I’ve been dreading writing about our safari for over a month. How do you describe something you absolutely loved, yet have no desire to repeat anytime soon? It was both a once-in-a-lifetime experience and completely exhausting. Somehow, it still earns five stars, even though I’m in no rush to go back.

That contradiction pretty much defines Garonga Safari Camp, located in a private reserve near Kruger National Park. Garonga is intentionally low-key — not the ultra-polished, highly curated luxury of places like Singita, but a thoughtful blend of comfort and immersion. You feel the luxury where it matters — good food, comfortable rooms, excellent guides — without it ever becoming distracting. Days are shaped by early mornings, long game drives, and genuinely quiet downtime, and you’re always aware you’re deep in the bush. For us, that balance worked.

Don’t let any of this fool you — Garonga, like any safari camp that isn’t “tents in the mud,” is still a significant expense, just less so than some of the ultra-luxury lodges. What we appreciated was how it balanced amenities with an authentic, unforced feel. As much as Matt and I love luxury hotels, they can sometimes feel overly choreographed. Garonga felt more like, “Welcome to our family home — pull up a chair.”

Let’s get into the details by describing a typical day.

5:00am Wake Up

The day begins with a 5 a.m. wake-up from one of the friendly security guards patrolling the camp overnight. The tents have solid walls and are designed to resemble termite mounds — which you quickly realize are everywhere once you’re in the bush. Garonga has just six tents, meaning there are never more than twelve guests at a time — and no children, which we quietly appreciated.

We’d gather for coffee and pastries before splitting into two groups of six and heading out in our jeeps for a three-hour morning drive.

6:00am The Morning Drive

This is where we quickly realized how different safari actually is from anything we’d imagined. This isn’t an “auto zoo” where you drive down a paved road and spot a few animals along the way. Safari drives are active, physical, and unpredictable. You’re searching — navigating rough terrain, tracking signs, and adapting to whatever the day brings. Weather doesn’t factor into the decision; hot, cold, or rainy, the drive happens. You can stay back at camp, but there’s very little to do if you skip the drive — which says everything about how central the experience is.

But the thrill was real. For 3 hours we drove around the reserve searching for the Big Five along with all sorts of exotic animals. Each vehicle had a guide and a tracker. Seeing the animals in their natural habitat was quite astonishing.

9:00am Breakfast

At the end of the morning drive we either went back to the camp for breakfast which consisted of a small continental buffet and an entrée made to order. Once or twice a week breakfast was actually in the bush itself which was fun.

10:00am-2pm Dead Time

From 10am-2pm we were able to lounge in the camp. Most mornings we went back to sleep for a bit. Then we would lounge around our tent watching the view of the bush which included tons of animal sitings directly from our balcony including Giraffes, elephants, and all sorts of critters. The camp had a pool, but it was too cold for us to enjoy. We enjoyed this time of day to lounge and relax.

2pm-3pm Lunch

Lunch usually consisted of a few salads and a protein option or two. Again a differentiaor with some of the ultra luxury camps is think endless food options. This is more a camp where your family is making what they feel like, which we like. We will go to Paris if we want Michelin level; this is a camp.

3pm-6:30pm Afternoon Drive

After lunch and more coffee we hopped back on our jeeps to search for animals. The highlight was stopping during the sunset to have happy hour. Gargonga always included mocktails for us too which was a nice touch. This was my favorite part of the day. Just drinking and having appetiziers in the bush with who knows how many lions watching!

7pm-9pm Dinner

Dinner at Gargonga was fun and it changed every night. Some evenings it was communal with the other guests and other nights they arranged private candle lit dinners. We liked the change as it ensured things did not feel repetitive for the four nights we were there. The staff always checked in the morning to ensure we ate everything on the limited menu and they were happy to make modifications based on preferences and diets. We were really impressed that they stocked up with non-alcoholic wines before our arrival knowing we were sober. Most Ritz Carltons don’t even do that which again is why we lked the family feel of Gargonda even if it didn’t posess the marble bathrooms. The food was always excellent sourced with local ingradietns.

Bedtime

After dinner we were escorted back to our tents by security. This was due to the fact we were in the bush and snakes and all sorts of critters could be lirking. We were not allowed to leave our tents at night unless there was an emergency. We had raidos to call for help if needed, but otherwise we were zipped up and remained in our tents.

There is no doubt this was all a lot of fun, but as you can see these were long days.

The Tents

The beds were very comfortable and had mosquito nets to ensure we were not eaten alive. Bathrooms were simple but the showers had unbelievable pressure and hot water. We also had an outdoor shower and there was something liberating showering naked outside with views of the animals.

The Sleep Out

The Garonga Sleep Out is an optional experience where you spend the night outdoors on a raised platform in the bush. You’re dropped off before sunset with a real bed, mosquito netting, and a few basic amenities, then left alone until morning. There are no walls, electricity, or bathrooms — just a radio for emergencies and the sounds of the reserve around you. Dinner is delivered ahead of time, and a guide returns at sunrise. It’s safe, well organized, and unforgettable — though definitely not for everyone.

This is wildly outside our comfort zone. We’re much more Four Seasons than “left alone on a platform in the middle of the bush.” And yet — we loved it. There’s something surreal about brushing your teeth with water from a bucket, eating a picnic dinner under the open sky, and realizing the toilet is fully exposed to nature. At one point, we watched a group of elephants drinking at a pond in the distance — and then slowly wander over and settle directly beneath us. It was equal parts magical and terrifying.

Matt eventually fell asleep. I did not. Around 1:30 a.m., I noticed lightning in the distance. At first there was no thunder, so I tried to convince myself it was nothing — until the thunder arrived, followed by a few raindrops. We’d been told that if weather changed, we could radio security for pickup, though the camp was about twenty minutes away. Once the storm felt close, we decided it was time. We radioed for an evacuation and, thankfully, climbed into the vehicle just as the rain started coming down in earnest. Somehow, instead of being terrifying, the whole thing felt thrilling in the moment.

Romantic Bath

Another optional and included activity is the romantic bath before dinner. The staff put together this lovely soaking tub and deck it out with flowers and all sorts of romantic touches where you get a beautiful view of the starry night. Of course, it was overcast the night we did it, but it was still lovely.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, the simplest takeaway is this: Garonga was an incredible experience — and we were exhausted by the end of it. The early mornings, long drives, constant stimulation, and emotional highs add up quickly. By the last day, we were physically tired in a way that felt almost unfamiliar, but also strangely satisfying.

Part of that exhaustion came from something we didn’t fully appreciate until we left: there is no cell service. No scrolling, no quick checks, no background noise from a phone in your hand. Between hours spent outside on game drives and the quiet stretches back at camp, it was probably the most time we’ve spent outdoors and disconnected from electronics since we were kids in the 1990s. At first it was jarring. Then it became one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

Garonga reminded us that being fully present — even when it’s uncomfortable or tiring — can be deeply rewarding. Would we do a safari again tomorrow? Absolutely not. But would we recommend Garonga to the right traveler, at the right moment in their life? Without hesitation.

Five stars.
And then a very long nap.

Bon Voyage,

Andrew Reiser |Travel Advisor

Website: https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/andrew-reiser

Instagram: @areiser86

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