Imbali Safari Lodge - Limpopo

Imbali Safari Lodge is the perfect departure point for your African Safari. Set on the banks of the N’waswitsontso River in the Central Kruger National Park, this palatial haven offers immaculate accommodation and unrestrained luxury. Experience magnificent wildlife sightings in the heart of the Kruger National Park – Africa’s most iconic game reserve.

Observe and enjoy one of South Africa’s most renowned wildlife experiences at Imbali Safari Lodge, nestled discreetly amidst a canopy of impressive Jackalberry and Tamboti trees in the iconic Kruger National Park.

You do not even need to leave the comfort of Imbali Safari Lodge’s deck to see Kruger National Park’s creatures as the camp is positioned along the animal movement patterns that ensures a constant parade of elephant, buffalo, antelope, lion, leopard and wild dog can be seen from the camp. Sheltered in a riverine forest overlooking the seasonal Nwaswitsontso river, Imbali Safari Lodge is built on the site of a 400-year-old African settlement that has yielded such evidence of an ancient culture as clay pots, bone tools and grinding stones.

Plush leather sofas, African patterned tapestries and traditional artefacts fight for their place of pride amidst thatched roofs, stone columns and the odd tree that emerges unapologetically through the teak deck; an impressive Jackalberry keeping diners company as it rises through the lodge’s floor and peeps well out over the Tsonga-styled thatched roof.

Continuing in the spirit in which the Kruger National Park was created, Imbali Safari Lodge acts as a sanctuary for the bush’s creatures, great and small, and is in fact your very own bush sanctuary for the duration of your special Kruger National Park stay.

Why choose a private concession lodge in the Kruger National Park

• We are able to offer you one hundred square kilometres of exclusive safari space – only our own vehicles traverse this area
• We have our own extensive road network to access the concession
• We are permitted to leave the road and drive off-road to get closer to the wildlife and capture that perfect image
• Centrally located and adjacent to some of the most famous safari lodges in the Sabi Sands and Manyeleti Game Reserves we enjoy the some of the most productive game viewing anywhere on the planet
• Walks are available to our guests accompanied by highly qualified guides

Highlights

• Luxurious suites with private plunge pool
• Children from the age of 8 years are welcome and will enjoy a special kiddies safari
• A well situated waterhole attracts a great variety of animals
• Separate victorian bath and walk in shower create the essence of luxury in the bathroom
• Guided bush walks with experienced guides
• 10,000 hectare concession within the Kruger National Park

Accommodation at Imbali

Guests are accommodated in twelve spacious suites, subtly decorated in neutral colours with enchanting splashes of African tradition, from the ornate wall lamps to the comfortable textured pillows.

Large French doors run the length of the room to let the beautiful outside wilderness in, on your terms; an expansive deck overlooks the N’waswitsontso River or savannah grasslands with outdoor pool to complete your leisure bush experience. Relax on the sunbed with a book or let those bubbles soothe your weary muscles; the chattering of weavers, thrushes and kingfishers providing a magical bush playlist for your relaxation.

The spacious stone and marble bathroom features a Victorian style bathtub and walk in shower with signature bath amenities, a hairdryer and fluffy bathrobes. Soak your stresses away as you soak away the modern day stresses in natural bath salts while looking out on to the peace of the Kruger bush.

Rest for your soul: in to the comfortable king-size bed for a quick siesta or a nights rest after your safari; a mosquito net envelops the entire bed in the evening ensuring you are cocooned in comfort. Expect a bedtime story on your pillow or a sweet treat to enjoy before retiring for the night.

Facilities at Imbali

Imbali Safari Lodge continues the safari tradition of a bygone era, incorporating comfort and luxury in the serenity of the African bush. This exclusive lodge in the world-renowned Kruger National Park has just twelve private suites, each with their own plunge pool. Each suite has a large king bed and romantic en-suite bathroom with magnificent views of the wilderness beyond. All suites are air conditioned, and have telephones and mosquito nets.

Complimentary wi-fi in the main lodge area allows you stay in touch with your loved ones, to tell them about your safari adventures each day.

The sparkling swimming pool in the main area promises a refreshing dip while providing the opportunity to enjoy the rich and varied wildlife that visits to the Imbali Safari Lodge water hole daily to enjoy for a cooling drink.

