Safari in Makalali

a couple of really good camps

Makalali Reserve is located in the Kruger area of South Africa.

Situated in the far west of the greater Kruger area, between the towns of Hoedspruit and Tzaneen, this fenced reserve comprises approximately 220 square kilometres of gently undulating Lowveld acacia scrub, set against the distant backdrop of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg escarpment and centred on the seasonal Makhutswi River.

It contains a full range of animals and wildlife viewing is good year round, since being a fenced reserve, the animals are not free to migrate.

The Makalali Reserve used to feature in quite a high proportion of trips, since the quality and value of the lodges here outweighed the small size of the reserve. However, with the opening of more properties in larger areas like Timbavati and Klaserie, it had become something of a rarity these days.

The usual stay duration is 3-4 nights.

Seasonality

The best time to visit Kruger is generally considered to be the May-Oct dry season, but (surprisingly) the reserve remains popular year round.

Safari in the Kruger area is much more seasonal than most people would lead you to believe. Trip planning is complicated by the fact that the seasons here are almost diametrically opposite to those down in Cape Town (with which the area is most commonly combined in trips).

Dry winter : Jun/Sep

This period is characterised by a cool dry winter which is generally considered to be the best time for wildlife viewing, although day length is relatively short and nights can get very cold. Unfortunately it does coincide with a more conventional cool wet winter in Cape Town.

Hot transition : Oct/Nov

This is the start of the hot wet summer. Wildlife viewing is usually very strong, but temperatures and humidities can become uncomfortably high in advance of the first rains, which usually arrive mid November to cool things down. This coincides with a usually pleasant spring season in Cape Town. October therefore represents an interesting compromise month.

Wet summer : Dec/Mar

This period is characterised by a hot wet summer, which is generally considered to be the most challenging time for wildlife viewing, although sightings should remain reliable in the premium areas. Day length is nice and long, but temperatures and humidities can become uncomfortably high and rain can be a major issue. However these potentially adverse conditions happen to coincide with a hot dry summer in Cape Town.

Cool transition : Apr/May

This is a period of transition between the hot wet summer and the cool dry winter, with wildlife viewing continuing to improve as the foliage dies back. Day length, temperatures and humidities are all in the middle of their ranges. The period coincides with autumn/fall in Cape Town, making this perhaps the strongest time of year for the combination.

Where to stay

The reserve is of particular interest because it contains two camps which definitely deliver a great experience for a mid-range price, namely Garonga Safari Camp and Little Garonga.

Further west are two other reliable properties, but which are not so quite highly rated because they have a slightly more commercial feel, Makalali Main Lodge and Makalali River Lodge.

a relatively small fully-fenced reserve