Little Garonga

Accommodating 2 adults and 2 children, the Hambleden Suite is perfect for families. The luxurious villa includes two separate bedrooms, a bathroom, a decking area and a cosy seating area. The villa has an authentic and rustic atmosphere with exposed thatch ceilings and polished wooden furniture. A king-size bed sits in the centre of one of the bedrooms, covered in crisp white bed linen and draped with mosquito netting, and two single beds sit in the second bedroom, also draped with mosquito netting for a comfortable and bug-free nights sleep. A small but cosy seating area lies to the side of the main bedroom, where guests can snuggle around the fireplace on cold evenings.

The bathroom includes an indoor and unique outdoor shower, and a deep, freestanding copper bathtub, placed next to wide windows for a relaxing soak with a view. The villa comes with its own private minibar, allowing guests to unwind on their expansive decking with a glass of something refreshing while gazing over the stunning wilds of Makalali. The large private swimming pool is perfect for some family fun or as a cooling escape from the heat of the afternoon.

The Chiltern and Buckingham Suites are perfect for couples looking for a private and romantic getaway. The suites are elegant and luxurious, filled with bright and natural light flooding the room through wide windows. A large king-size bed sits in the centre of the room, covered in plush pillows and crisp bed linens, and romantically swathed with mosquito netting. Comfortable armchairs sit at the foot of the bed, in front of a wide window allowing guests to relax and gaze out over the view.

Both suites come with an ensuite bathroom which comes complete with an indoor shower, an outdoor shower and a deep bathtub. An expansive private decking area sits outside the front of the suite, with outdoor seating, sun loungers and a hammock, which is perfect for a gentle swing during the sunset while surrounded by the sights, smells, and sounds of the bushveld.

Meals at Little Garonga can be enjoyed in a variety of places, breakfasts can be served on the outdoor decking, lunches can be served in the main area and dinners can be served poolside, by the crackling fire. Wherever guests choose to dine, rest assured the meals will be delicious, made by professional chefs who create dishes with a combination of local and international flavours.

Travel through the bushveld in the comfort of a 4×4 safari vehicle for a chance to see some of the magnificent animals up close in their natural habitats. Accompanied by a trained and friendly ranger who will be able to take you to all the best spots, this is a traditional safari activity, and one which will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

Guests can enjoy a night spent under the stars on the sleep-out deck at Garonga Safari Camp. Located a short drive away from camp, guests will be fully surrounded by the wilds of the reserve. A comfortable four-poster bed allows guests to relax and snuggle down while gazing up at the wide starry sky. This is a unique experience which will leave guests with memories to last a lifetime.

There is no better place to indulge in some self-care than in the wilds of South Africa. Available at Little Garonga are star bush baths. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to enjoy a relaxing soak in the heart of nature, underneath the wide starry sky. With a specialised yoga deck, guests of Little Garonga can spend a morning realigning their chakras in the fresh breezes, surrounded by the beautiful nature of Makalali Private Reserve.

This is the perfect activity for the adrenaline seekers; soar high above the reserve and gain a once-in-a-lifetime birds-eye perspective of the wilderness. Gaze at the peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains feeling the wind on your face and enjoy uninterrupted 360° views of the horizon stretching out in the distance.

Rhinos are a much-threatened species in South Africa, which is why Garonga Safari works to help protect and conserve these magnificent creatures. Garonga is partnered with the World Wildlife Fund which leads a successful conservation program in the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve called the ‘Black Rhino Range Expansion Project.’ There are many anti-poaching efforts which aim to stop illegal rhino poachers, such as a K9 conservation unit which uses dogs to assist in 24/7 patrols of the reserve as they can sniff out a poachers trial, and GPS collars are also used on the rhinos so their location can be easily monitored. High-cost technology is also very useful in anti-poaching initiates such as drones and infrared cameras but can be financially difficult to implement. Guests staying at Garonga can contribute to the anti-poaching initiative via a donation or can sponsor a GPS collar.

Garonga Safari Camp runs on a combination of solar power and grid provided energy. The implementation of solar power was introduced to reduce Garonga’s dependence on fossil fuels and reduce their carbon footprint with Garonga’s Private Tented Camp running fully on solar power. Water metres have been installed to keep a record of their water usage as well as weekly reports to help them keep track of any wastage. Their water quality is maintained through an onsite water plant and it is here where greywater is treated and redistributed into the watering hole in front of the main camp.

Hot water is provided to guests through hot water pumps which use significantly less energy than geysers as they only heat the water when it is needed. The wood for all their fires is collected from dead trees which not only reduces new trees being cut down but reduces the risk of wildfires.

When guests arrive they are given a reusable metal water bottle which they can keep after leaving. This reduces the need for single-use plastic water bottles and encourages sustainability in their guests. They have their own filtration plant which controls the water quality, and they also have an onsite water system, which is run by Vivreau which provides sparkling and still water in glass water bottles.

Much of Garonga’s usage is reported to them on a weekly basis including water, diesel, gas, and solar usage which helps them to see where they can improve and where new measures may need to be implemented to further reduce their carbon footprint and increase their sustainability.