South Africa Ngala Private Game Reserve
Located on the boundary of the world renowned Kruger National Park, Ngala Private Game Reserve is well known for its high densities of elephant, buffalo and rhino, as well as for its healthy population of endangered African wild dogs. Ngala was the first private game reserve to be incorporated into the Kruger National Park and has exclusive traversing rights on 37,100 acres of one of the richest wildlife regions on the African continent. Ngala means “lion” in Shangaan and the Reserve lives up to its name, supporting several prides of these powerful cats. However, it is even better known for excellent viewing of a more elusive cat, offering regular sightings of leopard, particularly females with their young. The largest of all land mammals, the African elephant, is most often spotted leisurely browsing on the vegetation.
There are two distinct seasons at Ngala, and game viewing is equally rewarding during both. Rainfall occurs during the hot summer months (October to March), often with spectacular late afternoon thundershowers. In the winter season (April to August), the animals concentrate at the perennial water sources and the grass is low, making game viewing easier. Winter days are usually warm, with chilly nights and early mornings.
The magic and mystery of Africa come alive in the colonial ambiance of elegant Ngala Safari Lodge. A timeless, unhurried atmosphere, combined with the quaint traditions of a bygone era, creates an aura of romance and nostalgia. This old-world haven in the midst of the African bush charms with its colonial antiques, silver cutlery and crystal glassware. Style and grace mingle faultlessly with the rugged natural beauty of the setting, as manicured lawns give way to dense mopane thickets and wild animals saunter down to drink at the waterhole that forms the heart of this authentic safari lodge.
Protected by a living canopy of immense mopane and tamboti trees, Ngala Safari Lodge carves out a set of intimate, elegant spaces sheltered and secluded by the thick vegetation. Twenty thatched cottages with shaded verandas and private bathrooms nestle among the trees, giving you the perfect retreat. For those in need of even more personal space, the exclusive Safari Suite offers its own sitting room and swimming pool, as well as the use of a private 4x4 safari vehicle.
Nature is never far at Ngala, with breakfast and lunch served in the shade of an enormous boerebean tree. A walled courtyard provides a sheltered space to indulge in sumptuous cuisine, while the boma creates a dramatic setting for fire-lit dinners. An afternoon by the poolside rewards guests with much more than just a refreshing dip – the riverine woodland it borders also provides endless opportunities for bird watching.
While Ngala Tented Camp never lets you forget that you are in the wild, there is nothing primitive about this chic and contemporary camp. The romance of canvas, with big night sounds and flickering lanterns lighting the camp grounds, mingles with the simple sophistication of polished wooden decks, textured fabrics and crisp lines.
Peering out onto the banks of the seasonal Timbavati River from the shelter of dense indigenous trees, six tented suites with private bathrooms offer a tranquil escape. Mounted on raised platforms, large gauze screen windows let the bushveld breeze into your tent amplified with overhead fans. An oversized bathtub waits on a wooden platform, where gauze screens open up to the outside and give the effect of bathing in a giant leafy chamber. An outside shower with thick stone walls refreshes after a safari drive.
Between dense riverine forest and the sandy bed of the Timbavati River, the extensive viewing decks give guests front row views of game wandering down to drink. A rim flow pool mimics the contours of the river bed, inviting in for a cool dip. At night a roaring fireplace springs to life. The stirring scents of Africa’s famous spices waft up from a meal shared in a spectacular setting whether it is among islands or reeds in the dry Timbavati riverbed, beneath the canopy of massive trees or on the expansive deck.