Susan Callegari - Ngala
NGALA
SUSAN CALLEGARI
"We had the privilege of a three night wedding gift to spend at Ngala."
My husband and I are keen bush lovers. We try and get to most wildlife parks in our beautiful country two to three times a year. However, the experience of an &Beyond lodge would have to be one of the most special trips of our life. We were treated with such care and special attention was paid to every detail of our stay.
Wayne Woodward - Ngala Dinner by Light
NGALA DINNER BY LIGHT
WAYNE WOODWARD
"After returning from another successful, adrenalin charged evening game drive we settled again into the luxury of our thatched chalet and threw ourselves exhausted onto the sumptuous bed to re-enervate for the evening. Our visual senses satisfied, there was still the anticipation of local taste sensations at the evening meal and, hopefully, tonight 'the &Beyond staff choir '. As we wandered the paths of Ngala toward the main lodge, we were stopped in our tracks by the sight unfolding before us."
A myriad of lights, a mix of lanterns and candles, dancing, flickering and reflecting from the lodge mirrors, and enticing us into the courtyard (which until now had remained discretely hidden behind huge, rustic doors). We ambled, open mouthed, absorbing the sight, amazed at the creation of yet another ambient visual experience. Dining together that night in the warmth of the lights, in the fresh night air in a courtyard open to the African sky, with the sincere smiles and attention of the friendliest of staff, we enjoyed one of the most romantic of dining experience. Somehow the food tasted even better that night, the wine that much sweeter and the piece de resistance - the pure harmonies of the &Beyond staff choir all came together for us and it became a 'night of a lifetime'.
Matulesy, Tine - Ngala Paradise
NGALA PARADISE
MATULESY, TINE
"I have always had a dream about going on safari. I had never done it before because i always had children that i tought were to small. But now that my youngest one was twelve we decided to finally fulfill our dream. I could never in my wildest imagination understand how magical it would be. This is the best and the most memorable experience of my life."
The nature, beautiful animals and just the feel of being a part of this fantastic event has truly touched my heart forever.
The service from &Beyond has been so great. From the first greetings at the airport to the time when we said our goodbyes has been nothing less then pleasant and extremely professional.
The staff at the lodge will forever be remembered by all my family. We had the best service you could ever want. Well, you say that would be expected at a place on that level. but it is also something else. They manage to create a feel at Ngala that i never felt somewhere else, and i have travelled a lot!
A feel of wellbeing and a pleasure and that it feels like home. For that you need a special kind of people. They are all at Ngala.
From cleaning staff to chefs, our butler "Halleluja" Dan, Mama koni, and our guide Pieter and last but not least Elvis, our experienced and friendly tracker.
They all made this experience so fantastic!
Thank you &Beyond, for everything.
If you're going on one trip in a lifetime, make it with &Beyond to Ngala Safari Lodge.
It will change your life.
Yours truly
Tine Matulessy
Hargreaves, Ian - Ngala Safari Lodge
NGALA SAFARI LODGE
HARGREAVES, IAN
"The experience of a lifetime!
My family and I have just returned from Ngala Safari Lodge having experienced the magic of South Africa. The Lodges were exceptional, the staff amazing, especially Dennis, David and our new African mother Mamma Connie."
The game drives were incredible led by our Ranger Ryno and Tracker Norman. Their patience, enthusiasm and skill could not fail to impress upon my family the importance of all the conservation work being done at Ngala. The whole experience just kept getting better going from one high to another. We have never been that sad at leaving a holiday and we will be back!
Green, Nigel - One day at Ngala
ONE DAY AT NGALA
GREEN, NIGEL
"The morning had been quiet as we neared the end of our drive in the bush until Norman indicated right “Cheetah” was the cry as four pairs of eyes focussed on a termite mound not far off road. As we approached the female became more relaxed and called her cubs from the denser grass and soon we were to be awestruck by the interaction of mum and first one, and then a second and eventually a shy third cub joined her. They posed for us in the perfect light of an autumn day as if it were the most natural thing in the world. We left the sighting on an absolute high confident that we had witnessed something really very special."
Later that day Norman had left us to track on foot an elusive leopard (ultimately to prove successful) and Megan suggested we try to revisit the Caroline pride of 11 lion we had seen 2 days previously when they had literally been a pile of very well fed felines sleeping off the night’s excesses. We found them as always due to Megan’s excellent bushcraft and much as before they were a docile, if slimmer, pile. Shortly however first one and then others rose to focus on two buffalo in the clearing and sensing that we were possibly to witness something that few have been privileged to experience, we sat in total silence as the whole pride gradually crept forward in a well orchestrated formation. As if checking that everyone was set and knew their role the dominant female circled the pride and then using our Landrover as cover to slip silently along the flank of the clearing to drive the buffalo toward the waiting pride. Within but seconds it was game on as the pride surrounded one bull, climbing on his back, whilst fending off the defensive actions of the other. The numeric advantage of the pride eventually proved too much for the bull and we witnessed the completion of the circle of life. It had taken just 8 minutes from start to finish. Days in the bush do not get better than this and all talk that evening as you can imagine was of the emotional rollercoaster that Ngala had provided for us that very very special day.
