malaria free safari in africa

The 20 Best Malaria-Free Safari Destinations

Find the ultimate malaria free safari.

Malaria-free safaris are increasing in popularity as young families, pregnant ladies, and others unable or unwilling to take anti-malarial medication still want to experience an African safari.

Whatever the reason for wanting to avoid taking anti-malarial precautions or medications, the good news is that there are many excellent malaria-free safari destinations open to you. These malaria-free safari destinations are spread across ecologically diverse regions of South Africa and Namibia, with some of the best national parks in the world and world-class game viewing.

So, if you want to have a true safari experience and see the big five without worrying about malaria medication or precautions, here’s our list of the very best destinations for malaria-free safaris:

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About malaria

South Africa malaria-free safaris

• Eastern Cape malaria-free safaris
• Northern Cape malaria-free safaris
• Waterberg (Limpopo) malaria free safaris
• North West Province malaria-free safaris

Namibia malaria-free safaris

Map of all malaria-free safari destinations

Book a malaria-free safari

What is malaria?

Malaria is an infectious disease carried by female mosquitos that affects humans and other animals, and can be transmitted by just one mosquito bite. Symptoms usually begin ten to fifteen days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, and typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. ( Read one travellers’ experience of getting malaria in Uganda .)

I n severe cases, malaria can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma, or death, though the high mortality figures of malaria are primarily a reflection of the poor health care in many parts of Africa. The vast majority of tourists who get malaria have fast access to medicine, doctors, clean water and food, and make a complete recovery.

Malaria Free Safari Destinations in South Africa

Malaria is present in many parts of South Africa, and some of the best national parks and game reserves in South Africa – such as the Kruger National Park and others in the north-eastern regions of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal – are not in the malaria-free zone.

However, many award-winning game reserves in South Africa have been established in other regions over the years, relocating large numbers of animals with healthy populations of the big five, wild dog and cheetah, resulting in some phenomenal game-viewing.

South Africa’s Eastern Cape

A safari in the Eastern Cape offers the ideal opportunity to combine a drive along South Africa’s world-famous Garden Route with a malaria-free safari experience at one of the many high-quality private reserves.

All game reserves in the Eastern Cape are completely malaria-free and tend to be fully inclusive. This means that meals, game drives , and other safari activities are included in the per night cost.

1. Addo Elephant Park, South Africa

A herd of elephants enjoying a sundowner at Addo Elephant Park, South Africa

One of South Africa’s most scenic national parks with rolling green hills and lush, evergreen forest make this a perfect year-round malaria-free safari destination. Addo Elephant Park is home to around 500 elephants roaming freely across the 125,000-hectare reserve; the greatest density of elephants per square kilometer in Africa.

Other wildlife includes the rest of the big five, zebra, kudu , red hartebeest, over 400 bird species, and the endemic, protected flightless dung beetle . The park extends to the coast where South Africa’s second-largest African penguin colony can be seen, and sightings of whales, great white sharks, and southern right whales are common.

Accommodation around Addo: There’s a good choice of accommodation in and around the park, from luxury lodges and forest cabins and chalets to pitched tents or camping spots. Find prices & book >>

2. Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa

A male lion strolls the bush of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Big 5 destination Kwandwe Private Game Reserve covers 54,000 acres of private wilderness area. The reserve includes 30 kilometers of the Great Fish River, meaning a diverse landscape and varied wildlife sightings.

The reserve has some great family-friendly safari options offering child-focused wildlife activities such as making plaster casts of animal footprints and visits to animal orphanages, to help make your South African family safari more meaningful.

Accommodation at Kwandwe: There are four properties in the reserve with 22 beds in total, meaning not too many other people or safari trucks around when you’re doing your game drives. Melton Manor and Uplands Homestead are exclusive-use lodges for families or small groups. Find prices & book >>

3. Samara Private Game Reserve, South Africa

A herd of Eland at Samara, South Africa, looking for danger

Set amongst wildlife-rich rivers, mountains, and open plains, luxury private game reserve Samara offers guests some of the most breath-taking landscapes in South Africa.

Home to a very successful cheetah regeneration program, the reserve gives a good chance of spotting these beautiful cats, alongside the big 5 and large herds of eland.

Accommodation at Samara: Samara offers two exclusive onsite lodges – the Karoo Lodge and Manor House. Find prices & book >>

4. Amakhala Game Reserve, South Africa

Giraffe-spotting on a game drive

The Amakhala Game Reserve is an 18,000-acre joint conservation effort where a former farming area has been rewilded. Wildlife likely to be encountered on game drives in the reserve includes the big five, as well as cheetah , giraffe , zebra, wildebeest, and plenty of antelope species.

Accommodation options: There are 10 owner-managed properties across the reserve, ranging from restored country homes to tented camps, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

An all-inclusive safari experience and a range of wildlife-focused activities are offered at each property. Find prices & book >>

5. Kariega Game Reserve, South Africa

Three luxury safari lodges at Kariega, South Africa

Kariega is a family-owned and run big five reserve incorporating 10,000 hectares of pristine African wilderness and two large rivers – the Kariega and the Bushmans rivers – giving access to the sea.

The reserve offers abundant game viewing, and in addition to the big 5, game to spot at Kariega includes hippo, hyena, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, eland, kudu, waterbuck and a variety of other antelope, as well as a myriad of bird species.

Kariega is a particularly family-friendly game lodge offering a daily children’s programme at the Kids on Safari center.

Accommodation at Kariega Game Reserve: The reserve offers five safari lodges at a variety of price points, though all are at the high end, with quality and service to match. Find prices & book >>

6. Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa

One of Shamwari’s waterside lodges

Big five reserve Shamwari prides itself on being both friendly (the name means “my friend” in Shona), and child-friendly.

Childminding services are available on request, along with a host of kid-specific activities to keep them occupied – including the conservation focused ‘Kids on Safari’ program.

What’s particularly nice (and somewhat unusual) about Shamwari for young families is that children from four upwards are permitted on game drives. Just a 2 hour drive from Port Elizabeth, Shamwari is easily accessible.

Accommodation options: Shamwari has seven lodges and one explorer camp, each with a distinct vibe. From exclusive tranquillity, effortless family enjoyment, or the back-to-nature appeal of a luxury tented camp. Find prices & book >>

South Africa’s Northern Cape

South Africa’s Northern Cape offers tranquility and huge open spaces with some of the largest national parks in Africa. The legendary Kalahari Desert makes up a large portion of the Northern Cape, with the Gariep River winding to the Atlantic and providing a water source to the varied wildlife in the region.

7. Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve, South Africa

The pool area at Tswalu, South Africa

Tswalu Kalahari is the largest privately owned game reserve in South Africa – 100,000 hectares located in the Southern Kalahari, close to the Botswana border. Although the reserve is huge, visitor numbers are kept to just 30 at a time, with all guests enjoying a private guided experience to optimise their time there.

Aside from the excellent game drives, activities include horse riding, habituated meerkat colony walks, sleep-outs under the stars, and black rhino walking safaris. Children of all ages are welcome, and for families, Tswalu makes for a truly unique and memorable (malaria-free!) safari experience.

Accommodation options: Accommodation is luxurious with a choice of two lodges, the secluded Tarkuni (a private home with 5 suites), and The Motse (a spacious lodge with nine suites). Find prices & book >>

8. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Desert scenery at Kgalagadi National Park, South Africa

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of Southern Africa’s largest and is shared between both Botswana and South Africa.

Wildlife includes some of the largest lions and antelope in the world, plus leopard, cheetah, and both brown and spotted hyenas – along with plenty of meerkat colony activity! Self-drive safaris are very much on offer in this park, making for flexible and self-paced game drives.

Accommodation options: There are three rest camps in the park with a range of accommodation types to suit a variety of tastes and budgets including, chalets, family chalets, and campsites. Find prices & book >>

9. Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, South Africa and Namibia

A zebra family at Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park

Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park is a beautiful desert park on South Africa’s far northern border with Namibia. The landscape is barren at first glance, but on closer inspection, home to an abundance of wildlife adapted to the harsh terrain.

With some good luck over 50 species of mammals – including leopard, hyena, and zebras – lizards, tortoises, scorpions and 200 species of birds can be spotted!

Accommodation options: SANParks run a handful of basic rest camps across the park, some with cabins and others with campsites only. You’ll need to bring your own supplies and drinking water. Find prices & book >>

South Africa’s North West Province

One of South Africa’s smallest provinces, the North West Province is bordered by Botswana to the north and is made up of scattered trees and grassland, providing the ideal habitat for a big 5 South African safari.

10. Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

Views of the bush from a Madikwe balcony

Located on the Botswana border a 3.5-hour drive from Johannesburg, Madikwe is a wild and remote reserve that’s home to the big five, and is famous for its thriving population of wild dog, as well as gemsbok, springbok, zebra, giraffe and over 340 species of birds.

Accommodation options: The reserve has a large selection of camps and lodges, including the lovely Jaci’s Lodges, Mateya Safari Lodge, Madikwe Safari Lodge, and Little Madikwe Hills. Find prices & book >>

The Waterburg Region, Limpopo Province, South Africa

The Waterberg Region is a malaria-free district of Limpopo Province, in an area teeming with wildlife, spectacular scenery, and many private game reserves with excellent accommodation offering truly intimate safari experiences. Here’s our pick of the best:

11. The Ant Collection, South Africa

Horseback safari at the Ant Collection, South Africa

Two family-owned and operated lodges – Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill – located in their own spectacular private game reserve. The reserve is a real haven for animals (over 40 species) and people looking for a wonderful, malaria-free safari. As well as game drives, there’s horse riding, elephant safaris, and swimming available, amongst other activities.

Accommodation options: The Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill offer very family-friendly, luxurious accommodation that is intimate and homely. Find prices & book >>

1 2. Entabeni Safari Conservancy, South Africa

Three of Entabeni’s rhinos grazing in front of a signature rocky outcrop

Entabeni means ‘place of the mountain’, a private reserve spread over five ecosystems including wetlands, grass plains, craggy escarpments, and cliffs. Large animals such as elephants and rhinos are plentiful, along with leopards, cheetahs, and buffalo.

There’s a choice of activities other than game drives to keep you entertained, such as bush walks, sunset lake cruises, horse riding, and helicopter air safaris. Children are welcomed but must be six or over to join a game drive.

Accommodation options: Lodging includes Lakeside Lodge on the shores of Lake Entabeni and Wildside Safari Camp. Find prices & book >>

13. Jembisa Bush Home, South Africa

Forest views at Jembisa, South Africa

Multi-award winning Jembisa is a stylish bush home in its own private wildlife reserve, offering a unique safari experience in the beautiful Palala River wilderness. There’s a plethora of wildlife (though no elephant or lion from the big five, which can be viewed on an off-site excursion), and a wide range of wildlife and safari activities (mountain biking, river walks, and tracking classes) that are flexible to suit all ages and interests.

Accommodation options: Jembissa Bush Home has a colonial safari atmosphere with excellent staff and guides providing a flexible, family-friendly bush experience. Find prices & book >>

14. Leobo Private Reserve, South Africa

Bush views from open lounge area at the Leobo lodge

Leobo Private Reserve  is encompassed by rugged rocks, mountains, bushveld savannah, rivers, gorges, and an abundance of wildlife, and is one of only a handful of sole-use private reserves in Africa – allowing guests full access to the entire estate and all its facilities. Teeming with plains game, as well as hippo, there’s also a wide array of activities for all ages including paintballing, quad bikes, shooting, fishing, and more.

