&Beyond Ngala Tented Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger, South Africa
At a Glance
Contemporary tented camp overlooking a dry riverbed and backed by verdant forest within South Africa’s largest game reserve.
Ngala Private Game Reserve is a private concession bordering the Kruger National Park. This gives guest exclusive use of the land creating a highly private safari experience away from other vehicles and groups.
&Beyond guides are leaders in their field and enhance the game drive experience to new levels with their knowledge and personality.
Alongside traditional game drives you will head out on nocturnal adventures and even safari on foot which gives the landscape a completely different complexion and brings you face to face with the bush for an incredible experience.
&Beyond are pioneers of sustainable travel. They will guarantee your safari takes place responsibly.
Experience a night under a blanket of stars in the luxurious Ngala Treehouse, a remote overnight retreat you can bed down in for the night on a raised platform above the bush.
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
There is no bad time to go on safari in the Kruger National Park. The experience does, however, change from month to month. In the summer months (October to March), it gets very hot. The verdant vistas are all the more spectacular because of the rains, but this means that the foliage is denser, water is more abundant and game is therefore trickier to see. There are lots of beautiful migratory birds during the summer months. While the daytime temperature in the winter months (May to September) is ideal, it does get a little chilly at night and in the early morning.
Insider's View
Sit by the pool in the afternoon and watch animals in the riverbed below you wondering along and coming to drink, it is wonderfully relaxing and rather surreal!
Make sure to try their excellent iced coffee and home baked cakes at tea time, the perfect set up for your afternoon game drive.
To start planning your holiday to &Beyond Ngala Tented Camp
Description
Ngala Tented Camp is an intimate and luxurious safari camp over looking the Timbavati riverbed. With only nine rooms, this lodge is known internationally for sophisticated tented accommodation in tranquil African bush surroundings.
Ngala Tented Camp lies in 14,700 hectares of the exclusive Ngala Game Reserve, which is attached to the game rich Kruger National Park and is situated on the banks of the great seasonal Timbavati River.
There are only nine very luxurious, spacious tents set within green shady trees, with oversized baths and refreshing outdoor showers. Other amenities include air conditioning, overhead fans and electric blankets for the winter months.
A lap pool merges with the contours of the riverbank, and the ambience is one of old time safari journeys to Africa, with antiques, lots of books, comfy leather chairs, crystal and decanters.
The camp's intimate hide offers guests the opportunity to photograph game at close quarters, and activities include twice daily game drives in an open Land Rover as well as nature walks on the reserve. Additional activities include learning how to track animals in the park, and there are also specialist and photographic safaris on offer.
The camp also offers bush banquets in spectacular wilderness settings and theatrical alfresco dinners in the dry riverbed.
Accommodation
Ngala Tented Camp offers nine en-suite tented rooms with oversized baths and outdoor showers set in the shade of indigenous trees. Other amenities include air conditioning, overhead fans and electric blankets for the winter months.
Childcare
Ngala Tented Camp welcomes children over the age of 11 years to come and stay there. However, there are no specific childcare facilities available to them.
Facilities
Facilities at the Ngala Tented Camp include a lap pool and game hide. Dining at Ngala is always an event with lunch offered at the pool or on the viewing decks and al fresco dinners can be enjoyed in the dry riverbed. There is also a curio shop and the lodge offers in room massages.
Activities
Twice daily game drives, guided walks, birdwatching, stargazing, bush dinners and bush sundowners are included at Ngala Tented Camp. Specialist safaris and bush tracking are charged additionally.
Reviews
Dominic Atterton (Staff)
Built on the verges of a dry river bed crisscrossed by animal tracks at the heart of the Timbervati Reserve which adjoins the Greater Kruger National Park Ngala is blessed with complete privacy.
In fact the Tented Camp only shares the 15 000 hectares of bush with its sister property the Safari Lodge. This for me gave it a completely unique feel that we didnt experience anywhere else in the Kruger. Because of the extremely limited number of vehicles and vast size of the park you really feel alone in the bush and have to work hard on tracking game without the help of various other rangers and game vehicles as in the Sabi Sands.
This does mean youre less likely to complete your The Big Five tick list in one game drive but makes it all the more rewarding when you do come face to face with the creature you have spent the last hour tracking.
