Located in South Africa, Sabi Sand

Wildlife Species at MalaMala Game Reserve

As the only organisation with a focus on covering the entire African sub-Saharan continent with its travel routes and partner destinations, Open Africa is committed to using its website to improve awareness (and thereby promote conservation) by mapping the incidence of conserved African wildlife across the continent. The following flagship species occur at MalaMala Game Reserve.

Predators	Antelope	Large Game	Smaller Game
Lion	Blue Wildebeest	Elephant	Vervet Monkey
Leopard	Common Duiker	Burchell’s Zebra	Chacma Baboon
Cheetah	Tsessebe	Hippo	Porcupine
Caracal	Klipspringer	Giraffe	Scrub Hare
African Wildcat	Steenbok	Giraffe	Thick-tailed Bushbaby
Serval	Impala	Burchells Zebra	Lesser Bushbaby
Wild Dog	Sable Antelope	White Rhino	Pangolin
Side Striped Jackal	Cape Buffalo	Black Rhino	Cape Clawless Otter
Black Backed Jackal	Kudu	Warthog	Honey Badger
Spotted Hyena	Nyala	Bushpig	Aardvark
	Bushbuck		Tree squirrel
	Reedbuck		African Civet
	Waterbuck		Small Spotted Genet
			Large Spotted Genet
			Slender Mongoose
			Meller’s Mongoose
			White Tailed Mongoose
			Water Mongoose
			Banded Mongoose
			Dwarf Mongoose
			Greater Canerat

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Wildlife Conservation & Social Upliftment at MalaMala

In 1922 800 cattle arrived at MalaMala Farm. Within 6 years, 500 lion had been shot in defense of the livestock. This unbridled hunting was not limited to MalaMala, but was a practice spread throughout Africa. In 1926 the National Parks Act was passed, bringing about the creation of the Kruger National Park – the embodiment of a new impetus behind wildlife conservation and the idea that this land was to be preserved and treated as a precious national treasure. Land to the west became open to private ownership and seeing the value in the bountiful ecosystems, investors began to buy up property for hunting and leisure.

In the 1920s and 30s William Campbell and Loring Rattray began buying up the properties which today make up MalaMala Game Reserve. The first camp was set up on the western side of the Sand River in 1930, where it was used as a hunting base in the winter. In the 60s the land was bought by MalaMala Ranch Ltd, the shares to which belonged to Rattray’s son, Michael. The camera has since replaced the gun, and MalaMala Game Reserve has become a leader in eco-friendly and sustainable environmental development.

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Conservation of African Wildlife

Lion

Lions are the largest of social carnivores, and the largest male ever recorded in the Kruger Park Region weighed in at approximately 240kg. Prides are generally made up of anywhere between 2 and 30 females, and a successful male will have about 3 prides within his territory. While the adult males have their own territories and do their own hunting, they are often seen taking advantage of kills made by the female prides. Adult males also often form coalitions – sharing territory and hunting together. As males become older and weaker, they may be seen permanently living with a female pride. At MalaMala there are numerous female prides and male coalitions, making for reliable sightings and exciting territorial dramas especially since the survival of cubs depends on the ability to defend territories.  

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Leopard

The leopard is a solitary creature and easily the most successful of all large cats owing mostly to their elusive nature; wide dietary range; and ability to survive near farms and other areas near human development.  In the Kruger region male leopards average 60 kilograms, and females 35 kilograms. Prey ranges from mice and hare to large antelope – the largest prey recorded at MalaMala being adult Kudu. The incidence of leopard in relation to area at MalaMala is large due to high prey abundance in the region. This high density means that guests are more than likely to view leopard during the course of their stay. Additionally, and contrary to popular perception, leopards are not strictly nocturnal and are generally active throughout the day. In the MalaMala region successful males tend to occupy territories along the Sand River. Although leopards are usually shy creatures, MalaMala has been blessed to have some uncharacteristic leopards in the area, displaying feisty hunting tactics and unusual confidence, thus making for some of the best leopard viewing on the continent.

