Royal Malewane

Awesome views, great hospitality, beautiful and friendly staff towards guests. Clean and neat rooms, clean towels and showers. Very organized place. Recommended for relaxation and outings, safe environment. Very overwhelming place to be at.

The Royal Portfolio can trace its roots to 1999, when we converted our family holiday home into what is now the Royal Malewane. The Royal Portfolio showcases the very best of the Rainbow Nation and offers perfect stays in pristine national parks, along rugged coastlines, in lush winelands, and in the heart of the vibrant, multicultural Mother City of Cape Town. Choose to stay in one of the iconic luxury lodges, boutique hotels, or private residences, or ask our journey specialists about combining them for the complete experience.

We happened to be on a shuttle bus with head ranger Ryan Jack after our safari. Airport construction left us at the curb in the airport and I was there with my friend who has some health issues and Ryan got on the phone with our hotel and driver and waited with us until we were safe in the shuttle. If you have the means to enjoy Royal Malewane, you are in good hands with Ryan Jack! He took a busman's holiday to get us situated.

Royal Malewane is a true luxury bush experience. We stayed at the newest property, Waterside Lodge, and had a fantastic 3 night stay. Arrival: We flew from Cape Town to Hoedspruit on a non-stop flight and were greeted at the small airport by our guide Matt. The airport is small but efficient and all the greeters are clustered by the baggage claim. We enjoyed a beautiful scenic drive to the camp and as we arrived to the entrance, received another warm welcome from the staff while we sipped a cocktail, got the logistics of the camp, and went over preferences. Room: We had luxury suite #2, a spacious room, beautifully decorated and curated with incredible art. The design mixes African and colonial elements with contemporary luxury and adds a healthy splash of color. We had a fireplace, sitting area, dressing room, indoor and outdoor shower, plunge pool and patio. Between game drives we loved the various areas of the room we could leverage to read a book, enjoy a coffee or catch up on a couple emails. The room featured a well stocked mini bar that is all included with your stay. Game Drives: You will meet your guide and tracker on your first day and they will be with you for the duration of your stay. They will customize the drives to ensure you are spending the time tracking the animals and experiences you are seeking. Luxury lodges obviously provide 5 star hospitality, but they also differentiate themselves with the quality, experience and knowledge of their guides and trackers. The learning and knowledge that you absorb through asking questions and getting to know the bush is part of the experience - be sure to soak it up! We had Matt and Stanley and gave them free reign to do what they do best - we saw everything - the Big Five plus so much more. We saw two leopard kills and lots of babies, very unique and special moments to see in the bush. Matt and Stanley were truly experts - you cannot believe how they pick up on sounds/calls and tracks to find the animals in the vastness of the park. Food: The lodge's chef, Chippy, came to greet us on arrival and asked about preferences and allergies/restrictions. From that meeting, we received personalized menus at each meal. You can order off the menu or whatever you want off menu. The food is wonderful - the perfect balance of fine dining and local flair - exactly the type of food you want in the bush. We love local South African food and made a point to try the local meats and flavors that Chippy incorporated into the menu. Breakfast was always a number of beautifully plated pastries, charcuterie and fruits - all before ordering a la carte - you will be incredibly well fed with the quality is top notch. The staff picks up on your preferences and even starts to make recommendations based on what you ordered and enjoyed previously - truly impressive and personalized service. Spa/Gym: The lodge has a small but well equipped gym that is perfect for a mid day workout. We used it twice and were th

We have been traveling to the Royal Malewane since 2003 and it is always our favorite safari lodge in South Africa! This year it was just as special as our first visit in 2003. The staff is always professional, the rangers are the best in the world, the food is delicious and special, and the accommodations luxurious. Our guide, Ryan Jack is very special. He’s been with the Royal Malewane team for many years and still approaches every game drive as if it was our first game drive. If you want a world class safari, you must put the Royal Malewane on your bucket list!