Accommodation options: The lodge has luxury 9 chalets with views over the Palala valley – and a stunning swimming pool built into the side of the mountain. It’s fully staffed and rented exclusively, so is perfect for families or groups of friends. Find prices & book >>

15. Mabalingwe Nature Reserve, South Africa

Main Mabalingwe lodge at sunset

The Mabalingwe biome , made up of 8,500 hectares of bushveld, provides wonderful game-viewing opportunities year-round. The reserve is very family-friendly, and the rolling grasslands make game-viewing a breeze. Home to the big five, and also hippo, giraffe, hyena, and sable, the reserve has a variety of family and child-friendly activities to go alongside their day and night game drives.

Accommodation options: There are many types of accommodation available including chalets, campsites, and bush lodges. Find prices & book >>

16. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa

Hot air ballooning over Pilanesberg National Park

A beautiful 50,000-hectare malaria-free national park just a few hours’ drive north-west from Johannesburg. Centered around an extinct volcano crater, its setting is unique and home to the big five along with plenty of other game. You can choose between a self-drive safari and DIY accommodation, or private lodge safari. Either way, the Pilanesberg National Park is a mesmerizing location to take advantage of hot air balloon safaris over the bush at dawn.

Accommodation options: Due to its location near Sun City, there’s a huge range of accommodation options in and around Pilanesberg to suit all tastes and budgets. Find prices & book >>

17. Welgevonden Game Reserve & Marakele National Park, South Africa

Drinks time at Welgevenden’s pool area

Adjoining areas Welgevonden Game Reserve  and Marakele National Park are in the process of removing their fences to allow the game to roam in a larger area. Both parks are home to the big five, as well as 30 more mammal species and over 250 species of birds. Marakele is more for intrepid safari-goers than luxury safari seekers – you’ll definitely need your own four-wheel-drive car, whilst Welgevonden as a private game reserve has a focus on high-end luxury.

Accommodation options: Are plentiful and varied inside the reserve, with a host of luxurious and extremely hospitable lodges and camps to choose from. Find prices & book >>

Malaria Free Safari Destinations in Namibia

Malaria is prevalent in eastern and northern Namibia from November to June, but from July to September there’s no malaria risk in Namibia’s northern regions of Etosha or Damaraland.  This means that with the right timing, it’s possible to visit two of Namibia’s standout safari destinations with the guarantee of no malaria. Further south in Namibia the Namib-Naukluft National Park is malaria-free year-round.

18. Etosha National Park

An encounter with Etosha’s huge elephants

Whilst you’ll need to time your trip to Etosha between July and September to ensure a malaria-free safari, these are also the dry months with water sources drying up and wildlife congregating around waterholes – making it an excellent time to spot game. The white salt pan makes for a dramatic game-viewing backdrop, and along the pan’s southern edge is a collection of waterholes that are a magnet for wildlife. Common sightings are herds of zebra and huge elephants, rhinos and giraffe, with the big five all present. Read more about Etosha National Park .

Accommodation options in Etosha: There are three main camps in Etosha giving a range of options –  from great camping facilities to mid-range chalets and a few high-end bungalows. Close to the main gates of the park, there is also a range of mid-range accommodation options and full-on luxury lodge-type nature reserves such as Onguma. Find prices & book >>

19. Damaraland

Elephants congregating around a large watering hole in Damaraland

One of Namibia’s lesser-known gems, Damaraland is a dry, mountainous region in northern Namibia with desert-adapted wildlife including elephant, rhino, giraffe, and lion wandering the fenceless terrain.  Seeing wildlife in this beautifully stark environment is a thrilling addition to any safari, and combines well with time in nearby Etosha National Park.

Accommodation options in Etosha: Damaraland is a large area with a handful of luxurious lodges dotted around. Find prices & book >>

20. Sossusvlei

The orange dunes of Sossusvlei sand dunes in Namibia’s Namib-Naukluft National Park

At first glance, Sossusvlei and the surrounding Namib-Naukluft National Park seems like a lifeless pan in the south of Namibia. Aside from the shape-shifting red sand dunes and nearby photographer’s dreams of Deadvlei and Sesriem Canyon, there’s actually lots of wildlife on view across the park. Namib-Naukluft provides sanctuary to large mammals such as the black rhino and herds of gemsbok, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, springbok, ostrich and giraffe, and to predators such as spotted and brown hyena, leopard and cheetah.

Accommodation options in Sossusvlei: The only accommodation in the park comes in the form of several campsites in the north, though with minimal facilities – you’ll need to be 100% self-sufficient, with firewood, water, and food. There are plenty of accommodation options around the fringes, particularly Sesriem, which is the best base for trips to Sossusvlei. Find prices & book >>

Map of where to enjoy malaria free safaris

That’s our pick of the very best malaria-free safari options in Africa. Are there any other parks or game reserves you would add to this list? Please let us know in the comments section below!

Top countries for safaris

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Africa’s best game reserves

• Chobe National Park, Botswana
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Classic safaris without the risk

Thursday, 8 December 2022

Travelling to most African countries carries some risk of malaria infection – something that should always be taken into consideration when visiting. Though a few simple precautions can mitigate the risk of contracting malaria, there are those who, for various reasons, prefer not to take the chance at all. Fortunately, South Africa offers a plethora of malaria-free destinations – without sacrificing the luxury safari experience. Plus, many of these destinations offer sightings of the Big 5 – Africa’s must-see checklist including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino. Have a look at our list of favourite malaria-free safari destinations:

Pilanesberg National Park

Situated at the centre of an ancient caldera of a long-extinct volcano, the Pilanesberg National Park is visually striking and bursting with life around every corner. The reserve is found in the transition zone between the Kalahari and Lowveld, making it an ecologically rich area offering thrilling wildlife viewing in picturesque surrounds.

The park offers a wide variety of accommodation options, from camping and budget accommodation to luxury lodges. At 550km² in size, there is ample terrain to be explored and a diverse road network (of more than 200km) which can be explored.

A diverse range of animal species native to southern Africa can be found here, including the Big 5 and more than 360 species of birds. The reserve is just two hours drive from Johannesburg and is perfect for intrepid explorers wanting a self-drive experience.

Madikwe Game Reserve

Nestled against the border of Botswana on the fringes of the Kalahari, magnificent Madikwe is one of South Africa’s top safari destinations – malaria-free or otherwise. The exclusive Big-5 reserve teems with iconic and unusual wildlife, offering the opportunity for spectacular animal encounters and striking photography. As Madikwe is not open to day visitors, safari experiences are very personal – whether from the back of a vehicle or the back of a horse.

There is a range of camps and lodges to choose from, from high-end luxury to family or budget-friendly options, and, importantly, community-owned and run lodges that see profits going directly to community members.

The malaria-free aspect of the reserve makes it an ideal attraction for families travelling with young children. It is also easily accessible from Johannesburg. Madikwe’s game viewing is at its best during the winter months – the dry season – as the animal life congregates near available water (often at lodges).

From decadent safaris to down-to-earth, family-oriented comfort, the Madikwe experience is a classic, guaranteed to enthral.

The Waterberg

The Waterberg region in northern South Africa is considered one of the country’s best-kept safari secrets. It is a land of rugged beauty, with imposing rock formations and mountainous massifs shaped by aeons of water erosion. Its bushveld, savannah and riparian habitats are home to abundant wildlife. The area is known for its archaeological findings dating back to the Stone Age. With its diverse mix of private lodges and budget accommodation, the Waterberg is an escape for nature lovers, history buffs and adventurers alike.

The growing tourism industry supports Marakele National Park and several private Big 5 reserves, such as Welgevonden Game Reserve. Marakele is located in the transitional zone between the dry western and moister eastern regions of South Africa, allowing for a remarkable variety of wildlife and biodiversity – including fynbos growing in the mountainous areas of the park. A moderate and pleasant climate ensures an enjoyable stay, with summer rainfall keeping the worst heat at bay. Rare yellowwood and striking cedar trees, grand mountains, and Cape vultures soaring through the skies make Marakele a bush experience unlike any other.

Addo Elephant National Park

As the name suggests, Addo Elephant National Park is an elephant lover’s nirvana. As part of the national park falls along the coast, it is also the only place in Africa where visitors can encounter the ‘Big 7’, which includes the typical Big 5 assortment plus dolphins and whales.

Addo covers five of the country’s eight vegetation zones, so the biodiversity on display is staggering, accompanied by sweeping vistas and accommodation options to suit most budgets.

The private reserves of the Cape

The southern and Eastern Cape are peppered with private game reserves – many of these featuring the Big 5 – where guests are granted a more exclusive experience than a national park. The Cape offers magnificent mountains, famous coastlines, and spectacular seaside scenery (also wine for the oenophiles), with a mosaic of fascinating habitats and protected spaces inland offering unique wildlife viewing.

Here visitors can experience all the best aspects of safari against the backdrop of some of South Africa’s most breathtaking, lush scenery. As a bonus, the many delights of Cape Town – from Table Mountain to penguins – are just a stone’s throw away (relatively speaking)!

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve

Words fail to do justice to the sense of inner peace that descends when looking out across the vast vistas of the green Kalahari. Beneath the everyday sounds of chirruping geckos and melodious bird songs, the depth of the silence is a balm for the world-weary soul. Though no elephants are wandering Tswalu Kalahari Reserve , other members of the Big 5, wild dog (painted wolf) and cheetah are all present. However, the reserve is most famous for its assortment of rare and unusual wildlife offerings like habituated meerkats, roan and sable antelope, aardvark, pangolin, brown hyena and aardwolf.

A note on “malaria-free”: the above list includes South African destinations only, as much of the country is officially considered malaria-free. While there are several regions within Southern Africa where the risk of transmission during the dry season is negligible, they are still considered by the World Health Organisation to be malaria-risk areas.

Want to go on a malaria-free safari? To find lodges, search for our ready-made packages or get in touch with our travel team, scroll down to after this story.

Further reading

For a full explanation of malaria and how to prevent it, see our story, Understanding Malaria

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Malaria Free Safaris in Africa

Malaria-free safaris do exist in Africa; they can be found in several ecologically diverse regions of South Africa . If you want to see the Big Five without worrying about taking malaria pills (prophylactics) or other precautions, there are plenty of options available.

Why Choose a Malaria-Free Safari?

Malaria-free safaris are an excellent option if you're traveling with children, if you're elderly, if you're pregnant, or in any way unable to take anti-malaria medication. For some people, even the idea of catching malaria is enough to put them off a trip to Africa. If that's the case, you'll be happy to know you can enjoy an African safari without running a million miles upon seeing a mosquito.

Malaria Free Safaris in South Africa

There are many areas in South Africa that are malaria-free and can offer world-class safari experiences . While some of South Africa's best game parks are unfortunately not in the malaria-free zone (like Kruger National Park and others in the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal regions) many private game reserves have set up in the Eastern Cape area, Madwikwe, Pilanesberg, and the Waterberg area. These reserves have successfully relocated a large number of animals and besides the Big Five you can also see rare mammals like cheetah and wild dogs.

The Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape region is very popular since you can combine a safari with a visit to Cape Town . Some of the best Game Parks in this region are along the Garden Route and include:

• Kwandwe Game Reserve -- Three lodges provide excellent accommodation in this large private game reserve near Grahamstown. Day and night drives are available to view the numerous lion, cheetah, rhino, elephant, hippo, and leopard in the park. Bush walks, canoeing and fishing are also activities you can enjoy. Children are welcome but the recommended age to enjoy a safari here is 6 and over.
• Addo Elephant National Park -- Soon to be one of the largest national parks in South Africa, Addo offers the visitor not only the Big Five but sightings of whales and great white sharks as well. Situated just north of Port Elizabeth, Addo is home to several luxury lodges as well as the Addo Main Rest Camp which provides more budget style accommodation; chalets, tents, and rondavels. Hiking, horse riding are also popular activities besides safari drives (which you can do in your own vehicle ). Children under 6 are not allowed on drives organized by the park.
• Shamwari Game Reserve -- Situated along the Bushman's River, Shamwari is a private, family-owned game reserve which offers visitors a chance to see the Big Five and much more. Lodges are luxurious and game drives and meals are included with the package. You can enjoy a spa, daily game drives, bush walks and if you fall in love, you can come back and volunteer to help protect the parks' animals.
• Amakhala Game Reserve -- Formerly farmland, the family-owned Amakhala game Reserve is now home to Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra and numerous other antelope. Situated just east of Port Elizabeth, Amakhala offers game drives and a variety of very comfortable lodges . Day visits are easily accommodated as are children over the age of 6.
• Kariega Game Reserve -- Situated along the Kariega River the game reserve offers canoeing safaris, fishing, a river cruise and more besides the excellent game drives. The wildlife is abundant and the lodges are luxurious with outdoor pools and decks. A minimum of least 2 nights are recommended at the Kariega Game Reserve to enjoy the activities on offer.

Because the Garden Route is so popular, many packages will combine a few days in a game park, with a visit to the beach and other highlights of the area.

• Safari Packages from locally based tour operators .
• Safari Guide Africa has a great list of packages and deals for malaria-free and family-friendly safaris .
• Rhino Africa offers several safari packages on their own or in combination with the Garden Route.
• Travel Butlers offers specials on nearly every safari available in the Eastern Cape area.

Madikwe Game Reserve

Madikwe is in the north of South Africa's North West province on the edge of the great Kalahari Desert, bordering Botswana . Madikwe used to be private farmland but with the successful relocation of more than 8000 animals ( Operation Phoenix ) in the 1990's, Madikwe is now winning awards as a conservation success story.

The best way to get to Madikwe is either by charter flight or car from Johannesburg (3.5 hours) and Gaborone in Botswana (1 hour). A popular add-on for visitors to Madikwe includes a trip to Victoria Falls (but the Falls are not in a malaria-free zone!) and some of Botswana's fine National Parks.

Madikwe is home to some truly wonderful private lodges and camps, some of the best are listed below. Note that visitors cannot enter the park without staying at one of the lodges. The lodges are luxurious, but with favorable exchange rates you may be pleasantly surprised with what you can afford.

Best Lodging in Madiwke includes:

• Jaci's Tree Lodge is a perfect choice for families since the 8 rooms are actually tree houses built around a giant Leadwood tree. There are outdoor jungle showers as well as en-suite bathrooms. Raised wooden walkways lead to a restaurant and bar.
• Madikwe Safari Lodge is situated in the heart of the reserve and has nice sweeping views of the plains. The lodge is small, with 16 suites and is very family-friendly. A pizza oven and several plunge pools will certainly please the kids.
• Madikwe River Lodge is beautifully situated on the Marico River in a riverine forest. There's a lodge with family rooms as well as 16 chalets. Children of all ages are welcome.
• Thakadu River Camp is a community owned luxury tented camp that is very child-friendly. A lovely swimming pool overlooks the Marico River. Each tent has its own private viewing deck.
• Etali Safari Lodge is very luxurious and intimate with just 8 suites available, each with its own private sundeck and whirlpool.

Pilanesberg Game Reserve

Pilanesberg  is a beautiful Game Reserve situated on the remains of an extinct volcano crater near  Sun City  (a big holiday resort). Pilanesberg was created as a reserve in the late 1970's and now boasts the  Big Five  and many other animals courtesy of a vast wildlife relocation project. Just a 2-hour drive from Johannesburg, this park is very accessible and is popular with local South African families escaping the city.

Pilanesberg is an excellent option for day trips especially if you're enjoying Sun City. The park isn't huge, but the vegetation is incredibly varied and the landscape is lush and beautiful. You can choose from a traditional safari drive, hot air ballooning or  walking safaris . Pilanesberg's lodges include the  Ivory Tree Game Lodge ,  Tshukudu ,  Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge  and the Bakubung Bush Lodge.

Pilanesberg is ideal for a  self-drive  safari; the roads aren't paved but they are in good condition. Just outside the park gates are a couple of options for less pricey accommodation with swimming pools and playgrounds for the children. They include the  Bakgatala Resort  which offers chalets and tents. The  Manyane Resort  also offers a variety of accommodation including campsites, chalets and caravan sites and is very family-friendly.

Recommended Safari Packages for Pilanesberg:

• Family Safari from CC Africa which includes Madikwe.
• Madiwke Safari packages from Wildlife Africa.
• Discounted rates on Madikwe accommodation from Madikwe Info.
• 2 night Pilanesberg packages  from Wildlife Africa.
• Day Tours to Pilanesburg  from Johannesburg from Go Safari.
• Day trips, and 2 nights in Pilanesberg  at all lodges from local tour operator, Adventure Travel Africa.

The Waterberg Area

The Waterberg area is in South Africa's Limpopo Province north of Johannesburg. Most of the parks and lodges listed below are no more than a 2-hour drive from Johannesburg. The Waterberg area is malaria-free and filled to the brim with private and national game parks. Most of the reserves in this area have been stocked full of game and offer beautiful mountainous landscapes as well as Big Five viewing and incredible birdlife.

Entabeni Game Reserve

Entabeni is a private reserve and boasts no less than 5 eco-systems including wetlands, craggy escarpments, grass plains and cliffs. In Entabeni you can enjoy guided game drives, bush walks, sunset cruises on the lake, horse riding and helicopter air safaris. Entabeni is an all-inclusive safari reserve, meals and game drives are included in the price, so you will not be driving your own car around once you're in the reserve. Children under 6 are not allowed on game drives.

Lodging includes Lakeside Lodge on the shores of Lake Entabeni and  Wildside Safari Camp .

Welgevonden Game Reserve Welgevonden is popular with weekenders from Johannesburg looking for some peace and tranquility in the beautiful South African bush. The Big Five are here as well as 30 more mammal species and over 250 species of birds. Welgevonden borders Marakele National Park and the two parks will soon remove their fences so game will be free to roam in a larger area. Accommodation is plentiful and varied inside the reserve. You can choose from the luxurious  Sediba Game Lodge ,  Makweti Safari Lodge , or the  Nungubane Lodge  to name a few.

Marakele National Park Marakele is set in the middle of the Waterberg region with beautiful mountains as backdrop. Marakele means "sanctuary" in the local Tswana language, and it's certainly peaceful. All the large game species from elephant and rhino to the big cats as well as an amazing variety of birds can be seen here. Marakele is not going to provide you with a luxury safari experience; it's for the more intrepid safari goers. You need your own car and be warned that some of the roads are definitely only accessible to a four-wheel drive vehicle. Accommodation consists of two campsites, Tlopi Tented Camp which has furnished tents and Bontle camping site where you bring your own.

The Ant's Nest and Ant's Hill Private Game Lodges The Ant's Nest  and  Ant's Hill  offer very family friendly, luxurious accommodation. This private reserve is a real haven both for animals (over 40 species) and people looking for a wonderful vacation. Apart from game drives, there's horse riding, elephant safaris, curio shopping, swimming and more.

Mabalingwe Nature Reserve Mabalingwe is home to the big 5, and also hippo, giraffe, hyena, and sable. There are many types of accommodation available including chalets, campsites, and bush lodges. The reserve is very family-friendly, and the rolling grasslands make game-viewing a breeze.

The luxurious  Itaga Private Game Lodge  offers five-star accommodations in 8 African themed chalets and fine dining. Game drives are organized in open 4x4 vehicles with an experienced ranger.

Kololo Game Reserve Kololo is a small reserve with rolling grasslands supporting many species of antelope including impala, kudu, and wildebeest. You won't see the Big Five here, but it's easy to drive to the other parks nearby (Welgevonden for example) and see it all.  Lodging  includes a variety of chalets and camps.

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve - Northern Cape Province

Tswalu is situated in the  Northern Cape Province  and is home to more than 70 species of mammal. Privately owned and operated by a local mining family (the Oppenheimers) Tswalu is still a conservation work in progress, but what is there already can offer the visitor a really wonderful African safari experience. Accommodation is luxurious and you can choose from two lodges, the secluded  Tarkuni  and The Motse. Children of all ages are welcome. The best way to get to Tswalu is to fly in.

A note about malaria

Malaria's reputation as a killer disease is certainly earned, but the mortality figures are mainly a reflection of inadequate health care in Africa. The vast majority of tourists who get malaria recover completely since they have access to medicine and doctors, clean water and food. Malaria can also be avoided with the right precautions ...  more about avoiding malaria.

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Malaria-Free Safaris in South Africa

A care-free Safari without malaria tablets

Malaria is a sad reality in much of Africa and nothing is more important than your health, so it's really important that you understand the malarial risk of your safari destination well before you leave the country. This is especially true for families travelling with young children or those with pre-existing conditions.

No matter where you're heading, it's always best to consult your GP a few weeks before you jet off on your safari holiday.

In fact, South Africa is the ONLY country in Africa that can officially offer a fully malaria-free safari experience.

The other countries all carry a malarial risk, albeit small, such as the case of the Kenyan Highlands, and the risk tends to increase over the rainy seasons. This makes South Africa your best (and your only) bet.

Having said this, not every safari destination in South Africa is malaria-free so it's still important to choose your game reserve wisely. The assured malaria-free safari areas are the Eastern Cape , the Pilanesberg National Park and the Madikwe Game Reserve , the Waterberg (just 3 hours north of Johannesburg), and last but not least the Nambiti Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.

The great news is that all of these reserves offer wonderful wildlife viewing and superb safari experiences, so you won't need to compromise on quality to ensure a medication-free trip. Add To Wishlist Enquire Now  

South Africa's Eastern Cape

Eastern Cape safaris are fully inclusive, so in addition to staying in a top notch lodge you'll receive delicious meals, sunrise and sunset game drives in a 4X4 vehicle and even an optional bush walk with an expert guide each day.

The Eastern Cape is also home to Addo Elephant National Park , one of the most scenic parks in South Africa. It's completely malaria-free with rolling hills that stretch into the horizon and lush, green forest. Even better, most of the vegetation is evergreen, so it's very beautiful throughout the year.

Not only this, but Addo is home to over 450 elephants, who roam freely across the 125,000 hectare reserve alongside the rare black rhino, zebra, kudu and red hartebeest, as well as over 400 bird species. And who could forget the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively to Addo!

