About us
Mali Mali is a Safari Lodge in the Limpopo province. We are situated in the Ndlovumzi Nature Reserve about 35km outside the small town of Hoedspruit. Stretching over a 1200 ha with all the beauty that nature offers this wonderful reserve borders with the great Olifants River. Due to the size of the reserve, one can truly enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Lowveld bush. The Fauna and Flora on the reserve has a healthy population of Waterbuck, Kudu, Nyala, Impala, Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Bushbuck, Duiker, Wild Dogs and other small animal species. Numerous bird species abound for the avid birder and nocturnal species include, Civet cat, Genet, Porcupine, Aardvark and the allusive Caracal.
The reserve is categorized as a Savannah biome; along the Olifants River boundary, there are very large Sycamore Fig, Jackal Berry and Tamboti trees. These provide a haven for bird life while casting welcome shade during the warm summer months. The central and southern part of the reserve is hilly and has numerous Acacia trees, Marula trees and the iconic Leadwood tree.
Mali Mali Safari Lodge is at the center of this wonderful reserve and was built over 30 years ago by the world renowned and very well known sculpture Anton Smit. Bought by the previous owners and never opened to the public, this wonderful wonderland of combined art and nature has been kept away from the public all these years. Mali Mali Safari Lodge was recently bought by the new owner, revamped and restored, the Lodge was opened for the first time in 30 years to be visited by the public. The goal of the new owner is to share this unique one of a kind wonderland with everyone that loves the African bushveld and nature.
We at Mali Mali Safari Lodge strive to give only the best service and with highly trained staff members you are sure to be treated like nowhere else before. We love what we do and we love this beautiful unique wonderland of wildlife and nature that surrounds us. Mali Mali Safari Lodge truly has a uniqueness that can’t be explained and can only be experienced once you are here.
History Of our lodge
Created by the renowned world-famous sculpture Anton Smit, Mali Mali Safari Lodge has a real unique artistic look and feel that can be seen throughout the lodge. Widely revered for his overwhelming heads and monumental sculptures, evoking themes of suffering, reconciliation, glory and sublimation, Anton’s work grace public and private collections countrywide and internationally. An inspiring raconteur, Anton enjoys relating tales of his struggles as a young artist that can be seen all over the lodge.
The secret to his success could be attributed to his courage and determination to forge ahead in the face of great difficulty. Some observers have noted that this is why so many of his pieces, even the most abstract ones, manage to communicate powerfully and emotionally and why his work is possessed of a raw, earthy power that feels innately African.
Anton achieved his first artistic breakthroughs in 1977, he received special mention in the South African Art Association’s New Signatures competition in Pretoria. Two years later he had a great boost when he won first prize in the New Signatures competition.
He was the “Artist of the month” in 1982 at the Pretoria Art Museum this was followed in 1987 with his first one man exhibition in the Beuster Skolimowski Gallery in Pretoria and in 1989 another one man exhibition at the SAAA. Since then he has held numerous exhibitions of his sculptures throughout South Africa.
In 1994 he put 35 sculptures on exhibition in New York at the Grand Central Station as part of the Strengthening the Link initiative to boost trade between South Africa and The United States, organized by SATOUR in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry, represented by former president Nelson Mandela. He considers one of the highlights of his career.
Never open to the public and now for the first time, the new owner of Mali Mali Safari Lodge decided to renovate and open the lodge to the public. Come and enjoy this remarkable unique African experience with us.
Find out more about Anton Smit by visiting his website at www.antonsmit.co.za
