About this hotel
General information
Ngala Safari Lodge is a classic thatched lodge on a private concession inside Kruger National Park. Ngala is the Shangaan word for lion, and the resident prides do set the tone here: lion and leopard are seen often, along with the rest of the Big Five, wild dog, cheetah and, now and then, white lions. The pool and decks look over a waterhole where elephant and buffalo come to drink in the heat of the day.
With 20 cottages, it is larger than the neighbouring tented camp and is built above all for families, friends and several generations travelling together. Interiors pair a calm contemporary look with old safari memorabilia, and there is a library stocked with board games, a wine cellar, a bar and a Safari Shop selling work by local craftspeople. Meals, most drinks, game drives and laundry are included, and every guest is looked after by a butler.
Location
The lodge sits on the seasonal Mapone riverbed in Ngala Private Game Reserve, 14,700 hectares of exclusive traversing land that shares unfenced borders with the rest of Kruger National Park and its almost two million hectares. Federal Air flies daily from Johannesburg and from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to the reserve’s airstrip, and transfers between the airstrip and the lodge are included. There are also daily flights from Cape Town to Hoedspruit, followed by a road transfer of about two hours; the drive from Johannesburg takes 6–7 hours and is best avoided.
Spa
There is no full spa: Healing Earth massages and treatments are given in an intimate massage sala in the bush, with a glass of sparkling wine or herbal tea to go with them.
Sports & leisure
Twice-daily game drives in open vehicles (no more than six guests each) cover a concession where guides may go off-road for closer sightings, and night drives run all year. One-hour guided nature walks, a conservation talk with the reserve’s ecologist and visits to neighbouring communities with the Wild Impact foundation are included. The well-equipped gym has a treadmill, free weights, an exercise ball and yoga mats. At additional cost:
- big game walking safaris with a guide and tracker;
- private specialist safaris for birding, photography, walking or families, with a dedicated vehicle and guide;
- a seasonal hands-on rhino conservation experience with a specialist team;
- a night under the stars in the Ngala Treehouse, a four-level platform 12 m above the ground;
- a Shangaan village visit with a local host;
- scenic helicopter flights over waterfalls, banana plantations and the Blyde River Canyon;
- weddings and blessings in the bush or in a dry riverbed.
For children
The WILDchild programme for children aged 3–12 starts with a backpack of age-appropriate goodies and runs seasonal activities such as bark rubbing, bug collecting, frog safaris, dung-trail walks and baking with the chef. There are children’s menus, dedicated children’s game drives and private family safaris on request, and childminders can be booked on the day of arrival.
Restaurants & bars
All meals are included, as are most drinks other than champagne, cognac and fine wines, and dinner can move to a different setting each night:
- Bar — pre-dinner drinks with the guides, local and premium brands;
- Wine cellar — sundowners and pre-dinner drinks;
- Boma — open-air dinners around a blazing fire in the traditional enclosure;
- Courtyard — candlelit dinners;
- Deck and guest lounge — high tea, drinks and snacks before dinner;
- Private dining in the cottage or at a lantern-lit spot out on the reserve.
Halal meals can be prepared at additional cost with at least four weeks’ notice.
Swimming
The shared rim-flow pool overlooks the lodge waterhole, so elephant and buffalo often arrive while guests are swimming. The cottages do not have private pools.
Rooms
Twenty thatched cottages stand about 20 m apart, three pairs of them linked by an inner door to form Family Cottages for parents travelling with children.
Air conditioning and heating, ceiling fans, a personal bar and coffee station, a bath, indoor and outdoor showers, a separate WC, telephone, safe, hairdryer and Wi-Fi.
Family Cottage
Two identical cottages joined by a door behind the beds, each with its own bathroom with a bath, indoor and outdoor showers, and a veranda; the beds convert to twins. Sleeps two adults and two children.
Cottage
A thatched cottage with vintage safari memorabilia, a bedroom with a double or twin beds and a desk, a bathroom with a bath and both indoor and outdoor showers, and a veranda with lounge chairs. Sleeps two; one cottage takes three.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.