A white rhino on the savannah, South Africa. Photo: Pexels (free licence).
Which company is best for a malaria-free Big Five safari in South Africa?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 2 November 2026
These camp owners own camps in South Africa and say on their own websites that their reserve is malaria-free and has the Big Five. Each card quotes the company's own words, with its rates and child policy.
Which company is best for a malaria-free Big Five safari in South Africa?
Each card below quotes the company's own words on its malaria-free reserve; all of them also call the reserve Big Five on their own websites.
Etali Safari Lodge
- Best for
- A small malaria-free Madikwe lodge
- Malaria-free
- 'A true haven of luxury and adventure nestled in the heart of the remarkable Madikwe Game Reserve.' Also: an intimate, 16-bed boutique lodge, in a malaria-free reserve, with a Big 5 safari.
- Countries
- South Africa (Etali Safari Lodge).
- Rates
- Single published rate for the lodge: R18 500 per adult per person per night sharing, 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2026 (lowest and highest are the same for adults); the child rates are R12 950 (6 to 15) and R5 550 (0 to 5).
- Children
- Children of all ages welcome.
- Private guide
- Private game drive vehicle with private guide and private tracker available at an additional R8 000 per day, guaranteed if confirmed in advance.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 134 reviews, read 2 November 2026.
- Enquire
- etalisafari.co.za
Jaci's Lodges
- Best for
- A personal family lodge in Madikwe
- Malaria-free
- It describes itself as a safari experience that is 'both deeply personal and quietly luxurious' in a malaria-free Big Five reserve, all-inclusive.
- Countries
- South Africa (Madikwe).
- Children
- It names family-friendly options: Safari Suite Expeditions ('Family-friendly suites', 2 adults + 2 children) and villas suited to families; no child rates shown.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 162 reviews, read 2 November 2026.
- Enquire
- www.jacislodges.co.za
Kariega Game Reserve
- Best for
- A malaria-free Eastern Cape Big 5 reserve
- Malaria-free
- 'Malaria-free Big 5 South African Safari'.
- Countries
- South Africa only (Eastern Cape).
- Rates
- Rand per person per night sharing (Sept 2026 to Aug 2027 seasons): Main Lodge High R8,500 (1 Sep to 19 Dec 2026), Peak R9,300 (20 Dec 2026 to 10 Jan 2027), High R8,900 (11 Jan to 30 Apr 2027), Low R7,600 (1 May to 31 Aug 2027).
- Children
- Main Lodge and The Homestead welcome children of all ages.
- Enquire
- www.kariega.co.za
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
- Best for
- Lodges in the Little Karoo
- Malaria-free
- Claims: 'one of South Africa's largest privately-owned nature reserves' (62 000 hectares), 'The Ultimate Luxury Mindful Safari', 'the closest true wildlife experience you can find near Cape Town', malaria-free, owned by a non-profit so that 'every cent of your stay' goes toward conservation.
- Big Five
- The story page claims the first privately owned reserve in the Western Cape to introduce free-roaming Big Five (2003).
- Countries
- South Africa.
- Rates
- Per adult sharing per night (ZAR, 2026-27 table): lowest R9,535 at Tilney Manor in Low Season (1 May-30 Sep 2026); highest R18,045 at Dwyka Tented Lodge in Seasonal Peak (15 Dec 2026-11 Jan 2027).
- Children
- Gondwana Family Lodge is the only lodge for children: 'children of all ages are welcome'.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 324 reviews, read 20 October 2026.
- Enquire
- www.sanbona.com
Shamwari
- Best for
- A Big 5 Eastern Cape reserve
- Malaria-free
- A single private, malaria-free reserve of 25,000 hectares.
- Big Five
- 'Shamwari, meaning "my friend" in Shona, is the pinnacle of private game reserves and home to the coveted Big 5.' Other claims: 'A Rare Finds resort', 'Where the wild finds you', 25,000 hectares of private, malaria-free wilderness, five of South Africa's nine biomes and six lodges and one explorer camp.
- Countries
- South Africa only: all lodges sit within Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.
- Children
- Riverdene and Sarili welcome all ages.
- Private guide
- Riverdene: 'Each family unit booked offers a private safari vehicle'.
- Enquire
- www.shamwari.com
What do they charge per person per night?
3 of the 5 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.
- Etali Safari Lodge: Single published rate for the lodge: R18 500 per adult per person per night sharing, 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2026 (lowest and highest are the same for adults); the child rates are R12 950 (6 to 15) and R5 550 (0 to 5).
- Kariega Game Reserve: Rand per person per night sharing (Sept 2026 to Aug 2027 seasons): Main Lodge High R8,500 (1 Sep to 19 Dec 2026), Peak R9,300 (20 Dec 2026 to 10 Jan 2027), High R8,900 (11 Jan to 30 Apr 2027), Low R7,600 (1 May to 31 Aug 2027).
- Sanbona Wildlife Reserve: Per adult sharing per night (ZAR, 2026-27 table): lowest R9,535 at Tilney Manor in Low Season (1 May-30 Sep 2026); highest R18,045 at Dwyka Tented Lodge in Seasonal Peak (15 Dec 2026-11 Jan 2027).
What age limits do they set for children?
5 of the 5 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.
- Etali Safari Lodge: Children of all ages welcome.
- Jaci's Lodges: It names family-friendly options: Safari Suite Expeditions ('Family-friendly suites', 2 adults + 2 children) and villas suited to families; no child rates shown.
- Kariega Game Reserve: Main Lodge and The Homestead welcome children of all ages.
- Sanbona Wildlife Reserve: Gondwana Family Lodge is the only lodge for children: 'children of all ages are welcome'.
- Shamwari: Riverdene and Sarili welcome all ages.
Which offer a private guide and vehicle?
2 of the 5 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.
- Etali Safari Lodge: Private game drive vehicle with private guide and private tracker available at an additional R8 000 per day, guaranteed if confirmed in advance.
- Shamwari: Riverdene: 'Each family unit booked offers a private safari vehicle'.
Malaria-free Big Five safari camps: the questions people ask
Which publish a conservation model?
4 of the 5 do: Etali Safari Lodge, Kariega Game Reserve, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve and Shamwari. Each one's own website says so.
Which publish a deposit?
2 of the 5 do: Etali Safari Lodge and Kariega Game Reserve. Each one's own website says so.
Which have guest reviews on Google, SafariBookings or Trustpilot?
3 of the 5 do: Etali Safari Lodge, Jaci's Lodges and Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Each platform's rating and count are on the card, never added together.
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 lists camps in South Africa and says on its own website that they are malaria-free and calls them Big Five. 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.