The 15 Best Malaria Free Safaris In South Africa For Families
Straight off the bat we want to say: You are not compromising quality when opting for malaria free safaris in South Africa.
Many people think that Kenya or Tanzania offer the ultimate safari experience. It is indeed true that they offer amazing wildlife spotting.
But having done safaris in almost every country in Africa, we always come back to South Africa because it is the best country in the world for family-friendly safaris.
The infrastructure in South Africa is better than other African country. It is also easy to do self-drive safaris which helps keep the cost of a safari down (see here for more info on budget friendly safaris).
But most importantly for families, South Africa can offer malaria free safaris!
There is also so much more to see and do in South Africa than just taking a safari. We have a whole South Africa family travel section on the blog with helpful information on South Africa with kids.
Our most popular posts are :
- Family-friendly things to do in Cape Town
- Best hotels in Cape Town with kids
- The best Cape Town beaches
- Wine tasting in South Africa with kids
- The best wine estate picnics in South Africa for families
- Best time to safari in the Kruger National Park
Of course, there are areas in South Africa that are not malaria free like the Kruger.
If you want to visit the Kruger, we have guides on family-friendly games lodges in the Kruger.
Recently, we stayed at a couple of fabulous lodges. See a review of Thornybush Game Lodge and our review of Jackalberry Lodge.
This guide to the best malaria free safaris in South Africa will help you find where you can find the perfect malaria-free safari for your family.
If you want to try other countries for a safari, see here for more malaria free safaris for families.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and book or buy something, we may earn a small commission but this is at no extra cost to you.
If you have never taken an African safari with kids before, we recommend using a specialist tour operator.
Go2Africa is the multi award-winning and leading African luxury safari travel agent. They are based in South Africa and know Africa better than anyone.
See here for our review of Go2Africa to find out all about them and our experience using them.
Our favourite malaria free safaris in South Africa
In summary, our absolute favourite malaria free safari lodges in South Africa are these ones.
We have included more detail on each one below plus a few more safari lodges that we haven’t personally tried (yet).
What is malaria?
Malaria is an infectious disease carried by female mosquitos that affects humans and other animals. It can be transmitted by just one mosquito bite.
Symptoms usually begin ten to fifteen days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. They typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches.
The vast majority of tourists who get malaria have fast access to medicine, doctors, clean water and food, and make a complete recovery.
Despite this, every step should be taken to minimize the risk of getting malaria, especially when traveling with young kids.
Best tips to avoid mosquito bites
These are our tips for trying to minimize contact with mosquitos. Remember, even if you go on safari in a non-malaria area, there may still be mosquitos.
- We use mosquito repellent stickers as well as mosquito bracelets. They are easy to stick into your family’s travel first aid kit.
- Use mosquito repellent. If we’re in a non-malarial area, we like Avon Skin So Soft but if you’re in a malarial area, products with DEET are recommended (check age suitability).
- Wear long sleeved tops and trousers (cover as much skin as you can).
- Usually we would say avoid going out at dawn and dusk but these are prime wildlife spotting times!
You may also like to read – what to take on safari with kids.
The best advice we can give when taking an African safari with kids is to choose a malaria free area for your safari.
Thankfully, there are some incredible malaria free safaris in South Africa. For this reason, South Africa is one of the best places in the world to go on safari with kids.
Malaria Free Safari Destinations in South Africa
These malaria-free safari destinations are spread across ecologically diverse regions of South Africa. They include some the best national parks in the world where you will find world-class game viewing.
If you want to have an amazing safari experience seeing the big five without worrying about malaria medication, these are the best destinations in South Africa for malaria-free safaris:
The South African malaria-free safari areas are:
- Eastern Cape
- Northern Cape
- Waterberg (Limpopo)
- North West Province
Eastern Cape malaria free safaris in South Africa
All of the game reserves in the Eastern Cape are completely malaria-free. The Eastern Cape is one of our favourite places for malaria free safaris in South Africa because the safari lodges are easy to reach from Port Elizabeth.
