Monarto Safari Park review: Inside South Australia’s luxury safari lodge experience near Adelaide

Midway through our sunset jeep safari, we spot two cheetahs staring intently into a neighbouring enclosure. The focus of their curiosity is a mob of kangaroos grazing on the other side of the fence. One of the cheetahs turns towards us, its expression seemingly saying, “What the actual f...?

It’s a moment that neatly encapsulates the head-scratching incongruity of being on safari in South Australia. Just an hour after leaving Adelaide Airport, you can find yourself in the largest open-range safari park outside Africa — a sprawling, 1500ha reserve that’s bigger than all of Australia’s other zoos combined.

While Monarto Safari Park has existed in some form since 1993, the guest experience was elevated last year with the opening of Monarto Safari Resort. This stylish, 78-room property overlooks Wild Africa, a 560ha, Serengeti-like expanse of mallee plains populated with African species including giraffe, zebra and ostrich.

Just a few weeks back, owner Journey Beyond took things up another notch, with the unveiling of the Safari Lodge — an all-inclusive, luxury tented camp designed to emulate the high-end African safari experience. Also bordering Wild Africa, the lodge comprises a sweeping arc of 20 glamping tents, along with a central lodge housing a bar, restaurant, swimming pool, gym, two plunge pools and even a pickleball court.

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How does it stack up? Well, the infrastructure certainly delivers. The tents are spacious, featuring handcrafted A.H. Beard beds, stone-swathed ensuites and inviting outdoor decks. And the main lodge is equally appealing — a refined blend of Wallaroo granite, textured timbers and pressed brick, punctuated by Australian artworks.

The restaurant is led by South African chef De Buys Nortier, whose previous haunts include the Lake House in Daylesford. Evenings begin with cocktails and canapes at the bar (think caviar-topped potato croissants) followed by dinner, which alternates between a degustation-style chef’s menu and a relaxed, family-style sharing feast. Regional produce takes centre stage, so expect to see Mayura Station wagyu and locally caught yellowtail kingfish paired with a thoughtful selection of South Australian wines.

So far, so good. But let’s be honest — people don’t go on safari for the food. OK, most people don’t.

Zoos can be divisive but it’s hard not to be impressed by Monarto Safari Park (all lodge stays include a three-day pass). Buses loop through the vast reserve, stopping at expansive enclosures housing everything from chimps to cheetahs, while interactive experiences range from having a meerkat on your lap (adorable) to hand-feeding lions from inside a metal cage (viscerally thrilling).

Anyone can visit the park, but only lodge guests can explore Wild Africa in an open-sided LandCruiser. And this is the real test. How much suspension of disbelief is required for a safari in South Australia to feel authentic?

Surprisingly little, as it turns out. During our 2.5-hour excursion, we have captivating encounters with cheetahs, giraffes and oryx, all accompanied by engaging commentary from an expert guide. When we stop for sundowners, a white rhino wanders so close he has to be gently lured away before we can continue.

Sure, there’s the odd anomaly — houses on the horizon and the occasional plane overhead — but overall, the experience is remarkably convincing. Who needs malaria meds and a 14-hour flight?

In the bar that night, there’s the same excited chatter about wildlife sightings that occurs in safari lodges all over the world.

Tomorrow, many of us will be up at sunrise, cradling cups of tea on our decks while zebras, giraffes and antelope graze nearby. And if we’re lucky, we might even hear the bemused call of a mystified cheetah.

From $1646 per night for two guests (two-night minimum); monartosafariresort.com