If you’ve ever put “African safari” on your travel wish list,chances are you’ve imagined something akin to Ngala Tented Camp as you were doing it. The property really is a dream come true. Ngala Private Game Reserve is a 14,700-hectare concession owned by the World Wildlife Fund and leased to andBeyond. If those credentials don’t say enough about the wildlife viewing opportunities it affords,then the fact it shares an unfenced boundary with South Africa’s Kruger National Park completes the story. It’s here you’ll find Ngala Tented Camp,opened in 1999 on the banks of the Timbavati River near an elephant crossing. When the camp was flooded in 2024,andBeyond closed it and over six months,rebuilt,reoriented,reinforced,and renovated. The results are resplendent.

The look

Johannesburg-based Fox Browne Creative (in collaboration with Jack Alexander Design Studio) was engaged to reimagine Ngala Tented Camp,a no-brainer considering its two principals used to work for the company.

Their understanding of the andBeyond DNA is evident in decor that manages to fold into the background,letting the unique surroundings shine,while at the same time presenting points of interior design interest.

Throughout the property,warm terracotta and sandy tones feature,with locally sourced materials including bespoke embroidery,traditional fabrics,and stained-glass playing into a mid-century aesthetic that runs across the dining,bar and lounging areas,the spa,gym,pool deck,boutique and accommodation.

The room

There are only nine tented suites in the adults-only camp. They each accommodate two people and are spaced well apart in the bush,affording privacy. There is also one super luxe family villa that sleeps six.

The refurbishment saw the addition of stone-walled outdoor bathrooms featuring large tubs and a shower,which I delight in using after each game drive. There’s an indoor shower as well,and a double vanity behind the console bed,its stained-glass splashback a feature of the overall decor.

With flourishes such as an included in-room bar furnished with full-sized bottles of spirits,a coffee machine and yummy snacks,it’s undeniably upscale. But I definitely get the feeling of being under canvas – especially when the afternoon sun hits the westerly wall of my digs and warms them beyond the capabilities of the air- conditioning.

Another renovation addition is an extended verandah – I don’t use it,but thrillingly,baboons do at night.

Food + drink

Ngala Tented Camp is all-inclusive,from the coffee and snack that arrives in the butler’s hatch,along with the pre-safari drive 5am wake-up door knock,to the post-evening-drive drinks and multi-course meals. There are special meals,drinks and snacks in surprising locations,such as a bush barbecue breakfast,poolside dinner and sundowners by a dam watching hippos emerge from their long day’s lolling. All of it is excellent.

Out + about

In the end,this is what you’re here for:two long game drives a day in an open-air,built-for-purpose Landcruiser. Ngala means lion in the local Shangaan language – you’ll likely see plenty. And the beauty of safari in this conservancy is,you are only sharing it with your camp mates and guests of the nearby Ngala Safari Lodge.

The verdict

AndBeyond is renowned for its eco and conservation commitments,while providing top-tier luxury experiences. That’s all on display here,and then some. It’s not inexpensive,but Ngala Tented Camp is one of those experiences of a lifetime that’s worth forking out for.

Essentials

andBeyond Ngala Tented Camp;Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve,Timbavati,South Africa;andbeyond.com. From $2060 (ZAR24,100) fully inclusive a person a night twin share. Transfers are not included in the price.

Our rating out of five

★★★★ ½

Highlight

From the drivers and trackers to the talented cake bakers and cocktail shakers,bed-makers and path-rakers,the staff members are friendly,funny,attentive and enthusiastic,and they play an enormous part in making the experience so immensely enjoyable.

Lowlight

Ah,so close to five stars. But while those vanities may be lovely,they are also dark. There should be an illuminating magnifier mirror somewhere in the tent at least for the shavers,makeup-appliers and occasional pluckers.

The writer travelled as a guest of andBeyond.