Site Visit: &BEYOND Ngala Tented Camp South Africa

Experience

The game viewing is incredible. The trackers and guides are well educated and well spoken and have a lot of experience. Off roading is quite the thrill. The guides drive through the grass and small bushes. The land cruisers are amazing vehicles and fit eight people. If you are a small group you will probably be paired with other guests, depending on occupancy levels. They try to keep families in their own vehicles unless you have upgraded to a private vehicle. The trackers are amazing and can tell by footprints how old a track is. Private lunch platters can be enjoyed on the viewing decks, poolside or on the lush lawn, while private dinners are served on the starlit deck or, weather permitting, in the dry riverbed. For the adventurer you can spend a night under the stars in our dreamy sleepout experience called Ngala Treehouse, guided bush walks and a rhino notching conservation experience. The staff are extremely helpful and friendly. They organized a surprise bush dinner for my mother-law’s birthday under the stars with lanterns.

Game Viewing

It's an astounding experience to see lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs, rhino’s and more up close and personal. These animals are not interested or concerned about people and are used to the landrovers. The guides are experienced and you are well taken care of. They are trained and certified. I have been going on safari all my life and have never had a bad experience. It's important to follow the rules for the animals protection and yours

Logistics

Located in the Ngala Pnspringrivate Game Reserve, between the forest and sandy Timbavati riverbed, TheNgala Tented Camp is sophisticated with great amenities. It’s an hour from Hoedspruit airport. Transfers are available. I do not recommend self-driving to the lodge. The lodge is suitable for older children 12 and up. It has nine beautiful decorated (Safari elegant), air-conditioned tents, with riverbed views. The tents are not really tents, it's a brick and mortar building with a “faux” tented roof. So don’t be put off by the word tent! Suitable for small groups. The tented suites are elevated on platforms, minimizing environmental impact. Each suite features an ensuite bathroom, overhead fan, air conditioning, outdoor showers, electric blankets for winter warmth and private wooden decks. In autumn, winter and early spring its low malaria season.

I do not recommend going in the South African summer — too hot and buggy. You also do not see as many animals as the grass is high and they hide away in the shade.
I have stayed at numerous &BEYOND lodges. Ngala Tented lodge is a mid priced good value for money luxury all inclusive lodge. I loved the food, but for more conservative diners, I highly recommend planning ahead with the lodge about food preferences, as a lot of foreigners find the food too eclectic. They are only too happy to accommodate your needs. I organized steak and fries for my mother-in-law, and she was so happy! The lodge is not wheelchair friendly, but the staff are helpful and will facilitate it, but I will reduce the independence of wheelchair travelers relying on being lifted

Conservation

The &BEYOND group partly owned by the Getty family are heavily invested in sustainable tourism, conserving wildlife, anti-poaching and investing and uplifting the local community.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to South Africa. In need of further inspiration? Check out Kaitlan Leonard’s guide, Wine, Dine & Adventure in South Africa.