2025 Greater Kruger Trip- 4 Lodges, 3 Reserves
The team at Tintswalo Safari Lodge!
We have just returned home from an exhilarating trip to the Greater Kruger with content creators and travel/safari planners Liz & Leon of Mr & Mrs D Adventures - https://www.instagram.com/mrandmrsd.adventures/
From our side this trip was a site inspection where we viewed and analysed (and of course thoroughly enjoyed) each lodge to add to our portfolio in the area.
Liz & Leon showcased their expertise in content creation with countless opportunities all around us for stunning and fascinating photos and videos. The trip consisted of “wow moment” after “wow moment” as we were often left in awe at what we were witnessing in front of us.
Both the lodges themselves and the wildlife impressed us beyond measure and we have some very interesting comparisons and anecdotes to share with you.
Our Itinerary:
2 Nights Tintswalo Safari Lodge – Manyeleti Game Reserve
R19 760 pp/pn (low season)
https://www.tintswalo.com/safari
1 Nights Xanatseni Private Camp – Klaserie Game Reserve
R5880 pp/pn
2 Nights Royal Malewane, Malewane Lodge – Thornybush Game Reserve
R52 500 pp/pn (mid-season starting)
https://www.theroyalportfolio.com/royal-malewane/
1 Night Tangala Safari Camp – Thornybush Game Reserve
R5880 pp/pn
https://anthology.co.za/tangala-safari-camp/
As you can see, we had quite the spread in terms of budget with Royal Malewane being almost 10x the price of 2 of the other camps. We were very interested to find out if/how the price is justified and what all the fuss is about in being the most expensive lodge in the country!
This could, in all honesty, be our favorite setting of any lodge we’ve visited. The lodge is located in a lush riverbed with giant ancient trees in the backdrop. Visiting in March (the beginning of Autumn) was such a treat for us as we usually travel during Winter when everything is dry, a bit dull, and much quieter. This was the total opposite! The bush was colourful and alive with the bird and butterfly life being most notable, and a chorus of birdsong throughout the day…music to our ears! The constant call of the Woodlands Kingfisher accompanied us as we explored this beautiful and expansive lodge with a wonderful old world colonial feel. The friendly welcome from the staff set the tone for our stay as we were made to feel right at home in a luxurious and breathtaking setting.
A few things that stood out about Tintswalo for us that we believe take the safari experience to another level here:
1. The attention to detail.
The massive effort made by the housekeeping staff and their attention to detail when preparing your room was very impressive. Multiple personal notes a day, beautiful towel origami (we’re not too sure what else to call it), pretty leaves and flowers delicately placed all over the suite. This ultimately made us feel like they truly cared and made the experience feel that much more special. It must be said that the staff across the board seemed to share this amount of effort and warmth towards the guests.
2. The setting!
As mentioned before this is as good as it gets for us. Elephants visit the lodge daily for a drink and one can view them not only from the main deck or luxury suites, but also from the viewing hide under the main deck for a ground-level, up-close perspective of these magnificent creatures. Bucket list moments! This is a lodge that you could comfortably spend the whole day at without having to go out on drive.
3. The Manyeleti Game Reserve and game drives!
Sandwiched between the Sabi Sands, Timbavati, and Kruger National Park you just know the wildlife sightings here are going to be wild in this 23 000 hectare reserve! We did set the bar quite high for our brilliant guide and tracker team of Rei and Reply asking for wild dogs which Liz & Leon hadn’t seen before. And although we just missed the dogs twice (it can really be a luck of the draw as they are almost always moving) we did enjoy tracking them and bumping into a few hyenas along the way. We did find a very vocal male cheetah that we followed for a while listening to him constantly calling which was a wonderfully rare sight to see. Spotting (please excuse the pun) Saseka, the gorgeous female leopard, was another ”wow moment” we won’t forget anytime soon. She too gave us a lovely vocal display, rasping as vervet monkeys frantically alarm called in the background. Of course, elephants were seen everywhere as well as a whole host of other wildlife. We loved our sighting of a serval on one of our night drives, and an eland that took off at the sight of us, a sighting that could be the first ever on the reserve or the first since 1963. Either way an extremely rare sighting! We unfortunately missed the lions this time (perhaps due to chasing after the wild dog’s way down south twice) but have been assured that we may have been the only guests to ever leave Tintswalo having not seen a lion! A record we are not so proud of!
