Journey Beyond, Australia’s leading experiential tourism group, today welcomed its first guests to Safari Lodge, South Australia’s newest luxury accommodation experience.
Safari Lodge is an exclusive sanctuary, located deep within the Mallee Plains of the Wild Africa precinct. With its own private entrance and sense of seclusion and understated luxury, 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.
Gerry Ryan AO says “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. The luxury lies not just in the accommodation and world-class dining, 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. This is the kind of transformative experience that guests travel halfway around the world for, and we’ve brought it home to South Australia.”
Newly appointed South Australian Minister for Tourism Emily Bourke says, “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 travelers from interstate and around the world and showcases the very best of what South Australia has to offer.”
Safari Lodge offers an intimate, all-inclusive luxury escape where every detail has been carefully considered. The highly curated experience includes all meals and beverages, paired with the authentic Australian hospitality Journey Beyond is known for, as well as General Admission access to Monarto Safari Park. The experience is elevated by an exclusive safari adventure aboard a custom-built open-sided 4WD Safari Landcruiser, traversing 550 hectares of the Wild Africa precinct. Each of the 20 luxury safari tents features a private outdoor deck furnished for relaxation, a spacious lounge area, king or twin beds, an ensuite bathroom, and private dressing room, with two accessibility tents also available. The private outdoor deck borders the Wild Africa precinct, bringing guests even closer to nature, and offering an opportunity to view Africa’s wildest animals like nowhere else in Australia.
Beyond their private sanctuary, guests can spend time in the central Lodge to dine in the exclusive restaurant showcasing South Australia’s celebrated local produce through generous breakfasts and multi-course dinners. When not observing wildlife, the onsite pool and private plunge pools, gym, pickleball court, and outdoor lounge provide the perfect settings, whether for sundowners as animals roam nearby or stargazing before bed. Guests can enhance their stay by adding-on a rejuvenating treatment at Marula Day Spa, located at Monarto Safari Resort.
Chris Tallent, Journey Beyond CEO, says, “Safari Lodge represents everything Journey Beyond stands for, exceptional experiences that create unparalleled connections and offer a genuine sense of place. As the largest safari resort of its kind in Australia, the Lodge is defined by a holistic approach to luxury, where every detail is thoughtfully considered from world-class design and elevated comfort, all-inclusive immersive experiences that connect guests deeply with nature. Supporting vital conservation efforts, we’re incredibly proud to deliver this world-class experience in South Australia, offering a new benchmark in luxury that feels uniquely Journey Beyond.”
Dr Phil Ainsley, Zoos South Australia Chief Executive, says, “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. 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.
Monarto Safari Lodge brings the spirit of African vernacular architecture to the South Australian landscape, crafted from locally sourced Wallaroo granite, dry-pressed brick, and custom timber joinery that feels both grounded and refined. Each safari tent is thoughtfully positioned to offer sweeping views of the waterhole and wildlife corridors, where dappled light plays across interiors adorned with commissioned works by South Australian and Victorian artists. The result is an understated luxury that doesn’t compete with nature but celebrates it, allowing the ever-changing landscape to unfold as the main event while guests sink into textural warmth and quiet comfort.
