andBeyond Ngala Tented Camp

Blue skies and open grassland, running antelope and the “Big Five”: this is the staple of the South Africa bush adventure—and the best way to taste it is to get close to the action in an unfenced camp. For this, andBeyond’s Ngala offers the ultimate in luxury safari: a sophisticated tented accommodation in the heart of the Bushveld.

Ngala—which means ‘lion’ in the local Shangaan language—was the first private game reserve to be included within the Kruger National Park, the largest wildlife sanctuary in South Africa.

Situated on the banks of the great seasonal Timbavati River, the camp comprises nine luxurious tented suites, set on raised platforms that provide great views over the African bush and the river.

Chic and contemporary

Smartly decorated with rich fabrics and retro pieces from the 60s and 70s, the “tents” utilize meshed fabrics and canvas that sway in the warm African wind—but they are more like luxurious villas.

They come with outdoor showers and private wooden viewing decks, offering a 180-degree vistas of the bush. Inside, stand-alone bathtubs mounted on rough-hewn wooden bases, spacious beds with crisp linens, swirling overhead fans… and electric blankets for the coldest nights are all provided.

With warm, earthy tones, each tented suite is cleverly designed to incorporate the old native trees, minimizing impact on the environment.

Elegant guest areas overlook the seasonal Timbavati River. The camp’s lap infinity pool, which follows the contours of the riverbank, with deck chairs alongside, is a perfect spot for lounging between game drives.

Dining and activities

The dining at Ngala is as personal and inventive. Private lunches are served on the viewing decks, at the poolside or on the lush lawn—and the theatrical al fresco dinners in the dry riverbed are magical.

The camp’s excellent location offers guests the opportunity to see animals close up, and activities include exhilarating twice-daily game drives in an open Land Rover. Guests can go on nature walks too, and learn how to track animals in the park. There are specialist and photographic safaris on offer. Located nearby is a hide for bird-watching and photography.

in our opinion

As one of the very few luxury tented camps in the area, the remote Ngala is the real deal.

The camp combines the exclusivity of only nine luxurious tents with the exhilarating immediacy of big night sounds and close natural encounters.

andBeyond Ngala Tented Camp is an uber-romantic spot in the wilderness, contemporary and hip.

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What we love

• Magnificent location adjoining the two-million-hectare, world-famous Kruger National Park;
• Luxurious and sophisticated tents build on raised decks—with a private seating area outside;
• Clever incorporation of old trees into the tent design;
• Lodge infinity pool and sundeck overlooking seasonal river, often frequented by elephant and buffalo;
• Warm, welcoming, well-trained staff, with an eye for the smallest detail;
• Knowledgeable and highly experienced rangers;
• Outstanding food and exceptional dining experiences: romantic candlelit dinners in the dry riverbed are the specialty;
• Amazing game viewing: Ngala Private Game Reserve is known as one of the richest wildlife regions on the African continent. The camp enjoys proximity to large herds of elephants, has good concentrations of lions and reports frequent leopard sightings;
• Small appetizers at the end of each morning drive, including coffee, hot chocolate, and Amarula liqueur.

What you should know

• Ngala is close to the action, so be vigilant at all times—wild animals are all around. The camp is not fenced off and security guards accompany guests after dark;
• For the same reason, Ngala Tented camp can only accommodate children over 12 years old;
• From Johannesburg, the drive to the Ngala Camp takes six hours on tarred roads. The nearest airports are at Nelspruit (three hours away) and Hoedspruit (40 minutes away).
• Air charters to Ngala can be arranged—these will fly directly to Ngala;
• The luggage on the flights is generally limited to 20 kg per person.