Coming from a luxury 5-star lodge like Tintswalo to a budget friendly lodge we were worried that we may have gotten used to a certain standard of hospitality. However, we found ourselves immediately in love with Xanatseni and the rather unique experience offered there. Elephants welcomed us in along the fence line as the absolutely wonderful and friendly hostess and guide gave us an introduction to the camp. It wasn’t long before we realized what makes Xanatseni so special besides the almost outrageous value for money it offers. The camp has a laid back, make yourself at home, and become a part of the Xanatseni family, kind of atmosphere whilst maintaining a high level of comfort and hospitality. If we had to break it down in brief – you’re getting a 4-star lodge experience for bush camp prices.
Here are a few things we loved about Xanatseni:
1. The location!
The immediate location is a beautiful open area (we love camps where you can see wildlife visitors as they mill about around camp) with an active waterhole. We were greeted by elephants at the fence line and there were always animals around camp during our entire stay. The Klaserie Game Reserve is also a brilliant reserve in terms of wildlife sightings and has a lower lodge and vehicle density compared to the other private reserves bordering and open to Kruger. This translates into a wild and authentic experience.
2. The staff.
Down to earth, friendly, warm and welcoming, we immediately gathered what makes Xanatseni so special. You’re made to feel right at home and very comfortable from the get go. The camps laid back and homely atmosphere will appeal to many guests, especially those more social butterflies. Being a small camp though, it never gets overwhelming or too crowed and maintains peace and quiet which only adds to a relaxing safari experience. The staff are the heart and soul of Xanatseni and it shows how much of an impact this can make in hospitality.
3. The value for money.
It’s almost outrageous! We arrived ready to find flaws to explain the low price for a lodge of this calibre. But we couldn’t find any. If anything, our expectations were exceeded by finding that the safari vehicles only had 2 seats per row and 8 seats in total, the rooms were newly renovated and quite luxurious, and the common areas were expansive and beautifully decorated. It’s also the kind of camp that if there are lions or other exciting animals outside camp, they’ll call everyone to hop in the vehicle to have a closer look. When we asked about the price, they responded by explaining that they wanted to keep it low to offer guests the best possible experience and make it accessible to more peoples’ budgets. We were blown away by the value here!
Welcome to the big leagues! Royal Malewane was named the World’s Leading Luxury Lodge for 2024 and is the most expensive safari lodge in South Africa at present. We really did not know what to expect and what could justify this price. We also wondered how we’d personally enjoy the experience as we can often feel a bit like a fish out of water at ultra lux lodges. However, as soon as we arrived and were welcomed by and introduced to all the wonderful staff we felt a sense of comfort, and relaxation. Perhaps this was due to knowing that you were in such capable hands with your private chef, butler, and host taking care of your every need or request. The lodge itself is magnificent and beautifully styled, and we were treated to a stay in the Royal Suite – an extremely expansive 510 square meter, 2-bedroom retreat, that is utterly gorgeous.
It soon became apparent to us that what takes Royal Malewane to that next level was a culmination of possibly 100’s of smaller details making a noticeable impact on the entire experience.
Here are some of the aspects we loved and were really impressed by at Royal Malewane:
1. The main area overlooking an active waterhole.
We counted not one, not two, but five decks over-looking the waterhole to give guests different perspectives, experiences, and privacy for their entire stay. This is such a clever design, and guests are placed in different spots for each meal and can of course request to be seated in a particular spot they enjoy. To always have eyes on the active waterhole is a must for us at any lodge and Malewane Lodge certainly didn’t disappoint. We found that even on relatively hot days it kept quite cool under the shade of the trees around the main area. The bar (bottom deck) was also rather unique being literally on the water and eye level with any wildlife visitors. 10/10 for this spectacular setting at Malewane Lodge!
