Jamala Wildlife Lodge
999 Lady Denman Drive National Zoo & Aquarium, Canberra 2611 Australia
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About
#1 of 2 lodges in Canberra
Location
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Travellers' Choice
Jamala Wildlife Lodge is the ultimate overnight safari and Canberra's first luxury lodge experience. With just 18 rooms this amazing package gives guests exclusive access to a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the Zoo's beautiful residents. Price includes 2 zoo tours, dinner & dinner beverages & breakfast.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Free breakfast
Entertainment staff
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Banquet room
24-hour security
Parking
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Concierge
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun terrace
Private check-in / check-out
Ironing service
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Room features
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Safe
Seating area
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Minibar
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Charming
Languages Spoken
English
Location
999 Lady Denman Drive National Zoo & Aquarium, Canberra 2611 Australia
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1060Reviews34Q+A100Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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We stayed 3 nights in 3 different rooms, tigers, cheetahs, and giraffe tree house. It was the most wonderful experience. I rated them excellent on everything. Tours, rooms, food, restaurant, facilities and the staff were all so kind and helpful. If you want a truly special experience, spend time here.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Just spend as much time as you can at this wonderful place
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
An absolutely amazing experience. I cannot fault them and what they offer. First class on everything, animal experience, food, staff, accommodation. They have extreme attention to detail, all for you. Stay at a Treehouse and all l can say is 'Everything is right in the world when you are at Jamala'.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: Book a Treehouse. Don't miss out.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
We use the expression, "once in a lifetime experience," and Jamala is one of them. To have a guided tour through this amazing zoo, and to sleep just yards away from a giraffe or lion is unforgettable. The rooms are spectacular, well appointed, and the entire facility is beyond description. The dinner, the breakfast, the camaraderie with the staff and your fellow guests is truly unique.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
We visited Jamala over the weekend & it’s nothing short of wow! Upon arrival we were greeted by lovely front reception girls, left our luggage & progressed into the main area for a delicious afternoon tea. The F & B manager Rebecca was so welcoming & friendly along with Guest Manager Amanda. These ladies went beyond their call of duty to make us feel so much at home. We went on a guided zoo tour then at 3.30 were shown to our rooms to feed the 2 beautiful giraffes. There are a number of experiences available but we chose the Giraffe Treehouse one. This was one of the best things we have ever done! The resort is nothing short of spectacular with fabulous amenities & everything so well appointed. Dinner was included as well as breakfast & these meals were also outstanding. Thankyou to all the staff for a magical stay we will be back!…
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Weekday stays would be less busy, we stayed Friday night & that was great.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
We stayed two nights at the Canberra Zoo & Aquarium' Jamala Wildlife Lodge to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. It was the best experience... ever! The food was exquisite, the accommodation was first-class and the experience with the zoo's animals absorbing and informative. Yes, it may seem expensive, but include the personalized zoo tours (including feed animals), food, drinks and accommodation, it's worth every penny. All the staff were attentive and accommodating. While the accessible room had a hinged door, this was the only issue I had. The zoo itself is wheelchair accessible. The accessible room (Capuchin room 2) has two bathrooms - one accessible - and is easy to navigate around.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Stay two nights. The Lodge also has a deal with the Canberra Hyatt (stay one night at Jamala and...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Extreeemly over priced and over rated Dont go here, Food was average guide was grumpy and not knowledgeable . Charged us almost double the price of our voucher we purchsed 12 months previosly to cover any experience. Dont go... Dont go... Dont go...dont purchase. Find something else... you can get 4 weeks on the Gold Coast for the same price as 1 night, thats right 1 night at Canberra.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Dont stay here, this place is dirty, smelly and over priced.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Guest Services, Owner at Jamala Wildlife Lodge
Responded 12 Oct 2023
