A slice of Africa in South Australia?

An African safari in the wilds of South Australia? 

It's not exactly the Kruger National Park, but if you want your kids to see some wildlife that is not in cages and roaming free then Monarto Safari Park's Wild Africa precinct might be worth considering. 

And now you can book to stay in a "Safari Lodge” near Murray Bridge in South Australia. 

A stay in the Journey Beyond-operated facility includes all meals and beverages as well as a safari adventure in a custom-built open-sided 4WD Landcruiser on the 550 hectares of the Wild Africa precinct.

The Safari Lodge is the brainchild of Gerry Ryan OAM, caravan kingpin, Mitchelton Wine and Melbourne Storm owner. 

“The opening of 'Safari Lodge' signals the new level of luxury at Monarto Safari Resort," Ryan says in a gushing media release. 

" Featuring 20 luxury safari tents, all thoughtfully designed to immerse you in nature. It's an opportunity to delve into an African wildlife experience, witness the beauty of diverse species, and indulge in the serenity of your surroundings. 

"Guests will be able to view, zebra, giraffe, barbary sheep, nyala, ostrich, eland and oryx as they gather around the waterhole and roam the grassland plains surrounding the Lodge.”

Chris Tallent, the Journey Beyond CEO, says the accommodation facility will open on April 2. Monarto Safari Resort, formerly Monarto Zoo, opened in its new guise in the middle of 2025. 

The Lodge features a private restaurant showcasing South Australian produce. 

A two-night package to experience Wild Luxury at Safari Lodge costs from $2,920 per tent. 

See www.monartosafariresort.com/safari-lodge

Global conglomerate heads for the African bush

 

Global hotel conglomerates and African safari lodges would seem to be unlikely bedfellows but ...

Marriott International has just signed an agreement with Baraka Lodges Ltd to enter the Africa safari lodge segment.

JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge will be the company’s first safari lodge, located within the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

The retreat expects to welcome guests from 2023.

The new-build lodge will feature 20 private tents, including one presidential canvas-topped pavilion and two interconnecting canopied suites.

Shared spaces will include a restaurant, lounge bar, spa, and a large outdoor terrace with fire pits that will play host to traditional Masai dance performances in the evening (ugh!).

“We cannot think of a more perfect retreat than the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya,” said Bruce Rohr, vice president and brand leader for JW Marriott, Marriott International.

“JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge will offer guests a luxurious backdrop as they connect with nature and wildlife as never before," he said. 

"We are thrilled that the JW Marriott brand will be welcoming adventure travellers, including families, to this breath-taking part of the world.”

Masai Mara is home to lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceros and elephants. Between June and September, the reserve is also host to the annual great wildebeest migration, when more than 10 million animals travel a distance of 1,800 miles from the Serengeti in neighbouring Tanzania.

Marriott International currently operates more than 120 properties in Africa across its portfolio.

I suspect nervous American tourists might feel more comfortable visiting the jungle when they stay with a familiar name.