Ngala Safari Lodge

strong lion numbers and regular wild dog

Ngala Safari Lodge sits within the private Ngala Game Reserve, a 147 km² (36,324 acres) concession on the western edge of Kruger National Park, centred on the dry bed of the Timbavati River as it runs east into the park. Ngala means “lion” in Shangaan.

Wildlife on the reserve is strong across the board. Lion numbers are good, and African wild dog is seen regularly. Off-road driving and night vehicle safari are both permitted within the private concession, in a landscape with markedly less vehicle traffic than the open sections of Kruger nearby.

The lodge is built beneath a canopy of mopane and tamboti trees, with the main dining, bar and sitting areas housed under a single thatched roof, opening onto a walled courtyard and an elevated deck above a waterhole where elephant regularly come to drink.

A swimming pool looks out over riverine woodland, breakfast is served in the shade of a large weeping boerbean tree, and dinners move between the candlelit courtyard and an open-air boma. There is also a treatment room for massages and a small gym.

The style throughout is classic and colonial-inspired rather than contemporary: thatch, antiques, campaign furniture and safari memorabilia. It suits guests who want that settled, traditional safari atmosphere rather than a more minimalist or design-led lodge.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Ngala Safari Lodge is in 20 en-suite thatched cottages, each with a private veranda and air conditioning. Bathrooms are finished in slate tile with a shower and a deep bath.

Three of the cottages are Family Cottages, each formed of two interlinking suites with a connecting door, for parents and children sharing. A separate three-bedroom Family Villa sleeps up to four adults and two children, with its own private swimming pool and exclusive use of a safari vehicle for the length of the stay.

Family Villa : x1 : three bedrooms, private swimming pool and exclusive use of a safari vehicle, sleeping up to 4 adults and 2 children

Cottage : x17 : en-suite, air-conditioned, with mosquito-netted double or twin bed and private veranda

Family Cottage : x3 : two interlinking en-suite suites with a connecting door, for parents and children sharing

Activities

Ngala Safari Lodge provides access to the following activities, not all of which are necessarily included in the room rate …

• Vehicle safari
• Walking safari
• Bush meals
• Night vehicle safari
• Sleep-out at the Ngala Treehouse (additional fee)

The Timbavati Reserve is one of the largest and best known private safari areas in the Kruger area. It is somewhere that features regularly in trips, often in combination with the even better known Sabi Sand area.

The usual stay duration is 3-4 nights.

Seasonality

The best time to visit Kruger is generally considered to be the May-Oct dry season, but (surprisingly) the reserve remains popular year round.

Safari in the Kruger area is much more seasonal than most people would lead you to believe. Trip planning is complicated by the fact that the seasons here are almost diametrically opposite to those down in Cape Town (with which the area is most commonly combined in trips).

Dry winter : Jun/Sep

This period is characterised by a cool dry winter which is generally considered to be the best time for wildlife viewing, although day length is relatively short and nights can get very cold. Unfortunately it does coincide with a more conventional cool wet winter in Cape Town.

Hot transition : Oct/Nov

This is the start of the hot wet summer. Wildlife viewing is usually very strong, but temperatures and humidities can become uncomfortably high in advance of the first rains, which usually arrive mid November to cool things down. This coincides with a usually pleasant spring season in Cape Town. October therefore represents an interesting compromise month.

Wet summer : Dec/Mar

This period is characterised by a hot wet summer, which is generally considered to be the most challenging time for wildlife viewing, although sightings should remain reliable in the premium areas. Day length is nice and long, but temperatures and humidities can become uncomfortably high and rain can be a major issue. However these potentially adverse conditions happen to coincide with a hot dry summer in Cape Town.

Cool transition : Apr/May

This is a period of transition between the hot wet summer and the cool dry winter, with wildlife viewing continuing to improve as the foliage dies back. Day length, temperatures and humidities are all in the middle of their ranges. The period coincides with autumn/fall in Cape Town, making this perhaps the strongest time of year for the combination.

one of the best private reserves in Kruger