One of the first questions North American hunters ask when they start planning a South African safari is whether they will need malaria prophylactics. The answer depends on where you hunt. Marula Game sits in the Waterberg / Limpopo Valley region of Limpopo Province, on the Matlabas River, and this corner of the country is malaria-free. That means no tablets, no worrying about mosquitoes after dark, and no reason to leave your family at home.
What malaria-free actually means
Malaria-free means the local Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria do not occur here in the numbers and conditions needed to sustain transmission. The Waterberg plateau and the Limpopo Valley to its north sit at altitudes and in a climate that falls outside South Africa's malaria-risk zone. For guests, the practical result is simple: you do not need to take anti-malaria medication before, during or after your safari. You can still use insect repellent and long sleeves at dusk — we all do — but you do not have to plan your trip around a course of prophylactics.
Waterberg vs Kruger Lowveld
The Kruger National Park and the surrounding Lowveld are famous for wildlife, but they are also a higher-risk malaria area, particularly during the warm, wet summer months from November to April. The Waterberg and Limpopo Valley, where Marula is located, are north and west of that belt and are classified malaria-free. The hunting is every bit as genuine: classic Bushveld, large private reserves, free-range plains game, buffalo, sable and roan. But you gain the reassurance that families and non-hunting spouses can relax without the extra layer of medical preparation.
Why families and non-hunting spouses come
A safari is not only about the hunter. At Marula, our camps are exclusive-use, which means the whole lodge is yours for the week. Spouses, children and friends are genuinely looked after, with game drives, bush walks, sundowners, stargazing and the pool. The malaria-free status removes one of the main concerns that keeps families from joining a hunt, especially when young children or older parents are travelling. It is a genuine advantage of the Waterberg over destinations further north and east.
Read more about our exclusive-use safari experience and the accommodation options available to your party.
Safety and door-to-door service
From the moment you land at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, you are in our hands. We meet you at the arrivals hall, assist with firearms paperwork if you have brought a rifle, and drive you the roughly four hours to Marula in our own vehicles. The same service returns you to the airport at the end of your safari. There are no charters required, no third-party transfers to coordinate, and no need to find your own way through the airport firearms office. We call it door-to-door service because that is exactly what it is.
The reserve itself is safe and secure. The lodges are private, the camp is exclusive-use, and the area around Marula is stable, rural South Africa with a long hunting and conservation history. You are not in a frontier zone; you are on a family-owned, well-managed property that has hosted international hunters for nearly three decades.
The best season for malaria-free hunting
The South African hunting season runs from April to September, and the winter months of May through August are the cool, dry core of the season. The bush is thin, waterholes concentrate game, and the days are comfortable for walking. Because Marula is malaria-free, you do not have to time your visit around malaria risk; you can simply choose the dates that suit your hunt and your family. This predictability is one of the reasons the Waterberg is such a practical choice for a first African safari.
Plains game, buffalo, sable and roan
The Waterberg / Limpopo Valley is not only safe and family-friendly; it is also productive hunting country. Marula's 24,700 acres hold strong populations of plains game, including kudu, gemsbok, waterbuck, nyala, zebra, wildebeest and impala. We also run our own Cape buffalo herd, our own sable breeding programme and a closely managed roan quota. The result is a malaria-free destination that still offers the full range of trophies most hunters want from South Africa.
Plan a malaria-free safari
Ask us about dates, species and how the door-to-door service works. We will send you the full itinerary and the travel checklist so you know exactly what to expect from Johannesburg to the lodge.
Malaria-free hunting FAQs
Is Marula Game malaria-free?
Yes. Marula Game lies in the Waterberg / Limpopo Valley region of Limpopo Province, which is malaria-free. No prophylactics are required, and there is no need for guests to take anti-malaria tablets before or during the safari.
Do I need malaria prophylactics for hunting at Marula?
No. Because Marula is in a malaria-free area of South Africa, hunters, families and non-hunting observers do not need to take malaria prophylactics. This is one of the reasons the Waterberg / Limpopo Valley is a popular choice for family safaris and first-time visitors to Africa.
How does the Waterberg compare to the Kruger Lowveld for malaria risk?
The Kruger Lowveld and much of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier area are higher-risk malaria zones, especially in the warm, wet summer months. The Waterberg / Limpopo Valley, where Marula sits, is north and west of that belt and is classified malaria-free. For families, older guests and anyone who prefers not to take prophylactics, this is a meaningful difference.
Can I bring my family or non-hunting spouse to Marula?
Yes. The malaria-free status makes Marula an excellent choice for family safaris. Non-hunting spouses, children and friends can enjoy the lodge, game drives, bush walks, sundowners and the pool without the concern of malaria prophylactics. Our camps are exclusive-use, so your family has the lodge to itself. See our exclusive-use safari and accommodation pages for more.
What does door-to-door service mean at Marula?
Marula provides a door-to-door service from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to the reserve and back again. We meet you at the arrivals hall, assist with firearms paperwork if you are travelling with a rifle, and drive you the roughly four hours to the lodge in our own vehicles. You are looked after from the moment you land until you are dropped back at the airport for departure.
Is the Waterberg a good place to hunt?
Yes. The Waterberg / Limpopo Valley offers classic Bushveld habitat, excellent populations of plains game, and quality Cape buffalo, sable and roan hunting on well-managed private reserves. The combination of genuine free-range hunting, malaria-free status, and family-friendly lodges makes it one of the most practical safari destinations in South Africa for North American hunters.
Where to stay
Browse our luxury lodges and accommodation and see why an exclusive-use camp in the malaria-free Waterberg works so well for families and hunters alike.