Ngala Tented Safari Camp Ngala, meaning "lion" in Shangaan, is the only private safari reserve in the world-famous Kruger National Park. Ngala Private Game Reserve is host to two exclusive properties - classic Ngala Game Lodge in the north and contemporary Ngala Tented Safari Camp in the south. Ngala has exclusive traversing rights over 14 680 hectares (36 506 acres) of Kruger's two million hectares (4 940 000 acres), one of the richest and most strategically important wildlife areas on the continent. At Ngala, you can experience remarkably close encounters with breeding herds of elephant and buffalo. See black and white rhino, giraffe and a host of antelope, along with the great cats and occasionally, wild dog. At sunset, sip sundowners at the waterhole and experience life in Africa as described by legendary author and philosopher, Sir Laurens van der Post: "All Africa was in that moment for me. Yes, the whole cast of the first natural, primordial, legitimate theatre of Africa seemed gathered there to make its final curtsy in the limelight of the sunset hour and receive twilight applause before the night dropped its final curtain."

Accommodations The 20 thatched cottages are 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. 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.

Activities You can enjoy excellent game viewing encounters on our twice daily game drives in open Land Rovers. We offer both off-road and night game drives. Ngala offers prime sightings of big five game as well as numerous other species. On exciting night drives you will see nocturnal animals, adding a dramatic dimension to your safari. At Ngala Tented Safari Camp, mouth-watering al fresco dinners are served on the impressive Timbavati riverbed, which is dry for most of the year. Enchanting islands of reeds are a bird-watcher's paradise. All activities are at no extra charge to guests. It is possible to fill every minute of your safari with a range of exciting activities including stargazing, stunning bird-watching opportunities, swimming in our sparkling pools, fairytale-like moonlit bush dinners and spectacular bush sundowners.

Wildlife Ngala's habitats support an astonishing variety of wildlife including the "big five". Grazers such as buffalo, blue wildebeast, Burchell's zebra and warthog favor open areas, while impala are most common at the edge of bush clumps. Other ungulates to watch out for are giraffe, hippo, bushbuck, grey duiker and kudu. Ngala is the only private game reserve in the legendary Kruger National Park, one of the richest and most strategically important wildlife areas in Africa. There are no fences around Ngala, allowing game to move freely. Ngala has exclusive traversing rights over 14 680 hectares (36 506 acres) of Kruger's two million hectares (4 940 000 acres).

Cuisine Lavish meals with Pan-African influences are served in a romantic, lantern lit courtyard or around the traditional African boma (reeded enclosed area) fire. Old-world interiors, an unhurried atmosphere and sumptuous cuisine are the order of the day. Romantic candle-lit dinners around outdoor fires recreate the timeless feeling of life on safari. The courtyard at Ngala is an unusual, perhaps even unique, feature for a safari lodge. You walk through large wooden doors to an open-air courtyard, warmly lit by large freestanding candelabras and crackling fires. The atmosphere is one of casual elegance, with tables beautifully set up under the trees. A three-course dinner is carried to your table, mingling the early evening air with the food's mouth-watering aromas. Towards the end of the evening, staff entertain you with traditional song and dance or a stirring guitar solo.

Professional Tour Guides The one aspect that makes Absolute Adventure Tours truly unique is the passion and drive of our staff. It is working as a team, to fulfill the company's enduring vision to care for the land, wildlife and people that has inspired each and every one of us. Nobody here is just doing their job: we recognize that we form part of a unique chain, which has ensured the protection and, in some cases, the restoration of this captivating land that you, another vital link, journey to experience. We are part of a whole, which is so much more of the sum of its parts.

CALL US TO ARRANGE YOUR LUXURY AFRICAN VACATION In Houston: 281-217-8111 or 713-203-0000 Toll Free: 1 800 298 1312 Visit our web site at www.absoluteadventuretravel.com