A leopard resting in a tree, Tanzania. Photo: Pexels (free licence).
What are the best alternatives to MalaMala for a luxury safari?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 2 November 2026
These are the companies with camps of their own in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger, where MalaMala has its camps, read from their own websites and set beside MalaMala on the same facts.
MalaMala on the same facts
MalaMala is set out here on the same facts as the cards below, from its own website, so any alternative can be read against it.
- Camps: Tengile Game Reserve (Sabi Sand Nature Reserve): Tengile River Lodge and Kirkman's Kamp.
- Rates: 2026 per person sharing: lowest R26 100 (MalaMala Camp luxury room), highest R50 000 (Tengile River Lodge, peak season). 2027: lowest R29 160 (MalaMala Camp luxury room and Kirkman's Kamp cottage, high season), highest R60 000 (Tengile River Lodge, peak).
- Children: Kirkman's Kamp and MalaMala Camp take children of all ages.
- Reviews: Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 560 reviews, read 20 October 2026.
What are the best alternatives to MalaMala for a luxury safari?
Each card below sets out a camp owner in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger on the same facts as MalaMala, its camps and private guide terms, so the alternatives can be compared line by line.
Cheetah Plains
- Best for
- Sole-use villas in the Sabi Sand
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- Cheetah Plains, in the north-east corner of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve (Mpumalanga), sharing an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park.
- Countries
- South Africa only (Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga).
- Children
- Children of all ages welcome.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 73 reviews, read 20 October 2026.
- Enquire
- www.cheetahplains.com
Dulini
- Best for
- Sabi Sand lodges with Botswana and Zambia
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- Sabi Sand lodges: 'traversing rights over an impressive 10,500 hectares' including 16 km of Sand River frontage, inside the 65,000 hectare Sabi Sand Nature Reserve (a voluntary association of landowners) with a 50 km unfenced boundary with Kruger.
- Countries
- South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.
- Enquire
- www.dulini.com
Londolozi
- Best for
- Five camps on the Sand River
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- All five of its camps are on the Sand River in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, which forms part of the Greater Kruger area: Varty Camp, Founders Camp, Tree Camp, Pioneer Camp and the Private Granite Suites.
- Countries
- South Africa only (the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, within the Greater Kruger area).
- Rates
- Lowest published 'From' rate: R27,950 per person per night at Varty Camp.
- Children
- Varty Camp and Founders Camp accommodate children aged 6 to 16 and children 6 and over are welcome on game drives.
- Private guide
- 'A limited number of private safari vehicles' can be booked in advance (subject to availability) and must be booked for the guest's entire stay.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 242 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.7 out of 5 from 1 review, read 19 and 20 October 2026.
- Enquire
- www.londolozi.com
Rhino Walking Safaris
- Best for
- Walking trails in a Kruger concession
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- Plains Camp, on a 12 000 hectare private concession in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 39 reviews, read 2 November 2026.
- Enquire
- www.rws.co.za
Savanna Private Game Reserve
- Best for
- A nine-suite western Sabi Sand lodge
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- Savanna Lodge, in the western Sabi Sand Nature Reserve (a 65,000-hectare private reserve), within the greater Kruger National Park conservancy, traversing 10,000 hectares.
- Countries
- South Africa.
- Rates
- Per person sharing per night in ZAR: lowest R21,000 (Luxury Suite, 2026); highest R27,300 (Executive Suite, 2027).
- Children
- Children of all ages are welcome in the Savanna Suite.
- Private guide
- The Savanna Suite rate includes a private vehicle and the suite comes with a private guide, tracker and vehicle.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 171 reviews, read 20 October 2026.
- Enquire
- www.savannalodge.com
Singita
- Best for
- Lodges and villas across five countries
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- South Africa: Sabi Sand (Ebony Lodge, Boulders Lodge, Castleton, Ebony Villa)
- Enquire
- singita.com
Tanda Tula
- Best for
- A family-led Timbavati tented camp
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- Inside the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which is unfenced from Kruger National Park.
