Royal Malewane recently unveiled its newest addition, Masiya Camp, the latest creation from The Royal Portfolio. We stayed there just before they welcomed their first official guests, which meant we were essentially the guinea pigs. And honestly? The whole experience was incredible. It felt unlike any other safari lodge I’ve stayed at, familiar in some ways if you know Royal Portfolio, but taken to a whole new level.
First Impressions
Liz Biden, co-founder and creative force behind The Royal Portfolio, is renowned for her extraordinary attention to detail. Nothing escapes her eye, from the curve of a chair leg to the shade of a tassel. She’s meticulous and passionate about every Royal Portfolio property, but you can tell she had fun with Masiya. Masiya takes her signature style of bold colour, patterns, and unapologetic glamour, and multiplies it. I half-expected it to feel a bit over the top or even kitsch. But once I was there, surrounded by the textures, fabrics, and pops of unexpected design, I found myself loving it. It’s vibrant and joyful without losing that sense of sophistication that Royal Portfolio does so well.
Our lovely receptionist greeting us on arrival (note gold chain)
Guiding & Game Viewing
Guiding has always been one of Royal Malewane’s strongest assets, and Masiya continues that tradition. Their guide and tracker training program is among the most respected in Africa, producing some of the continent’s top guides. My guide, Ryan, who also happens to be the head guide, was wonderful. Knowledgeable, passionate, and refuses to give up if you mention you’d like to see a particular animal. He also knows how to keep things fun: one evening at our sundowner spot, he whipped out a cocktail shaker and made me a margarita in the middle of the bush.
Our tracker, Mumps, was more of the quiet type, but don’t let that fool you. He’s been tracking for over 33 years and has an almost supernatural ability to know where the animals are hiding.
I’ve got to admit, I went in a little sceptical. Thornybush doesn’t have quite the same reputation for game viewing as places like Sabi Sands, so I wasn’t expecting it to be on that level. But I was pleasantly surprised. We saw the Big Five on our very first drive, and even witnessed lions attempting to hunt buffalo as the sun was setting. I know the Big Five isn’t everything (seasoned safari goers will tell you it’s about the small stuff) but let’s be real, it’s still pretty cool to tick them all before dinner. The next few days brought even more incredible sightings, from big cats to large elephant herds, and the quality of game viewing was exceptional.
Food, Service & Overall Experience
There were always healthy, lighter options alongside the classics. I had a standout salmon and salad for my first lunch, a perfectly cooked steak one evening, and an eggs Benedict so pretty I almost felt bad eating it. Even though the team was still in the final stages of fine-tuning before opening, the whole stay felt smooth and well-executed.
Masiya’s bold style might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think it would pleasantly surprise most people. It’s refreshing to see a property lean so confidently into its personality rather than trying to please everyone with neutral, safe design choices.
Final Thoughts
Masiya isn’t trying to be subtle (obviously), and that’s exactly what makes it special. It’s unapologetically bold in style but serious about the things that matter: exceptional guiding, world-class service, excellent food, and consistently good game viewing.
If I were building a longer itinerary, I’d likely pair Masiya with a more traditional, classic-style safari lodge to give a full range of experiences and an interesting contrast between two interpretations of safari. Masiya is an exciting addition to the safari landscape and proof that personality and pedigree can go hand in hand.