Spa treatments are available in the privacy of your suite. These are charged separately, according to the treatment you choose.

In-room gym bags available for use at the lodge

Dining at Imbali

Enjoy an extensive buffet breakfast or order a delicious hot plated breakfast to indulge in after your morning safari either in our gorgeous dining room which boasts an impressive hundred year old Jackalberry rising through the deck of the dining room and thatched roof or under the tree’s on the outside decks.

Lunch is a light, informal affair with a buffet laden with tasty salads and dishes served in relaxed surroundings; the sounds of the bush providing all the accompaniment you need for a memorable dining experience.

Indulge in High Tea with a delicious selection of cakes and pastries freshly baked at the lodge before embarking on your afternoon’s safari.

Then enjoy a magical three-course table ‘d hotel menu under the stars. Good wine and good conversation flow while you listen to the enchanting sounds of the surrounding bush coming alive at night. We enjoy outdoor dining in our Boma on Tuesday and Friday evenings hosted by your Safari Guide.

Although both lunch and dinner are served at the main lodge, guests can arrange for a private meal on their deck or in-suite on request

Safaris at Imbali

Two daily safaris are included in all rates at Imbali Safari Lodge optional bush walks can be arranged in advance, at an additional charge.

A private concession within the Kruger National Park comprising three lodges – Imbali Safari Lodge, Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge and Hamiltons Tented Camp, Mluwati Concession was born out of a spirit of ensuring the future sustainability of the National Park.

As one of the first private concessions in the Kruger National Park, Mluwati has worked tirelessly to ensure the sustainability of this pristine wilderness that for over 100 years has been a sanctuary for over 114 reptiles, 34 amphibians and 147 mammal species, including Africa’s Big Five.

Keen birders will delight in the hundreds of bird species that call Kruger home. Over 500 species, many of which occur in the Mluwati Concession including the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Crested Barbet and Burchell’s Glossy Starling.

Guests will enjoy some of Kruger’s most spectacular landscapes and an extraordinary variety of wildlife, birdlife and plant life within the Mluwati Concession, ensuring that each safari experience will be unique.

Experience a morning and evening safari during your stay at Imbali Safari Lodge. Witness the excitement of the first rains; the terrapins playing in river pools, the call of the Pied Kingfisher and steady chirping of sociable tree frogs.

Savour the rich smells of the bush, hear the shrill calls of the Magpie Shrike and see the wind blowing through the feather grass dotting the savannah plains.

A safari at Imbali will reveal new scents, curious sounds and the beauty of an extraordinary African landscape to delight your senses.

A day in the life at Imbali

• Kick-start your day before the sun rises, dunking a homemade rusk into a steamy cup of coffee before setting off on your morning safari with your assigned ranger.
• Watch as the bush awakens around you; the dew glistens on the webs of the Golden Orb spider and Lilac Breasted Rollers flash their startling sky-blue bellies as they flit past your game vehicle.
• See wild dogs laze under the Acacia trees and elephants leave their distinct trail as they chomp through the bush at a leisurely pace. Steal a glance at the leopard eating its prey high up in an old Tamboti tree, zebra foraging alongside large herds of wildebeest and impala flashing their characteristic ‘M’ as they disappear in to the thick brush.
• Enjoy an extensive cold and hot buffet breakfast in Imbali Safari Lodge’s comfortable dining room; an impressive Jackalberry rising right through the deck of the dining room and the Tsonga-styled thatched roof. Then retire to your room and relax, laze at the crystal-clear infinity pool or request a bush walk for an up-close encounter with the Kruger.
• Lunch is a relaxed, informal affair. Served on the deck with beautiful views of the surrounding bushveld and the Nwaswitsontso River, guests are treated to light salads and tasty desserts before retiring to their rooms for an afternoon siesta.
• Afternoon tea, served on the deck, heralds the imminent departure of your special evening safari through the Mluwati Concession. Spot a pride of lazy lions lounging casually in the tall grass and the associated warning call of nature’s tattletales, the Grey Loerie, as they inform the surrounding species of impending danger.
• Sip a sundowner G&T as you watch the sky turn from the brilliance of an African sunset to a bright band of stars; the persistent call of frogs, owls and nightjars accompanying you back to Imbali Safari Lodge for a romantic dinner on the deck, a canopy of stars watching over you.