Pressie cards are impersonal, clothing is blah; if you want a Christmas gift that actually says I love you (or I like you quite a lot), then book them a stay at Monarto Safari Resort, where African wildlife wows. And it’s only an hour from Adelaide (yes, you read that right).
The phrase “I’d gift you the moon” is an expression of deep love, but don’t you think that after a quick look around the moon‘s surface, you might get a bit… bored?
We’d rather you gift us an African safari than the moon. While Africa costs a whole lot (like a lot, a lot), you can simply travel to South Australia to see zebras, hippos, giraffes, and more across the resort’s expansive plains.
Monarto Safari Resort is Journey Beyond’s premium accommodation offering adjacent to Monarto Safari Park, the world’s largest open-range safari experience outside of Africa. It’s a place to connect with wildlife you thought you had to fly 20+ hours to see – yet it’s only 70 kilometres from Adelaide!
The gift of wonder
With 78 premium rooms and suites, Monarto Safari Resort affords an intimate stay next to some of the world’s most impressive wildlife.
While the latest 3D-printed fidget dragon is cool (it’s a hot gift for 2025, apparently), can it wander past your window while you’re sipping your morning latte? Not a chance! But a towering giraffe might, when you stay at Monarto Safari Resort.
Same for the latest Stanley Cup/July luggage/Gremlins Lego set.
However, you and your loved ones may be able to see zebras, elands, waterbuck, blackbuck, nyala, and ostriches from the resort! That’s a gift that keeps on giving.
The gift of exclusivity
VIP Christmas without even trying, as guests at Monarto Safari Resort receive discounted entry to the park, plus two exclusive opportunities to visit the safari park out of hours.
Only resort guests can join the 2-hour Dawn Wildlife Safari, a small-group guided experience through the park before opening. No one is returning that gift, trust us!
Touring in an accessible safari truck, it’s an ideal way to meet the free-roaming herds in the Wild Africa precinct as the sun rises across the vast plains.
If part of your gift includes the chance to lie in (if it’s for a parent, the answer is yes), the exclusive Sunset Wildlife Safari will appeal more. It’s a 2.5-hour after-hours safari tour to see the park’s wonders like the southern white rhino, cheetah, oryx, and more.
The gift of great flavours
A good Christmas gift is thoughtful, enjoyable, and memorable. Something a stay at Monarto Safari Resort has at every turn.
From sunup to beyond sundown, guests are spoiled with experiences that inspire, rejuvenate, and satiate.
While South Australia may not be well-known for its African wildlife, it is well-known for delivering exceptional flavours. Guests at the resort get the best of both worlds, with your gift delivering wildlife wows and tasty treats.
After watching the wildlife ravage their meals, it’s only natural you would want to enjoy a sumptuous feast, too. For that, head to Kutjera Restaurant and Bar.
Kutjera translates to bush tomato, a name inspired by the native produce grown in Monarto’s organic bush gardens. Seasonal flavours and locally sourced South Australian ingredients and produce – wild where possible – fill Kutjera’s inventive menu.
Creative dishes include wild safari gin-flamed prawns, Barossa Valley free range pork belly and cheeks, and the Monarto Safari signature sun-kissed mango dome with melon seed milk ice cream.
The resort’s Pool Bar is open from 11 am to late daily for nibbles or a cocktail.
The gift of relaxation
Besides the resort’s idyllic location, guests can enjoy restorative therapies at Marula Day Spa, even watching animals in the Wild Africa precinct from the spa’s vitality pool!
By all means, add an hour to their pressie to spend in the sauna, vitality pool, and ice plunge, or the 2-hour Whisper of the Wild treatment – it lifts our soul just reading about it!
Question: is it really spoiling someone if they 1) deserve it and 2) everyone wins when someone feels rested, soothed, and nourished?
The gift of upgrading
If you’re really looking to impress, perhaps gift a stay at Monarto Safari Resort’s new Luxury Safari Tents?
Opening early 2026, the luxe lodge will have twenty high-end safari tents with all the trimmings (think plush beds, en-suites, wardrobes, etc.), dedicated fine dining, high-tech gym, and even a pickleball court!
Bookings opening soon for stays commencing early 2026, helping gift givers take South Australia’s safari vibes to a whole new level.
The gift of learning more
Explore Monarto Safari Resort rooms, suites, dining, spa, and experiences at monartosafariresort.com.
Sort Christmas in minutes when you book here or purchase a Journey Beyond Gift Voucher for Monarto Safari Resort. Vouchers are valid for three years and are redeemable by booking online or by calling 1800 016 761.
Agents: sign up to Journey Beyond’s Experience Hub to access Monarto Safari Resort trade assets, including room rates, images, fact sheets, and downloadable marketing support.
This article is brought to you by Monarto Safari Resort and Journey Beyond.
