Monarto Safari Resort opens as zebra, giraffe and eland look on

It’s a resort, but not as you know it ... the luxurious new Monarto Safari Resort had zebra, giraffes and more watching from a nearby waterhole as the opening ribbon was cut.

Ella Thulborn is on the Food and Beverage staff at Monarto Safari Resort and welcomes visitors with open arms. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

Australia’s wildest luxury resort opens on Wednesday amid a slice of Africa just off the M1 freeway near Murray Bridge.

Monarto Safari Resort features 78 guest rooms, restaurant, two bars, two swimming pools, spa with thermal plunge pool, ice bath and sauna, and conference facilities.

The resort is a lion’s roar from African animals such as southern white rhinoceros, cheetah, hippopotamus, zebra, giraffe and antelope as they gather around waterholes and roam the grassland plains of Monarto Safari Park.

Jason Simpson, Tourism Manager at Monarto Safari Resort. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

One and two bedroom suites have kitchenettes while there are smaller double and twin rooms. Balconies overlook either sweeping grasslands or a nearby waterhole frequented by animals such as giraffes.

The elegant resort built with warm and welcoming natural materials such as local bluestone, granite and timbers has views from just about everywhere — as well as the restaurants, bars and pool deck there are views from stairwells, hallways, even the sauna has a view to where zebras and giraffes roam.

Federal Tourism Minister Senator Don Farrell, state Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison & Premier Peter Malinauskas at the opening of Monarto Safari Resort. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

Monarto Safari Resort.

Dignitaries who made the trek for the official opening included: Premier Peter Malinauskas, federal Tourism Minister Don Farrell, state Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison, Zoos SA chief executive Dr Phil Ainsley and Journey Beyond — which operates the property — chief executive Chris Tallent.

From the pool deck across to a nearby waterhole, wildlife provided a stunning backdrop to the ribbon cutting. Zebras, oryx, eland, nyala and waterbuck gathered, with giraffes in the distance.

The resort has a pool with views across the plains. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

A spot of wildlife spotting from across the water perhaps? Picture: Brett Hartwig.

Senator Farrell — whose family used to own some of the land — said tourism is returning to pre-Covid levels but new drawcards such as the luxury resort will generate huge interest.

“Monarto is truly unique, with the largest open-range safari park in the world and an incredible array of animals,” he said.

Mr Malinauskas noted Monarto Safari Park is so vast it could fit in all Australian zoos with room to spare.

“This is a national and international tourism drawcard, it will draw people from around the world to see something unique, animals roaming in conditions replicating where they come from” he said.

As well as being an idyllic refuge in the wild, the resort offers guests exclusive premium tours through the Wild Africa precinct, with guided dawn and dusk safaris across 550ha of open plains among free roaming herds of African animals.

Rhinoceros seen on tour from Monarto Safari Resort. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

Giraffes seen on tour from Monarto Safari Resort. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

A cheetah seen on tour from Monarto Safari Resort. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

The resort also is being promoted as an unforgettable site for conferences and weddings.

Monarto Safari Park is one of the largest open-range zoos in the world spanning more than 1500ha and home to more than 500 animals and 50 species of exotic and native mammals, birds and reptiles.

Resort owner Gerry Ryan noted a portion of each guest’s stay will be donated to conservation programs at the park, saying: “It’s a holiday experience with meaning.”.

Originally published as Monarto Safari Resort opens as zebra, giraffe and eland look on