South Africa Map
Part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem, MalaMala Game Reserve lies in Mpumalanga province, about 450km/280mi northeast of Johannesburg.
Most visitors arrive in South Africa at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). You can rent a car at O.R. Tambo and drive to MalaMala (5½ to 6 hours*), possibly exploring other parts of Greater Kruger and Mpumalanga at the same time.
By air, O.R. Tambo is connected to MalaMala’s airfield by twice-daily shuttle flights and to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) by scheduled flights. Kruger Mpumalanga lies 105km/65mi southwest of MalaMala and road transfers take 2 hours*.
Daily flights also connect Kruger Mpumalanga to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and, as of May 2026, George Airport (GRJ) on the Garden Route.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Airlines & Ticket Prices
Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), and what tickets would cost.
Domestic Flights
Federal Airlines operates twice-daily shuttle flights to MalaMala Airfield from Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). These flights also connect to Skukuza Airport (SZK) inside Kruger National Park and to airstrips in several other private reserves within the Greater Kruger ecosystem.
Airlink operates regular scheduled flights from O.R. Tambo to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), 25km/16mi outside the city of Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit). It also flies to Kruger Mpumalanga from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and George Airport (GRJ) on the Garden Route.
Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements
Please check our How To Get to South Africa page to learn more about passport, visa and other entry requirements.