Malaria-Free Safari Destinations
Finding a malaria-free safari area
Africa's malaria-free safari destinations
For those who want to enjoy a safari, but who don't want to take malaria tablets, the only country really to offer a fully malaria-free safari experience is South Africa.
The other countries all have a risk of malaria, albeit small for example in the case of the Kenyan Highlands, but the risk tends to increase during the rainy seasons.
Having said that, not every safari destination in South Africa is malaria-free – the only malaria-free safari areas are the Eastern Cape, the North West Province (including the Pilanesberg National Park and the Madikwe Game Reserve), and the Waterberg.
South Africa's eastern cape
The safari lodges of the Eastern Cape are ideal for people who wish to combine the ever-popular Cape Town and Garden Route with an unforgettable wildlife experience.
They all offer a fully inclusive malaria-free African safari including accommodation, all meals, two game drives per day in 4x4 vehicles, and an optional guided bush walk each day. These lodges also offer guided half-day drives for visitors staying overnight in Port Elizabeth if budget is an issue.
Also in the Eastern Cape is the malaria-free Addo Elephant National Park, which is one of the most scenic National Parks in South Africa. The rolling green hills are covered in thick, lush vegetation, most of it evergreen, so it is attractive at whatever time of year you visit.
Today, it is home to over 450 elephants, who roam freely among the 125,000 hectare reserve alongside the rare black rhino, zebra, kudu and red hartebeest, as well as over 400 bird species - and not forgetting the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. Addo has the greatest density of elephant per square kilometre in Africa, and offers some wonderful elephant viewing opportunities.
madikwe
The malaria-free Madikwe Private Game Reserve is one of the largest game reserves in South Africa, and is home to the Big 5, cheetah and a thriving population of endangered wild dog, as well as gemsbok, springbok, zebra and giraffe, and over 340 species of birds.
pilanesberg
The Pilanesberg National Park is an attractive 50,000 hectare malaria-free Park which is centred around an extinct volcano crater. Today, the Park is home to over 7,000 animals including the Big 5, giraffe, hippo, zebra, jackal, hyena and many antelope, and there are also over 350 bird species.
south africa's waterberg
Also near Johannesburg, about a 3 hour drive away, are the lodges and reserves of the Waterberg.
The Waterberg has been described as South Africa’s best keep secret, and its rugged beauty, together with its diversity in plant and animal life, makes this a very popular safari destination.
Several of the lodges can be taken on an exclusive basis, which is ideal for families or groups of friends travelling together, and who want to enjoy complete personal service and total flexibility. Other lodges offer horse-back safaris - by far the most exhilarating and intimate way of viewing game in their natural habitat.
Special Offers
Selected Special offers for Madikwe Game Reserve
Special Offers
Selected Special offers for Eastern Cape
