enjoyed it thoroughly as there were hippos, crocs, really interesting topography (don't miss Lanner Gorge on a morning drive) and the fever few (green trees) forest was amazing and the baobab trees were abundant. Great birds and the tents overlook the river and animals were there all day. They had two large animals we had never seen before - nyala and eland - and other drives had better luck with cats. And it is a beautiful tented camp, which I love!! Two nights in Pafuri was plenty, as the animal population was not great, but the ones we saw were really great, including a giant eagle owl. We would have liked it more if we had liked our game drive mates. They were not nice and it took a lot to have to put up with them. But that was just bad luck, not Pafuri's fault. I would recommend the Mashatu/Pafuri/MM trip highly. Mashatu was amazing. It is not as high end as all of your other camps but very nice. Staying in Main camp you can also visit the rock art on the property. That would be a highlight for me. We stayed at tented camp - not an option I would recommend for you if luxury is important - so we couldn't go to the rock art. To avoid the BS of JNB to Polokwane to Mashatu, you can also get a driver for that part, which again I recommend. But the amount of animals so exceeded our expectations!!! I have a trip report on here somewhere - search arathusa or click on my name to find it if you are interested.

I don't know the logistics with Phinda, but that's high on my list for next time. I'd look into the logistics for Sabi Sands to Phinda and see if it works as well as the other option.

Mashatu 4 nts
Pafuri 2 nts
Kings 3 nts
MM 3 nts
LH 4 nts

Wow - I'm jealous as heck on that one.

Kings 4 nts
MM 4 nts
LH 4 nts
Phinda 4 nts

Wow again. I'm just not sure about how to get from one place to another because I've never done it. Either way - GREAT trip!!

MM Main Camp will likely save a bundle over MM Ratrays. You will drive the same area and see the same animals for less $$$

dianne,
i drove myself from malamala to pafuri and then to mashatu. i agree whith christa that it is a fantastic "circuit". i did spend the night in the timbavati on the way to pafuri.

i have also been the phinda and the couple looking for more luxury would likely find this place a bit more enjoyable, but i must say mashatu is amazing.

i have been to all three lodges at malamala and all four at phinda. my favorite at malamala is rattrays and for $300 pppn i think it is worth it. you also get four to a vehicle. phinda vlei is my favorit by far at phinda.

during the worst of the recent recession i had several clients on their first trip to africa that i convinced to self-drive the malamala-pafuri-mashatu circuit. this was a fantastic way to have a top-notch safari when everyone was on a budget. the charter flights increase the cost dramatically without impacting the safari on arrival one bit.

craig beal

What is the -time- trade off for driving to Mashatu versus flying??
I think when Carla and Cindy drove it (in 2008?) it took them a day and half. They got car, left Joburg and stayed overnight at Tzaneen. Then next morning drove and crossed Bots border into Mashatu. But with four of them they saved significant $$$$ from four flying. However, if only two persons, would doubt much savings when you add all the expenses of a car, meals and staying overnight. You pays your money and you takes your choice :-)

regards - tom

tom,

last december (2008) i left the lodge at 0715 AM. I was at the border post at 0815 AM. I was ten miles from the Jo'burg airport at 2:15 pm.

it took me 3.5 hours to drive from pafuri to mashatu.

it took me about 5 hours to drive from ngala (orpen gate) to pafuri but we drove INSIDE the park not outside.

pafuri has FI rates (fully inclusive) and BB (bed and breakfast) so if you drive and show up late in the day you don't have to pay for missed acitivities.

craig beal

We had two flights, Mashatu to Polokwane charter, and an Airlink Polokwane to JNB. It took over four hours. I would have much preferred a car transfer even taking out the cost factor. According to Mashatu, it's a 5 hour drive +/- .
http://www.mashatu.com/travel_road.htm

I had the same drive drive times as Craig. It really was a fantastic circuit.

Interesting. But some details there not clear to me. Such as, is Mashatu camp 6 or 7 hours drive from JNB? Craig just above says 1 hour to border then 6 hours to near JNB, so looks like 7 (plus) hours. Note border crossing closes at 4pm. I think that is why Carla/Cindy stayed over night at Tzaneen. They did not want to arrive late at border crossing nor arrive at camp and miss the afternoon game drive. Smart. BTW, seems as though neither Carla nor Cindy visit here much anymore. Too bad, our loss.

regards - tom

If you fly or drive you have an hour drive to the border crossing where the car is parked or the airport where the plane is parked from the camps. I figured I'd leave it out as both modes of transportation require the same initial drive. Mashatu has set times that they meet or drop off passengers. It's on the website if you'd like that info. Sorry I'm not as clear as past posters.

So-
"Please note that the rendezvous time for collection by Mashatu rangers is 13h00 at the Pont Drift Border Post. Variation of this time can be made by special arrangement and at an additional special transfer fee of US$ 25.00 per person. "

I was wondering about that. Further explains why staying overnight at Tzaneen. To make that 1 pm ranger pickup you would have to leave JNB at 7am for a 6 hour drive. Details, details, details. We'll figure this out yet!!! What else is there to do, sure is slow around here tonight :-)

regards - tom

I've been travelling for over a week and really wanted to respond to a couple of post on this thread.

