Four people at a sunset picnic on the savannah. Photo: Pexels (free licence).
Which safari company is best for a malaria-free safari with young children?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 2 November 2026
These camp owners say on their own websites that their reserve is malaria-free and that young children are welcome. Each card quotes the company's own words.
Which safari company is best for a malaria-free safari with young children?
Each card quotes the company's own malaria-free line and its child policy, so you can check the youngest age each one takes.
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.
- Young children
- Children of all ages welcome.
- Countries
- South Africa (Etali Safari Lodge).
- 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
Kariega Game Reserve
- Best for
- A malaria-free Eastern Cape Big 5 reserve
- Malaria-free
- 'Malaria-free Big 5 South African Safari'.
- Young children
- Main Lodge and The Homestead welcome children of all ages.
- 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
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
- Best for
- A low-density Eastern Cape reserve
- Malaria-free
- The reserve is malaria free.
- Young children
- Ecca Lodge Private Vehicle Suites and all three villas accept children of all ages.
- Countries
- South Africa only (Eastern Cape).
- Rates
- Lowest published per person sharing rate R19,400 per night (Luxury Suite at Ecca Lodge or Great Fish River Lodge, 1 May-30 Sep 2027); highest R34,050 (Ecca Private Vehicle Suite, 1 Oct 2027-30 Apr 2028).
- Children
- Ecca Lodge Private Vehicle Suites and all three villas accept children of all ages.
- Private guide
- Private guide and vehicle with ranger and tracker are available at extra cost at the lodges (R16,600 per day, 2027), booked for the full stay and are included in all villa stays and Ecca Private Vehicle Suites.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 259 reviews, read 20 October 2026.
- Enquire
- www.kwandwe.com
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.
- Young children
- Gondwana Family Lodge is the only lodge for children: 'children of all ages are welcome'.
- 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.
- Young children
- Riverdene and Sarili welcome all ages.
- 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
Tswalu Kalahari
- Best for
- Three camps on a Kalahari reserve
- Malaria-free
- 'Children of all ages are welcome', including on game drives; the reserve is malaria-free.
- Countries
- South Africa only (Northern Cape province).
- Rates
- Per person sharing per night (ZAR, fully inclusive): lowest 46 400 at Motse in 2026; highest 64 200 at a Loapi one-bedroom home in 2027 peak season.
- Children
- 'Children of all ages are welcome', including on game drives; the reserve is malaria-free.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 67 reviews, read 20 October 2026.
- Enquire
- tswalu.com
What do they charge per person per night?
4 of the 6 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.
- 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).
- Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: Lowest published per person sharing rate R19,400 per night (Luxury Suite at Ecca Lodge or Great Fish River Lodge, 1 May-30 Sep 2027); highest R34,050 (Ecca Private Vehicle Suite, 1 Oct 2027-30 Apr 2028).
- 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).
- Tswalu Kalahari: Per person sharing per night (ZAR, fully inclusive): lowest 46 400 at Motse in 2026; highest 64 200 at a Loapi one-bedroom home in 2027 peak season.
What age limits do they set for children?
6 of the 6 camp owners on this page publish a child policy; the rest do not state it on their own websites.
- Etali Safari Lodge: Children of all ages welcome.
- Kariega Game Reserve: Main Lodge and The Homestead welcome children of all ages.
- Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: Ecca Lodge Private Vehicle Suites and all three villas accept 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.
- Tswalu Kalahari: 'Children of all ages are welcome', including on game drives; the reserve is malaria-free.
Which offer a private guide and vehicle?
3 of the 6 camp owners on this page offer a private guide or vehicle; the rest do not state it on their own websites.
- 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.
- Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: Private guide and vehicle with ranger and tracker are available at extra cost at the lodges (R16,600 per day, 2027), booked for the full stay and are included in all villa stays and Ecca Private Vehicle Suites.
- Shamwari: Riverdene: 'Each family unit booked offers a private safari vehicle'.
Malaria-free safaris with young children: the questions people ask
Which of these camp owners publish rates per person per night?
4 of the 6 do: Kariega Game Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve and Tswalu Kalahari. Each one's own website says so.
Which welcome children of any age?
All 6 say they welcome children of any age at one or more camps.
Which have villas, houses or camps for sole use?
3 of the 6 do: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Shamwari and Tswalu Kalahari. Each one's own website says so.
Which have camps on private land or a private concession?
2 of the 6 do: Sanbona Wildlife Reserve and Tswalu Kalahari. Each one's own website says so.
Which publish a conservation model?
All 6 publish how they fund or run conservation.
Which publish a deposit?
3 of the 6 do: Etali Safari Lodge, Kariega Game Reserve and Tswalu Kalahari. Each one's own website says so.
Which have guest reviews on Google, SafariBookings or Trustpilot?
4 of the 6 do: Etali Safari Lodge, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve and Tswalu Kalahari. 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 says its reserve is malaria-free and welcomes young children on its own website. 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.