Jamala Wildlife Lodge

Had I woken from an afternoon nap at Jamala Wildlife Lodge without context, I could easily have believed I was lost in a dream at a South African safari retreat. Two giraffes grazed quietly outside my room, while lions, cheetahs, zebras and rhinos all wandered nearby. The only giveaway that I was actually in Canberra was the faint silhouette of Black Mountain Tower in the distance.

Tucked away in the heart of Australia’s capital at the National Zoo and Aquarium, Jamala Wildlife Lodge is without a doubt Canberra’s most unique accommodation – an award it’s won eight times, in fact. Here, the luxury bungalows and suites are dispersed within the animal enclosures, offering you the chance to sleep, dine and even bathe next to some of the world’s most dangerous and endangered species. Think cheetahs, lions, sun bears and giraffes!

While the animals are naturally the headline act of any Jamala stay, the five-star luxury of the accommodation is a very close second. Paired with fine dining, private zoo tours and intimate animal encounters, it’s honestly one of the most immersive and incredible safari experiences you can find outside of Africa.

Where is Jamala Wildlife Lodge?

Jamala Wildlife Lodge is located inside the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra, close to the banks of the Molonglo River. It’s just a ten-minute drive from the CBD and 15-minutes from the Canberra Airport.

Reachable via an easy three-hour drive from Sydney or a short flight from Melbourne, Adelaide or Brisbane, Jamala is the perfect destination for a wild weekend escape on Australia’s east coast.

What’s included at Jamala Wildlife Lodge?

Every stay at Jamala Wildlife Lodge is all-inclusive of a five-star suite, a private behind-the-scenes tour with a knowledgeable keeper, two days’ entry to the zoo and aquarium, and all food and beverages.

What are the rooms like at Jamala Wildlife Lodge?

Jamala Wildlife Lodge offers 18 African-themed rooms, each with its own face-to-face wildlife experience. Attached to the main lodge are seven uShaka Lodges, ranging from family-size rooms overlooking the resident meerkats’ enclosure to a reef room that peers directly into a five-metre deep ocean aquarium. All suites are fitted out with bespoke African furniture and original artworks, plus en-suites with animal mosaics in the shower, plush lounges positioned for optimal wildlife viewing, and a music system with African tunes playing on arrival.

The most popular stays are the five Jungle Bungalows, where only a floor-to-ceiling glass window separates you from lions, tigers, cheetahs or sun bears. Since heating and cosy hay bedding are strategically placed directly against the opposite side of the glass panel, the animals often sleep mere inches away from you at night – a once-in-a-lifetime experience you can admire from the plush king bed, comfy lounge or even the deep, free-standing bathtub. Of course, every interaction here is entirely on the animals' own terms, meaning there are no guarantees.

Ideal for families, the six Giraffe Treehouses overlook a private enclosure home to the lodge’s two resident giraffes, Skye and Khamisi. It’s the most interactive stay at Jamala, where guests get to hand-feed carrots to the giraffes from their private balcony on arrival. Inside, each treehouse features a lavish king bed alongside a double sofa bed, which can comfortably sleep two children or an extra adult for an additional fee.

What is the food like at Jamala Wildlife Lodge?

All food and beverages are included in your Jamala stay, including a high tea on arrival, which you can enjoy with front seats to a private aquarium; pre-dinner drinks on the terrace, with guest appearances from two hyenas and a white lion; a gourmet three-course seasonal dinner in the Rainforest Cave, which used to be a shark tank; and an à la carte hot breakfast with unlimited barista coffee.

It’s both a privilege and a shame that only Jamala guests get to experience the food here, as it’s nothing short of spectacular. Think premium tomahawk steaks with Café de Paris butter and red wine jus, chicken ballotine with North African spices, Moroccan tagine with roti bread, and traditional African beef bobotie.

Is Jamala Wildlife Lodge worth it?

Jamala Wildlife Lodge definitely isn’t cheap, but it’s an experience worth saving up for. You not only get to sleep in luxe accommodation just metres from some of the world’s wildest animals, but your stay here genuinely makes a difference. A portion of funds from every booking supports the zoo’s vital breeding and educational programs, alongside various global wildlife conservation and welfare funds. In fact, Jamala and the zoo have quietly contributed more than $1 million to these crucial causes over the last few years.

When you pair that meaningful impact with the five-star luxury of the accommodation, private behind-the-scenes tours, intimate animal encounters and spectacular, all-inclusive dining (think sunset drinks with hyenas, followed by a gourmet three-course dinner), it delivers one of the most immersive and extraordinary safari experiences you can find outside of Africa.

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Price: From $1,795 per night

Book now: Here

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