Malaria-Free · Family-Friendly · Owner-Hosted
Malaria-Free Family Hunting Safari
Bringing your spouse or your children on your first African hunt should not feel like a compromise. At Marula Game we host malaria-free family hunting safaris on 24,700 acres of private Bushveld in Limpopo — you hunt with a licensed PH while your family enjoys their own genuine safari from camp. Family-run since 1997, owner-hosted, and one group per farm so you are never sharing camp, vehicles or ground with strangers.
Certified malaria-free — safe for kids and pregnant guests
The entire Marula reserve sits inside a certified malaria-free zone of the Limpopo Waterberg / Steenbokpan region. That means no prophylactics, no daily pills with side-effects for you or the children, and none of the risk that keeps many families away from Kruger, Mpumalanga or the Zambezi. It is one of the few authentic Big-Game Bushveld properties in South Africa that is genuinely safe for young children, pregnant guests and older grandparents — a real advantage for a first-timer travelling with family.
Your own private farm and camp — the family stays together
Every Marula safari is sole-occupancy. Your party has its own farm and its own camp — no other hunters on your ground, no other guests at the pool, no strangers at the boma at night. Children can run around the lawn, swim, and be a bit loud without spoiling anyone else's hunt. Non-hunting partners can sleep in without a stranger's schedule to work around. The whole group eats together, sits around the same fire, and shares the day's stories — the way a family safari should feel.
What non-hunters do while you hunt
A Marula safari is a real safari for non-hunters too, not just a waiting room. While you are out with the PH, spouses and children can:
- ✓ Join morning and evening game drives to see general game — giraffe, zebra, kudu, wildebeest, warthog, waterbuck and more
- ✓ Take guided bush walks with an experienced tracker
- ✓ Go birding — over 250 species recorded on the reserve
- ✓ Swim in the lodge pool and relax on the deck
- ✓ Stargaze from the boma at night under a genuine dark sky
- ✓ Visit the on-farm skinning shed and taxidermy prep with the PH
For guests who would rather build a longer non-hunting programme around the safari, see our eco-tourism and photographic safari options.
Owner-hosted, family-run since 1997
Marula is not an outfitter's booking desk — it is a family farm. Chris and Hester Burger have hosted hunters on this ground since 1997, and three generations of the family live and work on the reserve. When you arrive with your family, you are met by ours. That single fact changes the tone of the trip: meals in the boma are shared, kids are welcome in the kitchen, and the safari is run at a family pace rather than a rota.
Private charter helicopter fly-in — skip the long transfer with kids
The road transfer from OR Tambo (Johannesburg) is a comfortable 3.5 hours, but a long day with small children after an international flight. Families almost always prefer the private charter helicopter fly-in — a 60-minute scenic flight direct from Johannesburg to our own airstrip, landing at camp in time for lunch. It removes the last hard leg of the journey and turns arrival into part of the adventure. Ask us for a helicopter quote when you enquire.
Comfortable family accommodation
Our lodges sleep families comfortably in en-suite rooms — Marula Lodge and Leadwood are best for families with children, with pools, lawns and space to spread out. Haakdoring and Tents on Antwerp are better for smaller parties or adult-only groups. Every lodge is sole-occupancy, so your party has the whole camp.
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Family hunting safari FAQs
Is Marula Game really malaria-free?
Yes. The entire 24,700-acre Marula reserve sits inside a certified malaria-free zone of the Limpopo Waterberg / Steenbokpan region. No anti-malarial prophylactics are required for you, your partner or your children — a rare and genuine advantage over Big Five destinations in Mpumalanga, Kruger or the Zambezi valley. It makes Marula one of the few authentic Bushveld hunting properties that is genuinely safe for young children and pregnant guests.
Can I bring my children on a hunting safari?
Yes — children of all ages are welcome. Because the whole family stays in your own private camp with no other guests, kids are free to run, swim and explore without disturbing another party's hunt. We routinely host multi-generational family groups; the owner's own children and grandchildren grew up on this ground. Younger children usually stay at camp with a parent or with the lodge team while the hunt is out; older children can join stalks or sit on the vehicle at the PH's discretion.
What do non-hunters do while I hunt?
Plenty. Non-hunting partners and children can join morning and evening game drives to see general game (giraffe, zebra, kudu, wildebeest, warthog, waterbuck and more), take guided bush walks with a tracker, go birding (over 250 species on the reserve), swim in the lodge pool, read on the deck, stargaze from the boma at night, or simply relax around the fire. It's a genuine safari experience for them too — not just waiting at camp.
How do we get there with kids?
The reserve is a 3.5-hour road transfer from OR Tambo (Johannesburg) — comfortable in an air-conditioned vehicle, but a long day with small children. For families we strongly recommend the private charter helicopter fly-in from Johannesburg direct to our airstrip, which turns the transfer into a scenic 60-minute flight and puts you at camp in time for lunch. Ask us for a quote when you book.
Ready to plan the hunt? Most first-time family hunters start with a 7-day plains-game safari, and add a Cape buffalo bull if dangerous game is on the wishlist.