The Marula Hill Journal
Where the world goes quiet
Field notes, long reads, and quiet writing on safari, slow travel, and the bush.
From the editor
We started the journal because the safari we sell is not the one most websites describe. The truth is slower, stranger, more personal. So we are writing it down, one piece at a time. Welcome.
Sian and Vikki
The Long Read
The real cost of a luxury safari in South Africa
What the money actually buys you, and where lodges quietly inflate
Field Notes
From the bush
Short pieces, written from the seat of the Land Cruiser.
No. 1
Safari After Dark
Night drives reveal a different Africa. Quieter, older, more deliberate. Here's what we love about the bush after the sun goes down.
No. 2
What Singita Lebombo's 2026 redesign tells us
Lebombo reopened March 2026 warmer, quieter, more art-led
No. 3
How two women from outside the travel industry built a luxury safari brand from Africa
We are the two women behind Marula Hill. One of us came from IBM, the other from MARS Southern Africa. Here is the long version of how a private safari business gets built from outside the travel industry.
Photo Essay
In the light
Sandringham Private Game Reserve: should you go early, or wait?. Greater Kruger's newest reserve opens in August 2026. Our honest take on who should book Sandringham early, and who should give it a few seasons.
Sabi Sand or Kruger. Two reserves, one fence line, very different mornings
Is a South Africa safari worth it?. A South Africa safari is worth it. Here's what you actually get for the money, and what to watch for when planning.
Choosing Between
Two countries. One question.
When the trip narrows to a coin toss, here is how we think about it.
Before You Go
The practical notes
Working answers to the questions we get asked most.
- 1 South Africa's online traveller declaration: what it means for your safari (and what it doesn't)
- 2 Do you need travel insurance for a safari
- 3 The real cost of a luxury safari in South Africa
- 4 How to plan a luxury safari in South Africa
- 5 When to go on safari in South Africa
- 6 When to go on safari in Botswana
The Dispatch
Letters from the bush
A quiet email when something is worth telling. No more than once a quarter.
Subscribe