Images: Frankie the Creative
Monarto Safari Resort has officially opened its doors to its highly anticipated, ultra-luxe new Safari Lodge, set to rival the likes of the Adelaide Hills’ Sequoia Lodge and Kangaroo Island’s Southern Ocean Lodge.
You’ll find Safari Lodge within the park’s expansive Wild Africa precinct, perfectly blending high-end comfort with immersive wildlife encounters for guests just beyond their doorstep. While you won’t quite be sleeping in the wild, this is about as close as most would want to get, with giraffes and zebras wandering past your private deck by day, before retreating to fresh linen, warm showers and a refined, resort-style living by night.
The Lodge represents the culmination of a decade-long vision by owner Gerry Ryan AO, adding a luxury tier to the existing Monarto Safari Resort, which has already welcomed nearly 30,000 visitors since opening in May 2025. “We set out to create something that doesn’t exist anywhere else in Australia, an all-inclusive safari lodge where you can experience Africa’s most magnificent wildlife without leaving the country,” said Gerry.
“The luxury lies not just in the accommodation and world-class dining, but in the complete immersion: watching a tower of giraffes from your private deck, looking out to the horizon and seeing zebras graze, knowing that every moment has been designed for you to connect deeply with nature. This is the kind of transformative experience that guests travel halfway around the world for, and we’ve brought it home to South Australia.”
Located around a central waterhole, the intimate collection of 20 luxury safari tents offers guests a front-row view of animals roaming freely across the surrounding plains. The setting transports you worlds away from Adelaide, yet remains within easy reach, delivering a new kind of escape that you won’t find anywhere else in the state.
Inside the tents, the detail is just as considered as the landscape beyond. There are spacious lounge areas, king or twin bedding, private dressing rooms and ensuites, all leading out onto outdoor decks designed for uninterrupted wildlife viewing.
Beyond the private suites, the central lodge acts as a relaxed yet refined meeting spot, where South Australian produce is the star of the show across generous breakfasts and multi-course dinners. There’s also plenty to explore between safari moments, from the onsite pool and private plunge pools to a gym, pickleball court and outdoor lounge made for sunset drinks and stargazing.
Designed to go beyond traditional accommodation, every stay at Safari Lodge is fully inclusive, offering guests dining, drinks, and curated experiences in one seamless package. The opening is part of a major next step for Monarto Safari Resort, which has quickly established itself as one of the state’s most unique tourism drawcards.
Backed by Journey Beyond, Safari Lodge has now officially welcomed its first guests. South Australian Tourism Minister Emily Bourke shared, “Safari Lodge is a game-changer for South Australian tourism, delivering a world-class luxury experience that positions our state alongside the globe’s most sought-after safari destinations. This is the kind of transformative, high-value tourism offering that attracts discerning travellers from interstate and around the world and showcases the very best of what South Australia has to offer.”
Importantly, the experience extends beyond luxury, with a portion of every stay supporting conservation efforts led by Zoos South Australia. “Conservation doesn’t happen in isolation. It is most effective when individuals and communities work together and that is why we’re so grateful for our partnership with the Ryan family and Journey Beyond,” shared Chief Executive Dr Phil Ainsley. “A portion of every stay here at Safari Lodge contributes vital funds to Zoos SA’s conservation efforts, both locally and globally. This allows us to continue our important work with critically endangered native species, as well as the more recognisable exotic species you can see on safari through the open plains of Wild Africa.”
Architecturally, the lodge takes inspiration from African design principles while staying grounded in the South Australian landscape, using locally sourced materials and showcasing works by regional artists. The result is a space that feels both elevated and deeply connected to its surroundings, where the real hero remains the ever-changing wildlife just beyond your door.
As far as bucket-list stays go, this one is set to put South Australia firmly on the global safari map.
Safari Lodge
When: Open now
Where: 63 Monarto Rd, Monarto SA 5254
For more information, click here.
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