Welcome to
Ngalali Retreat

Ngalali Retreat is a small family-run lodge nestled in the African bush bordering the well-known Kruger National Park.  Its rustic though cosy setting is perfect for those who want to leave behind the hustle and bustle of city life and relax in an informal and natural ambience without renouncing comforts and delicious meals. The owners, a South African - Italian couple, live on-site, and they are pleased to welcome and assist their guests upon arrival and during their stay at Ngalali Retreat. Their friendly inclination and professional approach will enhance the guest's experience at the lodge.  During your stay, you will view a lot of wildlife, either while sipping a drink from the stoop of the lodge or on a game drive from our private game viewer vehicle. For the fondest birdwatcher, we have abundant birdlife too! Enjoy the enchanting elephants and wallowing warthogs bathing at our waterhole or the call of a lion while sitting around the campfire at night.

Accommodation is provided in a choice of 3 spacious bedrooms, each with an individual African theme decor. Each bedroom has an open-plan, en-suite bathroom fitted with either a bath and shower or a shower only. All the bedrooms have a private entrance which opens onto a shared patio and they all have a back window overlooking the bush garden. The bedrooms are equipped either with a ceiling fan or air-con. A hairdryer and plug adaptors are available in every room. Finest cotton towels and linens enrich the rooms while mosquitoes repellent and free toiletries are provided in refillable bottles to minimize the single-use plastic. Rooms are serviced daily, however, towels and linens are changed on request to avoid water waste and washing soap pollution. The entrance of each room is protected by a mosquito-proof net and sliding windows.

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The lodge has three independent ensuite bedrooms,  an indoor open plan dining and lounge area, with a fridge, honesty bar, 24h coffee/tea station, a reading corner with books, magazines and table games. There are no TVs, however we do provide uncapped Wi-Fi throughout the property. Outside there is a large patio with dining and seating facilities overlooking the waterhole where all the animals are coming to drink and bath. Guests can enjoy walking in the natural bush garden or relaxing at the swimming pool in total safety since the property is enclosed by an electric fence. There is not a formal restaurant with a la carte menu', however guests can enjoy delicious homemade meals inspired by Italian cuisine along with South African wines and liquors pairing. The owners and the staff will be available on-site 24/7 providing the catering services and assisting the guests in arranging the safari/ game drive activities offered by the lodge, and the airport transfers.

Ngalali Retreat is situated in Grietjie Private Nature Reserve, 26 km away from the town of Phalaborwa in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Grietjie PNR is about 3.000 hectares within the 50.000 hectares Balule Nature Reserve, which is part of the Greater Kruger Conservation Area, bordering the well known Kruger National Park. The Oliphants River flows along one side of the reserve offering a spectacular view of the riverine landscapes and wildlife, such as hippos, crocodiles and many water birds; the riverbanks present tall vegetation made of huge Sycamore Figs, Jackal berry and Marula trees. Grietjie is home to the iconic African wildlife including the Big 5, like lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and other plains game, which roam free for thousands of hectares since all the fences were put down in between the bordering reserves and the Kruger National Park itself. The nearby Phalaborwa gate is the perfect entrance to explore the northern section of the Kruger National Park, offering the most unspoilt and animal rich environments with a unique plant kingdom variety like the iconic gigantic Baobab trees or the Fever Trees forest.