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Buffalo

The continent was once populated by great numbers of buffalo, however due to hunting and various bovine illnesses, the numbers have been reduced and populations now occur mostly in the eastern half of southern Africa. Despite decline in numbers, the species is not endangered and MalaMala is blessed to have an abundant population.  These grazers usually occur in large herds, which are dominated by the mating bull or bulls. Bachelor groups also occur, as well as the occasional lone ranger. The largest herd recorded at MalaMala was approximately 400 members.  Buffalo have a large dependence on water and are usually found wallowing in the water or grazing close by. During the dry winter months, large herds navigate toward the Sand River on MalaMala where they are able to satiate their water dependence. In the wet summer months, the herds disperse, and smaller herds will be seen in the area. At a maximum of 870kg, these large creatures are sometimes said to be the most dangerous of the Big 5, but in reality they are a restive species, and tend to steer clear of humans where they can. However in hunting situations, or where caught by surprise, these creatures can strike a fatal blow. Many a lion has come out second best, and are best given a wide berth.

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White Rhino

Rhino has long since been a victim of relentless poaching, and the White Rhino has come dangerously close to extinction. Their magnificent horns, for which they are poached, are used as dagger handles, medicine and aphrodisiacs. However, the properties of the horn are similar to that of hair – having no significant or real medicinal properties. Despite ongoing poaching, the number of White Rhino is slowly on the rise thanks to various conservation efforts and vigilant protection of this species in the last few decades. MalaMala is lucky to have frequent viewings of this archaic creature, which are most often spotted in the early morning on the western banks of the Sand River. Unlike Black Rhino (browsing herbivores with a triangular upper lip used for grabbing foliage) White Rhinos are grazing herbivores and as such are square-lipped.  Herds are not large and ranges between 2 and 5, with a dominant male protecting calves and cows from other bulls. Rhinos can weigh up to 3000kg, and can live to around 45 years.

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Elephant

Elephants are the largest of all land mammals, with males reaching an average of 6000kg standing at about 4m (13ft), and females weighing an average of 3000kg and standing at around 3,4m (11ft). Adults can consume up to 300kg of food per day and 200 litresof water, and calves are born at a whopping 120kg. Other than sheer size, the elephant are a unique and fascinating species. Magnificent tusks are used as weapons, as well as for accessing food. Large ears serve as a means of communication, but also as a cooling device. The trunk, an intricate appendage crucial to survival, is used to locate food using smell and touch (an elephant cannot see down its own trunk), and then to skillfully grab and seize foliage and fruit. It is also used to drink – holding up to 15 litresof water at a time. The elephant trunk is equipped with approximately 55 000 muscles. Elephant herds are organized into a matriarch, with an older cow leading up to 16 other cows and calves. Bulls usually roam alone; they usually orbit around a herd coming into contact with the herd as well as other bulls every now and then. The elephant lifespan is governed by 6 sets of molar teeth. When one set is ground down (approximately every 10 years) they are replaced by another set. When all 6 sets are ground down, the elephant starves to death.

Since the fence between Kruger and MalaMala was taken down in 1993 the incidence of elephant on MalaMala has increased considerably and there can be up to 500 elephant on the reserve at any one time. This is not to say that before 1993, there were no frequent visitors. On the contrary, in the 80s and 90s there was one male visitor who often raided the camps. After one incident involving a destroyed Strangler Fig Tree and a broken reed wall, the camp manager had a gateway built where the wall had been broken, which the rogue bull then proceeded to use when entering and exiting the camp. In the hot summer months, elephant can be seen swimming in the deep Sand River, and feasting on fallen Marula fruit. When the area becomes colder and drier, the Sand River becomes an essential source of water and elephants often congregate on its banks. In the cooler months, elephants are also able to roam across wider expanses of land since they do not need water to cool them down.

