South Africa is the ideal destination for families—hands down! Not only are there a wide variety of destinations and activities to choose from, but South Africa is also home to a range of malaria-free game reserves. This means that your family does not have to take malaria-prevention medication or get any required vaccinations. Of course, there are several vaccinations that your healthcare provider might recommend, but none are required.
In case you are unaware, malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. Because there are various game reserves in South Africa that are malaria free, there is no need for any type of malaria-prevention medication when staying at these reserves. This is always great news for families who are hesitant to have their family members receive vaccinations and take pills throughout their stay in Africa.
Below are some of our FAVORITE malaria-free game reserves in South Africa for families:
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: Situated in southeastern South Africa, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is a fantastic, malaria-free wildlife sanctuary that is an exceptional destination for travelers interested in an African family safari vacation.
This 54,000-acre reserve features just four boutique Relais & Chateaux accredited lodges, with a total of 22 rooms across the entire reserve. This quaint feel offers the discerning traveler the opportunity to explore complete wilderness without the annoyance of crowds and over-populated animal sighting areas.
The Big Five (which includes elephant, rhino, lion, Cape buffalo, and leopard), as well as cheetah, kudu, springbok, eland, red hartebeest, giraffe, black wildebeest, gemsbok, and so much more, can be seen on this pristine reserve. The area is also rich with history, which makes for an even more exciting and enriching safari experience.
Madikwe Game Reserve: Aside from the fact that Madikwe is malaria-free and the perfect destination for families on a trip to South Africa, Madikwe is also home to the Big Five and the elusive and endangered African wild dog. This is a real treat for travelers to Madikwe as many travelers to Africa never have the opportunity to witness wild dog!
Visiting Madikwe as your first destination in Africa is ideal as it is only a 3.5-hour drive from Johannesburg. Many travelers opt to fly into Johannesburg and immediately take a private car service to Madikwe to start their safari adventures.
The reserve is surrounded by the breathtaking Dwarsberg Mountains and is home to 66 large mammal species and approximately 300 bird species, making both morning and game drives an exciting wildlife-viewing experience.
If you choose to stay at Madikwe Game Reserve, we highly recommend staying at the Royal Madikwe Safari Lodge, which is a 5-star, luxury property, perfect for families. The lodge is boutique in size with only 4 lavish suites and can accommodate up to 10 guests. In addition to twice daily game drives, Royal Madikwe Safari Lodge also offers guided photographic safaris, African dance lessons, massage treatments, and ranger skills training sessions.
Entabeni Game Reserve: Just a 3-hour drive from the Johannesburg airport, Entabeni is a malaria-free game reserve, perfect for travelers wishing to take a family safari vacation. Game drives on the reserve allow visitors to come face to face with the Big Five, as well as other animals, including giraffe, cheetah, jackal, impala, warthog, and more.
We recommend visiting the reserve during the dry season, which is from May through October. This is because game can be easily spotted in the dry brush, as oppose to during the rainy season when the vegetation is lush and flourishing.
One of our favorite places to stay in Entabeni is the Hanglip Mountain Lodge, which sits at the lower escarpment of Entabeni. Here, there are dramatic mountains in the backdrop, along with grazing wildebeest, zebra, and giraffe, which make for a picture-perfect setting. The lodge is comprised of 10 luxury en-suite thatched rooms that each feature a wood fireplace, spacious bathroom, and private deck, overlooking a watering hole.
The landscape in the upper escarpment of Entabeni is much different from the lower escarpment. The upper region is comprised of vast plains as far as the eye can see, while the lower area contains thick brush and forests.
To get to the upper escarpment you must drive 30-minutes up the steep gorge. En route there is a natural swimming pool with a deck where you can enjoy a picnic lunch or bush breakfast.
As you traverse the upper escarpment you might witness ostrich, kudu, wildebeest, zebra, dassie (which is like a little gopher), warthog, or even some white rhino!
Guests at Entabeni Game Reserve can enjoy twice-daily game drives, plunges in the property’s pool, relaxing picnics in the bush, and exceptional cuisine.
Shamwari Game Reserve: Also malaria-free, the Shamwari Game Reserve is situated in the eastern Cape and is an exceptional destination for big game safari. Morning and afternoon game drives are offered each day, as well as the opportunity to go swimming, enjoy a spa treatment, embark on a bush walk, or visit the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary, Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, or Ian Player Rhino Awareness Center.
All of the six different lodges in Shamwari are 5-star rated and offer an exceptional, personalized experience for all guests.
It’s also important to note that Shamwari has some exceptional children’s programs, which include visits to the Born Free Foundation Big Cat Rescue Center and Animal Rehabilitation Center, scrap book making, puzzles, and more.