A malaria-free safari experience in the Eastern Cape will give you the opportunity to drive along South Africa’s Garden Route – one of the most scenic road trips in the world.
Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant National Park is home to around 500 elephants in the 125,000-hectare reserve. They have the largest density of elephants per square kilometer in Africa.
They have the Big 5 animals here (lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard and elephant).
The park extends to the coast where South Africa’s second-largest African penguin colony can be seen, and sightings of whales, great white sharks, and southern right whales are common.
Accommodation in Addo Elephant Park: There are two luxury lodges in Addo – Gorah Elephant Camp. They accept children over 10 years old. Riverbend Lodge – children of all ages are welcome. There are also much more budget-friendly options found through SanParks.
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve covers 21,000 hectares of private wilderness area. The reserve includes 30 kilometers of the Great Fish River which means a diverse landscape and varied wildlife sightings.
The reserve is perfect for families as they offer child-focused wildlife activities such as making plaster casts of animal footprints and visits to animal orphanages. See here for family activities at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Kwandwe has the Big 5.
Accommodation at Kwandwe: Melton Manor and Uplands Homestead are exclusive-use lodges for families or small groups.
Kariega Game Reserve
Kariega is a family-owned private game reserve in Kenton-on-Sea incorporating 10,000 hectares and two large rivers – the Kariega and the Bushmans rivers.
There is excellent wildlife viewing, including the Big 5.
Kariega is one of our favourite family-friendly game reserves in South Africa offering the Kids on Safari center with some excellent activities for kids.
We have a special connection with Kariega Game Reserve with our ancestors having owned the land over two centuries ago so of course, it is one of our favourite places for malaria free safaris in South Africa!
Accommodation at Kariega Game Reserve: Family accommodation is available in the Main Lodge at Kariega Game Reserve.
You can read our Kariega Game Reserve review here.
Shamwari Game Reserve
Shamwari prides itself on being both friendly (the name means “my friend” in Shona), and child-friendly.
It is just a 2 hour drive from Port Elizabeth, making it an ideal end to a Garden Route itinerary.
Childminding services are available on request, along with a host of child-friendly safari activities including the conservation focused ‘Kids on Safari’ program. They also have the most amazing playground for kids.
Accommodation at Shamwari: Family accommodation at Shamwari is found in Riverdene Family Lodge.
Other malaria free safaris in South Africa in the Eastern Cape
Samara Private Game Reserve
Samara Private Game Reserve in the Great Karoo offers guests some of the most breath-taking landscapes in South Africa.
They are also home to a very successful cheetah regeneration program so you have a good chance of seeing cheetah there.
They also have the Big 5 and have a lovely range of activities for kids aged 3 – 12 at the Samara Cubs Programme.
Accommodation at Samara: Samara offers family accommodation in the Manor House but it must be booked exclusively.
Northern Cape malaria free safaris
South Africa’s Northern Cape is a hidden gem in South Africa in terms of safaris.
It offers huge skies, wide open spaces and stunning coastline with some of the largest national parks in Africa.
The Kalahari Desert makes up a large portion of the Northern Cape and is one of the most arid parts of South Africa.
You will, however, also find Namaqualand, one of the most beautiful wild flower regions in the world.
Time your visit right (mid-August to mid-September) and you will see these most spectacular wild flowers bloom.
Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve
Located in the Southern Kalahari desert close to the border with Botswana and covering 100,000 hectares, Tswalu Kalahari is the largest privately owned game reserve in South Africa.
Although this malaria free South African game reserve is huge, visitor numbers are kept to just 30 at any one time. All guests will have a private vehicle, guide and tracker.
Aside from the excellent game drives, activities include horse riding, habituated meerkat colony walks, sleep-outs under the stars, and black rhino walking safaris.