Addo has the greatest density of elephant per square kilometre in Africa, so if you're passionate about these gentle, grey giants, there's literally nowhere better on earth. During an Addo safari, you're bound to catch some unforgettable moments as the elephants gather around the waterholes at sunset or cross the rivers in large herds at dawn. Add To Wishlist Enquire Now  

The Madikwe Private Game Reserve is a wild, remote paradise in the far north of South Africa that nestles against the border with Botswana.

Stretching across 76,000 hectares, it's one of the largest reserves in the country and it's completely malaria-free. In addition to the Big Five, Madikwe boasts a growing population of endangered wild dog, as well as gemsbok, springbok, zebra, giraffe and over 340 species of birds. Add To Wishlist Enquire Now  

Pilanesberg

The Pilanesberg National Park is a beautiful 50,000 hectare malaria-free reserve just a few hours from Johannesburg by road. Centred around an extinct volcano crater, its setting is totally unique and it's home to 7,000 animals including the all-important Big Five.

Here, you can choose between a self-drive safari or private lodge safari and, for a completely mesmerising experience, you can even take a hot air balloon flight over the bush at dawn. Add To Wishlist Enquire Now  

South Africa's Waterberg

Despite its proximity to the city, the Waterberg really does feel a million miles away from urban life, so you're guaranteed a real 'Out of Africa' feeling.

In addition to thrilling game drives and bush walks, you can also take horseback safaris through the bush - a truly exhilarating way to view the wildlife in its natural habitat. Add To Wishlist Enquire Now  

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South Africa’s Best Places For A Malaria-Free Safari

Safari , South Africa

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There are plenty of malaria-free safari destinations to choose from where you can enjoy a Big 5 safari in the African bush without making any sacrifices in terms of your safari experience or the quality of the accommodation. You’ll even find a diversity of species and landscapes that differ from those in the more popular traditional safari destinations. To help you choose, we’ve put together our favourite spots for a malaria-free safari in South Africa!

The Garden Route is home to several private game reserves that offer something different to the usual safari. Apart from the benefit of a malaria-free safari experience, the close proximity to Cape Town makes it an easy choice for those looking to squeeze in a safari on their trip to the coast. Expert guides and the exclusivity of these lodges ensure that your sightings are intimate and memorable. The vastly different scenery and spectacular mountainous backdrops set the scene for sensational game viewing that thrills and delights guests.

Our Favourite Places:

Kwandwe private game reserve.

Kwandwe’s unique environments flank both the northern and southern banks of the Great Fish River. The Indian Ocean’s breeze turns south-facing slopes into dense forest-like thickets of Euphorbia trees. While the north-facing slopes span out into the bushveld, creating two vastly different ecosystems.

Early morning and late afternoon/evening game drives allow visitors to view different animals’ habits. Cool mornings reveal grazing game while the late afternoon ushers animals to the river banks to quench their thirst. Nightfall showcases the reserve’s nocturnal residents: including special species such as the aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox and porcupine.

Gondwana Game Reserve

Gondwana Game Reserve is perched on the pristine, malaria-free wilderness of the lush, emerald hills of the Garden Route and is barely a four-hour drive out of Cape Town. Keep your eyes on the horizon and expect to see a wide variety of wildlife roaming expansive plains punctuated by the unique beauty of fynbos vegetation.

Gondwana is home to many different animals. Game drives may yield sightings of giraffe, hippo, zebra, cheetah, antelope species and if you’re lucky, black rhino. Boasting a wide range of accommodation options, from private chalets, sprawling villas and even luxury tented camps on the Pioneer Trail slackpacking adventure, this gem of the Garden Route has it all.

One of South Africa’s premier malaria-free safari destinations is undoubtedly Madikwe . Home to the Big 5, an assortment of game and over 360 bird species, it is a wildlife lover’s paradise. Conveniently located just a few hours from Johannesburg it is the perfect place to get a taste of the wild. Madikwe is uniquely poised in the transition zone where the bushveld begins to blend into the Kalahari desert and several rare species occur here naturally.

Jamala Madikwe

Jamala Madikwe is an exceptional safari lodge situated in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. Excellence is evident in every aspect of Jamala Madikwe, from the excitement of the safari guides and staff to the classy and elegant décor. Experienced guides will accompany you on morning and evening game drives, imparting their knowledge of the surrounding wilderness and its many inhabitants. From the Big 5 to over 300 species of bird, be prepared for a fantastic safari experience.

Tuningi Safari Lodge

If you want to treat your family to an ultimate South African safari without roughing it too much, Tuningi Safari Lodge should top your list. Slip into one of the luxury suites, that are limited to a maximum of 16 guests in total. If ultimate exclusivity is what you’re after, then there is no better choice. The Little Tuningi private camp is a secluded refuge with its own private plunge pool and boma, ideal for small groups or families.

Found in northern KwaZulu-Natal, bordering on the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, is Phinda Game Reserve . While not strictly a malaria-free area, the reserve is a very low-risk destination with very few cases being reported in the region. Made up of no less than seven distinct habitats, the reserve hosts an abundant variety of wildlife, including the Big 5. The region’s famous white rhinos wallow near watering holes while herds of elephants and buffalo make their way across the plains. Predatory cats relax in the shade or stalk nyala and impala as they browse. Experience the thrill of tracking these animals on foot as your Zulu trackers point out interesting indigenous trees and shrubs.

Our Favourite Lodges:

Phinda vlei lodge.

If the idea of watching a real-life wildlife documentary from the comfort of a private plunge pool sounds appealing to you, head to &Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge . With six suites each with a private deck and the wilderness as its garden, this intimate lodge allows guests to witness wildlife against the backdrop of the African bush.

The lodge’s setting on the outskirts of a wetland allows close-up views of the wildlife. Highlights include twice-daily game drives, rhino-tracking walks, and riverboat cruises along the Mzinene River. Guests can expect encounters with lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, and leopards on a visit.

Discover the exceptional diversity of flora and fauna within the Marakele National Park. Set in the malaria-free heart of Limpopo’s Waterberg Mountains it hosts some fascinating endangered species. Home to the largest population of Cape Vultures in the world and both black and white rhino, it offers something special for wildlife enthusiasts. With a host of activities (many of them family-friendly) such as bush walks and game drives, immersive experiences are a key component of this tranquil region.

A four-hour drive from Johannesburg, Marataba offers guests a Big 5 experience in a spectacular setting alongside the Waterberg Mountains. This malaria-free reserve boasts a plethora of wildlife with the added attractions of sundowner boat rides and regular leopard sightings. A special feature of Marataba is an evening boat trip on the Matlabas River where they can enjoy sundowners and views of the Waterberg.

Come Enjoy A Malaria-Free Safari in South Africa

South Africa has a host of safari options suitable for every traveller. Whether you are avoiding malaria areas, seeking out special species or simply sticking to a region of the country there’s a safari for you. Each and every one promises to delight you in different ways and set a burning passion for Africa ablaze in your heart. Get in touch with one of our Rhino Africa Travel Experts to plan your malaria-free safari today!

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With a deep-set love of the outdoors and making moments count in all aspects of life, nothing makes Brad happier than taking in sunrises and sunsets. He can often be found either running, surfing or playing sports somewhere in Cape Town. Having grown up a stone's throw from Kruger, Brad jumped at the chance to live in the Cape and has never looked back since! With a background in all things Marketing, he is driven by creativity and turning crazy ideas into real-life actions!

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Top 8 Best Malaria-free Game Reserves in South Africa

Harriet is a zoologist with more than 20 years’ experience. She has the privilege of working with the world’s top wildlife photographers and photo-guides.

One of the big advantages of traveling to South Africa, compared to other African safari destinations, is that a number of game reserves where you can see the Big Five are in malaria-free areas. This is fantastic if you’re traveling with small children or want to avoid taking anti-malarials.

Key areas to look at are the Eastern Cape (handy if you want to combine a safari with the Garden Route), Pilanesberg Game Reserve (only a couple of hours drive from Johannesburg) and Madikwe Game Reserve – a 4-hour drive or 1 hour flight from Johannesburg. If your budget allows it, you may also like to consider Tswalu in the far northwest of South Africa. Below are recommendations for malaria-free game reserves in South Africa.

147 Malaria-free Safaris

1. Madikwe Game Reserve

One of the best options for a visit to a malaria-free game reserve in South Africa is Madikwe. Madikwe Game Reserve offers a classic Big Five safari experience, and also has a great reputation for wild dog sightings. It should be noted that leopards are more difficult to see here than in the Greater Kruger reserves. Although state owned, Madikwe is privately run, which means you can’t self-drive and you need to stay in one of their all-inclusive lodges. Aside from the usual game drives, night drives and walking safaris are offered.

The safari vehicles can travel off-road, which hugely enhances the quality of sightings. There are a variety of up-market lodges to choose from, some specialising in catering for children. In my opinion, Madikwe offers the most consistent game viewing of the malaria-free game reserves, and with its classic bushveld terrain, it really feels like you’re on safari. Madikwe is a 4-hour drive from Johannesburg. Alternatively, you can fly in on a charter flight, although this can be pretty expensive, especially for a family.

25 Madikwe Safaris

2. Pilanesberg National Park

The Pilanesberg Game Reserve is set in an ancient volcanic crater and is one of the most beautiful malaria-free safari parks in South Africa. As it is only a 2-hour drive from Johannesburg, it makes for a great add-on trip to other South African destinations. It is conveniently located next door to the Sun City complex. Although the Big Five are present, you will need to be lucky to see any big cats. You should however see elephants, buffalo and white rhino, and I have seen brown hyena here on every visit. The Pilanesberg is also a good bird-watching destination, with 350 species on its checklist. There are a number of hides where you can get out of your car, and these provide great opportunities for bird photography.

Pilanesberg Game Reserve does not feel as wild as some of South Africa’s bigger reserves, and it can get very busy with day-trippers from Sun City. However, it makes for a great short trip from Johannesburg. There is a variety of lodges as well as self-catering options, and you can self-drive or go on organised game drives.

70 Pilanesberg Safaris

3. Shamwari Game Reserve

Shamwari Game Reserve is one of the most popular reserves in the Eastern Cape. It is a private, family-owned game reserve, and it gives visitors the opportunity to combine the safari experience with luxury accommodation. It is home to the Big Five and offers excellent wildlife viewing with knowledgeable guides. Shamwari has six luxury lodges – two of which specifically cater for families. This malaria-free game reserve in South Africa is 100km from Port Elizabeth Airport and is easy to combine with a Garden Route vacation. Shamwari offers guests the chance to learn more about their conservation efforts and visit their Rhino Education Centre and Born Free Big Cat Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. There are also a number of interesting volunteering programmes.

Shamwari Safari Tours

4. Kwandwe Game Reserve

Kwandwe Game Reserve is one of the newest, private malaria-free safari parks in South Africa and is, like Shamwari, located in the Eastern Cape. Its 22,000 hectares of picturesque hills and valleys stretch either side of the Great Fish River. Kwandwe was formerly farmland and has now been restocked with game. It offers the Big Five, however wildlife can be skittish as it isn’t as habituated yet as in some other private reserves. However, Kwandwe is renowned for the opportunity to see black rhino and if you’re lucky, cheetah. Kwandwe has four luxury lodges, two catering for couples and two specialising in families. It is just a 2-hour drive from Port Elizabeth, so it can easily be combined with a holiday exploring the Garden Route.

