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magine escaping escap ping to a mysterious jungle listening jungle, listenin ng to Kobake African riding on a camel’s drummers and riding back‌ without ever eve er leaving Naples. NGALA, which is Swahili Swahili for “Place of the Lionâ€?, is a local private p reserve with a safari ambiance that th hat gives visitors an opportunity to view wildlife in a unique, luxurious environment environm ment with state-ofthe-art facilities. M any locals have no Many idea that NGALA Pr ivate Reserve even Private exists.
W e ha ave a lot of natural items, lik ke the We have like bambo oo and certain plants that tha at we bamboo utilize in our events,� Smith stated stated.. Th he concept of NGALA came to t life The about nine years ago after Donovan n and T a amm my Smith sketched out the de esign Tammy design RQ D SDSHU ZKLOH à \LQJ KRPH K KRPH SDSHU QDSNLQ QDSNLQ ZKLOH from a trip to Africa. A few weeks later later,, with advice a of various consultantss that includ ed environmentalists, biologists, biologists, included engin land planners, neers, and engineers, constr ruction on the project began n and construction
to see them. Known for its “L L Living Art� displays, Art displays “Living NGALA is a popularr venue for hosting lavish corporate events, eve ents, weddings and private parties with guest lists that often g include business moguls, moguls, politicians and even some celebrities. celebritie es. “The proceeds from the events thatt we do go towards the care of our animals animals and towards helping fund education ation programs for educa children.� says Smith. Smith. The elaborate architecture, combined combin ned with its natural
Always up for an adventure, I GHFLGHG G LG G WR W YLVLW L LW WKH WK UH HVHUYH WR W Ă€QG Ă€ G RXWW Ă€UVW Ă€ W GHFLGHG WR YLVLW WKH UHVHUYH WR Ă€QG RXW Ă€UVW hand if NGALA lived up to its reputation. As I pulled in through h big wooden gates, arrived I felt as if I had arr ived somewhere in Africa. There were no n signs of city lights or noise in this vast vasst area surrounded by vivid green trees, treess, bamboo and lush tropical plants. The e only sounds were birds chirping and the the music of a kora player p y in the backg ground. I made myy background. way past the entranc ce and was greeted entrance by T a ammy Smith, V ice-President of Tammy Vice-President NGALA. With a w arm smile, she led warm me into the huge ca anvas peaked tents canvas that can accommod date groups of up accommodate to 1,000 guests. Th he sparkling crystal The chandeliers hanging g from the chiffon chiffon draped ceilings immediately imm mediately caught my eye. These coloni al style tents were colonial elegantly decorated with intricate detail DQG Ă€OOHG ZLWK DXWKHQ QWLF $IULFDQ DUWLIDFWV DQG Ă€OOHG ZLWK DXWKHQWLF $IULFDQ DUWLIDFWV rustic lanterns and bamboo b furniture. “I like to call it an eco-c chic venue because eco-chic we take so many na atural items that go natural along with our produ uct, whether it’s with product, our food, our anima als or just the dĂŠcor. dĂŠcor. animals
their dream became reality. reality. To T oday, Today, NGAL LA sits it on forty-two f t t acres off land l d NGALA DQG LV V KRPH WR H LV WR DERXW DERXW IRUW\ Ă€YH H[RWLF H[RWLF creatu ures, including a few large cats, creatures, giraf fe e and rhino. Three veterina arians giraffe veterinarians with dif ferent specialties currently currrently different overse ee the veterinary care. The oversee Smithss pride themselves in treating treatin ng the anima als like extended members off their animals familyy and personally care for them the em on a dail b g dailyy basis. This fascination began at an early age for Donovan and an nd he has si ince built an impressive resume, ressume, since having g worked with animals in different different f capac cities throughout his entire life e. capacities life. NG GALA is unique in that some s NGALA of the e acquired animals come from ca unfort unate circumstances and cannot annot unfortunate be rel leased into the wild for various va arious released reason ns. Unlike a zoo, these animals animals reasons. are placed p strategically throughout throug ghout the property p in a secure, ba arrierbarrierfree environment, e providing a more interac ctive and “close-upâ€? encounter encountter for interactive guests s. Because they feel comfor rtable guests. comfortable in the ir surroundings, they are just ju ust as their happyy to see visitors as the visitors visitorrs are
beauty and impeccable impe eccable personal make service, i k this this an extraordinary t di location for speciall events. NGALA is guaranteed to offer o fer all guests the of reconnect with nature, opportunity to reconnect leaving them wowed wowe ed by the rare and wild experience. The Th he next few pages offer of fer a glimpse into this one of a kind venue‌
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