Little Garonga is a luxury and private lodge boasting three individual thatched suites and ideally located on the private Makalali Private Nature Reserve, just west of the Kruger National Park.

An unassuming and intimate sanctuary offering guests the opportunity for a unique wildlife encounter and to relax in a serene safari landscape.

The lodge features three well-appointed thatched suites, each with expansive full en-suite bathrooms including an indoor and outdoor shower as well as a private deck with an inviting hammock to relish in the surrounding beauty. The camp is north facing which allows sunlight to stream in, and its prime location affords magnificent views over the reserve.

All suites are situated around a centralised indoor and outdoor lounge area, a swimming pool, and a built-in braai/BBQ area. The lodge also has its own host, chef, waiter, and housekeeper so is totally self-contained and run separately from the Safari Camp.

The Hambleden Suite (maximum 2 adults & 2 children))

The Hambleden Suite is an exclusive private villa complete with a raised deck, two separate rooms, its own swimming pool, private indoor/outdoor lounge areas (covered) and a huge bathroom with a beautiful hand-beaten copper bathtub and indoor/outdoor showers. The suite has its own mini-bar and is fully air-conditioned. The Hambleden Suite is perfect for a couple who wants total luxury and exclusivity and is also available to accommodate a family of up to four.

The Chiltern & Buckingham Suites (maximum 2 guests)

The Chiltern and Buckingham Suites are set overlooking the bushveld and are each suitable for a couple sharing. The suites have their own platform deck with hammock and a lounge with writing desk. There is a seating area in the main bedroom consisting of a minibar, an air‐conditioning unit, as well as ceiling fans. The bathroom consists of a bath, two basins, an indoor shower, and a large outdoor shower.

Activities include game drives, wilderness walks, a unique sleep-out experience under the African sky, outdoor bush-baths as well as aromatherapy and reflexology sessions. Garonga guests are encouraged to indulge in activities that will allow them to walk close to the animals, and thereby enhance their wildlife experience.

 About the Makalali Private Nature Reserve

The Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve (GMPGR), together with the Pidwa Wilderness Reserve forms the Greater Makalali Nature Reserve (GMNR), is currently a 25,000-hectare game reserve and a registered Protected Area (PA). The GMNR is situated outside Gravelotte in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, in the triangle between Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa and Tzaneen.

The reserve overlooks the majestic Drakensberg mountain range in the Limpopo Province. It is bisected by the perennial Makhutswi River, a tributary of the Olifant’s River, and includes approximately 10 km of the Selati River frontage.

The Reserve was established to promote the conservation of the land and wildlife within its boundaries.

The reserve is home to the Big 5, with previously extirpated species including lion, elephant, rhino, hippo, cheetah, hyena, and disease-free buffalo, being reintroduced. Leopard, brown hyena, and the smaller mammal species as well as the endangered ground hornbill and the many threatened and endangered vulture and raptor species are present on the reserve.