- Countries
- South Africa only (Timbavati, Greater Kruger).
- Children
- Children aged 6 to 16 welcome; 17+ pay the full adult rate; under 6 'by special arrangement only' (younger children may be accommodated for exclusive use).
- Reviews
- Google: 5 out of 5 from 103 reviews, read 20 October 2026.
- Enquire
- www.tandatula.com
The Royal Portfolio
- Best for
- Royal Malewane with Cape hotels
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- Royal Malewane, Greater Kruger National Park area.
- Countries
- South Africa only: Cape Town, Franschhoek, Hermanus and the Greater Kruger.
- Children
- Royal Malewane: Farmstead welcomes children over 10.
- Private guide
- Royal Suites at Malewane Lodge include a 'private safari vehicle with a Field Guide and Tracker'.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 13 reviews, read 20 October 2026.
- Enquire
- www.theroyalportfolio.com
Thornybush Collection
- Best for
- Owner-run lodges in Thornybush and Sabi Sand
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- Simbambili Game Lodge: Sabi Sand Nature Reserve (entrance at Gowrie Gate).
- Countries
- South Africa only.
- Rates
- ZAR, per person sharing per night, including VAT. 2026 (1 Jan to 31 Dec): Saseka R28,000 (single R42,000)
- Children
- Thornybush Game Lodge: all ages; under 6s not on drives unless a private vehicle is booked (R17,500 per day in 2026, R20,500 in 2027); child rate under 12 (75% in a separate room with one adult; three children sharing 50% each).
- Private guide
- Private Vehicle Safaris are listed as an activity.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 176 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.8 out of 5 from 2 reviews, read 20 October 2026.
- Enquire
- www.thornybush.com
Tintswalo
- Best for
- Family-owned lodges and hotels in South Africa
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- Safari and Manor: Manyeleti Game Reserve, Orpen Road, Hoedspruit, Greater Kruger.
- Countries
- South Africa.
- Children
- Boulders: children of all ages welcome; under 16s must share a suite with an adult (16 and over); extra children aged 6 to 15 pay 25% of the suite rate, 5 and under free; extra guests 16 and over pay 50%.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 107 reviews, read 20 October 2026.
- Enquire
- www.tintswalo.com
Ximuwu Lodge
- Best for
- An accessible Klaserie lodge
- Camps in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
- Ximuwu Lodge and Tluka Villa, both in Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger, about 20 minutes from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport.
- Countries
- South Africa only.
- Rates
- Suites, per person sharing per night: ZAR 26,500 (2026), ZAR 28,000 (2027).
- Children
- Children 8-12 sharing a suite with two adults pay ZAR 10,000 (2026) / ZAR 10,500 (2027), limited to one child; a single child in their own suite pays the full adult rate; guests aged 12+ pay the conservation levy.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 16 reviews, read 2 November 2026.
- Enquire
- www.ximuwu.com
What do they charge per person per night?
4 of the 11 camp owners on this page publish a rate per person per night; the rest do not state it on their own websites. Each line is the company's own figure as its website gives it. Companies with camps in several countries are left out of this list and their cards, because their published figure can be for a camp elsewhere.
- Londolozi: Lowest published 'From' rate: R27,950 per person per night at Varty Camp.
- Savanna Private Game Reserve: Per person sharing per night in ZAR: lowest R21,000 (Luxury Suite, 2026); highest R27,300 (Executive Suite, 2027).
- Thornybush Collection: ZAR, per person sharing per night, including VAT. 2026 (1 Jan to 31 Dec): Saseka R28,000 (single R42,000)
- Ximuwu Lodge: Suites, per person sharing per night: ZAR 26,500 (2026), ZAR 28,000 (2027).
What age limits do they set for children?
8 of the 11 camp owners on this page publish a child policy; the rest do not state it on their own websites. Companies with camps in several countries are left out here, because their policy can differ from camp to camp.
- Cheetah Plains: Children of all ages welcome.
- Londolozi: Varty Camp and Founders Camp accommodate children aged 6 to 16 and children 6 and over are welcome on game drives.
