andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Lodging · Ehlanzeni

andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Lodging · Ehlanzeni

andBeyond Ngala Private Game Reserve, Timbavati, 1380, South Africa

Highlights

Nestled on a private game reserve, this all-inclusive safari lodge offers romantic thatched cottages and unforgettable wildlife experiences, complete with attentive staff and stunning views of passing elephants by the pool.

andBeyond Ngala Private Game Reserve, Timbavati, 1380, South Africa Get directions

go.andbeyond.com

@andbeyondngala

@travelleisure

"An intimate, immersive Big Five wildlife experience." - Travel + Leisure Editors

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@afar

"The &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge is located on the Ngala Private Game Reserve, an unfenced private concession wedged between the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park. &Beyond leases the land from World Wildlife Fund South Africa and donates a portion of its profits to the South African National Parks Trust. As a result, the trust has been able to fund special projects and maintain West Coast National Park, located just an hour north of Cape Town. Conservation efforts aside, &Beyond Nagala Safari Lodge is most known for offering a luxury safari experience. Guests can spot wildlife from the lounge, then be completely surrounded by the bush in their air-conditioned rooms. Have breakfast under the shade of an enormous weeping boer bean tree, while away hours at the pool with a book and your favorite drink, and indulge in a fireside dinner, surrounded by lanterns and candles. During their stay, guests even enjoy a dedicated vehicle and tracker team to guide them on twice-daily drives, bush strolls, and walking safaris. The lodge is about an hour’s drive from Hoedspruit Airport, but Airlink also operates daily direct flights from Johannesburg and Nelspruit to Ngala’s private airstrip."

South Africa’s Best Safari Parks and Camps

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@travelleisure

"In South Africa, andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge (No. 9) has 20 cottages that blend light details — wide-slate bathroom floors, ceramic stools, pale patterned loveseats, high thatched ceilings — with the gravitas of deep-hued wood furnishings, muted flat-weave rugs, and antique-inspired wildlife illustrations. Overall, it feels grounded and traditional, but never stuffy. The property is situated on Ngala Private Game Reserve, which — thanks to the success of andBeyond's conservation work — is now part of Kruger National Park." - Travel + Leisure Editors

Safari Lodges in Africa: World's Best in 2021

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@travelleisure

"Another trip includes a stay at Ngala Safari Lodge, ranked by T+L readers as one of the world’s best safari camps in 2020, with different wildlife viewing opportunities." - Travel + Leisure Editors

Luxury Wilderness Safaris Trip Comes With a Private Jet Flight, Elephant Watching, and Stays in Top Camps

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@travelleisure

"andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park Area, South Africa" - Travel + Leisure Editors

Safari Lodges in Africa: World's Best 2020

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Laura S

Google

This was our very first safari experience and we had a wonderful time. The game viewing was excellent over our four days with us seeing six of the magnificent seven, only missing the Cape buffalo. We saw lions every day, including the Birmingham Pride with the White Lioness and her cub. We also spent time with the Birmingham break away pride and saw the Mbiri Males with both prides, an impressive set of male lions. We spent an amazing hour with a beautiful male cheetah, which we weren't expecting to see. And as a bonus, a thrilling chase to see a pack of four Wild Dogs as they ran along devouring a Steenbok. And yes, the Elephants really do visit the pool as they did for us on our third day. ||Of course, none of these sightings would have been possible without our great Guide and Tracker, Tara and Gyani. We had an upgraded private vehicle for the four days and so spent lots of time with these two professionals. We were so impressed with how hard they worked in helping us to not just view all of these amazing animals, but to get so close. You spend a lot of time with your guide and tracker and so it helps when your guide is also a good conversationalist, which Tara truly was. We're so thankful to the two of them for making our first safari experience so special. ||We also stayed in the Tree House for one of our nights which I'd highly recommend. It's a very special experience that we'll never forget. I'm not quite sure of another time that I'll drift off to sleep hearing lions call to each other in close proximity. A real treat.

