Accommodation at Ngala Private Game Reserve, Limpopo, South Africa

Safari Lodges and Accommodation in South Africa

Accommodation at Ngala Private Game Reserve, Limpopo, South Africa

NGALA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Classic Ngala Game Lodge
Romantic Tented Safari Camp
In the renowned Kruger National Park
Exhilarating Walking Safaris
Interpretive Big Five game viewing
Unique Specialist Tracking Safari
Commitment to conserving African wildlife
Small Luxury Hotels of the World member

Meaning ‘lion’ in Shangaan, Ngala was the first private safari reserve to be incorporated in the world-famous Kruger National Park – the largest wildlife sanctuary in South Africa. With exclusive traversing rights over 14 700 hectares (36 323 acres) of Kruger's game-rich wilderness, Ngala offers an extraordinary African wildlife safari experience.

Guests may enjoy exhilarating four-day, three-night Walking Safaris tracking rhino, elephant bulls and buffalo herds on foot during exciting morning walks and viewing nocturnal predators on informative night game-drives. Led by specialist rangers, safety is the highest priority. Accommodation is in four spacious safari tents with en suite facilities.

Owned by CC Africa, Ngala is of one of Africa's most innovative conservation partnership agreements – jointly signed in April 1992 by the WWF-SA (World Wildlife Fund – South Africa), South African National Parks and CC Africa. Under this partnership, an annual lease, traversing fees and a percentage of Ngala’s profits are paid to the National Parks Trust. As a reliable ecotourism destination, Ngala makes a significant contribution to ongoing community empowerment operations and conservation development.

GAME VIEWING:
Exceptional African wildlife: Situated in the world-famous Kruger National Park – the largest wildlife sanctuary in South Africa – Ngala comprises three distinct habitats, which offer an incredible diversity of game.
* Big Five
* Superlative lion and leopard viewing
* Buffalo herds of over 300 individuals
* Huge elephant herds
* Endangered African wild dog regularly den in the Reserve
* Superb birdwatching, includes abundance of raptors, owls and savanna birds
* Diversity of habitats

Ngala Private Game Reserve Wildlife Habitats:
Ngala is situated at the southern edge of the vast belt of mopane woodland which blankets much of the northern Kruger National Park. This broad-leaved woodland typically grows on heavy clay soils which support rain-filled pans in summer, attracting larger mammals. Acacia and combretum trees dominate mixed bush savanna, where impressive tamboti and weeping boerbean trees grow on raised termite mounds and drainage lines. A narrow belt of riverine forest lines the Timbavati River tributaries.

Mammals at Ngala Private Game Reserve:
Ngala offers unsurpassed game viewing opportunities of territorial, individually recognisable lion and leopard which are tracked on a daily basis. Cheetah tend to be nomadic but are regularly encountered. Packs of endangered African wild dog hunt on Ngala, occasionally denning to raise pups (typically May to June). Huge herds of buffalo and elephant are frequently seen quenching their thirst at waterholes which also attract white rhino and are favoured by hippo. Impala are the most abundant antelope, with resident wildebeest, greater kudu and steenbok among other common species. The rare Sharpe’s grysbok occurs in mopane woodland. Lone elephant bulls and breeding herds are regularly encountered. Honey badger, African civet and small-spotted genet are among the smaller carnivores regularly seen on night game drives. Packs of dwarf mongoose live in large termite mounds.

Birds at Ngala Private Game Reserve:
With 279 species recorded, Ngala ensures excellent birdwatching opportunities. Birds of prey are particularly conspicuous with bateleur, tawny eagle and white-backed vulture among species whose nest sites are monitored. After dark, Verreaux's eagle-owl, African scops-owl and barred owlet emerge to hunt. Wahlberg’s eagle, woodland kingfisher and Diederik cuckoo are abundant intra-African migrants (October to April). Lilac-breasted roller, grey go-away bird, red-billed hornbill and magpie shrike are conspicuous in savanna. Dense growth along the Timbavati River is favoured by Burchell’s coucal, Retz’s helmet-shrike and black-backed puff back. Hamerkop, Egyptian goose and red-billed teal visit waterholes. Tens of thousands of nomadic red-billed quelea may nest gregariously in acacia savanna during the wet season (December to February).

Other African Wildlife:
Chains of processionary caterpillars are conspicuous as they cross sand tracks at the end of summer (April to May). Great numbers of mopane caterpillars feed on fresh mopane leaves. There are 75 species of butterfly recorded with guineafowl butterfly, spotted joker and African monarch among the more commonly encountered. Tree monitor and water monitor are frequently observed in savanna and riverside habitats respectively. Nile crocodile, large leopard tortoise and flap-necked chameleon are other interesting reptiles. The conspicuous meringue-like nests of foam-nest frogs hang above waterholes after summer rains and 18 species of frog may breed in seasonal waterbodies

ACCOMMODATION:
Three extraordinary safari camps – Ngala Private Game Reserve is world-renowned for its exceptional and unique safari accommodation, situated within one of the richest wildlife regions in Africa, the vast Kruger National Park.

