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Garonga Safari Camp at Makalali

Set within 26 000 hectares of open savannah plains and riverine forest, Makalali Private Game Reserve is located west of the Kruger National Park. The diverse vegetation is home to a great variety of wildlife including Africa’s remarkable Big 5 as well as giraffe, cheetah, zebra, wild dog, and kudu. Within this oasis of protected wild, lies the Garonga Safari Camp, one of the top South African safari destinations.

Garonga’s philosophy is to offer a holistic safari. Throughout your stay, there is time for rejuvenation, reflection, and a chance to be inspired by nature. An unhurried and cherished wildlife encounter awaits in these vast plains. With the guidance of skilled rangers and trackers, safari drives are an adventure for body, mind, and soul. Take a walking safari to discover the smaller species up-close and learn about indigenous flora and birdlife. Reflecting the surrounding splendour, Garonga Safari Camp boasts 6 uniquely lavish tents, combining organic eco-materials with modern touches and contemporary design. Each tent features a private deck with hammock and boasts spectacular views of the dry riverbed below.

Garonga Safari Camp also offers a romantic sleep-out experience under the stars. A four-poster bed and spectacular viewing deck is yours for a night as you dine in the moonlight and drift off to sleep at the sounds of the wild calling. Onsite, guests can enjoy a beautiful swimming pool, open lounge with bar, and relax with a massage. Apart from safari expeditions, helicopter and microlite flights of the Blyde Canyon can be arranged as well as a visit to the heart-warming Cheetah Research Project.

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Wildlife:

High concentration of Big 5 with large herds of elephant and buffalo, as well as large lion prides.
Other wildlife include but are not limited to the hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, cheetah, African wild dog, hyaena, warthog and many other cat and antelope species.
Large antelope herds support the populations of predators in the reserve.
Over 500 bird species have been recorded in the region. Many can be seen in the reserve.

Game Drives:

Game drives take place twice a day in the early mornings and afternoons for a duration of 3-4 hours.
Game drives are led by an experienced guide and tracker team.
Vehicles are allowed to go off road to track and follow the wildlife.
Strict traverse rules are in place and vehicle numbers are limited in each reserve. A maximum of two vehicles are allowed at any sighting.
Night drives and guided bushwalks are permitted.

Activities & facilities:

Game drives
Guided bushwalks
Stargazing
Birdwatching
Swimming Pool
Restaurant
Open-air African Boma
Viewing deck
Sleepout deck
Massage Sala
Yoga deck
Star bath

Highlights:

Intimate luxury tented styled safari camp in the heart of the bush.
Raised wooden deck and swimming pool overlooking a dry riverbed.
6 tented suites in secluded positions along the river bed.
Each spacious tent has private decks and hammocks with uninterrupted reserve views.
Unique experiences including a remote sleepout deck and star bath.
Outstanding outdoor dinning experiences under at a communal table in the lantern-lit Bush Boma.
Exciting Big-5 game drives with game rangers and trackers.

Location:

Located on the far western edge of the Greater Kruger and fenced borders Karongwe Game Reserve.
The Kruger National Park is almost 2 million hectares and lies in the north-eastern corner of South Africa in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

Getting there:

Makalali private airstrip is the closet airstrip, two daily chartered flights from Johannesburg are operated by Federal Airlines.
Hoedspruit (HDS) is the closet commercial airport to Garonga Safari lodge, daily flights operate from Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Flight time from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit or private airstrip: 60 minutes.
Flight time from Cape Town to Hoedspruit: 2 hours 30 minutes.
Road transfers from Hoedspruit to Garonga Safari lodge take 90 minutes.

Child Policy:

Garonga Safari Camp welcomes children over 12 years.

Special offers:

Enjoy one free night with our PAY 4 STAY 5 offers.
Honeymoon offers are available.
South African resident rates are bookable all year round.

Inclusions & Exclusions:

Included: 2 x Game drives per day, guided bush walks, sleep-out experience, bush bath, star bath, and yoga sala, all meals, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages.
Excluded: Premium branded drinks, conservation levies, airport transfers, and anything of personal nature.

Rates:

The updated rates are displayed for each room category below.
Rates are charged per person, per night.
No single supplement.
Rates displayed are valid until 01 April 2025.

Accommodation Options

Luxury Tents

Sleeps 2 Adults

PAY 4 STAY 5

Each of the six en-suite luxury tents at Garonga Safari Camp boasts expansive views over a dry riverbed from private decks. Rustic sculpting of rough-plastered walls and all-embracing canvas tents make for dreamy interiors Read moreadorned with contemporary touches of luxury. The rooms are light, airy and spacious with large, romantically draped beds, indoor and outdoor showers, and a hammock. Less