Ngalali Retreat — Hotel in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality

I had the incredibly good fortune to stay at Ngalali for 9 nights in October of 2022. I really feel that you get to know a place when you stay there for such a long time, and I have much to say/share about my experience.

First I will say that I came here without a car and as a solo female traveler from the US.  The option for airport transport was something I was deeply grateful for - I always felt very safe in Xander's hands everywhere that he drove me.

Next, you cannot begin to understand the level of  nourishment that is available at this retreat. I opted for the full board (meals with accommodations) and was not disappointed. This food was mostly made up of Italian dishes that were gourmet-level quality, I couldn’t believe it. Each meal was several courses and the variety was unbelievable! I would have paid money to receive lessons from the chef if I were given the opportunity - that’s how good it was.  I also really appreciated sharing meals with the other guests and with Xander at dinner time.  It really made the whole stay feel like my home away from home.

Con: There was entirely too much food and I felt horribly guilty about it.

The energy at Ngalali was very peaceful, giving me a great opportunity to just rest deeply the entire time I was there. I slept for hours during the day, and at night, and felt like I was getting something my body has been asking for for literally years.  I felt so safe and at home - allowing me to really relax for the first time in so long  Don't get me wrong, it took me three days to start to unwind, but once I did everything became magic. Many of the other guests told me about horrible safety issues the encountered in other areas of South Africa, many of them being robbed, but this location was very safe and removed from all that

There were also so many animals right outside of the fence - jackals, monkeys, giraffe, impala, birds, and even the lions were very close because we could hear them roaring most nights.  It felt like there would be more animals there as well once the rain starts to come.

Con: if you’re not used to country noises and a little bit of bugs, it can take a bit to adjust, but I promise that you will.  The rooms are also a little rustic, and that's ok, but you just have to make peace with it!  You have everything you need.  They are clean and well equipped.

I went on about 10  game drives, the panorama drive and a river cruise with Xander. The reviews about him and the food were why I chose this lodge. Xander is a native South African, and has so much knowledge and passion for what he does - truly a gem in a place where most people are just looking to make money or do a job they don’t really love.   Xander was exactly the type of person I wanted to help guide me on my trip.   He had so much to say about everything we saw and even gave us great information about certain plants, birds, animal tracks, local culture, etc.  He is a fantastic guide and great human.

Con: Not really a con, but you can never predict how a drive will go, one day you don't see anything in three hours and the next day you see a full lion pride with cubs walk by your truck, a herd of elephants and giraffes!

In my 10 days at Ngalali, I had the opportunity to meet many other guests as they came and went for two or three night stays.  They all said the same thing - the game drives with Xander were better than the drives at Kruger and the food was the best they had on their entire trip.

I have so much gratitude for Xander, Lorenza and the staff at Ngalali.  If I ever decide to revisit South Africa, I would 100% come back...

I need to breakdown the Review because Ngalali retreat deserves this.

Location and accommodation

The nature reserve in which the property is located is in an amazing spot. There were lions’ sightings almost everyday in that reserve. We spotted lionesses and cubs and so many other animals around the property. Elephants were coming to drink water from the water hole just in front of the property, and we kept hearing Lions roaring in night which was something else. The property is quite big and the room was very comfy. You can sit outside for hours and hear birds and see animals passing by.

Xander and Lorenza are an amazing host and they have a great great staff. Helen, the chef, prepared delicious meals every night for us. Getting top-notch Italian food in the bush is a luxury and I don’t think that you can get that kind of food in any of the big lodges in Kruger. There were some Italian guests staying there and they praised the food which in my opinion is the biggest compliment one can get.

Game drives

We did a few game drives with Xander during our stay and it was a real treat. He is so knowledgeable that he can give you so much detail about animals, birds, wildlife. We were in awe to see his passion about what he is doing and thoroughly enjoyed both morning and evening drives with him; especially the night time experience where you can see some rare nocturnal animals. We saw so many animals and the sunset spot (on evening drive) and coffee spot (on morning drive) were cherry on top.

Activities

Apart from the game drives with Xander, we did a full day Kruger national park drive as well which Xander and Lorenza helped us to organise. I would also recommend it as you get to drive in a bigger area which means chances of seeing Big 5 are high. We saw big 2- elephants and buffaloes, but exploring the park and driving around Olephants river was a great experience.

Apart from this, we did a couple of other activities - Boat tour and Panorama route- both through Xander and Lorenza.

For Boat tour, Xander took us through three different reserves (again fantastic and different drives) and the boat tour on Olephants river was quite a different experience with sightings of birds, elephants, and big crocodiles in the river. The Panorama route was something different and gave us a break from the bush. Xander took us to some of the beautiful spots around a couple of provinces - Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Those views are not to miss if you are staying there. Blyd canyon was the highlight of that route and Xander helped us to know everything about those sites. We got engaged during our Panorama trip, and Xander made sure that we had the best spot for it and he helped us in capturing those amazing moments.

Overall, we had a very personalised experience from Xander and Lorenza which is so hard to find these days. It felt like home, and I am sure that Ngalali retreat would become our spot to stay every time we are in Kruger.

To Xander and Lorenza, thanks again for giving us an...

Our stay at Ngalali Retreat was nothing short of unforgettable. From the very first moment we arrived, we were welcomed with such warmth and kindness by the wonderful owners, Lorenza and Xander, and their amazing staff! You can immediately feel how much love and care they have poured into creating this beautiful place.||Lorenza and Xander are not only incredibly hospitable but also so knowledgeable about the surrounding nature and wildlife. Their passion for the environment and the animals truly shines through in everything they do. It was a joy to listen to them share their insights and stories, every conversation felt like a discovery! ||Even the staff made us feel so at home. Their attentiveness and kindness added a very personal touch to our experience. Nothing was too much; they were always there with a smile!||The game drives and bush walk were absolutely spectacular! Thanks to Xander and Lorenza and the way they spot things you’d never see yourself, just wow! And ofcourse Thanks, Elly (hopefully I’m spelling your name right!) we will always remember your big smile 😄 the knowledge was amazing, and he shared it in such an engaging and fun way. We saw so many beautiful animals, and the stories they told made it all come to life.||Also a highlights of our stay was the Lion’s Cottage where we were lucky enough to stay. The room was huge and spotlessly clean and it felt so luxurious! ||And let’s talk about the breakfast… Every morning we were treated to fresh fruit, warm baked goods, eggs, and more. You definitely won’t go hungry here, on the contrary, you’ll probably leave very full and very happy! 😄 ||Mealtimes overall were such a warm and joyful part of the experience. Gathering around the table, sharing stories, laughing, and enjoying phenomenal food. It felt like dining with old friends. The food itself? Every meal was incredible! 😍 We definitely gained a few pounds after our stay 😂no regrets!||Ngalali Retreat is not just a beautiful place to stay, it's an absolutely amazing experience. We left feeling inspired. ||Thank you so much, for making our stay so special. We can’t...