First I'll share my experience of the Mashatu / Mala Mala drive.

Driving from Mashatut to Mala Mala. We left Mashatu around 7, that put us first in line at the border post at 7:45, which opened at 8. Our SA driver picked us up and we drove with two small stops for gas and bathroom / food, and arrived Mala Mala main camp around 3pm. So 7.5 hours drive time thereabouts.

Second I want to speak to SV's remarks abour MM.

"Finally: MM does not get rid of the reputation of baiting their leopards. Whether there is hunting conducted within the reserve is also a rumour which doesn't want to fade."

What utter BS, I can't believe you get away with this crap. How exactly and when are the Leopards baited? And if they are, how come I had such poor Leopard vioewing on my last trip, as a regular guest you'd think they'd want to ensure I had a great trip so I could write about them on this forum.

As for hunting - that statement is probably libelous, I'm not sure if MM have seen this thread, but I'm sure they would take exception to that statement. Look at a map of MM and tell me exactly where you think this hunting might take place?

It's a big property but none of it is more than a 30 minute straight drive from any camp (including Kirkman's), and with a good numbner of vehicles you'd think someone would hear the shots (I'm asuming hunters don't use silencers). I've driven pretty much every road on MM, I know because I have the roap map issued to trainee rangers, which I like to follow along occasionally as we drive. I've been to every corner of the reserve and pretty much the only skittish animals I've ever seen, where ones coming over from Kruger, which is MM's eastern boundary.

SV you have some interesting things to say - but this line was complete BS and I belive you know it. If not why not back it up with some of the facts you have so readily available to defend your other positions. You don't because you can't. And if you have proof show us - I triple dog dare you!

Until you can prove something you should not make wild allegations about a professionally run operation that does not bait Leopards and does not allow hunting. When you prove there is hunting on MM, I will not visit again.

napamatt

Let me assure you - I am not interested in trowing out false allegations.
I am not speaking of ONE individual who stated doubts regarding MM ethics in view to hunting within its reserve. And I did not hear the baiting statement just twice.

The people who mentioned both hunting and baiting work within the industry - not as guides but at management level respectively are researchers. All have one thing in common: They are working in their fields for decades, are very well respected members of the safari industry and have no reason to throw dirt at places. Their professional attitude is unquestionable.

I just stated what I heard and I must say I tend to believe in those statements as they come from different sources which are in no way connected to each other.

The unbelievable leopard sighting success rate at MM and Mashatu speak for themselves.
Just add 1 and 1.

I don't like MM for totally different reasons which have nothing to do with baiting not to mention hunting.
My reservations are based on their perception regarding hospitality/service combined with their HR politics.

You can believe it or leave it.

Finally - I stated what I heard at several occasions from independent resources in South Africa and in Botswana. You call it BS. I am not embarrassed at all but it would serve the communication flow if we wouldn't start using such terms when speaking to each other.

It's similar to stock investments: One tends to believe what serves the own idea or assumption.

Have a nice evening.

SV ((@))

SV - FWIW, I believe you, that you -heard- this, and I believe you have been lied to.
Second hand accounts are not reliable. Has anyone, anyone, heard this from previous MM <b>employees</b>??? And there are now many ex MM rangers out there not working in SA, in London, in other industries. Furthermore, there are too many people out there envious of MM success and love to bash them. You also???

regards - tom

SV - unbelievable sighting stats? No different than Londolozi, perhaps the Varty's bait. In fact no different than all of SSGR.
The only baiting is the importation of ungulates in the far west (Ulusaba and others location) that keeps animal denisty high, which leads to high densities of predators.

Again you have provided no proof, only hearsay from people you say are well respected. I'm telling you, I do not know how it would be possible to hide hunting on MM. Given the management style at MM, and that I'm sure a fair proportion of people end up really disliking the Rattray's (strong people have that effect, its either like or dislike) so who's to say they don't have an axe to grind.

I too have heard a Leopard baiting story from the 1970's, but it was never corroborated. But that was over 30 years ago, when sightings were from hides built for the purpose because the animals were not yet habituated, so it's probably true.

Perhaps your contacts could identify where the hunting takes place, so that those of us with first hand knowledge of the property could ask ourselves whether it would be possible.

Aloha Diane, what a surprise to come across this post. I have spent five of the last ten years on Maui and the other five in the African bush. I will be on Maui from December and am happy to spend some time talking through all of this with you - if you are still looking for advice. I am currently guiding in Zambia, but spent a number of years working as a ranger in these lodges in the greater Kruger area. I would be only too happy share my knowledge and give you my recommendations. If you are still looking for some advice let me know, but please feel free to contact me regardless - [email protected].

I'm sure we have at least a few friends in common - look me up using my email address on facebook if you wish. I hope to meet you on Maui.

Best wishes,
Brent