Starting from R8 995.00
per person sharing per night
- ECO FRIENDLY, SOLAR RUN LODGE
- 3 LUXURY TENTED CHALETS
- SWIMMING POOL
- Boma
- Children 5+
- Bar
- MORNING AND AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE
- Makalali Private Game Reserve
Welcome to Ngonyam Safari Lodge
Ngonyam Safari Lodge is a small, family-run camp set within one of South Africa’s most untouched private wilderness areas.
Experience safari life at its most personal and unhurried. The days drift between guided game drives and long stretches of quiet bush, where the Big Five and other wildlife move freely through the landscape. Everything follows the rhythm of the wild.
Ngonyam is intimate by design and has only three luxury tents. Through this, the experience is personal, unforced, and shaped by genuine hospitality. Guests are welcomed like family into a lodge built on generations of knowledge, a deep connection to the land, and a simple way of life, rooted in the bush.
As the sun sets, the pace slows even further. Evenings are spent around the fire beneath open African skies, sharing stories as the sounds of the night settle over camp. It’s a place to pause, look closer, and feel part of the wilderness rather than separate from it.
ngonyam Safari Lodge at a Glance
Rates
Full Board
From
R8 995.00
per person sharing per night
1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026
Full Board
From
R8 995.00
per person sharing per night
1 January 2027 – 31 December 2027
Location
Ngonyam Safari Lodge is located within the Makalali Private Nature Reserve in Limpopo, South Africa, part of the wider Greater Kruger ecosystem.
Set within 25,000 hectares of protected wilderness, the reserve offers vast, landscapes where wildlife thrives within a secure conservation area, delivering exceptional year-round game viewing. The lodge sits on the banks of Ngonyam Dam, a natural water source attracting hippos, crocodiles, birdlife, and regular game activity.
Access is via the main Makalali gate, followed by a scenic drive through the reserve into camp. The lodge area is enclosed by an elephant fence, offering a secure and peaceful base within the wild.
Lodge & Rooms
The lodge accommodates up to six guests across three luxury tented chalets, each thoughtfully positioned to offer privacy while remaining closely connected to the surrounding landscape. Designed with space and comfort in mind, the chalets feature king-size beds that can be converted into hollywood twins on request, along with air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, and standard hotel bathroom amenities to ensure a comfortable stay in the bush.
Each chalet includes a private en-suite bathroom with his-and-hers basins, a bathtub, an indoor shower, and an outdoor shower with both hot and cold running water. These elements are carefully integrated to allow guests to enjoy a sense of immersion in nature without compromising on comfort or convenience.
The lodge’s main area offers a relaxed and welcoming setting, where guests can unwind and settle into the lounge between activities. Outside, the sparkling swimming pool overlooks the dam, creating a tranquil vantage point where wildlife is often seen coming to drink at the water’s edge, reinforcing the quiet rhythm of the surrounding wilderness.
Wildlife
Wildlife at Ngonyam shifts with the seasons. In the dry months, animals are drawn to water sources, while in the green season, the bush becomes thicker, and sightings are more spread out but often more surprising.
Ngonyam Safari Lodge sits within the Makalali Private Nature Reserve, where the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo – are regularly seen. Guests can also encounter giraffe, zebra, impala, kudu, waterbuck, and baboon moving through the reserve.
Predators such as hyena and cheetah are occasionally encountered, while birdlife is ever present around the lodge and dam, including kingfishers, fish eagles, hornbills, rollers, and a variety of waterbirds. With time in the reserve, no two game drives are ever the same, and each sighting is shaped by the natural rhythm of the bush.
Book Your Next
Wild Escape
Facilities / Amenities
- Swimming pool with decking & sun loungers
- Communal lounge & dining area
- Boma area with campfire
- Wi-Fi in main area
- Indoor, outdoor showers & bathtub
- All rooms are air-conditioned
- Each luxury tent features a private veranda
- Mosquito nets in rooms
- Curio Shop
Activities
- Morning: 3-Hour Game Drive with Coffee Stop
- Afternoon: 3-Hour Game Drive with Sundowner Stop
A typical day at Ngonyam Safari Lodge
Each morning begins with a morning wake-up call, coffee and a game drive in the Makalali Game Reserve. Below is a rough time schedule of the day’s events which can change depending on weather conditions.
05:30
Wake up call, followed by quick coffee & rusks.
06:00
Depart for morning game drive with coffee stop.
09:00
Return to camp and enjoy breakfast
11:00 - 15:00
Relax around the main area and pool
15:30
High tea with coffee and tea, served with sweet and savoury snacks.
16:00
Depart for afternoon game drive with sundowners
19:00
Return to camp and enjoy a 3-course dinner
