A luxury safari experience at Garonga Safari Co. replenishes mind, body and soul. Garonga Safari Campis a safari camp in South Africa, hidden away in the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve. This is prime Big 5 wildlife territory located west of the Kruger National Park. Special indulgences celebrate our ‘safari for the soul’ ethos and make this an unforgettable retreat.

At Garonga Safari Camp, luxury tented safari romance meets the wild beauty of the South African bush setting. It’s an exclusive tented camp, with just six luxury en-suite units that combine a canvas canopy, rustic-textured walls and raised wooden deck overlooking a dry riverbed.

Garonga Safari Co’s holistic ‘safari for the soul’ philosophy is captured in the unhurried experience. From intimate wildlife encounters to personal time to reflect in nature, our abundance of relaxing safari activities is designed to encourage exactly that. Try your hand at everything, or simply unwind in a hammock, surrounded only by the sights and sounds of the reserve.

Suites

Garonga Safari Camp immerses you in nature at every opportunity. The elegant tents blend natural materials and neutral tones with modern fittings.

Take in the view from your four-poster bed or spot wildlife like a visiting elephant or two while relaxing on the deck lounge, complete with hammock. Each tent has an indoor and outdoor shower so you can enjoy the sounds of nature while under the African sky.

This is your home away from home in a Big 5 wilderness. It perfectly balances nature’s tranquillity and our modern luxuries for absolute rejuvenation.

Dining

Whether at a romantic table for two in the main lounge or under the stars at the Bush Boma with new found friends, each mealtime at Safari Camp is a special occasion. There is also a ‘help yourself’ bar and wine cellar filled with exquisite South African wines.

For those extra-special occasions, experience safari cuisine in a unique and private location. Expect a gorgeous, lantern-lit table, bush views and of course, a beautifully prepared meal.

Taste their safari cuisine under the African sky at the Bush Boma. This is an outdoor communal area, where they often host dinners – their pizza oven is a firm favourite. Complete with a fully-stocked bar and fire pit, it is a relaxed setting to unwind and dine under the stars while making new friends and sharing stories of the day’s game viewing.

Safari

Fall in step with nature and encounter the wildlife that roam in this South African wilderness. Game drives and walking safaris with their expert guides get you up-close to the Big 5, endangered species like cheetah and wild dog, and diverse birdlife.

Game drives are at the heart of the Garonga experience, allowing you to encounter the Big 5 and other wildlife up close. Your stay will typically include a morning and afternoon game drive in our open-air Land Rovers. Two of their experienced and qualified guides will lead you through the bush, impressing you with their knowledge of the great variety of wildlife in the reserve. Their tracking skills are exceptional, giving them the advantage of locating animals based on their recent movements and enabling your safari sightings dreams to come true.

On a morning game drive, as the animals are waking up, tuck into tea, coffee and snacks in the bush. Then, in the late afternoon, sip on a cocktail or glass of wine as the sun slowly dips below the horizon. In addition to the Big 5 (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino), look out for cheetah, spotted hyena, black rhino, African wild dog, hippos, crocodiles, diverse plains animals and colourful birdlife.

A walking safari in South Africa is a very different experience to a traditional game drive. This is your opportunity to discover the surrounding flora and fauna, paying attention to the small things that might otherwise be missed. You will also learn the basic tracking techniques used by our guides and trackers, who make it look so easy on your game drive that you won’t even notice them doing it! The guides will share tales and tips from the bush, such as how to make and use a catapult, how to create a bracelet from a plant, and how to identify different dung. Who knows, you might even bump into some of the bigger creatures en-route too. But don’t worry, their guides are fully trained and experienced to ensure a safe experience for all.

A solitude walk is also available for those that want to fully embrace Garonga’s ‘safari for the soul’ ethos. During a completely silent walk through the bush, your guide will identify various points of interest along the route. They will explain only by pointing at something and leave it for you to decipher what insect, plant or track lies before you. The purpose here is to be exposed to the sights and sounds of the bush without interruption. At the end of the walk, the guide will confirm what they had pointed out, after which you will have the chance to sit alone for 20 minutes to think, meditate and absorb nature around you. Walking safaris last approximately three hours.