At twilight, we arrive at Monarto Safari Resort. The three-storey structure, crafted with generous swathes of timber and stone, blends seamlessly into the surrounding Mallee plains and scrubland. Its low-rise silhouette nestles into the landscape, with stone facades that echo the ochre hues of the earth and wooden screens that resonate with the textures of the bush. “Locally sourced Kanmantoo bluestone and Harlequin granite lend tactile depth to the architecture, while warm timbers and natural finishes evoke the vast sweep of the savannah,” comments Andreas Huck, General Manager of the resort.
The resort has 78 rooms spread across two levels. Guests can choose between different categories: Waterhole View Rooms, Savannah Rooms, and larger family-friendly one- or two-bedroom Suites. Some overlook the hotel’s two pools and the plains of the park, where giraffes and, in the distance, hippos in their pool can sometimes be seen. Others face the parking area but also open out onto the 530-hectare parkland that stretches toward the horizon.
Tonight, we dine in the hotel at the Kutjera Restaurant, where flavourful dishes are prepared using locally sourced South Australian ingredients and produce. Executive Chef Ajay Zalte comes by to personally explain one of his signature creations, the wild safari gin-flamed prawns. The menu showcases also dishes like kangaroo carpaccio and Barossa pork belly, using indigenous ingredients like desert lime, lemon myrtle and saltbush. The restaurant is open to both resort guests and the general public for breakfast, dinner and all-day dining, seven days a week.
Before heading back to our rooms, we’re told to expect a very unusual alarm clock: the lions might roar at first light, their enclosure sitting just near the hotel. Several guests have already reported hearing them!
An original adventure awaits us this morning with a new Monarto Safari experience, exclusive to the resort guests (Not included in room price, optional with surcharge). As our Monarto Safari Park guide explains, “It’s the chance to observe and photograph free-roaming herds from purpose-built safari trucks as we cross the "Wild Africa plains" outside public hours.” Promise kept: just minutes after leaving the resort, we pass a gate and enter a different world. The plains open up ahead of us with no obvious barriers, and we quickly spot giraffes, ostriches and mixed herds of antelope and gazelles. "This African plain is home to more than 12 different animal species from Africa," Jason Miller, Senior Keeper at Monarto, adds.
We roll past the new hippo waterhole where a bulky head surfaces before sliding back under. Farther on, cheetahs watch antelope from across a long separation fence, a reminder that this is still a managed habitat even if the landscapes feel vast.
In the distance, we can also glimpse the new 20 safari tents complete with restaurant and swimming pool, nestled in the heart of this wild landscape. Set to go on sale from September, they'll be available for bookings from February next year.
Managed by Journey Beyond, the resort was financed by Gerry Ryan, Jayco caravans founder, with an investment of well over $60 million for the hotel and safari complex. Monarto Safari Park is administered by the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia, a non-profit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation who wanted to create something truly special, the largest open-range safari experience outside of Africa, with the objective of participating in the preservation of often endangered species.
