FAMILY SAFARIS with THE SAFARI CO.
at ngala & bongani bordering kruger national park

the camps  · cost  · best season  ·  activities  ·  map of the area

Ngala Game Lodge & Bongani Mountain Lodge offer specially structured and unique children’s programmes, which will delight youngsters of all ages as well as teach them to appreciate and preserve our planet. These lodges offer the perfect family safari vacation in South Africa.

We strongly believe that the informed child of today is the environmentally responsible traveller of the future. We have put together a programme, which includes a wide range of safari experiences with exciting interactive conservation learning opportunities for children of all ages.

Our young guests will be left in the more-than-capable hands of our knowledgeable rangers and trackers who delight in looking after your children for the duration of your stay with us at any one of our Family Safari programmes.

A typical programme could include:
• Entertaining and educational children’s activities
• Special Planet-Manager activity books and certificates
• “Pooh Walks”
• Fishing, frog safaris and bark-rubbing expeditions
• Paper, candlemaking
• Dress up and theatre
• “Back of house” visits
• Bug collecting
• Birding for beginners
• Tracking for beginners
• Pod and seed collecting
• Story telling
• “Safaris” for little ones

Become a Planet Manager
On arrival at the camps, the children are presented with their own special book - an Eco-guide for Planet Managers. This booklet is the child’s to keep and contains a wildlife quiz, a learning guide, fun animal stories such as “Why the giraffe has a long neck”, and tips for spoor and animal identification. Rangers will help the children to complete their Eco-guides and when all the activities have been completed, the Ranger and Tracker will sign a certificate stating that the child has graduated as a Planet Manager.

Learning is fun
The programme also consists of fun “Pooh Walks”, during which the rangers will help the children collect pods, feathers, insects and leaves, and teach them to identify different animal spoor and droppings. Fishing and frog safaris (weather and safety permitting) and bark-rubbing expeditions also form part of the programme as does making wax spoor prints – which can be taken home. A highlight for the boys (and some girls!) is a trip to a garage to oversee safari vehicle repairs.

Children are also welcome in the kitchen to help the chef with baking cookies for afternoon tea. They eat at a special table set for them in the boma and will also have the opportunity to roast marshmallows over the fire - under the ranger’s watchful eye.

Family Safari Fun
Parents can rest assured that their children will always be safe and well looked after both on and off the game-drives, and that they can enjoy a programme especially designed to give travel-weary parents a well-deserved break, keep the children happy and provide the entire family with a safari experience they’ll never forget.

The camps:
Ngala Main Camp
Bongani Mountain Lodge

Cost for this family adventure vacation:
Each family vacation is tailormade around the specific needs of the family. Please give us an indication of the lodge you would like to visit and we will plan your ideal family holiday

Activities on these family safaris:
Game viewing by open 4x4 vehicle, boat cruises, walking, lots of activities for the children.

Best season:
Depending on what you would like to see and do, will dictate the best time of the year to visit South Africa. The winter months (May to August) are good for game viewing where the summer months (September to April) offer spectacular scenery and also the best birdlife as the migratory birds return to breed.

Map of family safari lodges:



Extend your family safari to Cape Town, South Africa:
Spend 5 days exploring the fairest Cape at your own pace. We will plan a day-to-day itinerary for you to visit all the high lights during your stay. You have the option of a rental car or escorted day tours.
Click here for a list of hotels in Cape Town and surrounds.

Extend your family safari to Victoria Falls:
Visit the famous Victoria Falls for 2 or 3 days - one of the natural wonders of the world. Stay at a luxury lodge (The River Club, Islands of Siankaba, The Royal Livingstone or Victoria Falls Safari Lodge) situated on the banks of the upper Zambezi.  Fly from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls or Livingstone. We can assist with reservations for the flight, transfers and the accommodation at the lodge of your choice.

Contact us for a detailed quote on these extensions.

Term and conditions: Please read our terms and conditions for more information on how to book, travel insurance, cancellation fees, baggage and other important issues.