2. The guiding and tracking.
A noticeable step up and I’ll tell you how I realised this was the case. After having the privilege to have enjoyed hundreds of game drives all around South Africa your expectations can become quite high in terms of wildlife sightings as well as guide etiquette, knowledge and other important skills. This can lead to a feeling of anxiety in not knowing if your guide is capable and is going to give you the best possible experience. At Royal Malewane we felt totally relaxed, confident in our guide and trackers remarkable expertise. Nicola and Bennet have been working together for 13 years, and basically speak their own language (we suspect sometimes even telepathically) at this point. It was like watching a well-oiled machine at work as we were left awe-inspired by this formidable team that took us on what we have said is possibly the best game drive we’ve ever had after being with a pack of wild dogs hunting as well as a pride of lions hunting. Sensational stuff! Royal Malewane is also known as the Harvard of Guiding as they have an outstanding team of very well-educated guides and trackers and brilliant structures and programs in place to mentor and educate aspiring guides and trackers as well. We could go on for days about the game drives but one last point I’ll make is that the drives were shockingly comfortable and almost bump free. Liz & Leon commented that the roads were much smoother in Thornybush not realizing that it was the vehicle and suspension itself creating the comfort. And of course, Nicola’s impressive driving skills.
3. The not-so-trivial smaller details.
Apart from the “bigger details” like having your own private chef and butler, the obvious opulence of the lodge and suites, the grandeur in the design, the location in Thornybush Game Reserve, and a number of others, we’d like to share a few of the smaller details that we feel shouldn’t go unnoticed. The welcome package including a cap, water bottle, safari guide book, and welcome letter made us feel welcome and appreciated. Lights on the sides of the safari vehicles to help guests getting in and out at night was a lovely and very useful touch. Our butler making it known that he doesn’t like seeing an empty glass from the get go made us feel like the drinks (worked into the all-inclusive rate) are unrestricted and you’re welcome to order as many as you like. The linen, which is sourced from France, has a thread count that is off the charts and the towels are heavy and soft making this the most comfortable stay you can imagine! The soaps and shampoos are also top quality and a treat for the senses. How they managed to orchestrate the elephant drinking from the pool outside our rooms on our last morning will remain a mystery, but was greatly appreciated! Pops of bright colours (radiant colours being Liz Biden the owners signature style) around camp grew on us significantly and became something we actually appreciated as opposed to the duller and more traditional safari lodge look. Lastly the personalized menus at mealtimes were a wonderful touch along with the absolutely mouthwatering meals and drinks.
We really didn’t know what to expect from Tangala, and after being treated like royalty at Royal Malewane we were hoping our inner snobs would still be able to appreciate this more budget friendly bush camp. It must be the welcome at any given lodge that sets the tone for the entire stay, as we were greeted with the friendliest smiles at Tangala and felt immediately at home and in our elements. This camp impressed us! Our research beforehand online hadn’t revealed much about this charming bush lodge that is set in one of the best locations in Thornybush Game Reserve in a stunning open area that has the mighty Drakensberg Mountain Range as it’s backdrop. For us that would suffice, but you’ll be happy to know that they’re busy with upgrades to the camp and at this price point you’ll be hard pressed to find better value for money anywhere!
Here are a few things that really impressed us about Tangala:
1. The location in Thornybush.
The open area with the Drakensberg as the backdrop is what safari dreams are made of! The area is extremely game rich too, with lions being particularly prolific. We felt like we couldn’t not see or bump into lions to be honest. But we also had incredible wild dog sightings, and even mating wild dogs which was a first for us! Lion cubs at sunset chewing on a wildebeest carcass stole our hearts as we fell more and more in love with Thornybush Game Reserve. This is a certainly a camp for wildlife fanatics, and the active waterhole right in front of camp attracts an array of wildlife visitors to be appreciated from your suite or main deck.
