Located just an hour’s drive from Adelaide, Monarto Safari Lodge is Australia’s first all-inclusive luxury safari accommodation offering what owner Gerry Ryan AO describes as “the kind of transformative experience that guests travel halfway around the world for.”
Set in the Wild Africa precinct of the existing Monarto Safari Resort, which opened last May, Monarto Safari Lodge is the new, premium experience that’s added a luxury tier with front-row access to the expansive safari park.
“The luxury lies not just in the accommodation and world-class dining”, Ryan explains, “but in the complete immersion: watching a tower of giraffe from your private deck, looking out to the horizon and seeing zebra graze, knowing that every moment has been designed for you to connect deeply with nature.”
A stay at Monarto Safari Lodge not only includes all meals and beverages (as well as admission to Monarto Safari Park), it also unlocks exclusive access to a host of curated immersive experiences and wellness options. The cherry on top? A portion of every stay goes to Zoos SA’s animal conservation efforts, both locally and globally.
The site, restaurant and bar
Crafted from locally sourced granite, custom timber and dry-pressed brick, Monarto Safari Lodge brings African vernacular architecture to South Australia. Beyond the 20 luxury safari tents, guests can lounge in the central lodge where the on-site restaurant and bar showcase South Australia’s finest produce. Dining is all-inclusive, with free-flowing wines, cocktails, spirits and beers available to all guests.
Each evening, guests will be seated for a multi-course dinner with a menu that changes daily, while breakfast and lunch options can be enjoyed from the lodge restaurant or from the comfort of the luxury safari tents.
When they’re not taking in the stunning scenery and wildlife, guests can take their drinks out to the outdoor lounge, relax by the pool, train at the gym or pickleball court and enjoy private plunge pools. For the full wellness experience, guests can opt in for beauty and other restorative treatments, such as the signature Rejuvenation Ritual — including a foot soak, 30-minute relaxation massage, hydrating facial and 30-minute session at the Soak House — at Monarto Safari Resort’s Jurlique-stocked Marula Day Spa.
The accommodation
Each of the 20 luxury safari tents come with either king or twin beds, spacious lounge, ensuite and private outdoor deck overlooking the waterhole where giraffes, zebras and antelopes freely roam. Guests can spot them from their plush beds before retreating to their private dressing rooms to get ready for the day, or while enjoying snacks and drinks from the daily-restocked mini bars.
Exclusive safari experiences
Each two-night minimum stay at the lodge unlocks immersive safari experiences where guests can encounter iconic African animals up close. Every stay includes two-day general admission to the 1.5-hectare Safari Park, as well as an exclusive 2.5-hour sunset safari adventure aboard a custom-built open LandCruiser where guests will take in cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes and hippos.
Getting there
A 60-minute drive from Adelaide Airport, guests can opt in to accommodation packages which include return private luxury airport transfers. For those driving, it’s best to take the Monarto exit off the South Eastern Freeway to the Princes Highway and follow the signs.
LinkSA operates a direct bus service from Adelaide CBD to Monarto Safari Park, running Monday to Friday. Check the LinkSA website for specific, up-to-date timetables and to book tickets. Adult return tickets cost around $50.
AQs
Your stay at Monarto Safari Lodge includes: all food and beverages, including select wines, beers, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks; daily restocked minibar with South Australian beverages and snacks; two-day general admission to the Monarto Safari Park; a 2.5-hour sunset safari experience with light refreshments and accommodation in one of the luxury safari tents; complimentary shuttle to the Safari Park, Resort or Day Spa on request and parking for all guests near the central lodge. Select packages will also include return private airport transfers (at an additional cost.)
Monarto Safari Lodge is a 60-minute drive from Adelaide Airport and is located 70km from Adelaide’s CBD.
For fuss-free travelling, opt for packages that include return airport transfers. Otherwise, driving from Adelaide’s CBD will take around 60 minutes and is straightforward.
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