Location

Gallery

Royal Malewane is situated in the heart of Africa’s finest bushveld, on a private game reserve adjacent to the Kruger National Park. It is approximately 50km (30miles) from Hoedspruit, a town which lies at the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains, in the Limpopo, South Africa’s northernmost province.

Getting There

Royal Malewane directions

No matter how you choose to travel, read our Royal Malewane directions below for details of how to travel to us.

Travel by Air

From Johannesburg International Airport:
SA Express Airways fly daily to Hoedspruit Airport. Bookings can be made directly with South African Airways, contact by telephone on +27 (11) 978 1111 or via their website at www.flysaa.com. Road transfers can be arranged by Royal Malewane and take approximately 35 minutes in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.

From Cape Town International Airport:
SA Airlink fly daily from Cape Town to KMIA (Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport) in Nelspruit. Contact South African Airways by telephone on +27 (11) 978 1111 or via their website at www.flysaa.com. Upon request we can arrange an air transfer with Cesszani charters from KMIA to Royal Malewane’s private airfield. The duration of the air transfer is 25 minutes by light aircraft and is not a private transfer. Please note that luggage is restricted to 20kg of soft luggage per person.

Private Charter Flights:
Guests have the option of chartering their own flights directly onto our private airstrip. Central Reservations can assist with booking private charters.

Travel by Road:
Guests have the option of travelling to Royal Malewane by road with the advantage of experiencing the small, scenic towns surrounding Royal Malewane and a backdrop of the spectacular Drakensberg mountains. We would be happy to provide Royal Malewane directions depending on where you’re coming from.

Information

What to Wear, What to Bring, Weather

What to Wear

  • For game drives, neutral colours are recommended (khaki, beige, green, stone, denim blue, black); bright colours (pink, red, purple, yellow, white) are best avoided
  • Waterproof jackets and trousers are advisable for September to April as there may be rain; rain ponchos are provided on vehicles but you may like a little extra protection from the wet!
  • Gloves, a warm hat, warm jackets or fleeces are recommended from April to August as it can be cold on game drives (though not usually wet at this time of year)
  • For bush walks, bring comfortable walking shoes long trousers, as grass may be wet due to morning dew in summer and there may be thorns/bugs/ticks; walking clothes should be of a neutral colour to avoid being detected whilst out on the walk (any bright coloured clothes will scare off birds)
  • At all times a hat is essential on game drives, along with sunglasses to protect your eyes from the glare of the sun
  • The dress code around the lodge is informal but you may like to dress for dinner, bearing in mind that temperatures can drop at night so an extra layer might be a good idea

What to Bring

  • Sun cream and insect repellent are always provided on game drives but you may like to bring your own if you have a personal preference or requirement
  • Binoculars will allow you appreciate the beauty of the many birds that can be seen on drives, and also enjoy close up views of the game
  • A small compact camera will be fine for taking photographs; a digital SLR with interchangeable lenses is recommended for longer range pictures, birds and close-ups

Weather

Temperatures in summer from November to end of February can reach between 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit) after a rainy cold front and climb up to a scorching 33 degrees celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) on a really hot day.

Temperatures in winter from the end of April through to the end of July can be as low as 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) on the morning game drives and climb up to a comfortable 18 degrees (64 degrees Fahrenheit) by lunch time.

When to Come

The best time of year to visit Royal Malewane depends very much on your preferences. The summer months (September to February) see more rain which means there are more insects about. Temperatures can be extremely hot. The bush is luxuriant and green which does make game viewing more tricky. Game vehicles are not driven off road if more than 25mm of rain falls. But for bird lovers, there are many more birds to see at this time of year as well as all the migrant species and the bush itself is alive with sounds of crickets, frogs and birds. There are also many baby animals born around this time which can be the highlight of a game drive.

The winter months (May, June, and July) are a great time for good game viewing as the bush is quieter, drier and more open. Temperatures are more moderate, you are more likely to be able to go off road for close-up viewing and there are no insects to bother you!