NGALA GAME LODGE:
Nestled under a canopy of trees, this gracious safari lodge features 20 classic chalets with private verandas and a luxurious Safari Suite with private pool, deck and safari vehicle. Impressive guest areas and a large swimming pool and sundeck overlook a busy waterhole. Classic family safari accommodation – This gracious, colonial-style safari lodge, set in Ngala’s extraordinary African wilderness, is renowned for its superb accommodation. It provides an unbeatable family safari experience in the heart of the Kruger National Park.

* 20 thatched chalets
* One luxurious Safari Suite with private pool
* En suite bathrooms and air-conditioning
* Swimming pool and game viewing sundeck
* African gift gallery
* Small Luxury Hotels of the World member
* Conference room for 42 delegates

Each en suite safari chalet features a private veranda and exudes a romantic ambience with nostalgic safari memorabilia. With its secluded position overlooking the Mopane riverbed, Ngala’s sophisticated Safari Suite boasts a spacious sitting room, elegant en suite bedroom, private deck, personal pool and exclusive safari vehicle.

The main thatched dining, bar and sitting areas are open to the African bushveld, and the large swimming pool looks out over a busy waterhole where elephants are frequently sighted. Delicious Pan-African cuisine is served in the candle- and lantern-lit courtyard or in the dramatic boma (outdoor dining area). Exceptional bush banqueting is enjoyed in spectacular settings in the African wilderness.

ACTIVITIES:

Twice-daily game drives:
Enjoy Big Five game viewing encounters on interpretive game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles led by expert CC Africa rangers and Shangaan trackers. Ngala offers both off-road and night game drives affording excellent sightings and photographic opportunities. Discover a host of interesting nocturnal animals on exhilarating, spotlit night game drives.

Interpretive bush walks:
Explore Ngala’s intriguing fauna and flora on interactive bush walks led by an experienced
CC Africa ranger or expert Shangaan tracker. Guided bush walks bring you face-to-face with wild Africa at its best, allowing fascinating insights into the landscape, animal tracks and a host of interesting birds, reptiles, insects and tiny mammals.

Additional activities
Ngala offers exceptional birdwatching opportunities, stargazing and spectacular bush banqueting. Unique children’s activities are offered at Ngala Game Lodge, including special family game-drives (at the discretion of the lodge manager), bush walks, Planet Manager activity books, frog safaris, birding, and children’s meals and menus.

NGALA TENTED SAFARI CAMP:
An intimate safari camp featuring just six luxurious, romantic tented suites on raised platforms with private wooden decks. From the elegant guest areas and beautiful lap pool, guests enjoy excellent views of the seasonal Timbavati riverbed. Situated only three kilometres (1.9 miles) from Orpen Gate – one of the major gateways into the world-famous Kruger National Park – this elegant safari camp is known internationally for sophisticated tented accommodation in tranquil African bush surrounds.

* Just six luxurious tented suites
* En suite bathrooms and outdoor showers
* Overhead fans
* Intimate game viewing wooden decks
* Contoured lap pool
* Small Luxury Hotels of the World member

Set on the banks of the great seasonal Timbavati River, Ngala Tented Safari Camp was built with a light footprint to minimise impact on the environment. Rated in numerous prestigious listings such as the US Conde Nast Traveler’s “Hot List”, it is a gracious camp with a contemporary feel and flamboyant styling. Guest areas feature retro pieces from the 50s, 60s and 70s and beautiful timber decks which overlook the seasonal riverbed.

Private lunch platters of delicious Pan-African cuisine can be enjoyed on the viewing decks or at the poolside. Exciting bush banquets in spectacular wilderness settings and theatrical alfresco dinners in the dry riverbed are an unforgettable experience.

TIMBAVATI GAME RESERVE:
The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve came into existence on July 1956, when a group of conservation-minded persons who owned "game farms" on the western boundary of the Kruger Park came together to form the Timbavati Association.

The idea of forming such a reserve was first mooted as early as 1948, and for several years a handful of far-sighted men met frequently to discuss ways and means to create a nature reserve of a meaningful size in the area. These "leading spirits" of conservation and sustainable land use eventually succeeded in convincing sufficient number of landowners in the region to join them in forming an Association governed by a Constitution that would limit the "rights" of the individual landowner for the benefit of all.