The lodge itself is a stunning mix of contemporary design and safari chic. There is a huge main viewing deck overlooking the river bed at the front of the lodge where meals are served and a beautiful infinity pool for cooling off in the midday sun. The Tents are positioned on either die of the main lodge along the river bed. These are spacious and equally modern. With outdoor showers, front viewing decks and freestanding bathtubs. Honeymoon paradise.
Sarah Clegg (Staff)
Ngala Tented Camp is located in the Timbavati concession, connected to the Kruger National Park. Sole traversing rites for the Ngala rangers ensure the build up of vehicles experienced in other safari areas of South Africa is avoided here. My safari didn't feel like that I have experienced elsewhere in South Africa, the wilderness here reminded me of the wilds of Botswana or Zambia. The game is astonishing and the interaction between our ranger and tracker as they interpreted the messages of the bush was incredible to be a part of. We witnessed a pride of 21 lion feeding on a buffalo carcass, other guests had seen the kill that morning, incredible!! We were hot on the tracks of wild dog throughout the stay and often saw the commotion of the chase through the bush without managing to quite catch up, exhilarating none the less! The original camp was damaged in the floods of 2011 and the tented camp has been completely remodelled on the footprint of the original. The 'tents' are huge and extremely comfortable, each has a large deck with its own plunge pool. The location, along the river bed is a beautiful setting. This is South African safari at its best!
Camilla Smith (Staff)
I was completely overwhelmed by Ngala Safari Lodge, as soon as we arrived into the park we saw superb game. The number of cats really is completely astonishing. Normally leopards are incredibly rare to see, but here you see them often at very close proximity - it is amazing! The camp itself is gorgeous, it is small and intimate and the tents are absolutely amazing. It is definitely camping in real style. The tents are all on decks with gorgeous bathrooms and large deck areas in front that look out onto the bush. There is a small main pool which is a lovely place to sit and relax by during the heat of the day.
The staff really could not do more to look after you, they bend over backwards with continual smiles and passion. The food, guiding and service is excellent. For honeymooners and couples it is a brilliant place.
Experiences
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&Beyond Ngala Treehouse Experience
Nestled within the bush, the &Beyond Ngala Treehouse is set within the Ngala Private Game Reserve, just 5km from Ngala Tented Camp. The a 4-level structure has all the home comforts and overlooks a dry riverbed to offer a complete wilderness experience.
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&Beyond Wild Child programme
Specially designed activities ensure your children get the most out of their safari experience, with activities such as tracking footprints and making traditional bows and arrows to add to game drives with their parents.
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4WD Game Drives
Go on private or shared game drives in the world famous Greater Kruger Area, South Africa to see the Big 5 - lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino - and a host of other animals. The Kruger is also a brilliant spot for birders so pack some binoculars.
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Activities at &Beyond Ngala
Enjoy a variety of game drives and bush walks at Ngala in the Timbavati. &beyond’s fabulous guides will teach you everything there is to know about the bush and there is even the chance to go on a night safari, a definite must.
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Search for leopard in the Sabi Sands
The Sabi Sands is widely regarded as one of the most rewarding regions for spotting leopard in Africa. With good populations and the ability to go on night game-drives which coincides when these big cats are most active, all you need is good timing!
Holiday Ideas
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Highlights of South Africa and Mozambique
Cape Town, Kruger National Park & Mozambique
from £7100 pp inc flights & transfers for 11 nights
- Head out with your complimentary binoculars in search of the famous “Big Five” with one of South Africa’s top guides.
- Enjoy a variety of game activities including twice daily game drives and interpretive bush walks. Perhaps take it one step further and join a conservation experience, such as rhino notching.
- The One&Only Cape Town is in close proximity to some of Cape Town’s leading restaurants but is also host to three delicious dining opportunities; Isola, Nobu and Vista Bar.
Location & directions
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger, South Africa
Ngala Safari Lodge is situated in Ngala Private Game Reserve on 14,700 hectares (36,500 acres) of exclusive game-rich Kruger National Park, Northern Province, South Africa.
How to get there
Ngala Private Game Reserve is easily accessed from Johannesburg by air or by road. Flights are available from Johannesburg to Nelspruit or Hoedspruit with a comfortable 2 hour and 45 minute road transfer to Ngala. Air charters to Ngala can be arranged flying directly to Ngala. If flying doesn’t appeal to you a 6 hour road transfer can be arranged on tarred roads from Johannesburg.
- 100% financial protection
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- Firsthand knowledge
- Renowned service
- Award-winning tour operator
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