Fantastic for birds and botany, the bush is green and lush and afternoon thunderstorms can be sensational, the resultant light after a storm is sublime – excellent for photography. It can be hot and humid. Rainfall is mainly limited to late afternoon thunder showers and should not detract much from game viewing, rain can however result in less off-road driving.
Ngala Kruger
Ngala Private Game Reserve is a private concession within the Kruger National Park - undoubtedly one of Africa’s most legendary reserves. Ngala is our old home and much loved by our guests, many of whom keep returning for the wild spaces, superb trackers and exceptional wildlife
WHY VISIT NGALA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Big Five private game reserve
Private traversing area unfenced with Kruger National Park
Night drives and walking safaris
Sensitive off-road driving allowing for close-up game sightings
A true wilderness experience with very few game drive vehicles
Huge breeding herds of Elephant and Buffalo
A vast terrain where Wild Dog thrive
Good concentrations of Lion
Excellent Leopard sightings
BELLINGHAM SAFARIS SUSTAINABLE LODGE PARTNER:
Ngala was the first private game reserve to be incorporated into the world-famous Kruger National Park, a model that paved the way for further private concessions within the Park. Hans Hoheisen donated his property, Ngala, to the WWF-SA in 1992, when tourism operations were leased out to &Beyond who now leases the Ngala land from WWF SA, in return, WWF pay a portion of their turnover to the SANParks Trust. This money has been used to expand some of South Africa’s smaller national parks in areas with exceptional biodiversity. The monies paid have enabled SANParks to establish the West Coast National Park, a high biodiversity region of international importance.
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FEATURED LODGES AND CAMPS OF NGALA
Ngala Safari Lodge
Ngala Safari Lodge consists of 20 thatched cottages located beneath a dense canopy of Tamboti trees. Classical safari charm is what best describes this safari lodge. A spacious guest veranda adorned with wonderfully comfortable armchairs offers you the opportunity to gaze out onto a private waterhole and marvel at the incredible wildlife that frequents it.
Ngala Tented Camp
Ngala Tented Camp consists of 9 luxury canvas tents in prime game viewing territory. This camp gets our vote for “best tented camp” in South Africa with outdoor showers, deep baths, overhead fans, air conditioning and electric blankets to keep you supremely comfortable in all seasons. The Leopard viewing is particularly good making this camp perfect for big cat lovers.
Ngala Treehouse
A treehouse in one of our favorite reserves. This sleepout is totally off the grid (there is solar power). Ngala Treehouse is an overnight wilderness experience that complements a stay at one of the reserve’s two permanent lodges (it is located 5km from Tented Camp on the Timbavati River). A tapas-style picnic dinner is set up in the safety of an enclosed boma beneath the stars. Guests are then left in luxurious solitude for the night, provided with a radio and mobile phone for use in case of inclement weather or other emergencies.
When to visit Ngala Kruger National Park
March and April are two of the best months to be on safari in South Africa, the weather is generally mild and dry, the vegetation takes on those typical autumn colors of red, yellow and brown and if the right lodge is chosen, a good guide should be able to produce sensational wildlife!
The lack of water results in wildlife frequently being seen drinking at various waterholes, the vegetation also gets a lot more sparse making it easier to see wildlife, as a result of this, this is the best time to see mammals. It can be chilly in the early morning but it is usually clear, warm and sunny by mid-morning. This time of year is the most difficult to get availability at the top lodges so please be sure to contact us well in advance.
A beautiful time to be on safari as it is generally at is driest making mammals easy to spot; birds are also more easily seen as many are calling in preparation for the breeding season. From a weather point of view, days are generally mild throughout and it is generally still dry.