We spent four days in the MalaMala Safari camp and went into the bush dawn and dusk each day. The daytime temperatures reached 105 degrees Fahrenheit, so midday was pretty quiet with most creatures seeking shelter from the sun. We were most fortunate in the dates we choose, late spring. They had just gotten a good rain and the bush was just beginning to green up. The Impalas (Ram, Doe, Lamb) had just started to lamb and there were babies everywhere. The bugs were not too bad yet. We did have a termite bloom, but they don’t bite.
The MalaMala base camp are cabins that overlook the sand river. We had individual cabins with patios overlooking the river. The camp is free range and we had to be escorted back to the cabin after dark. We did occasionally bump into animals on the path.
A frequent goal of people on Safari is to view the BIG FIVE. In the olden days the BIG FIVE were the most dangerous animals to hunt. The BIG FIVE include the elephant, lion, leopard, rhinoceros and buffalo. To me, it is fine to want to see the BIG FIVE, but there is so much more in these incredible habitats if one keeps an open mind and takes it all in.
BIG FIVE – Elephants
BIG FIVE – LIONS
BIG FIVE – LEOPARD
BIG FIVE – RHINOCEROS
BIG FIVE – BUFFALO
We managed to see all five of the BIG FIVE but it was spread over all four days. Sabi Sands nature preserve is not fenced and the animals migrate from area to area. As a result, it can be challenging to see all of the BIG FIVE. Poachers can be a problem and the horns are removed from the rhinos to make them less attractive. There are also anti poaching patrols. We were lucky to see the diversity in animals we witnessed.
Wild Dogs (endangered)
Hippo
Giraffe
Warthog
Hyena
Wildebeest
Croc
Primates
Lizzards
Ruminants
Jackal
Mongoose
Other
So if you focused on the BIG FIVE, you missed out on a lot.
Mark, Wink, Meg and Kate-Lynne