G Saw

Google

We had the best time here. Our guide Miki and tracker Given really did their best to give us a once in a lifetime experience, hustling to track down all the animals we wanted to see. The game drives really exceeded our expectations and were so much fun. The hours went by so quickly and we always looked forward to the next drive. Back at the lodge, Quiet was such a great host who remembered our preferences and was always so knowledgeable, accommodating and obliging. Hope to be back again someday and will definitely tell my family and friends about this wonderful experience!

toufic akrouch

Google

The lodge is perfect. The rooms are comfortable, cozy and relaxing. The food is 10/10 with different options on the menus every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They hosted different types of meals such as bush breakfast and group buffets when we stayed there, and it was perfect. The most important is the staff which makes you feel like family which was incredibly special. Their hospitality was beyond what you could expect, right from the moment you arrive. The hospitality was so amazing, it hurt saying goodbye. I could not highly recommend this place enough. I want to give a huge thank my guide Gerry, tracker Aubrey and butler Noel. We felt happy and blessed to have them for our trip and we would hopefully return to see them again and ride with Gerry. They all contributed to making this safari special. Gerry made sure to try and satisfy everyone’s animal sighting requests and is extremely passionate and knowledgeable. We were very lucky to have him as our ranger and hope to see him again in the future. My wife got a bit sick at the lodge and the team went over and beyond to help her out, they even wrote notes to us throughout our stay and handed us gifts. From the small details, they really knew how to make this experience feel special.

Karna C

Google

Great property-once upon a time||Chose Ngala based on several awards and references. Was a disappointing experience overall, but there were bright spots for sure. ||Overall the property is just TIRED. It’s clear it may have once been a top notch property, steeped in a current luxury meets classic British Colonial old world vibe. However, now it is just dated and needs a refurb. ||The good|Great staff and service |Great game viewing. |Our ranger and tracker Ben and Tonight were OUTSTANDING!!!!||The not so good|Food was inconsistent and mediocre|Rooms were worn with needs for repair. My door handle literally broke off one day. Not “stopped working” but actually the metal snapped! |Rugs are worn and dirty|Tub water had sediment in it and wasn’t clean|Common spaces felts dated and the silver serve ware/trays was all tarnished and green||This was not the 5 star award winning luxury we expected AT ALL!

T and G T

Google

Unfortunately our experience of Ngala was embarrassing for the lack of wildlife. I know the drought Africa is in can play a huge part in the lack of wildlife and this will be an excuse put forward. This was our second lodge we had been to on this trip . The first lodge Ulusaba had an abundance of wildlife. The advertising Ngala use is to have the best experience of wildlife in this area, this is untrue. We had a very good Ranger at Ngala who was struggling to find game and when asked for the reason of the lack of wildlife, was very uneasy to how to deal with the question. Ngala is a lot more expensive than Ulusaba so value for money we feel well and truly out of pocket. The lodge was comfortable but dated not even four star, there was one tap not working and did not get fixed, the air conditioning unit leaked over the carpet and had been doing so for some time as the carpet is stained. The staff were pleasant on a more corporate basis. I did not feel they engaged with us on a friendly basis. I will be so interested to the response from the Ngala &beyond team.

Gary H E

Google

Ngala and Beyond is perfection. The cottages were amazing, incredible beds, heavenly pillows, indoor bath and outdoor shower! The staff were fantastic. Matthew who is the manager was on top of everything. Ricardo did an incredible job in the dinning area ensuring each guest's needs and desires were met. The bars and entertainment were so wonderful, BUT the absolute stars of the show were our ranger Barney and his tracker Given. These guys put us on game like nothing I've ever seen before. They are truly wonderful guys and such an asset to Beyond. We were so sad when we had to leave these guys. It was like saying goodby to an old friend. I could fill pages with more good things but this covers the most important. If you want to have a fantastic safari experience and do it in supreme comfort look no further than And Beyond Nagala Safari Lodge

ANDREW GYURE

Google

The amazing staff here has a way of making you feel like you are the only guest at the lodge, from personal welcome, drink and cold towels upon arrival to your own ‘butler’ assigned to you during your stay who serves you your daily meals. His name was Silence and he learned my preferences and idiosyncrasies by day 2. The food is wonderful and there are oodles of choices every day. Rooms are super well appointed and comfortable with a spectacular outdoor shower. The game drives with guide Adam and tracker Geddes were outstanding. I credit the two of them for all the amazing animal sightings and photos I was able to take. They really know their job! The swimming pool is a great refuge after a morning game drive, and you might even be in the company of wild elephants who make it their watering hole. Can’t recommend Ngala Lodge highly enough.

M O

Google

Dear William. I would like to commend you and your excellent team. Miki is a fantastic guide. She has excellent banter with Given our tracker and hustles to show us the best that the wondrous Ngala Private Reserve. Back at the lodge, quiet takes excellent care of my family and I. He takes the initiative to remember the little things like what sauces and drinks we like. This may not seem like much but it is touching to us that he puts in so much effort. He is also always smiling and makes us feel at home. Nkomo