Kwandwe Safaris

5. Marakele National Park

This malaria-free game reserve in South Africa is in the Waterberg, northwest of Johannesburg. The Waterberg is a Biosphere Reserve, home to a number of upmarket, private game reserves, safari lodges as well as Marakele National Park. Marakele is a relatively new national park, and here you can self-drive and camp or stay in self-catering accommodation. My personal favourite place to stay is Tlopi Tented Camp, overlooking a dam – we had elephants coming to bathe when we stayed here.

Marakele is in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains, with truly beautiful scenery comprising grassy valleys and red cliffs. The park is divided into two sections. The first section contains easy-to-drive gravel roads where we saw several white rhino. The second section feels wilder and access is controlled with a gate. Visitors must not miss the drive to the mountain-top viewpoint, where you can see endangered Cape vultures soaring on the thermals. It is relatively easy to spot both black and white rhino in Marakele, but do not come here expecting to see predators.

Marakele Safaris

6. Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve

Mount Camdeboo National Park is based at the foot of the Sneeuberg Mountain Range in the malaria-free Karoo, outside Graaff-Reinet. The reserve is home to white rhino, buffalo, cheetah and the rare mountain zebra – and there are plans to introduce elephant and lion sometime soon. Accommodation is in three beautifully restored, gabled manor houses and two luxury safari tents. As well as game drives and bush walks, the reserve offers cheetah tracking, scenic helicopter flights and star gazing. Informative talks take place at historical Boer-War sites on the property. Mount Camdeboo is a 3-hour drive inland from Port Elizabeth or can be accessed via the airstrip at Graaff-Reinet.

7. Tswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve

For a totally different experience of a malaria-free game reserve in South Africa, if your budget allows it, Tswalu is another option to consider. Tswalu is South Africa’s largest private game reserve, situated in the southern Kalahari – a vast, pristine wilderness. It is famed for its rare and extraordinary wildlife. Here you can see the magnificent black-maned lions and African wild dogs, encounter habituated meerkats and look for pangolins and aardvark in the winter months. Tswalu Kalahari Reserve offers an exclusive, five-star safari experience and you are allocated your own game drive vehicle, guide and tracker. In addition to game drives, Tswalu offers walking safaris and horse riding. Also on offer are wine tastings, champagne breakfasts, dune picnics and, of course, luxury spa treatments.

8. Samara Private Game Reserve

Samara is a malaria-free luxury private game reserve in the Eastern Cape, close to Graaff-Reinet. The main lodge, the Manor House is a beautiful old Karoo farm house, surrounded by jaw dropping scenery. Samara was one of the first reserves to pioneer cheetah tracking on foot. It is thrilling to go out with your guide and use the radio aerial to hone in on approximately where the cheetahs are and then track them on foot. The cheetahs, although used to humans, are wild and ignored us completely, instead focusing intently on some distant springboks. It was amazing how close we could get without disturbing them – fantastic for photography with the spectacular Karoo scenery behind. In winter, Samara also has a great reputation for aardvark sightings – one of the most elusive and strangest African mammals.

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Malaria-Free Safaris in Africa

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris, malaria free safaris.

By Vihann Van Wyk

Safari Travel Planner

When planning a safari in Africa, considering a malaria-free destination can greatly improve your experience, especially if you are going on a family holiday . While Africa is renowned for its diverse wildlife and scenic landscapes, some areas are prone to malaria. Going on a malaria-free safari in South Africa or other parts of the continent offers a worry-free adventure. These locations offer a wide range of wildlife viewing opportunities without the risk of malaria.

While on a malaria-free safari in Africa, families can relax and enjoy their safari experience to the fullest. These destinations are made with families in mind, so they are safe and fun for kids of all ages. The focus is on providing an authentic wildlife experience, with the added benefit of being in a malaria-free zone.

Choosing a South African malaria-free safari tour or anywhere else in Africa allows you to enjoy the beauty and diversity of the African wilderness without the worry of malaria. These safaris offer a perfect blend of adventure, wildlife encounters, and peace of mind, making them an ideal choice for families and travelers looking for a hassle-free African safari experience .

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Faqs about malaria-free safaris in africa.

• All game reserves in Madikwe, the Pilanesberg and the Eastern Cape are malaria-free.
• The best time to visit Marakele National Park is from May to September. Since animals tend to seek for reliable waterholes and stay close by during the dry winter months.
• However, this is the best time for wildlife viewing. Marakele is a great year-round destination. During May and September, there is little rain and the skies are sunny and bright.

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• Top tips for the best Malaria…

Top tips for the best Malaria Free Safaris in South Africa

Posted by Briony Chisholm on December 12 2019 in OLD Malaria Free Safaris Enquire Now!

Mosquitoes, specifically the female of the species, are not really anybody’s best friend. Firstly, their high-pitched voices are not a great lullaby and, secondly, they can transmit malaria.

The last thing you want to experience halfway through your South African safari is a feverish headache, chills, and relentless vomiting … all symptoms of dreaded malaria.

Stop the 4X4! Before you change your mind and rather spend your well-earned holiday with the in-laws in a remote region of the Arctic, the team here at African Budget Safaris has laid it all out for you in this blog – everything you need to know about a malaria-free safari adventure in South Africa, which is totally possible.

We’ve got all the latest info to help you negotiate a safe and healthy safari – if you travel on your own with a well-thumbed notebook, with your partner, the family (young and old) or friends, or on a guided safari tour – and it doesn’t even matter what your blood type is.

A bit about the bite

Before we answer the question, “ What does ‘malaria-free’ mean? ” let’s make a quick pit stop at malaria itself. The cause is a one-celled parasite known as a Plasmodium . (You may wipe this term from your memory banks after reading this section.)

Mrs. Mozzie (it’s the female mosquito who’s the guilty party) picks up the parasite from infected people when she bites to obtain blood needed to nurture her eggs. Inside the mosquito, the parasites go nuts – they reproduce and develop. When the mosquito bites again, the parasites contained in the salivary gland make a beeline for the blood of the person being bitten. Rest assured, it won’t be you if you simply follow our advice.

Malaria parasites multiply in the liver; next stop – the red blood cells of the infected person. One to two weeks – sometimes longer – after a person is infected, the first symptoms of malaria (as if you need a reminder) appear. That’s when it’s time to see the doctor, pronto. For a full malaria overview, check out our blog, Malaria Made Simple .

Before we scare you off, let’s stop there. There are numerous safari options in South Africa that are free of malaria. Let’s get into what you need to know to play it smart and safe before leaving home. We also recommend that you have a chat with your doctor before you hop on the plane.

First up then – are there South African safaris that are malaria-free?

Yes, South Africa has malaria-free safari game parks and so too do certain areas within the neighboring countries, Namibia and southern Botswana (note, the swampy inland Okavango Delta is not malaria-free, neither is Etosha. It’s just the very dry, southern regions of the two countries). For more info of the exact areas, check out the WHO’s International Travel Guide , the CDC’s Yellow Book or chat to your local Travel Clinic).

Right, back to South Africa. If you want to enjoy a world-class safari experience, but don’t see yourself gulping down malaria prophylaxis tablets, there are a number of phenomenal game-viewing locations with none of the mosquitoes that carry the disease. This is reason enough for choosing a malaria-free safari.

Now for a fact as sure as an African elephant has tusks: South Africa is the only country in the whole of Africa that can officially offer a complete malaria-free safari experience. The rest of Africa offers a malaria risk, even if it’s small – which increases during the rainy seasons.

So, before we shout it from the rooftops, just remember this: not every safari destination in South Africa is free from malaria. African Budget Safaris has your back, so we've put together a wonderful selection of assured malaria-free safari regions, void of any mozzies that carry the disease:

• Eastern Cape
• North West Province (including the Pilanesberg National Park and Madikwe Game Reserve)
• Waterberg District in the province of Limpopo
• Northern Cape
• Cape Town and surrounds – situated in the Western Cape Province

Reserves in these areas offer phenomenal game-viewing experiences, so you needn’t think you’re on the receiving end of sloppy seconds in the safari department by undertaking a malaria medication-free trip.

So, what does the description ‘malaria-free’ really mean?

According to the World Health Organization, it is an area where there is “no continuing local mosquito-borne malaria transmission and the risk of acquiring malaria is limited to introduced cases only”.

Malaria-free Eastern Cape Safaris

The Eastern Cape is rapidly becoming a safari-goers dream spot, with numerous wonderful game reserves to suit any budget, all of them free of malaria.

For the full story on the Eastern Cape and all it offers, take a look at our blog, See the Big 5 at the Eastern Cape’s Best Malaria Free Game Reserves . Here, we’ll just mention a couple because, well, they’re fabulous!

Addo Elephant National Park

As its name suggests, Addo is known for its huge elephant population, but it offers an all-round superb malaria-free safari experience, including the ‘Big 7’. The third biggest game park in South Africa , it’s home to the well-known five and – added bonus – two marine ‘biggies’, the great white shark and southern right whale.

Addo is an easy day trip from Port Elizabeth, but we’d recommend staying a night or two at one of the wide range of accommodation offers in the park. There’s nothing like going to sleep to the sounds of the bush. Some of the African Budget Safari tours that include Addo are:

• Full-Day Addo Elephant Park Big 5 Safari
• 3 Day Addo Elephant Park Safari
• Lesotho & Drakensberg to Addo Overland Camping Safari

Amakhala offers up everything but mosquito bites

It’ll take you less than an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth’s national airport in the Eastern Cape, to arrive at another malaria-free Big 5 safari destination: Amakhala Game Reserve. The region is known as Frontier Country and the reserve is in an area called the Greater Addo.

Amakhala hosts five of the world’s six vegetation biomes, from bushveld to savannah, amidst 8 500 hectares of land. Cheetah, giraffe, zebra, black wildebeest and a heady number of antelope also rank amongst the diverse wildlife. Game drive activities are on offer with each overnight stay, but should you wish to experience the diverse reserve and not stay over, day safaris are an option.

The reserve offers a great variety of 3-, 4- and 5-star owner-managed experiences. Choose your preferred accommodation from a selection of ten luxury establishments consisting of restored country houses, safari lodges or tented camps.

In amongst the wildlife quenching their thirst at the river’s edge, the rare Cape Clawless Otter with its long grey-white whiskers might just hijack a photo op or two. Check out our  5 Day Addo Park & Amakhala Big 5 Safari .

Shamwari will have you swooning

Right, before you get down to the nuts and bolts of planning the next step of your South African safari experience, here’s another gem of a game reserve to consider visiting in the Eastern Cape, also malaria-free.

Shamwari is regarded as the pinnacle of private game parks (and naturally home to the Big 5). Indulge in exclusive tranquillity and a real sense of harmony with nature. The reserve stretches languidly along the Bushman's river, halfway between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown. The Eastern Cape Province, being a malaria-free zone, makes Shamwari ideal for families with kids or elderly members, who might be vulnerable to illness.

The game drives the reserve offer are exceptional, most certainly the highlight of many a returning safari-goer. The team of personal game rangers has an intimate knowledge of the area – you’ll be taken directly to the best spots where the wildlife is prolific.

Malaria-free North West Safaris

The North-West and Limpopo provinces both border Gauteng, so are driveable from Johannesburg. For more close-to-Jozi parks, see our blog Best Game Reserves for Short Safaris near Johannesburg . Both provinces have a number of great game reserves, most of them malaria-free (excluding eastern Limpopo, in which the Kruger Park lies, which is malarial). Here, we list a few of them.