Children of all ages are welcome. Read more about children on safari at Tswalu here.
Accommodation at Tswalu Kalahari: Luxurious suites at The Motse. Larger families or groups can use Tarkuni, a homestead with 5 suites sleeping up to 10 people.
North West Province malaria free safaris
The North West Province is one of South Africa’s smallest provinces.
It is bordered to the north by Botswana and provides the ideal habitat for the Big 5. Two of the best game reserves in the region are Madikwe Game Reserve and Pilanesberg National Park.
Pilanesberg is not far from Johannesburg and the family-friendly Sun City so you could incorporate a stay there into your family-friendly South Africa itinerary. See our review of The Palace of the Lost City which overlooks Pilanesberg.
Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge
Within the Madikwe Game Reserve you will find Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge.
The main lodge doesn’t allow children under 10 but Little Madikwe Private Camp is just perfect for families.
It offers a private 2-bedroom villa (with option of adding another 2 suites for larger families). There is a private pool, private chef and private game viewing vehicle. The nearby watering hole can also be seen from your villa.
There is a Junior Ranger programme that gets the kids learning about the bush through hands on experiences.
Madikwe Hills offers one of the most luxury malaria-free safaris in South Africa and offers one of the best safaris in Africa.
Accommodation options: Little Madikwe Private Camp.
See also Jacis Lodges.
Ivory Tree Game Lodge
Ivory Tree Game Lodge in Pilanesberg offers a family room with a private plunge pool.
Kwa-Maritane Bush Lodge
Kwa-Maritane Bush Lodge is a three bedroom villa set in the Pilanesberg National Park and only 10 minutes from Sun City.
Nkala Safari Lodge
Nkala Safari Lodge is ideal for large families or a group of friends. It is a large holiday home with 6 bedrooms and can sleep up to 11 people.
The Waterberg Region, Limpopo Province
The Waterberg Region is a malaria-free district of Limpopo Province. There is abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery.
Marataba Safari Lodge
Marataba Safari Lodge is one of the Top 20 Resorts in South Africa according to Condé Nast readers.
It is a 21,000 hectare area of the Marakele National Park on the foothills of the Waterberg Mountains.
Children of all ages are welcome and there are children’s activities at the Mack & Madi Kids’ Adventure experience as well as a fun clubhouse. You can even have a sleepout at the Thabametsi Treehouse!
Kids aged 3 – 5 can participate in bush rambles and kids aged 6+ can join adults on game drives.
Accommodation options: is in the form of safari glamping tents. There are 15 tents at the Safari Lodge, 4 of which are suitable for families.
The Ant Collection
The reserve is a real haven for animals (over 40 species) and people looking for a wonderful, malaria-free safari in South Africa.
As well as game drives, there’s horse riding, elephant safaris and activities for kids.
Accommodation options: The Ant’s Nest and The Family Cottate at Ant’s Hill can sleep up to 6.
Jembisa Bush Home
Jembisa is a stylish bush home in its own private wildlife reserve in Melk River. The award-winning lodge offers a unique safari experience in the beautiful Palala River wilderness.
There is a lot of wildlife to view here but they do not offer the Big 5 experience.
Accommodation options: Jembissa Bush Home has a colonial safari atmosphere with family rooms or a separate villa sleeping 10.
Leobo Private Reserve
Leobo Private Reserve is an exclusive use, multi award-winning lodge surrounded by rugged mountains, bushveld savannah, rivers, gorges, and an abundance of wildlife.
As well as fantastic wildlife viewing, there’s also a wide array of activities for all ages including paintballing, quad bikes, shooting, fishing, and more.
Was voted best family safari experience in South Africa in 2017 and is one of the most stunning malaria free game reserves in South Africa.
Accommodation options: The lodge has luxury 9 chalets with views over the Palala valley – and a stunning swimming pool built into the side of the mountain.
Do you have any malaria free safaris in South Africa that you would like to add? Let us know!