Ngala Main Lodge
A superior safari lodge situated in the Kruger National Park, Ngala Main Lodge offers 20 thatched cottages shaded by Mopane Trees, providing a gracious retreat. All feature air conditioning, intimate verandah and green slate en suite bath and shower. The focal point of each room is the inviting bed. During winter nights, the air conditioner becomes a heater, turning the cottages into cosy retreats. Bed heaters add a warm feeling of luxury. A decanter of sherry in the room is also a welcome touch.

The Safari Suite is truly luxurious. This superb suite boasts a spacious mahogany lounge, en suite bathroom, outdoor shower, large deck and private swimming pool. You also have sole use of a Land Rover as well as a butler service. The expansive sundeck of this superior suite overlooks the Mapone riverbed, where private meals are served at the guest's request. This suite is ideal for honeymooners. Care has been taken to ensure that the lodge design is in harmony with nature. As a result, there is a multitude of birds and small animals in and around the camp. Antique-filled interiors, priceless rugs and cut-glass crystal furnish this opulent retreat.

The main spacious, thatched lounge, bar and dining area offer guests an unashamedly old-world, elegant and luxurious haven in the midst of the African bush. A portion of the thatched lounge forms an open deck area, where afternoon tea and breakfast are served. Ngala even inspired a guest to write a tribute. There are impressive open fireplaces. Ngala's main guest areas are secluded in leafy woodlands. The shaded swimming pool and sundeck overlook a busy waterhole near the Mopane woodlands.

Large herds of elephants are frequently sighted at the waterhole. The curio shop and gallery are filled with African treasures.

Lavish meals with Pan-African influences are served in a romantic, lantern lit courtyard or around the traditional African boma (reeded enclosed area) fire. Romantic candle-lit dinners around outdoor fires recreate the timeless feeling of life on safari.

Bongani Mountain Lodge
Bongani Mountain Lodge lies on 8000 hectares adjoining the southern section of the Kruger National Park, in Mthethomusha Game Reserve, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

Bongani has 20 chalets, nine suites and one Presidential suite. All the chalets and suites have a verandah and en suite bathroom. They are equipped with air-conditioning, a ceiling fan, hairdryer and telephone with international direct dialing. The suites are ideal for families with small children as there are sleeper couches in the lounge area.

The Presidential suite, also known as the Madiba Suite – so named after its famous guest Nelson Mandela, has a large lounge area, a kitchen for private dining (not self catering) and a sweeping view of the valley below.

The attractive guest area encompasses a lounge, dining room and bar that all open out onto a deck boasting spectacular views of the Lebombo and Malalane mountain ranges. Close by is the secluded swimming pool, lookout deck perfect for bird-watching and the traditional boma (reeded enclosure), where community theatre, good food and good company are enjoyed on firelit evenings. The lodge has a well stocked curio shop. A fully equipped air conditioned conference room seating up to 60 people is strategically situated away from the guest accommodation.

Game drives in open game-viewing vehicles, nature walks including walks to view the ancient San (Bushman) rock art on the Reserve, night drives, a visit to a local community, theatre group performances and a day excursion to the Kruger National Park. All activities are at additional cost.

Bongani offers:
• Breathtaking mountain top location
• Spectacular and awe-inspiring views of the Lebombo and Malelane Mountain ranges
• San (Bushman) rock art and giant Dravidian rock of worship
• Only a 4 hour 30 minute drive from Johannesburg
• “Big five” reserve, due to mountainous terrain rhino, elephant and buffalo are most frequently sighted
• Situated in a high risk malaria area but due to the altitude of the lodge (800 ft above sea level) the risk is reduced dramatically
• Matsulu theatre group from the local community dramatically depicts the history, aspirations and concerns of their people, the owners of this beautiful and haunting land (Brothers). They also perform a play (Horn of Sorrow) enacting a story of the plight of the black rhino (at additional cost)
• Night drives with spotlights offer insight into the activities of nocturnal animals including leopard, civet and genet (optional activity at additional cost)
• Beautiful scenery enjoyed on daily nature walks (optional activity at additional cost)
• Game drives in open game-viewing vehicles with expert rangers (optional activity at additional cost)