Malaria-free safaris in South Africa

Planning a holiday to Africa with kids? You’ll have lots of things to consider, and here’s one more to add to the list: whether or not you only want to travel in malaria-free areas.

Malaria can be easily prevented with medication and it’s rare for tourists to contact the disease. In 10 years, we’ve not had a single case of malaria among our guests.

It’s understandable that some people – in particular, families – prefer to steer clear of malaria areas, just to be on the safe side and avoid any extra stress and worry.

The top regions in South Africa that offer malaria-free safaris – as well as the Big Five (meaning you will potentially see lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant) – include:

Madikwe Game Reserve, North West Province

If you want to avoid the Kruger crowds and malaria, this region is ideal. Just a four-hour drive or 45-minute charter flight from Johannesburg, Madikwe is more than 70,000 hectares of wilderness. It’s home to the Big Five, plus an ever-growing population of endangered wild dog, cheetah and brown hyena.

For bird-watchers, you can spot up to 260 species. Madikwe Game Reserve offers the most consistent game-viewing opportunities out of all the malaria-free game reserves, and has that classic bushveld terrain.

There are some brilliant properties here boasting impressive kids’ clubs and interactive experiences for all ages.

Waterberg Biosphere, Limpopo

For anyone seeking rugged mountains away from the crowds, look no further than the ‘Berg’. Just a three-hour drive from Johannesburg, it’s easily reached and boasts more than 150,000 hectares – that’s double the size of Madikwe.

The Waterberg has a rich variety of habitats and private reserves that are home to the Big Five. Keep in mind it’s a ‘harder’ safari because the area is so vast and wildlife can disappear quickly. Accommodation is less concentrated, so you often feel more immersed in the bush and far away from the crowds.

The Eastern Cape

Down on the east coast of South Africa, an hour or two from the city of Port Elizabeth, sits a number of private reserves and national parks in a region referred to as the Eastern Cape.

Here you can enjoy a Big Five safari and then a chilled-out beach finale. Addo Elephant National Park is home to an impressive elephant population and one of our favourite private game reserves, Kwandwe, is located in the Eastern Cape.

Tswalu, Kalahari

If your budget allows it, Tswalu is the ultimate exclusive family safari experience. This is the country’s largest private game reserve, sitting in the southern (and malaria-free) Kalahari. There’s a luxury lodge and every family is allocated its own game-drive vehicle, guide and tracker for the ultimate in freedom.

The wilderness is pristine and vast, and Tswalu is famed for its rare and extraordinary wildlife. In just one visit you could be lucky enough to witness black-maned lions, wild dogs, meerkats, aardvarks and even pangolins. They, along with a wealth of other wild animals, live in a stunning wilderness area dominated by one of the very few mountain ranges in the region: the Korannaberg.

Are you ready for Africa?
Take a look at our property guide for malaria-free safaris in South Africa.

Malaria-free property guide