Pilanesberg National Park

The largest Big 5 reserve within easy driving distance of Johannesburg (2 to 3 hours) is the Pilanesberg National Park, a 550 km 2  area. It’s situated in a transition ecological zone, between the dry Kalahari region and the wet Lowveld region, giving it diverse habitats and, therefore, wildlife.

Madikwe awaits

The Madikwe Game Reserve is in the North West Province, bordering Botswana near Gaborone and close to the Kalahari Desert, and only a 3.5-hour drive from the city of Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport. It’s the country’s fifth-largest game reserve in a malaria-free zone – also known as the ‘Hidden Gem of Game Parks’ and widely regarded as one of the best conservation areas in Africa.

Here, the Big 5 roam about in the 750 km 2 (75 000 ha 2 ) park. Choose from several luxurious lodges dotted around the reserve – each offering a unique experience of this wildlife hotspot as well as authentic Community Lodges run by local villagers – you can expect fantastic views of the reserve – and the wonderful surprise of some of the wildlife grazing in close proximity! Mouth-watering meals prepared by trained chefs at many of these lodges ensure a feast of note, along with safari game drives hosted by experienced and characterful guides.

Apart from spotting lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo, there is a thriving population of the highly endangered African wild dog in the reserve. Three hunting packs roam the area. You asked for an authentic African safari experience … well, you’ve got one!

The dogs are fascinating to observe. Initially the pack will run around, sniff and play amongst each other. They’re a noisy bunch – belting out high-pitched chirps. An alpha male and female will be the first to set off, followed by the rest of the pack at a brisk trot, all tails a-flickering – only to slip into the bush for the hunt. Antelope usually fall prey, but they can also tackle much larger prey, such as wildebeest. The wild dogs will otherwise supplement their diet with birds and rodents.

Malaria-free Northern Cape Safaris

While relatively ‘off the beaten track’, as distances are large, the Northern Cape deserves a mention, not least for its spectacular flower season, when vast areas are a proliferation of color, covered in wild flowers in spring, but also for its game parks including Tswalo, Mokala, and the spectacular Augrabies Falls Reserve.

Tswalu is another wonderful malaria-free safari destination

Welcome to the vast and mesmerizing Tswalu Kalahari with its magical vistas. ‘Space’ is the operative word here. The ‘Green Kalahari’ is a slice of nature offering a wonderful twist. The name ‘Kalahari’ is derived from the Tswana word Kgala , meaning The Great Thirst, or Kgalagadi , meaning The Waterless Place.

The southern Kalahari receives somewhat more rainfall than the central Kalahari. This is why it is often referred to as the ‘Green Kalahari’. Within the reaches of Tswalu lie the Korranaberg Mountains, a quartzite structure connected to the Olifantshoek Supergroup. The mountains form a massive basin, which acts as a natural catchment area and with a healthy water table to boot, to support a fantastic number of wildlife.

This then is South Africa’s largest private game reserve. It’s malaria-free, so guests do not have to worry about popping anti-malaria tablets. It’s ideal for families on safari – they, in fact, welcome children and make every effort to make the little people’s safari experience endless fun under the African sun (pack sunscreen Mom!).

Their game viewing is out of this world – offering sightings of some of the country’s rarest and most extraordinary wildlife. There are over 80 species of mammals and 240 species of birds (including endangered raptors), at Tswalu, which is also home to the elusive aardvark, aardwolf, pangolin and brown hyena. Because the land is so expansive, you’ll feel as if you’re the only people for hundreds of miles. No more standing on tiptoes, craning necks for a view of a beautiful Cape fox, warming up in the morning light or nudging the 4X4 towards the VIP spot to watch the wildlife descending on a watering hole.

The San engraving sites at Tswalu have the most beautiful and advanced examples of the Green Kalahari’s early inhabitants. Detailed stories reflect the lives of these hunter-gatherers. The engravings on the hard rock were made with materials such as sharp stones and spears. It’s a fascinating link to an ancient time.

The philanthropic Oppenheimer family took the landscape under their wing in 1998. Because of their commitment to conservation, you, the safari-goer can marvel at the indigenous species that’ve been successfully re-introduced. The mantra here at Tswalu is, “ Leave the world better than how we found it. ” Very fitting.

Malaria-free safaris near Cape Town

We understand that Cape Town is a must-see – we choose to live here exactly for that reason! – so it’s sometimes a dilemma to decide how to squeeze a safari into a short holiday and include The Mother City.

Timing and budget may not allow for the inclusion of the iconic Kruger Park. Fret not, there are a number of Big 5 reserves within a reasonable distance of The Mother City, which are suitable for day trips or longer. So much so, that we have two separate blogs for them:

• Big Five Safaris Near Cape Town

Now to answer a couple of FAQs we get:

Is the kruger national park malaria-free.

No, the Kruger National Park is not malaria-free. The following info comes straight from the Kruger’s HQ: during the months when the rain falls on the bushwillow vegetation in the south of the park and the great expanse of mopane veld in the north, there is an increased risk of malaria. When the rainy season wraps up in April, the risk of infection is low.

So, the recommendation is always there to take malaria prophylaxis when visiting the park. Incidentally, during the daytime, there is no risk of infection; the malaria mosquito is only active at night in those areas up to 600 m (1 967 ft) above sea level.

There are various mosquito species in the park, but not every mosquito causes a transmittance when the host is bitten. So, let’s talk about probability. The chance of being stung by said mozzie is 1 in 24 000 – it’s low, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions. Note that 10% of all malaria cases occur because visitors have not taken the necessary preventative measures.

‘Protection’ is the operative word. Pack items of clothing that will hide your skin, such as safari pants that close around your ankles. When it’s dark, wear socks, even if it’s warm. You won’t get strange looks when you wear a hat at night. It helps! Rest assured, there are as many mosquito lamps in this premier game-viewing destination as there are rock dassies basking on boulders.

Can I visit game reserves in South Africa that aren’t malaria-free?

Yes, you can visit game reserves in South Africa that aren’t malaria-free, provided you take all the necessary precautions. Malaria is endemic in the game reserves situated in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and in Limpopo. In KwaZulu-Natal, it’s endemic on the Maputaland coast. These areas are in the north/northeast of South Africa . Our advice is to consult a healthcare professional for the latest on malaria prophylaxis as it changes quite often. The cities of Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town are all free from malaria and safe for safari travelers of all ages.

To recap: we’re happy to report that no anti-malaria drugs need to be taken in the following low-risk areas: North West Province and the Northern Cape along the Molopo and Orange Rivers, (we’re including the Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park), Eastern and Western Cape. Here, malaria might be locally transmitted, only occasionally though. You must still take precautionary measures for prevention.

What are the precautions I should take, in both malaria, and malaria-free areas?

Some tips are repetitive, yet it makes for a proper checklist. Following this advice is a good idea, malaria area or not. No one wants to be scratching itchy bites all holiday:

• Apply insect repellent, lavishly, to exposed skin
• Close windows and doors at night if they aren’t screened
• Spray an aerosol insecticide inside where your sleeping area is
• Burn mosquito coils and mosquito mats
• Sleep under a mosquito-proof bed net… “Sweet dreams” by the way
• Wear long-sleeved clothing, trousers, and socks when in the great outdoors

These safari-goers are especially at risk of malaria, so take extra precautions:

• Kids under 5
• Adults over 65
• Pregnant women
• Those on long-term steroids
• If receiving chemotherapy
• People with HIV, porphyria or epilepsy
• If you’ve had your spleen removed
• Chronically ill patients

As mentioned above, for a full malaria overview and what precautions you need to take if you’re going into a malaria area, check out our blog, Malaria Made Simple .

Is there a malaria risk when I'm back at home?

A person may still contract malaria even though all precautionary measures have been taken and it may take some time for symptoms to show. If headache, fever, muscular and joint pains, sweating, shivering attacks, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue occur after a safari (up to six months after your return), a GP should immediately be consulted. Also, inform the medical staff of your visit to the malaria area to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

The reasons you need to visit South Africa’s malaria-free game reserves

• You don’t need to worry about taking antimalarials before leaving home, during your safari adventure or on your return.
• Most of these non-malarial game reserves welcome Junior – even if s/he is of the age where diapers fill the greater half of your suitcase. In fact, these game reserves are geared to cater for kids of all ages. For more on kid’s safaris, see our blog, Great tips on the safety of your family on safari in Africa

• You’re still guaranteed to experience the jaw-dropping presence of the Big 5 in their natural habitat (cue Pilanesberg Game Reserve in the North West or Marakele National Park in the Waterberg District).
• The location of these reserves allows for further exploration of beautiful South Africa.

And then finally, please allow us to exit with a mosquito joke. Feel free to share it around the bush campfire …

A man in a movie theatre notices what looks like a mosquito sitting next to him. "Are you a mosquito?" asked the man, surprised. "Yes." "What are you doing at the movies?" The mosquito replied, "Well, I liked the book."

You’re welcome.

What’re you waiting for? Contact one of our knowledgeable travel consultants and get your dream malaria-free safari in South Africa booked.

If you liked this post, these trips cover similar ground…

• 5 Day Cape Town, Garden Route & Addo Safari (Backpacking Tour)
• 7 Day Lesotho & South Africa Safari: Durban to Addo (Lodge)
• 4 Day Private Garden Route Tour from Cape Town (return)
• Big 5 Cape Town Safari to Aquila Game Reserve - Budget Day Tour
• 3 Day Cape Town Safari - Big 5 Budget Tour
• 2 Day Cape Town Safari - Big 5 Budget Tour

About the Author

Briony chisholm wordsmith & pharmacist.

Places Mentioned in this Post

1. Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

2. Cape Town, South Africa

3. Port Elizabeth, South Africa

4. Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Paterson, 6130, South Africa

5. Johannesburg, South Africa

6. Pilanesberg, Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa

7. Madikwe, 2840, South Africa

9. Bosveld, South Africa

10. Amakhala Game Reserve, Paterson, 6130, South Africa

11. Farm Korranaberg 296, Van Zylrus, 8467, South Africa

12. Namaqualand, South Africa

Similar & Related Blog Posts

Below you’ll find further reading and articles related or similar to this post.

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See the Big 5 at the Eastern Cape’s Best Malaria-Free Game Reserves

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The best malaria-free safari destinations in Africa

Top malaria free african areas.

There’s no doubt about it – Africa is the world’s best wildlife safari destination. Despite what many overseas visitors may think, Africa’s safari destinations are largely safe and easy to travel around, but the one thing that all visitors need to be cautious of is malaria. The mosquito-borne disease is present in many parts of Africa, and visitors to these places are always advised to take prophylactic medication, as well as to cover up their arms and legs and use repellent. If you want to avoid the malaria risk though, there are some great options for malaria-free safari destinations in Africa.

South Africa is usually the first choice for malaria-free safari destinations, because in most of the country there’s no risk of malaria. Kruger National Park, the country’s largest park, does have a low malaria risk, but there are many more options with just as much wildlife and beautiful scenery.

1. Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

South Africa’s third largest park is popular with visitors who travel on the Garden Route, a beautiful coastal drive from the southern Cape to the Eastern Cape. Addo is just an hour outside the city of Port Elizabeth, and offers malaria-free game viewing amongst beautiful landscapes. The big draw of the park is its elephant population – around 600 of the pachyderms are resident here – one of the densest elephant populations in Africa.