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Wild Dog

Wild Dogs are an endangered species, owing to a number of reasons. Instead of stealth, their hunting method consists of a long open chase in which the Wild Dogs co-ordinate themselves using a chirping noise. This open method of hunting combined with the fact that they require vast tracts of land for their territory means that these animals can only exist in very large areas. Incompatibility with human development also means that they can only exist in protected areas. Competition with other large predators is rife, with lion as the greatest cause of Wild Dog mortality. There is also a high pup mortality rate. Various packs have made their dens at MalaMala, but the population is somewhat unstable – their incidence and numbers rising and falling over the years. However, MalaMala is blessed to still see this unique species making a couple of appearances a month, as well as to witness some exciting kills made by the hunting packs.

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Cheetah

Cheetahs vary in many ways from other large cats, and are actually the only species belonging to the Acinonyx genus, whereas tiger, lion, leopard and jaguar together make up the Panthera genus. Members of the latter group have protractile claws and are capable of growling and roaring. Cheetahs do not have these characteristics; however they are the fastest land animals reaching astonishing speeds of up to 110km/h (70mph).  Combining their incredible speed with stealth, Cheetahs hunt during the day – unlike most other cat species which hunt primarily at night. Generally these predatory cats have large territories but their presence therein is highly irregular. Female cheetahs are solitary, while males often tend to form groups with other males, usually from the same litter. Fully grown cheetahs can weigh up to 65 kg.

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Eco-tourism and Sustainable Development

In 1962 MalaMala adopted eco-tourism as a method of sustainable income, and as an alternative to hunting. By recording and using accurate game statistics and reports, MalaMala practices a scientific method of eco-management and it is under this model that Michael Rattray, Managing Director of MalaMala, has won numerous conservation awards. All human development is limited to one small section on the Reserve, so that wildlife can roam uninterrupted in their natural habitat. No water is pumped up from underground, and animals rely on natural supplies of water from the Sand River, or pans and waterholes which fill up during the rainy months.

The impacts of roads and game drive vehicles are also closely monitored and managed. There is a low density of Land Rovers on the property, which is good for the environment and also makes for good game viewing. Roads on MalaMala avoid ecologically sensitive areas including seep lines, and are developed so that there is minimal soil degradation.  Seep lines are areas in which short grass grows, and are naturally maintained by fires, elephant feeding, and large herbivore migration. With hunting, elephant poaching, and mismanagement of veld fires, 20^thcentury cattle farmers destroyed the natural maintenance of these savannah areas. Short grass being crucial to the survival of grazing herbivores, seep lines must now be closely managed and maintained. The indigenous vegetation is also carefully maintained through controlled veld fires and vigilant removal of exotic plants.

Rattrays on MalaMala is the proud owner of an organic and eco-friendly sewerage filtration system whereby sewerage and grey water is filtered through an underground sand bed and used to irrigate the gardens. Rattray on MalaMala also sports a beautiful ‘indigenous-only’ garden which not only showcases the areas magnificent and unique flora, but also uses less water making it far more sustainable.

Guests will be happy to know that there is a management plan for the control of mosquitos, and furthermore that the system uses an organic product called Pybuthrine. Geysers are also adjusted in the suites and chalets, according to the season. Guests are encouraged to participate in the ongoing ‘Switch off’ campaign running at MalaMala to ensure wise use of electricity.

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Social Upliftment Projects by The MalaMala Group

At the heart of the MalaMala group is the goal toward ecologically sustainable tourism and social development. MalaMala Game Reserve cannot function without the help and support of a strong community. Being in a position to help create such a community, MalaMala has instituted various initiatives and strategies to strengthen the symbiotic relationship it shares with local communities. A strict policy of employing South African citizens was the first and obvious step toward ecologically sustainable development. So to, is the policy of sourcing services from local communities and encouraging the local service industry to grow and development in various areas such as construction and environmental management. Another means of empowerment has been training and placement of local individuals into managerial positions at the reserve. The MalaMala Group also supports the Pfunenani Trust – an initiative providing development schemes to communities situated on the fringe of wildlife areas. Lastly, MalaMala has taken arms in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and supports both private and governmental initiatives in the provision of ARVs and vitamin replacement therapy.