About this hotel
General information
Ngala Tented Camp is the smaller and more intimate of the two camps in Ngala Private Game Reserve: nine tented suites raised on platforms beneath riverine trees along the seasonal Timbavati riverbed. The reserve is a private concession inside Kruger National Park, with exclusive traversing rights over 14,700 hectares and no fences, so game drives seldom meet another vehicle. Ngala means “lion” in Shangaan, and the name holds: several large prides live here, and white lions are occasionally seen.
The camp takes no more than 18 guests and children from the age of 12, which keeps it quiet and well suited to couples, honeymoons and anniversaries. The guest areas are elevated above the riverbed – a shared sitting room with a fireplace for winter evenings, a central bar with a long counter, an open deck, the pool, spa and gym – and each looks out to wildlife coming down to the water. A small Safari Shop stocks a curated range of regional crafts. The camp is open year-round.
Location
The camp lies in Ngala Private Game Reserve, which shares unfenced borders with the rest of Kruger National Park, on the banks of the seasonal Timbavati riverbed. Federal Air runs daily scheduled flights from Johannesburg and from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to the reserve’s airstrip, followed by a short drive to camp that doubles as a first game drive; airstrip transfers are included. Alternatively, daily flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town reach Hoedspruit, about two hours away by road. The drive from Johannesburg takes 6–7 hours and is not recommended.
Spa
The Healing Earth wellness spa faces the riverbed, with a spacious couples’ treatment room that has its own bathroom and shower, and a shaded outdoor area for manicures and pedicures. Massages and treatments are charged separately.
Sports & leisure
Twice-daily game drives in open vehicles (no more than six guests each) set out with a guide and tracker in search of the Big Five, African wild dog, spotted hyena and giraffe. One-hour guided nature walks, conservation talks with the reserve’s ecological monitor and visits to neighbouring communities with Wild Impact are also included. At additional cost:
- big game walking safaris with a guide and tracker;
- private specialist safaris – photographic, birding or walking – with a private 4x4 or an equipped photographic vehicle;
- a seasonal hands-on rhino conservation experience alongside the veterinary team;
- a night at the Ngala Treehouse, a four-level hideaway 5 km from camp with a raised bedroom and an open sleep-out deck under the stars (booked only with a stay at the camp);
- a visit to a Shangaan village;
- a scenic helicopter flight over waterfalls and the Blyde River Canyon.
The gym beside the spa has cardio machines, a ballet barre, a boxing bag, free weights and a small yoga deck over the riverbed. The camp also hosts weddings and blessings, in the bush or on the dry riverbed itself.
Restaurants & bars
Pan-African dishes are served in the guest areas overlooking the riverbed, on the open deck or privately on a suite’s own deck, with butler service. Weather permitting, dinner moves to a secluded lantern-lit spot in the bush. The central bar has a long counter and fireside seating. Meals, soft drinks, house wines, local spirits and beers are included; halal meals can be prepared with advance notice.
Swimming
The rim-flow pool looks over the open Timbavati riverbed, where animals often graze and small herds of elephant sometimes come to drink; shaded salas around it suit lazy afternoons and poolside lunches. The suites have no private pools.
Rooms
Nine identical tented suites of 100 m² sit on raised platforms among the riverside trees, about 18 m apart. Interiors are in warm, earthy tones, and each suite opens onto a large wooden deck with a shaded sala.
Air conditioning and heating, ceiling fans, a personal bar with a mixology station and coffee, an outdoor bath, indoor and outdoor showers, a double vanity, a separate WC, telephone, safe, hairdryer, Wi-Fi and a pair of SWAROVSKI OPTIK binoculars for the stay.
Tented Suite
A bedroom with a double or twin set-up and a bathroom with a double vanity and indoor shower; outside are an open-air bath, a second shower and a broad deck with a shaded sala facing the riverbed. Sleeps up to two.
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.