Travel to Addo Elephant National Park on one of our budget overlanding safaris

2. Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa & Botswana 

A four hour drive from Johannesburg on the border with Botswana, Madikwe is South Africa’s fifth largest game reserve and boasts the Big Five as well as cheetah, wild dog and black rhino and 300 bird species on vast open plains, woodlands and mountains.

Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa 

This malaria-free reserve, just two and a half hours’ drive from Joburg, is a popular malaria-free choice for budget-conscious travellers, with loads of affordable accommodation options. The park forms part of an extinct volcano and is home to the Big Five, hyena, wild dog and cheetah. While it’s smaller than many of South Africa’s most famous reserves, the wildlife viewing is easy, even for first time safari goers.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa and Botswana

If you love desert scenery, the Kgalagadi is the park for you. This spectacularly wild park spans South Africa and Botswana and is home to red sand dunes and vast open spaces – you never get traffic jams like you do in Kruger. While the wildlife isn’t as abundant as it is in other South African parks, the open terrain makes spotting animals such as lions, leopard, cheetah and foxes fairly easy.

Travel to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on our 17-day Best of Namibia Budget Safari Tour

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, South Africa and Namibia

Another beautiful desert park, this massive transfrontier reserve stretches along South Africa’s border with Namibia. It may look barren, but if you look a little closer, you’ll find an abundance of fascinatingly adapted flora and fauna, from a third of the world’s succulent species, as well as 50 species of mammals, lizards, tortoises, scorpions and 200 species of birds.

Travel to the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park on our 13-day Cape Town to Windhoek budget overland safari

Etosha National Park, Namibia

While there is a very low risk of malaria infection during the rainy months of November to June, during the dry months of July to September, there’s no risk of malaria in Namibia’s flagship National Park. The dry months are the best time to go to Etosha anyway, as this is when the park’s water sources dry up and the animals congregate around waterholes, making it incredibly easy to spot them. Just park off your car near a waterhole and wait for the zebras, springbok, giraffe, lions, elephants and rhino to arrive!

Travel to Etosha on one of our Etosha budget overland safaris

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Climate change is bringing malaria to new areas. In Africa, it never left

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LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — When a small number of cases of locally transmitted malaria were found in the United States last year, it was a reminder that climate change is reviving or migrating the threat of some diseases. But across the African continent malaria has never left, killing or sickening millions of people.

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Take Funmilayo Kotun, a 66-year-old resident of Makoko, an informal neighborhood in Nigeria’s Lagos city. Its ponds of dirty water provide favorable breeding conditions for malaria-spreading mosquitoes. Kotun can’t afford insecticide-treated bed nets that cost between $7 and $21 each, much less antimalarial medications or treatment.

For World Malaria Day on Thursday, here is what you need to know about the situation in Africa:

MALARIA IS STILL WIDESPREAD

The malaria parasite mostly spreads to people via infected mosquitoes and can cause symptoms including fever, headaches and chills. It mostly affects children under 5 and pregnant women. Vaccine efforts are still in early stages: Cameroon this year became the first country to routinely give children a new malaria vaccine, which is only about 30% effective and doesn’t stop transmission. A second vaccine was recently approved.

Cases of resistance to antimalarial drugs and insecticides are increasing, while funding by governments and donors for innovation is slowing.

Living conditions play a role, with crowded neighborhoods, stagnant water, poor sanitation and lack of access to treatment and prevention materials all issues in many areas. And an invasive species of mosquito previously seen mostly in India and the Persian Gulf is a new concern.

A GROWING PROBLEM

Globally, malaria cases are on the rise. Infections increased from 233 million in 2019 to 249 million in 85 countries in 2022. Malaria deaths rose from 576,000 in 2019 to 608,000 in 2022, according to the World Health Organization.

Of the 12 countries that carry about 70% of the global burden of malaria, 11 are in Africa and the other is India. Children under 5 constituted 80% of the 580,000 malaria deaths recorded in Africa in 2022.

COVID-19 HURT PROGRESS

The fight against malaria saw some progress in areas such as rapid diagnostic tests, vaccines and new bed nets meant to counter insecticide resistance, but the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift in focus and funding set back efforts.

A study published in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease last year said COVID-19-induced lockdowns led to disruptions at 30% of rural community health service points across Africa. Malaria cases started spiking again, breaking a downward trend between 2000 and 2019.

That downward trend could soon return, according to the WHO.

A WARMING WORLD AND NEW FRONTIERS

Africa is “at the sharp end of climate change,” and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events causes havoc in efforts to combat malaria in low- and middle-income regions, Peter Sands, the executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, warned in December.

In 2023, the WHO’s World Malaria Report included a chapter on the link between malaria and climate change for the first time, highlighting its significance as a potential risk multiplier. Scientists worry that people living in areas once inhospitable to mosquitoes, including the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the mountains of eastern Ethiopia, could be exposed.

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In Zimbabwe, which has recorded some of its hottest days in decades, malaria transmission periods have extended in some districts, “and this shift has been attributed to climate change,” said Dr. Precious Andifasi, a WHO technical officer for malaria in Zimbabwe.

Mutsaka reported from Harare, Zimbabwe.

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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Two new malaria vaccines are being rolled out across Africa: how they work and what they promise

Principal Medical Scientist and Head of Laboratory for Antimalarial Resistance Monitoring and Malaria Operational Research, National Institute for Communicable Diseases

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Jaishree Raman receives funding from the Global Fund, the Gates Foundation, the South Africa Research Trust, the South African Medical Research Council, the National Research Foundation, and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. She is affiliated with the Wits Research Institute for Malaria, University of Witwatersrand, and the Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, the University of Pretoria.

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Malaria incidents are on the rise. There were 249 million cases of this parasitic disease in 2022, five million more than in 2021. Africa suffers more than any other region from malaria, with 94% of cases and 95% of deaths worldwide.

This year two revolutionary malaria vaccines are being rolled out across the continent. Nadine Dreyer asks Jaishree Raman if 2024 will be the year the continent takes a significant leap towards beating the disease.

The RTS,S malaria vaccine

The RTS,S vaccine was the first to target a parasite. It was developed by the Walter Reed Army Research Institute after 30 years of intense research and approved by the World Health Organization in 2021.

What is special about it?

The long-awaited vaccine was described as a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control. It is being aimed at children under the age of 5, who make up about 80% of all malaria deaths in Africa.

A multi-country trial involving Ghana, Malawi and Kenya confirmed the safety of the vaccine, with limited side effects, a high level of acceptability among the affected communities, and the feasibility of a four-dose vaccine regime within a rural African healthcare setting.

Among children aged 5 and 17 months who received 4 doses of RTS,S, the vaccine prevented about 30% of them from developing severe malaria.

Although a 30% prevention rate might seem low, a recent study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases in August 2023 showed that giving young children RTS,S alongside other antimalarial prevention treatments before the rainy season reduced malaria by nearly two-thirds .

How far along is the rollout?

Since 2019 more than 2 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have been vaccinated with the RTS,S malaria vaccine.

The world’s first routine vaccine programme using the RTS,S started in Cameroon in January 2024. The country is offering the vaccine free of charge to all infants up to the age of six months. This has been described as a transformative chapter in Africa’s public health history .

About 18 million doses of the vaccine were allocated to 12 African countries. They are Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

What are the holdups?

Since the WHO approved and prequalified the vaccine, demand has been unprecedented. The manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, is unable to produce enough doses.

The vaccine and AS01 adjuvant , a chemical compound used to boost immune responses, have complex synthesis processes. This is what’s limiting the projected vaccine production for the next two years to 18 million doses.

This is significantly lower than the estimated 60 million doses already pre-ordered by numerous countries were malaria is endemic.

R21/Matrix M

After decades of vaccine research, a second malaria vaccine was approved just two years after the RTS,S vaccine. The R21/Matrix is a second-generation RTS,S vaccine. It was developed by Oxford University’s Jenner Institute and approved by the WHO in October 2023.

What’s special about it?

The R21 vaccine is a significant improvement on the RTS,S vaccine, with 75% efficacy over a year.

The production process is much less complicated, which means it can be manufactured in vast amounts. The world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India, has already established production capacity for 100 million doses per annum . This is great news for 40 million children born every year in malaria areas in Africa.

The R21/Matrix M vaccine is very cost-effective, projected to retail at $2-$4 a dose, comparable in price to other childhood vaccines used in Africa.

How advanced is the rollout of the R21 vaccine?

Data from a clinical trial in 2020 involving 450 children aged between 5 and 36 months from Burkina Faso confirmed vaccine safety and protection against severe disease, with an efficacy of 77% after 12 months.

These very encouraging findings prompted several malaria-endemic African countries, including Ghana and Nigeria , to approve use of the R21/Matrix M vaccine well before the World Health Organization.

Oxford University took the proactive step of signing a manufacturing agreement with the Serum Institute of India even though WHO approval and prequalification had not been granted.

This forward-thinking approach has ensured that the first batches of the R21 vaccine will be available in the second half of this year.

The Serum Institute has committed to producing twice as many doses in 2025, alleviating some of the demand for the RTS,S vaccine, and ensuring vulnerable young African children in high burden areas receive protection against malaria.

Without WHO approval and prequalification, several international organisations, including Unicef and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, were unable to fund the procurement or production of the vaccine.

The WHO finally approved and prequalified R21/Matrix M for use in the last quarter of 2023.

This vaccine is due to be rolled out in several African countries from May 2024.

No silver bullet

While the fight against malaria has been significantly bolstered by the availability of these vaccines, they are not the silver bullets that are going to get us to an Africa free of malaria.

They are, nonetheless, a welcome addition to the malaria elimination toolbox and ideally should be used together with other control strategies like long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets, rapid diagnosis, and treatment with an effective antimalarial.

This will be the year that many vulnerable young African children will have access to not one, but two malaria vaccines.

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Africa: World Malaria Day 2024 - 'Accelerating the Fight Against Malaria for a More Equitable World'

Dear malaria partners and friends,

On this year's World Malaria Day , WHO has joined forces with the RBM Partnership and other partners to spotlight the critical importance of advancing health equity, gender equality and human rights in malaria responses worldwide.

I would like to begin by acknowledging the tremendous contributions of national malaria programmes and their partners in facilitating and advocating for malaria prevention and control measures, especially in support of marginalized and hard-to-reach populations. Our collective work will contribute to a more equitable future.

Despite these efforts, malaria remains a serious global health challenge that takes its heaviest toll on the most vulnerable. Young children living in the poorest households in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected by the disease. Pregnant women, refugees, migrants, internally displaced people and Indigenous Peoples are among the other groups at higher risk of contracting malaria.

Too many people continue to miss out on the services and information they need to prevent, detect and treat malaria, especially those experiencing disadvantage, discrimination and exclusion. We need to strengthen and step up our support for these populations - not only is it our moral duty, it is the best way to get back on track to achieve our global malaria targets.

Since 2017, WHO has reported in the annual World malaria report on a stalling of progress towards critical targets of the global malaria strategy , particularly in countries that carry a high burden of disease. In 2022, malaria claimed the lives of an estimated 608 000 people worldwide and there were 249 million new cases.

