Ngala Safari Lodge
 

has anyone been here recently? Does anyone know if it has been re-modeled in the last few years? We are thinking of going back but not sure if it has been updated.

We just returned from Ngala Tented in the end of April. I don't know if it has been remodeled or not; but the tented safari was wonderful. I believe that it was opened only about 9 years ago or so though. The staff were all great and the tents are super, very luxurious. It was an excellent experience. Please check out my trip report if you'd like to read more....

Ngala Safari Lodge (not Ngala Tented)
I was there for 8 (yes, 8) nights last Sep 2008, my Fodors trip report-
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=35161085

Re-modeled? Rooms were ok. Better than Kruger huts but a notch below most other camps I've been to. The bath was very nice with double sinks, nice shower and tub. The bedroom was ample, simple, attractive but not as nice as most other camps. Here is room photo from that report-
http://tomgraham.smugmug.com/photos/...12_XNaHQ-L.jpg
Like you remember it?

Meals were excellent as was general camp staff. More or less no internet if you must have that. But I go for the game drives and photography and that is where Ngala really let me down. Would I go back? No, it is on the bottom half of my list of favorite safari camps. Because of the game drives.

regards - tom

I was told by our travel agent that is had been completely remodeled last year. The lodge that is and that it was beautiful. Now I am worried.

The "Lodge", that is common areas, lounge/bar, breakfast/lunch room, evening boma all very nice. Nothing left to be desired there unless you don't like large rooms. But what, they have to accommodate 42 guests? Here's photo of lounge, with one dining area on other side of fireplace.
http://tomgraham.smugmug.com/photos/...55_pLmsd-L.jpg

To expand a bit of my comment about game drives and wkwb42a's experience at Tented. For every game drive from the Lodge we drove down to the Tented camp area, mostly a waste of about 30 minutes each way. This is especially critical for the afternoon game drive when the sun is already low.

regards - tom

FWIW, my idea of a very pleasant, large, comfortable, beautifully decorated in British Colonial are the Kings Camp bungalows. Here's photo looking towards bed-
http://tomgraham.smugmug.com/photos/...87_HMa9S-L.jpg
and here's photo looking directly opposite direction-
http://tomgraham.smugmug.com/photos/...81_4EJNF-L.jpg

The bath is also very nice, double sink, inside and outside showers, nice tub.

regards - tom

thanks Tom I have already booked a non-refundable stay at Ngala Lodge based on my travel agent telling me it had been completely re-modeled last year after I had expressed concerns about posts on fodors that the camp was not that nice. I am kind of stuck now I guess.

P41, you will enjoy it, it's a nice camp. Really nothing "wrong" with it. The rooms quite comfortable. If you like to eat, the cuisine is excellent, wine, liquor included. All of the staff very congenial and helpful. The common areas very nice. As for game drives? Who knows, that's half the enjoyment of them!!

When you get back be sure and let us know how you liked it. Are you going to any other safari camps on your trip?

regards - tom

I totally agree with Tom's comments about Ngala. I have stayed there twice and didn't care for it either time. The rooms were nice but not exceptional and the game viewing was not nearly good as the Sabi Sand.

Very timely topic. Just got back from Kwandwe which I really enjoyed, and Ngala came up as an option for next time. Of course individual game drives can vary by quite a bit, but interesting to see the feel in general for drives at Ngala is not great.

Went back and read wkwb42a's trip report, and Ngala is rated quite high.

Tom the links to your pics are not working for me.

Penelope41,

Why not contact Ngala directly and ask them and then let us know.
www.ngala.co.za.

Femi- remember, there are two Ngala camps, Lodge and Tented. I was at Lodge, W42 at Tented. Also, that was wkwb42a's first safari (I think) and perhaps their expectations are different from mine.

Thanks for info about pics, don't know why pics not working for you, ok for me with two different browsers. If picture link not working go -
http://www.tomgraham.smugmug.com/
click on SAFARI 2008, the giraffe thumbnail. Please let me know if you still have problems with it, thanks. (Did you try the trip report link, just curious if it works for you?).

regards - tom

The last link you sent works (as does the trip report link).

Love your Cover page/header/whatever it's called - the elephants in the water!

Thanks Femi. I tried Carolyn's laptop and those jpg links did also -not- work on it. I see the problem but don't know why Firefox is causing it. Anyway . . .

Going the tinyurl route-
the Ngala room is -
http://tinyurl.com/rbu52l

the Kings Camp room is-
http://tinyurl.com/pfvsaj
http://tinyurl.com/oacvmt

But maybe you found them anyway the other way :-)

The cover ele photo was taken in Botswana, near Moremi Reserve. We were having sundowners and that breeding herd crossed the Moremi River a ways down. The elephants were the best part of that safari camp (Khwai River Lodge) but they were doing terrific damage to the surrounding vegetation.

regards - tom

Has anyone been there this year-to the lodge?