This Safari Camp Offers the Dreamiest Treehouse Stay For An Epic Night in the Wild

There’s a moment in every great safari where the wilderness stops feeling like a backdrop and begins to pull you into its rhythm. At andBeyond Ngala Tented Camp in South Africa, that moment comes quickly.

Maybe it’s the pre-dawn stillness as you sip coffee on your tent’s deck, listening to a lion’s distant, guttural call. Or perhaps it’s later, when you find yourself miles from camp, under an ancient leadwood tree, tracking the ghostly silhouette of a leopard as it melts into the twilight.

Safaris have long held an allure for adventure travelers, but in 2025, they are more than just a bucket-list trip — they are one of the biggest adventure travel trends of the year, according to Virtuoso, the global luxury travel network. And for good reason. In an increasingly fast-paced and digital world, the call of the wild has never been stronger. Travelers are seeking immersive, off-the-grid experiences, and few journeys deliver the same raw, unfiltered connection to nature as an African safari with andBeyond.

Ngala, meaning “lion” in the local Shangaan language, lives up to its name. Located within a private concession bordering South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park, this exclusive tented camp offers an unparalleled front-row seat to the African wild — without the crowds. Wildlife roams freely with no fences separating Ngala from Kruger, and each day is a masterclass in nature’s raw beauty.

Dawn Breaks Over the Bush

Before sunrise, the world remains cloaked in darkness as nocturnal predators finish their night’s work, signaling the beginning of the safari day. A gentle knock on your tent signals the start of the morning drive. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the earthy scent of the bush, a sensory prelude to the adventure ahead.

Bundled in blankets against the early chill, you step into the open-air Land Rover. Your guide, an expert in reading the bush like a living map, scans the terrain, eyes flicking from the tangled brush to the sandy tracks ahead. Suddenly, the engine cuts and a hush falls over the group. A pride of lions lounges in the golden grass mere meters away, their bellies full from an overnight feast. The air hums with quiet awe as the first rays of sunlight stretch across the horizon, illuminating the amber glow of their coats.

Later, a herd of rhinoceros emerges in the distance, moving with slow, deliberate grace. Your guide signals for silence. The experience heightens every sense. The rustle of leaves, the snap of a twig, the deep, resonant rumble of a rhino communicating with its herd — it’s all amplified in the quiet vastness of the bush.

As the sun climbs higher, the safari slows. A bush walk — one of Ngala’s signature experiences — offers a chance to step out of the vehicle and onto ancient paths. There’s something primal about walking in the footsteps of Africa’s giants, about feeling the crunch of dry leaves underfoot while your tracker points out the finer details — giraffe droppings shaped like coffee beans, the territorial scent marks of a leopard, the deep grooves where a rhino sharpened its horn against a tree trunk.

After the morning’s adventures, a leisurely lunch awaits back at camp. Ngala’s culinary offerings are far from traditional “camp food.” Think garden-fresh salads, grilled meats infused with South African flavors, and decadent desserts that feel almost too indulgent for the wild.

The midday hours invite relaxation. Perhaps a dip in the rim-flow pool, where the occasional elephant strolls past for a drink. Or a nap on your private deck, lulled by the distant whoop of a hyena. At Ngala, even downtime is an experience — an opportunity to watch, listen, and let the African bush seep into your soul.

The Golden Hour Chase

By late afternoon, the anticipation builds once more. Sunset game drives are when the bush truly comes alive. The heat of the day fades, and with it, the animals stir. A leopard, draped over the sturdy limb of a leadwood tree, stretches lazily before slipping into the grass, muscles rippling with each step. A herd of buffalo kicks up dust as they move toward a waterhole, their heavy horns silhouetted against the crimson sky.

The vehicle winds through the landscape, each turn offering a new scene and story. Your tracker spots fresh tracks in the dirt and signals the driver to stop. The search begins. Minutes stretch into what feels like hours until suddenly, excitement crackles over the radio — another tracker has spotted a pack of wild dogs. The vehicle surges forward, the wind whipping past your face as you race against the setting sun to witness one of Africa’s most endangered predators in action.

Nightfall Stories

As the first stars appear, returning to camp is a transition back to comfort. But the adventure isn’t quite over. Just as the rest of the guests return to camp, you’re in for something even more unforgettable. Instead of retreating to your lavish tent, a private guide escorts you to the Ngala Treehouse, a four-level open-air sanctuary in the middle of the bush, where you’ll spend the night alone under the stars. 

The journey to the treehouse is part of the adventure — a quiet drive through the golden-hued bush, past herds of impala and zebra grazing in the fading light. As you arrive, the setting is surreal. The treehouse blends rustic luxury and raw adventure, elevated over the wild landscape. Candles flicker in the breeze, the staff lays out a gourmet picnic, and a plush bed awaits under the open sky.

As darkness settles, the bush transforms. The sounds sharpen: the yipping of kudu, the rhythmic grunts of hippos from a distant waterhole, and the occasional deep, resonant roar of a lion. With only a low, circular barricade separating you from the wild, the experience is both exhilarating and deeply humbling.

Lying in your king-size bed on the third floor or beneath a blanket of stars on the fourth floor, you listen to the nocturnal symphony, your heartbeat syncing with the rhythms of the bush. This isn’t just a safari — it’s a rare chance to be part of something ancient and untamed.

Dawn From Above

Morning comes softly in the treehouse. The first light reveals a world washed in gold, and from your perch above the trees, you watch the bush awaken. Below, a herd of giraffes moves silently through the mist, their long necks swaying as they browse the treetops. A lone elephant ambles by, pausing to lift his trunk toward your elevated hideaway as if acknowledging your presence.

Breakfast is waiting downstairs in the kitchen to not break the spell of solitude. Freshly baked pastries, steaming coffee, and a view no five-star hotel could ever replicate. A luxuriously hot shower awaits in the second-level bathroom, a chance to savor every moment.

Eventually, the time comes to return to camp, where the other guests, still groggy from their comfortable beds, greet you with curiosity. “How was it?” they ask.

You smile, knowing that words will never entirely do it justice. Because Ngala isn’t just a place you visit. It’s a place that seeps into your soul and changes you. And spending the night alone under its vast, starlit sky? That’s something you carry with you forever.