Singita Malilangwe House

a beautiful private wildlife reserve

Singita Malilangwe House is located in the Gonarezhou area of southeast Zimbabwe.

The house, which can only be booked on an exclusive basis, is centred on a thatched main building, leading out to a swimming pool.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Singita Malilangwe House is in five suites, all with air-conditioning, private decking, and impressive views over the lake …

Suites : x3 : The smallest of the room types, these one bedroom suites are nonetheless large and very comfortable, suitable for two guests.

Junior Master Suite : x1 : The Junior Master Suite has a bigger bedroom (when compared to the three regular suites) and has an en-suite bathroom and private deck.

Master Suite : x1 : The Master Suite is the largest suite, and has a fireplace with a lounge and en-suite bathroom.

Activities

Singita Malilangwe House offers the following guided activities …

• vehicle safari
• walking safari
• mountain-biking
• cultural visits
• rock-art
• motorboat safari

Gonarezhou is a long way from other safari areas, which is why it so rarely features in trips.

More experienced Africa travellers may choose to focus the whole of their safari here. High-end guests may charter flights from Mana Pools in the north or Kruger in the south.

The usual stay duration in the Gonarezhou area is 4-7 nights.

Seasonality

Safari in Gonarezhou is very seasonal and careful planning is extremely important.

Early dry season : May-Jun

May-Jun is a period of transition from the hot wet summer to the cool dry winter and is a decent time to visit, before the harshness of the main dry season kicks in. Animals should start to move back towards the permanent water sources, all of which should lead to an increase in sightings. Temperatures can drop during the night, but the days are gorgeous. The majority of camps are significantly discounted during this period.

Dry season : Jul-Sep

The Jul-Sep dry season is the classic time to visit Gonarezhou and is generally the best time for wildlife viewing, with many animals drawn to the water from the dry surrounding areas. During Jul-Aug the cooler temperatures of the preceding season can continue. This is very much the high season in terms of prices and visitor numbers, but vehicle traffic should rarely be an issue.

Hot season : Oct-Dec

The Oct-Dec hot season is the transition period between the peak of the dry season and the start of the rains. Temperatures and humidities can become uncomfortably high and if rainfall arrives, it brings relief from the high temperatures, but can be heavy and prolonged. Some animals may disperse, causing a marked drop off in sightings The majority of camps are significantly discounted during this period.

Green season : Jan-Apr

Jan-Apr is the main green season when the area receives the most rainfall and temperatures are still elevated. The animals are well fed and there’s lots of babies around. With the wildlife being more dispersed and the long grasses providing extra cover, wildlife viewing can be more difficult, causing a drop off in sightings. It’s the Dec-Feb period which threatens the greatest chance of more cloud and rain, making safari conditions more challenging. The camps are significantly discounted throughout this season, making it a smart time to travel.

Getting there

The Gonarezhou area is usually accessed by scheduled light aircraft flight from Johannesburg into Buffalo Range International Airport.

From the airport, it is a road transfer of around 2 hours to Singita Malilangwe House.

Alternatively it is possible to arrive by charter flight from a range of locations including Victoria Falls into Lonestar Airstrip, from where it is a vehicle safari of around 15 minutes.

Gonarezhou is rarely combined with other safari areas