Man's incursions into this part of the Lowveld have always been temporary and brief, from Early Stone Age down to the early 20th century. In point of fact, large tracts of land in the northern portion of the Lowveld were never permanently settled by man, and the lands now comprising the Timbavati were barely touched, and are still only lightly inhabited. This part of South Africa's bushveld region may therefore be regarded as truly unspoiled and deserves recognition as truly wild land, as opposed to the "restored" and "restocked" lands commonly found elsewhere.

The white lions of Timbavati where discovered by Chris McBride in the early 1970s while doing his Phd on his father's farm Vlakgezicht. Timbavati became well known for the white lions, and as a result the commercial lodges in the reserve became very popular tourist destinations. Although there are currently no white lions in the reserve, the recessive gene causing this unusual phenomenon is still carried by the local prides, which are still paler than most other lions by comparison. Several books have been dedicated to the subject, including two written by Chris McBride.

The principal aim of the reserve is the preservation of wildlands and wildlife by restoring the land to its natural state and maintaining the mix and balance of species, conditions, and processes that have historically occurred in this region. Timbavati is dedicated to the proposition that conservation's greatest purpose and challenge is to maintain the reign of Nature. Timbavati's mission is to see that at least here - in this small, but singular and deeply cherished part of the African Bushveld - Nature will be defended against human impacts, and left just as it should be: natural.

The Timbavati Private nature Reserve is located in what is called the "Lowveld", a vast tract of subtropical savannah bushveld in the Limpopo Province of the Republic of South Africa.

The reserve consists of prime wildlife habitat situated on the unfenced western boundary of the world-famous Kruger National Park, a conservation area of more than 2,000,000 ha (over 5 million acres).

The southern border of this great complex of public and privately - owned protected land lies close to the Kingdom of Swaziland and abuts the boundaries of Zimbabwe in the north and Mozambique in the east.

Timbavati is one of a handful of nature reserves on the western boundary of the Kruger Park that are now an integral part of the Kruger Park system. Collectively termed the Association of Private Nature Reserves, these wildlife-rich lands adjoin and are managed in cooperation with the Kruger National Park, forming a unique combination of public and private lands called "The Greater Kruger Park".

The new conservation entity, created in the early 1990's, contains no internal fencing (apart from that which is used to enclose a few isolated camps, and thus "exclose" dangerous game animals). This opened up a vast stretch of wild land to the free movement of wildlife throughout what is now effectively a single conservation area. This situation is good for both wildlife and tourists: wildlife have access to more resources for meeting their permanent, seasonal, and episodic needs; and tourists are offered a wider range of eco-tourism facilities.

At the beginning of 2002, the association had 50 members, and the Reserve was made up of 50 contiguous farms totalling approximately 60,000 hectares (over 144000 acres). The owners of these farms - like the officials of the national Parks Board - are committed to maintaining their land in as pristine a state as possible. They are individuals who attach a great value to wildlife, and have a strong desire to maintain that increasingly rare commodity called "wilderness". These farms represent a different kind of investment and produce a different kind of "profit". If well tended, and disturbed as little as possible, their wildlife and wild beauty will never be exhausted, and their value will only appreciate with time.

There are seven fine game lodges in the Timbavati Reserve, as well as an environmental education camp featuring overnight wilderness hikes and other special programmes.

In addition to providing visitors the opportunity to see virtually all of the species of wildlife to be found in the region, each lodge offers a diverse range of facilities and services within the grounds of the lodge itself, as well as a level of personal and attentive service that the seasoned traveller has come to expect from the world's smaller, more intimate lodges. Timbavati's privately owned and operated lodges pride themselves on their ability to offer something truly different, and truly better, at a reasonable and competitive price.

Timbavati's principal attraction is the astonishing diversity and abundance of wildlife species that inhabit the reserve. Mammalian species alone number 147, including 27 ungulates (hoofed mammals) and 4 large carnivores. Many of these spectacular animals are likely to be spotted even on a short visit.

There are also many lesser-known animals that most visitors find fascinating to behold, from exotic reptiles and amphibians, to colourful and bizarre insects. And for those with a botanical bent, there are hundreds of species of trees and shrubs (not to mention the enormous variety of grasses and other plant life).

In addition to its wealth of biological diversity, there is something else that many visitors soon discover - something they commonly say is equally impressive, and of enormous value. In the Timbavati there exists an atmosphere of undisturbed nature - of true wilderness - which is difficult to define and describe, but can readily be perceived by the discerning traveller in those rare places where it can still be encountered.

This subtle and ineffable quality, which is so powerful and captivating to the imagination, is no longer to be found in most game parks and reserves in the world; in Timbavati, it cannot be missed. Here there is a sense that the land has never belonged to man; and that ever since the Pleistocene - the "Golden Age of Mammals" - this land has belonged to those majestic creatures that dominated virtually the entire world during that remote epoch.