2. The value for money.
If you’re here for the wildlife then this is your most budget friendly option to get into the Thornybush Game Reserve. For South Africans in particular you can receive an astounding 50% discount on the original rate, making this the best value for money for South Africans’ who are keen to see some sensational wildlife I think I’ve ever heard of. Don’t expect too many bells and whistles but the camp is very comfortable, clean, and has lovely staff to look after you. One notable mention is that the rooms don’t have air conditioners so this should be considered more of a “winter camp” or for stays a month or two either side of Winter (April-October).
3. The reinvestment into the camp.
We absolutely love that Tangala are reinvesting and upgrading the camp. It is already looking great; the main areas are beautiful and tidy and they’re also making the chalets much lighter and prettier inside. This bodes well for the future of this camp and of course for any future guests. The camp is under reliable and passionate management so we are expecting only good things going forward!
A Comparison
Well, we had 2 camps at the exact same price (Xanatseni & Tangala) and this is a perfect example of how different 2 experiences can be and why we can help in suiting our guests to a lodge that meets their needs and expectations. We often talk about where a lodge holds its value and at Xanatseni it was more in the beautiful accommodation and down to earth, warm atmosphere they’ve created there. At Tangala it’s more about the sensational wildlife sightings in the area and wildlife fanatics on a budget are usually happy to give up a few luxuries for that. Of course, both Tangala and Xanatseni both offer wonderful all round safari experiences, and would actually be a great combination for those with a bit more time on safari.
Going from the most expensive lodge in South Africa, let alone Thornybush (Royal Malewane), to the cheapest in Thornybush (Tangala) was also an interesting comparison. You’d think they’re incomparable but they are located in the same reserve and to be honest we actually preferred the immediate environment around Tangala. But even with the same wildlife accessible to both and us thoroughly enjoying the guiding at Tangala, it must be said that the guiding at Royal Malewane was a step up and made a huge impression on us. There is also every amenity and facility you can imagine at Royal Malewane and over the top luxury if that is your cup of tea and you can afford it. There are people who will be attracted to either end of the spectrum. It might be interesting to note that my best sleep was at Tangala, although it was just one of those nights that was dead silent, after I’d been woken up by all sorts of animal noises throughout our trip. Tintswalo in its own right is outstanding value for a 5-star luxury safari lodge in the Greater Kruger at entry level prices. Nothing can beat that setting and the daily elephant visits in our books!
Our Favorite Reserve
Thornybush was the undeniable victor here. It may have been the staggering amount of lion sightings we saw (our favorite animal) but it just seemed to be action packed in terms of wildlife sightings in general in Thornybush. And not in a busy way, we actually hardly saw other vehicles, only had 2 vehicles at a sighting at most, and our guides having headphones instead of a radio blaring was also much appreciated. The backdrop of the Drakensberg Mountains was also a lovely addition to the whole experience. Liz and Leon also finally found their first wild dogs In Thornybush as well as their first lion cubs. Being in amongst a pack of wild dogs hunting and then later on lions hunting as well was something we will never forget. It was always going to be tough to beat that!
Our Favorite Lodge
An impossible choice! It’s hard not to be impressed and charmed by Royal Malewane’s opulence and luxury. The staff at Xanatseni and the atmosphere in camp really made an impression on us too. Tangala was a surprise contender and the location and setting is almost unbeatable. But if we had to pick just one it would be Tintswalo Safari Lodge. We just can’t get over the setting in camp and the comfort and relaxation one feels when there. This is a lodge where you could spend a good week at taking it all in and experiencing some sensational wildlife. Having properties around Cape Town is also a huge benefit for those wanting to do a safari and Cape Town trip, our most popular package at the moment.
Conclusion
As we deal with the post bush (safari) blues, we are ecstatic to add Xanatseni, Tangala and Royal Malewane to our growing portfolio to offer our guests. Tintswalo has been on our portfolio for a while now but we are very happy with how the lodge is looking and where they are heading.
If you have any questions or would like to start planning your safari in South Africa please reach out to us, we would love to help!
Email: info@nalaafrica.com
You can also watch our YouTube video of our trip overview here:
