Located in Grietjie Nature Reserve, 16 mi from the Phalaborwa Gate to Kruger National Park, Ngalali Retreat features accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a bar and a shared lounge. Boasting room service, this property also provides guests with a terrace. The air-conditioned rooms provide a garden view and come with a desk and free WiFi. The rooms at the guest house are fitted with a seating area. Rooms come with a private bathroom with a shower, a hairdryer and free toiletries. All rooms have a wardrobe. Ngalali Retreat offers a continental or à la carte breakfast. The nearest airport is Phalaborwa, 18 mi from Ngalali Retreat, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.8 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.9)

Breakfast Info

Continental, Full English/Irish, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free

  • Free Private Parking Available On Site


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Availability

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Room Type
Number of guests
 
2 twin beds
1 twin bed
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1 queen bed
1 king bed
1 king bed
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Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
Facilities
Cleanliness
Comfort
Value for money
Location
Free Wifi

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See what guests loved the most:

Benjamin
Germany Germany
Had a fantastic time at Ngalali. It's a great place to explore the reserve and Kruger with knowledgeable guides. Everyone is super friendly and the food is delicious (including vegetarian options)
Carsten
Spain Spain
This was the best place we stayed during our entire trip. Lorenza, who takes care of the guests, made us feel genuinely welcome and comfortable from the moment we arrived. Xander, who leads the game drives, gave us an unforgettable experience — we...
Paul
Netherlands Netherlands
Wonderful location in Greater Kruger, Xander, Lorenza, Elly, Helen and all other staff were so welcoming and friendly. Organized tours were excellent, Everybody has great knowledge about the area and wildlife, we learned a lot. Also the...
Quinten
Netherlands Netherlands
Location is inside a private reserve, which is a huge advantage. We were lucky to see a lot of wildlife. The game drives were great and the guides are very knowledgeable. The food was also very delicious. Prior to arriving you will get a message...
M
Netherlands Netherlands
Eveything was perfect! Xander and the rest of the team did everything to make the stay and safaris unforgettable. Good location, fine room, great food, fantastic safaris and lovely people. I can recommend everybody to stay there. Good luck with...
Jonathan
Australia Australia
Excellent staff , all very caring The food was amazing! Bush walk and game drives were fun
Andrea
Burkina Faso Burkina Faso
I liked the location in the reserve very much, the elephants and rhinos coming to the water pool just outside the plot in the evening and also the layout of the place. The staff was very nice and welcoming. I also enjoyed talking to the owners in...
Anke
Belgium Belgium
The location, the views, the staff, they feel like family. The fact that you can see leopards, elephants… from your swimming pool. The food which was amazing!
Gloria
Germany Germany
Ngalali Retreat makes you feel home far away from home. It's the people that made this experience unforgettable - whether its Xander & Elly with their uncomparable knowledge about all the animals and plants around the area or Lorenza, Elisa and...
Sofie
Germany Germany
We had a really nice stay at Xanders. The food is amazing. Everybody was super nice - we especially loved our guide Elli.

Managed by Lycaon safaris (PTY) Ltd

Company review score: 10Based on 148 reviews from 1 property
1 managed property

Company info

Dear Guest, Welcome to Ngalali Retreat! My husband and I are living on site, I'm Italian and he's South African and we will be pleased to welcome and assist you upon arrival and during your stay at Ngalali Retreat. Our friendly hospitality will enhance your stay at the lodge, providing you delicious homemade Italian inspired meals along with South African wines tasting. We are certified nature/safari guides so you will have the opportunity to book with us guided game drives in our reserve, tours and activities around the surrounding areas of interest like the well renowned Kruger National Park or the Blyde River Canyon. Whatever we do, we do it with passion and love! Looking forward to hearing from you soon, Cheers!

Property info

Ngalali Retreat is a small lodge immersed in the African bush inside the Big 5 Grietjie Private Nature Reserve within the Greater Kruger Conservation area. It is conveniently located 26 km away from the Kruger National Park Phalaborwa gate. There are three en-suite bedrooms, an indoor dining/ lounge area, a communal patio with sitting and dining area overlooking the waterhole. The lodge was refurbished in May 2019 enhancing the African theme decor. It is surrounded by a natural bush garden with a large swimming pool accessible all year around where guests can relax and enjoy the view of the bush and the wild animals passing by. The property is fenced off for safety reasons. Its rustic and natural setting is suitable for those ones who want to experience the bush life, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of city life and relaxing in an informal and peaceful place without renouncing to comforts, delicious meals and free WiFi. There are no TV’s here. The meals, inspired by Italian cuisine, are prepared in our kitchen with fine and fresh locally sourced ingredients. Guided Game drives and bush activities are available from the lodge with private open game viewer vehicle.

Neighborhood info

In this area, the main highlights are the Kruger National Park and the Blyde River Canyon with the Panorama Route, easily accessible from our lodge with day tours. Ngalali Retreat is conveniently located near Phalaborwa Hendrik Van Eck Airport about 30 km away and Hoedspruit Eastgate airport around 60 km away, which are connected daily with flights Johannesburg O.R.Tambo International Airport. As alternative guests can book shuttles connecting Johannesburg Airport to Hoedspruit or Phalaborwa or renting a car and self-driving to here. We do arrange private transfers from/to each airport. No public transport is available.

Languages Spoken

Afrikaans,English,Italian

Area info

Restaurants

1 Restaurant On Site
Restaurant #1
  • Cuisine
    Italian • Grill/BBQ • South African
  • Open for
    Breakfast • Brunch • Lunch • Dinner • Cocktail hour
  • Dietary options
    Vegetarian • Vegan • Gluten-free • Dairy-free

Amenities of Ngalali Retreat

Great facilities! Review score, 9.7

Most popular amenities

  • Outdoor swimming pool
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Airport shuttle
  • Restaurant
  • Room service
  • Free Wifi
  • Free parking
  • Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
  • Bar
  • Breakfast

House rules

Ngalali Retreat takes special requests – add in the next step!
Check-in
From 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
You need to let the property know what time you'll be arriving in advance.
Check-out
From 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Enter your stay dates and check the conditions of your selected option.
Curfew
The entrance to the property is closed between 21:00 and 05:00
Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

Cribs and extra beds aren't available at this property.

No age restriction
There's no age requirement for check-in
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Cards accepted at this property
American ExpressVisaMastercard Cash is not accepted
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed.
Parties
Parties/events are not allowed
Quiet hours
Guests need be quiet between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM.

The fine print

Must-know information for guests at this property

Please inform Ngalali Retreat of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Payment before arrival by bank transfer is required. The property will contact you after you book to provide instructions.

This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.

Quiet hours are between 21:00:00 and 06:00:00.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

In accordance with government guidelines to minimize transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property may request additional documentation from guests to validate identity, travel itinerary, and other relevant info on dates where such guidelines exist.

FAQs about Ngalali Retreat