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First-hand Stay
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Best air links are to Hoedspruit (HDS) airport followed by a (~45 min) drive to the lodge or fly to Kruger Mpumalanga/MQP, followed by a (~2–2.5 hrs) drive to the lodge; many guests also fly Federal Air direct to Royal Malewane (Jackalberry) Airstrip, then ~10–15 min game-viewer transfer to the lodge; self-drive from Johannesburg is ~5–6 hrs.
Guests often request Luxury Suites facing the main waterhole for near-constant wildlife traffic from deck level, while couples celebrating go for a Royal Suite for the space, private services and best-in-class privacy; multi-gen groups tend to choose Africa House for its six bedrooms and exclusive vehicle.
Seasonal, personalised menus served in cinematic settings – on the deck, in the boma or out on the plains; Head Chef Archie leads a fine-dining kitchen that riffs on classic European technique with South African produce, with guest-loved plates like his truffle mushroom, pea and parmesan risotto, and a deep cellar curated by the sommelier team.
Neutral layers for chilly dawns and warm middays, wide-brim hat and polarized sunglasses, soft duffel for light-aircraft flights, beanbag or monopod for long lenses, swimsuit for your private plunge pool and the spa’s heated lap pool.
Pre-book a private vehicle for photographic flexibility, ask Chef Archie for his truffle mushroom, pea and parmesan risotto at a lantern-lit bush dinner, and schedule a midday treatment at the Waters of Royal Malewane Bush Spa when wildlife siestas and the spa are at their quietest; keen conservationists can also arrange a visit to the on-site Conservation & Research Centre
Your stay supports the Royal Portfolio Foundation’s projects around education and community upliftment, while the Royal Malewane Conservation & Research Centre engages guests with active monitoring and protection work across the Greater Kruger ecosystem.
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