Without a change in the current trajectory, many people, especially those living in situations of greatest poverty and vulnerability, will continue to die from malaria - a disease that is preventable and treatable.

Tackling malaria in high burden countries

Health inequities are hampering efforts to reduce malaria in the countries hardest hit by the disease. Through the " High burden to high impact " (HBHI) approach, catalysed in 2018 by WHO and the RBM Partnership, countries have been tackling malaria by identifying those who suffer most and making a concerted effort to reach them with customized packages of interventions and services.

Last month, Ministers of Health from HBHI countries demonstrated further political commitment by signing the Yaoundé Declaration in which they pledged to accelerate efforts to reduce malaria deaths in their respective countries.

In signing the declaration, Ministers committed to "sustainably and equitably" address the malaria challenge. They recognized the importance of tackling the root causes of stagnating progress in malaria control, including low access to and insufficient quality of health services as well as gender-related and financial barriers within households.

Ministers also committed to the aim of ensuring that all populations at risk of malaria consistently receive the appropriate tools, including those living in hard-to-reach areas and conflict and humanitarian settings.

Responding to malaria in low burden settings

Health inequities are also undermining efforts to complete the last mile in the pathway to eliminate malaria. In many countries with a low burden of malaria, cases of the disease are concentrated among vulnerable, hard-to-reach populations such as mobile and migrant workers, refugees and indigenous communities.

Reaching, engaging and empowering these populations with targeted, gender-responsive and culturally-sensitive interventions and services is an important strategy for achieving our collective vision of a malaria-free world.

Response by WHO and partners

Malaria responses can be strengthened by stepping up investment in the research and development of new tools that benefit all people at risk of the disease, and especially the poorest and most marginalized populations.

WHO-recommended tools should be scaled up in an equitable and sustainable way. If implemented widely, several innovative tools recommended in recent years - including dual active ingredient nets and malaria vaccines - will increase health equity for populations at risk of malaria.

WHO remains committed to supporting countries to ensure that any recommended tools are deployed efficiently. Between 2018 and 2023, WHO supported more than 30 countries in the strategic use of data for decision-making and in the tailoring of interventions at sub-national levels.

In response to ever-increasing financial constraints, WHO, in consultation with national malaria programme managers and partners, has also developed a set of guiding principles for prioritizing interventions in resource-constrained settings to achieve maximum impact; we will be publishing these principles in the coming weeks.

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Access to quality health services can also be improved through gender-transformative programmes that address the many barriers faced by women and girls, such as a lack of decision-making power within households and lower literacy levels.

The fight against malaria can be accelerated through a commitment to universal health coverage (UHC). Everyone should have access to the health services they need - when and where they need them, and without facing financial hardship. WHO recommends reorienting health systems towards primary health care which is considered the most inclusive, equitable and cost-effective way to achieve UHC.

New operational strategy

As you may have seen, the Global Malaria Programme launched a new operational strategy ahead of World Malaria Day. The strategy notes that all efforts to fight malaria should be rooted in the principles of health equity, gender equality and human rights to ensure that people in situations of vulnerability are protected and have access to quality health services.

Read the original article on WHO .

World Malaria Day 2024: 'Accelerating The Fight Against Malaria for a More Equitable World'

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17 April 2024

Compared to standard nets, the introduction of 56 million state-of-the-art mosquito nets in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa averted an estimated 13 million malaria cases and 24,600 deaths.

GENEVA/LIVERPOOL – The New Nets Project, an initiative funded by Unitaid and the Global Fund and led by the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC), piloted the use of dual-insecticide nets in malaria-endemic countries between 2019 and 2022 to address the growing threat of insecticide resistance.

Anopheles mosquitoes are increasingly resistant to the pyrethroid insecticides used on standard insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). This may reduce the nets’ ability to protect people from malaria, so we must continue to develop and test new tools.

The BASF Interceptor® G2 ITNs are coated with chlorfenapyr, a new generation pyrrole insecticide, in combination with the standard pyrethroid insecticide. DCT’s Royal Guard ® net incorporates a combination of pyriproxyfen and pyrethroid into the yarn of the net. Both ITNs are more effective against mosquitoes with pyrethroid resistance than standard nets are.

Between 2019 and 2022, the New Nets Project supported the deployment of 38.4 million nets across sub-Saharan Africa. In parallel, the Global Fund and PMI supported the deployment of millions of additional nets under an internal initiative (NTI). As a result, a total of 56 million mosquito nets were introduced in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

Two clinical trials and five pilot studies , delivered through the New Nets Project as well as through partner funding, found the new ITNs to improve malaria control by approximately 20-50% in countries reporting insecticide resistance in sub-Saharan Africa, compared to standard nets.

The epidemiological evidence built throughout the project led the World Health Organization (WHO) to publish new recommendations supporting the use of pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets instead of pyrethroid-only nets in countries facing pyrethroid resistance. WHO also issued a  conditional recommendation for  the deployment of pyrethroid-pyriproxyfen nets instead of pyrethroid-only nets to prevent malaria in adults and children in areas with pyrethroid resistance.

Dr. Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid, said: “The New Nets Project has made a massive contribution to malaria control efforts, helping to accelerate introduction of next-generation bed nets – a critically important tool for reducing malaria cases and deaths. The success of this project was not guaranteed from the outset, but our collective efforts to tackle multiple access barriers simultaneously helped ensure that new nets could reach communities as quickly as possible. These partnerships will serve us well as we continue to seek out promising innovations to address challenges in the fight against malaria.”

The additional cost per case of malaria averted using the Interceptor® G2 nets compared to a standard net ranged from $0.66–$3.56* The reduction in malaria cases and deaths from using the Interceptor® G2 nets, compared to a standard net, equated to a potential US$28.9 million in financial savings to health systems.

As the number of dual active ingredient ITNs being used increases year on year, the subsequent financial savings to the health system will also increase, underlining the long-term financial and public health benefits of this additional investment.

In addition, the operational pilots also produced a set of guidelines for how to effectively incorporate these new nets into multi-product campaigns and continuous distribution.

Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, said: “We are delighted to see that the dual active ingredient insecticide-treated nets have demonstrated exceptional impact against malaria. The success of the New Nets Project is proof that, by fostering collaboration across global health partners, harnessing innovation, and using market-shaping approaches, we can fight insecticide resistance, make our interventions highly cost-effective and accelerate progress against malaria. Together with our partners, we will continue to invest in the insecticide-treated net innovation pipeline to avert more cases, save more lives, and get back on track towards the global malaria goals.”

Catalytic market-shaping work under the New Nets Project increased supply and demand of dual active ingredient nets, ensuring equitable and affordable access to novel vector control products for country level control programs and vulnerable populations.

UK-based social finance company MedAccess and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supported access to Interceptor® G2 nets in 20+ countries by providing a volume guarantee that enabled BASF to reduce the price procurers pay for the nets. This, combined with continued efforts by partners to scale the introduction of all dual active ingredient nets as they receive WHO prequalification, will help to ensure sustainability beyond the completion of the project.

David McGuire, Director Access and Market Shaping at IVCC, said: “The catalytic market-shaping work under the New Nets Project to increase supply and demand for dual-insecticide nets laid the foundation for ensuring equitable and affordable access to these novel vector control products. The NNP has demonstrated, along with the NgenIRS project, the importance and potential impact of market interventions to ensure that the most vulnerable have access to the best vector control. Similar approaches will be critical for novel products emerging from IVCC’s development pipeline.”

The evidence built through the New Nets Project for the use of the dual active ingredient ITNs is testament to the importance of product-development and catalytic market-shaping interventions to deliver and scale up high-impact, cost-effective prevention tools that meet the needs of malaria-endemic countries.

Dr. Michael Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, said: “The findings of the New Nets Project demonstrate the value of investments into state-of-the-art tools in the fight against malaria. We always say that there is no silver bullet to eliminating malaria and we cannot rely on single interventions, but rather invest in a suite of tools, which when combined, will have the biggest impact on defeating this disease. The dual-insecticide nets are a shining example of one of these tools and the results, coupled with the savings for health systems, make the case for their continued rollout globally.”

* These calculated savings are based on end-of-project pricing and differ between locations depending on local factors including local infrastructure and scale of procurement.

About The New Nets Project (NNP) and Product Information

The Global Fund and Unitaid each invested US$33 million between 2018 to 2022 to introduce new insecticide-treated nets to fight malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The New Nets Project worked to build the evidence base around, and prime the market for, the next generation of nets, which are treated with two different types of insecticide to help improve control of mosquitoes.

The project generated evidence on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the new dual insecticide nets to inform a WHO policy decision on dual-AI nets and guide decision-making to support national malaria programmes in decisions on which nets to prioritize in resource-limited settings. The New Nets Project – with its unique design of parallel collection of epidemiological data and cost-effectiveness studies – will significantly reduce the timeline for entry of the new nets into the market.

The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, MedAccess and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are key operational and financial partners. A coalition led by IVCC is implementing the project, which includes The Alliance for Malaria Prevention, Imperial College London, The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, PATH, PSI and Tulane University.

Interceptor® G2

Interceptor® G2 is a second-generation ITN developed by BASF with a combination of chlorfenapyr and alpha-cypermethrin to control insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. This novel mode of action in vector control exploits mosquito enzymatic systems against themselves and shows no cross-resistance to other insecticide classes. Unlike pyrethroids, the chlorfenapyr target site of activity is not the insect nervous system. Instead, chlorfenapyr acts, after being metabolized by P450 enzymes at the cellular level, by disrupting respiratory pathways and proton gradients through the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation within the mitochondria.  The Interceptor® G2 net has a WHO prequalification listing .

Royal Guard®

Royal Guard® is an ITN developed by Disease Control Technologies to provide vector control through both the personal protection of traditional mosquito knockdown and mortality, as well as a reduction in fecundity of any mosquitoes that manage to survive exposure to the product’s pyrethroid active ingredient. The intended benefit of the insect growth regulator, pyriproxyfen, is to reduce the fecundity of adult female mosquitoes and, therefore, yield an overall reduction in the vector population by inhibiting egg laying, larval-pupal transformation and the emergence of functioning young adult mosquitoes.  The Royal Guard® net has a WHO prequalification listing .

IVCC is the only Product Development Partnership (PDP) focused on solutions for vector control. IVCC was established in 2005, through an initial grant to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As a registered charity in the UK, IVCC receives grant funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Aid, USAID, The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to partner with different stakeholders across industry, scientific institutions and endemic countries to facilitate the development and availability of novel and improved public health insecticides and formulations which can combat the rapidly growing. problem of insecticide resistance. In addition, IVCC has received funding from Unitaid and the Global Fund to implement catalytic market access projects, such as NgenIRS and the New Nets Project, which support the rapid and scaled deployment of vector control tools. IVCC has three core values of partnership, innovation and respect, and strives to live these values in our dealings with all partners.

About Unitaid

Unitaid saves lives by making new health products available and affordable for people in low- and middle-income countries. Unitaid works with partners to identify innovative treatments, tests and tools, helps tackle the market barriers that are holding them back, and gets them to the people who need them most – fast. Since it was created in 2006, Unitaid has unlocked access to more than 100 groundbreaking health products to help address the world’s greatest health challenges, including HIV, TB, and malaria; women’s and children’s health; and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Every year, these products benefit more than 170 million people. Unitaid is a hosted partnership of the World Health Organization.

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