- Savanna Private Game Reserve: Children of all ages are welcome in the Savanna Suite.
- Tanda Tula: Children aged 6 to 16 welcome; 17+ pay the full adult rate; under 6 'by special arrangement only' (younger children may be accommodated for exclusive use).
- The Royal Portfolio: Royal Malewane: Farmstead welcomes children over 10.
- Thornybush Collection: Thornybush Game Lodge: all ages; under 6s not on drives unless a private vehicle is booked (R17,500 per day in 2026, R20,500 in 2027); child rate under 12 (75% in a separate room with one adult; three children sharing 50% each).
- Tintswalo: Boulders: children of all ages welcome; under 16s must share a suite with an adult (16 and over); extra children aged 6 to 15 pay 25% of the suite rate, 5 and under free; extra guests 16 and over pay 50%.
- Ximuwu Lodge: Children 8-12 sharing a suite with two adults pay ZAR 10,000 (2026) / ZAR 10,500 (2027), limited to one child; a single child in their own suite pays the full adult rate; guests aged 12+ pay the conservation levy.
Which offer a private guide and vehicle?
4 of the 11 camp owners on this page offer a private guide or vehicle; the rest do not state it on their own websites. Companies with camps in several countries are left out here, because their terms can differ from camp to camp.
- Londolozi: 'A limited number of private safari vehicles' can be booked in advance (subject to availability) and must be booked for the guest's entire stay.
- Savanna Private Game Reserve: The Savanna Suite rate includes a private vehicle and the suite comes with a private guide, tracker and vehicle.
- The Royal Portfolio: Royal Suites at Malewane Lodge include a 'private safari vehicle with a Field Guide and Tracker'.
- Thornybush Collection: Private Vehicle Safaris are listed as an activity.
Alternatives to MalaMala: the questions people ask
Which publish a conservation model?
10 of the 11 do: Cheetah Plains, Dulini, Londolozi, Savanna Private Game Reserve, Singita, Tanda Tula, The Royal Portfolio, Thornybush Collection, Tintswalo and Ximuwu Lodge. Each one's own website says so.
Which publish a deposit?
3 of the 11 do: Londolozi, Savanna Private Game Reserve and Tanda Tula. Each one's own website says so.
Which have guest reviews on Google, SafariBookings or Trustpilot?
9 of the 11 do: Cheetah Plains, Londolozi, Rhino Walking Safaris, Savanna Private Game Reserve, Tanda Tula, The Royal Portfolio, Thornybush Collection, Tintswalo and Ximuwu Lodge. Each platform's rating and count are on the card, never added together.
Which of these companies have all their camps in one country?
8 of the 11: Cheetah Plains, Londolozi, Savanna Private Game Reserve, Tanda Tula, The Royal Portfolio, Thornybush Collection, Tintswalo and Ximuwu Lodge. The others run camps in more than one country, so their cards leave out rates and child policies on pages about one place.
Can I book these camps through Uncompromised Travel?
No. Uncompromised Travel is a publication and does not sell safaris. Each card has the company's own enquiry link; you can also book through a safari planner.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Each card links the pages of the company's own website its lines were read from, under Sources, with the date they were read.
How were these camp owners chosen?
Each one is in the Uncompromised Travel safari camp owners table and its own website names, in one sentence about its own camps, a camp of its own in the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger, the area where MalaMala has its camps (a camp the site places only near or beside it, or a sentence about drives or partnerships, does not count). A company is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.
How current are these facts?
Each company's website was read on 19 and 20 October and 2 November 2026. Rates, child policies and reviews change, so confirm them with the camp before you book.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be listed.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: facts each camp owner published on its own website, read on 19 and 20 October and 2 November 2026, with reviews per platform (Google, SafariBookings and Trustpilot), from the Uncompromised Travel safari camp owners table. Companies whose websites would not open are not on this page. Cards are in alphabetical order. Photos are stock images from Pexels and do not show any company's camp. How this site earns · How we work.