Things to do in South Africa

Stay at aha Makalali to see wildlife from all angles

I’ve had guests lying by the pool while a leopard walked just 15 metres away from them…

By Hanlie Lombard

General Manager at aha Makalali

We’re about 65-kilometres from the Kruger’s nearest entrance point but Makalali Private Game Reserve is 26,000 hectares so we do all our game drives on the property itself.

One of our main advantages is that we’re allowed to off-road so you really experience the game up close. Five of our rangers started their careers as trackers and are now highly qualified. Some of our staff members have been working for Makalali private game lodge for over 20 years.

We’ve got all the Big Five here, wild dogs and we recently introduced two new male cheetahs to the reserve. I’ve had some guests saying that in all their years of going to the Kruger, they’d never been so close to a herd of buffalo or a herd of elephant. I’ve had guests lying by the pool while a leopard walked just 15 metres away from them. We can tell there’s a predator nearby because of certain noises the monkeys and baboons make. Around the camp, we also see hyenas, elephants, buffalo, giraffes and antelope. As I sit here I can see the nyalas outside.

Because the reserve is so large, every sundowner spot is different and we also do special gin stops and romantic champagne picnics. It’s always beautiful to see the sun set over the Drakensberg mountains. One flat area we go to, we frequently encounter jackal. I’ve been on safari with guests and a rhino has just appeared from the bush. We’ve also got a large natural dam where there’s a lot of hippos, which makes it a great spot to visit.

We often do evenings in the boma where we introduce more traditional dishes like pap and corn on the cob that we roast on the fire as well as various meat dishes. It’s an open area but beautiful with clear skies, great for stargazing.

Available in these itineraries…

Itinerary

Cape Town, Safari and Mozambique Beach
by Adele Jones

Length13 Days

Price range£5,095 - £5,375pp

Alfred & Hanlie Lombard

Hanlie grew up on a farm in KwaZulu-Natal where she became extremely fond of nature. As partner in a construction company for 19 years developing rural areas, she decided to switch to the hospitality industry due to her love of travel and exploring Africa. Hanlie has been part of the aha Makalali team for 11 years with absolutely no regrets. She feels privileged to work in the bush.

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Laura, who's travelled extensively in South Africa. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - ex banker who can show you the hottest foodie spots in Cape Town, the award-winning young sommelier who can introduce you to Stellenbosch's finest wines and the walking safari ranger who can guide you to the best game.

Laura Preston

Travel Expert for Alfred&

Having travelled extensively through Africa, Laura has a wealth of experience. She is passionate about Tanzania’s diversity from the quiet wilds of Ruaha that feel completely private to the silvery sands of Zanzibar and Stone Town’s spice-laced streets. In South Africa, she sought out the best views over Table Mountain, cocktail in hand, as well as the lesser-visited Kruger conservancies for more exclusive safaris. But her favourite place in the world has to be the Serengeti for its wide-open plains and incredible game that epitomise that feeling of Africa.
Wayne Howarth

Head Safari Guide at Kariega Game Reserve

Wayne loves being outdoors and has spent most of his life between the family farm and working on Private Game Reserves in the Eastern Cape. He has been guiding at Kariega for 12 years. His qualifications include Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) Level 2, Advance Rifle Handling, Skippers Licence Category R and first aid. One of his career highlights was becoming a finalist in the 2021 Safari Guide of the Year competition.
Rupesh Kassen

Founder and guide of Eat Like A Local

Rupesh Kassen abandoned his decade-long career in banking to move to East Africa, where he trained and worked as a chef. He later became immersed in South Africa’s food scene and worked as a food critic before setting up Eat Like A Local in Cape Town. Rupesh now offers guided food tours to showcase the city and its diverse culture and history through food.
Fundi Ziqubu

Sommelier

Fundi was born in Durban and fell in love with wine when it was introduced to her by a few Capetonian friends. On discovering her passion she got the chance to study wine with the department of tourism in collaboration with the Sommeliers Academy. Being appointed sommelier at Lanzerac was a career highlight and in 2019 Fundi was named most up-and-coming wine steward by the Distell Inter-Hotel challenge.
Ntobeko Ntshingila

Duty Manager at Three Tree Hill Lodge

Ntobeko has been part of the Three Trees family for 13 years and describes it as a lovely journey with lots of room for growth and experience. She has her own family, including a daughter of 18, and a son, aged three. She lives in a nearby village with her parents, four siblings and three nephews. When not spending time with her family she manages her broiler chicken business, which brings her extra income.
Cheryl Blackburn

Owner and guide, Three Tree Hill Lodge

Being born in the Kruger National Park instilled in Cheryl a love of nature and wildlife. Having lived and worked as a guide in the Kruger reserve, and also in Botswana, she eventually got the opportunity to run her own lodge, with her growing family, in the lush KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg region. She still finds time to guide guests on foot, tracking white rhino in the neighbouring Spioenkop Game Reserve.