Malewane Lodge
Malewane Lodge is the original flagship property of Royal Malewane, combining classic bush lodge character with refined design and a strong conservation ethos. Once the private Biden family homestead, it has been expanded into a luxurious safari retreat while retaining an intimate and welcoming atmosphere. Malewane Lodge features six Luxury Suites, one Royal Suite, and Africa House, an exclusive-use villa offering complete privacy and dedicated services for families or groups.
Suites are spacious and elegantly appointed, with private decks and plunge pools offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding bush. The lodge’s facilities include the Royal Waters Spa, gym, boutique, wine cellar, library, and multiple dining spaces. Meals at Malewane Lodge are personalised and include South Africa’s finest wines, with bush dinners under the stars featuring lantern-lit meals and fires in the wilderness.
Guided experiences are central to the lodge, with twice-daily game drives led by award-winning guides who provide expert insight into animal behaviour and the Greater Kruger ecosystem. Bush walks and night drives allow guests to explore both diurnal and nocturnal wildlife. Malewane Lodge is located within the 14,000-hectare Thornybush Private Game Reserve, sharing unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park. The reserve is renowned for its exceptional Big Five sightings, and wildlife is often visible from private decks and pools of the suites.
Gallery
Wildlife
- High concentration of Big 5 with large herds of elephant and buffalo, as well as large lion prides.
- Large number of White lions live in the reserve.
- Other wildlife include but are not limited to the hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, cheetah, African wild dog, hyaena, warthog and many other cat and antelope species.
- Large antelope herds support the populations of predators in the reserve.
- Over 500 bird species have been recorded in the region. Many can be seen in the reserve.
Game Drives
- Game drives take place twice a day in the early mornings and afternoons for a duration of 3-4 hours.
- Game drives are led by an experienced guide and tracker team.
- Vehicles are allowed to go off road to track and follow the wildlife.
- Strict traverse rules are in place and vehicle numbers are limited in each reserve. A maximum of two vehicles are allowed at any sighting.
- Night drives and guided bushwalks are permitted.
Activities & Facilities
- Game drives
- Guided bushwalks
- Photographic safaris
- Stargazing
- Birdwatching
- Swimming Pool
- Restaurant
- Open-air dinning
- Viewing deck
- Boutique
- Gym
- Royal Waters Spa
- Dining areas
- Library
- Masiya bar
- Wine cellar
- Conservation activities
Highlights
- Classic and refined lodge design rooted in its heritage as the original Biden family home.
- Accommodation includes 6 Luxury Suites, 1 two-bedroom Royal Suite and Africa House exclusive-use villa.
- Personalised dining with curated wine experiences and elegant lodge spaces.
- Private decks and pools offering wildlife viewing directly from the suites.
- Located in the 14 000-hectare Thornybush Private Game Reserve adjoining the Kruger National Park.
- Twice-daily game drives with one of Africa’s most accomplished guiding teams.
- Royal Waters Spa with heated lap pool, treatment rooms, gym and wellness facilities.
Location
- Situated on the western boundary of the Greater Kruger and Kapama Game Reserve. It is located close to the Timbavati Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park.
- The Kruger National Park is almost 2 million hectares and lies in the north-eastern corner of South Africa in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.
Getting There
- Royal Malewane private airstrip is the closet airstrip, two daily chartered flights from Johannesburg are operated by Federal Airlines.
- Hoedspruit (HDS) is the closet commercial airport to Malewane Lodge, daily flights operate from Johannesburg and Cape Town.
- Flight time from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit or private airstrip: 60 minutes.
- Flight time from Cape Town to Hoedspruit: 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Road transfers from Hoedspruit to Malewane Lodge take 35 minutes.
Child Policy
- Malewane lodge welcomes children from 10 years.
- The Royal suite and Africa House accommodates children of all ages.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- Included: 2 x Game drives per day, guided bush walks, all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages, and private airstrip transfers. Africa House includes a chef, guide and private safari vehicle.
- Excluded: Premium branded drinks, conservation levies, commercial airport transfers, and anything of personal nature.
Rates
- The updated rates are displayed for each room category below.
- Rates are charged per person, per night.
- Single supplement of 50% applicable.
- The Royal Suite and Africa House are priced per unit.
- Africa House is priced for 1-8 guests. An additional 9-12 guest option is available with a surcharge.
- Rates displayed are valid until 05 January 2027.
Seasons
- Peak season: 20 December – 05 January
- High season: 01 June – 31 August
- Mid season: 01 March – 31 May & 01 September – 19 December
- Low season: 06 January – 28 February
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Luxury Suite
6 Luxury Suites features a private wooden deck, rim-flow plunge pool, and thatched outdoor sala. Read more The suites, 165m² in size, have a king-size bed, fireplace, and dark wooden furnishings. Amenities include air conditioning, ceiling fans, tea and coffee facilities, mini-bar, in-room safe, telephone, smart TV, Wi-Fi, international adaptors, hairdryer and fireplace. Read Less
| Peak Season | $ 4,304per person per night |
|---|---|
| High Season | $ 3,899per person per night |
| Mid Season | $ 3,524per person per night |
| Low Season | $ 3,462per person per night |
Royal Suite
The Royal Suite has two bedrooms, one with king bed and one convertible king/twin. The suite, 510m² in size, Read more features a private deck, plunge pool, and lounge with fireplace. Amenities include air conditioning, ceiling fans, underfloor heating, mini-bar, tea and coffee facilities, in-room safe, smart TV, Wi-Fi, and international adaptors. Private services include a chef, guide and private safari vehicle. Read Less
| Peak Season | $ 19,650per suite per night |
|---|---|
| High Season | $ 17,965per suite per night |
| Mid Season | $ 16,406per suite per night |
| Low Season | $ 16,032per suite per night |
Africa House
Africa House, 1,448m² in size, is a private villa with 6 suites. The villa features private wooden decks, a rim-flow Read more infinity pool overlooking the dry riverbed, and peaceful corners for relaxation. Amenities include fireplaces, eco-friendly heating and air conditioning, minibar, Wi-Fi, in-room safe, gym, double spa treatment room, TV, telephone, and international adaptors. Africa House includes private services. Read Less
| Peak Season | $ 35,494per villa per night |
|---|---|
| High Season | $ 32,375per villa per night |
| Mid Season | $ 29,474per villa per night |
| Low Season | $ 28,944per villa per night |
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