As we have no details of your booking and have not received a direct complaint during that period, we can’t address the issues other than to say the following: 1. In the last 6 months, our dining room has won the Best Restaurant Award for Canberra from both the Australian Hotels Association and from Australian Tourism Authority, the only two awards that we have entered. For a restaurant only open to Lodge guests, this is a remarkable achievement. As we also get rave reviews from nearly all guests, we are unsure how you came to your conclusion about our food. 2. Although you can now purchase a voucher to cover any experience, when you bought your voucher 12 months ago you could only buy a dollar value. As any price increases in that period have been modest, the cost of your stay could not possibly have gone up by more than the increase. With guests now able to purchase a room type OR a dollar value, the room purchase covers any price increase in the next 3 years. 3. Our housekeeping is rightly regarded by many guests as the best they have encountered and we never have rooms or public areas that are ‘dirty and smelly’, unless the guest in residence has caused it, which is then rectified immediately. Even our animal dens and habitats are scrubbed and cleaned daily. 4. We’d love to know where you stay on the Gold Coast that has better and cleaner rooms and better food for that amount. We are sorry that you didn’t enjoy your stay, as 99.9% of our guests have an incredible time.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
IntrepidVoyager2016 wrote a review Sept 2023
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom5 contributions1 helpful vote
+1
I can only echo the sentiments of most of the other, recent reviewers; everything was excellent, all the food and wine was top-glass and the staff were marvellous. Main thoughts and memories; you've probably seen most of the animals at zoos as a kid but it's always amazing to go and see them close up again and remind yourself just how diferent they are. - Walking into the main building and feeling as if I'd just arrived in Africa. - Watching the young giraffe chasing his zebra friend - his legs were so long it took a full 3-4 seconds for each stride and looked commically cartoon-like. - Sitting reading a book with a tiger so close I could have reached out and tickled her tummy were it not for the window. - Cocktails in the restaurant and watching the hyenas being fed; the way they suddenly appeared out of the shadows and jumped from rock to rock looked utterly alien and somehow reminded me of the Hunger Games - it was really quite surreal. - Going into the keepers area to pat the two and half ton rhino. - Just staring at the tigers right next to us; they are just amazing creatures. - Dinner in the restaurant and being joined by a huge white lion who's sleeping quarters ajoined the restaurant. - Having a key to the 'secret' passages inside the aquarium so we could get in and out of the main building and facilities. - Being able to park right next to the entrance! Fabulous memories all round.…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
Jamala is amazing! My sister and I stayed in a Bungalow with 2 tigers, Mya and Melati. The room was stunning! Comfortable bed and couch, great bathroom, good tea and coffee facilities. And of course the TIGERS! Afternoon tea was excellent. We chose to sit by the fish tank and loved watching all the fish swim by as we ate. Tea and coffee was served as well. The tour afterwards was great too. Dinner was FANTASTIC! Drinks outside (with heaters and blankets if needed) and watching the lions have a snack was fun, and then seeing the lions and hyenas inside was very special. The food was sensational, and the included drinks were great too. Breakfast was yet another delicious meal, and I even got to see one of the leopards up close by the deck while I waited for breakfast. We then had the rest of the day to explore the zoo, which was fantastic. An amazing stay and excellent zoo! I woke up at 4am and found one of the tigers sleeping with her paw against the glass. I lay down on the bathroom floor next to her and placed my hand against her paw - a moment I will never forget. This is what makes Jamala so special. I have food allergies and they were catered for with no trouble. I was so full after dinner and breakfast. All staff went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and welcome. I can’t praise them highly enough! They answered all our animal and non-animal related questions and helped with anything we needed. It was the perfect stay and I hope to stay with the cheetahs next time! …
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Book in advance for a better chance of getting your first preference of Bungalow animal
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
There were 3 of us, - me and my 2 young adult chuldren. We stayed in the 2 bedroom Meerkat suite. It was perfect for us, 2 huge king sized beds, and a sofa bed that was made up. There was a connecting door, and a 3 way bathroom, so plenty of privacy. Our room opened out on to a little balcony type area where the meerkat enclosure was . The keeper cme and fed them about 4pm , and was happy to answer questions and take photos. This areea ran the length of one side of the lodge, and led around to the pool area., where there are views out to Canberra, and then on the other side , a great view of the lion enclosure, and behind the windows, 2 Colobus monkeys. The welcoming afternoon tea was lovely - a good selection of sandwiches, mini quices and little cakes. All delicious. Pre dinner drinks were also fun - during this time they fed the 2 white lions right on the other side of the lounge - such an incredible experience. Dinner was beautiful, and the vegetarian and seafood free options we had asked for were well catered for. It was all delicious, and service was great - drinks topped up , and tea and coffee offered for after dinner. The morning breakfast menu was varied , and the food was again delicious and beautifully presented. It was a nice surprise to me that it wasnt the usual buffet style breakfast, but an individually cooked order. The zoo tour was really interesting , and it was great to see how well informed and passionate the keepers are. Of course its very expensive, but for a special occasion, we all thought it was well worth it. There are no negatives I could think of - it was a relaxinf, fun break. Highly recommended. …
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Had a one night stay at Jamala Wildllife Lodge Canberra and thoroughly enjoyed from the moment we got there until we checked out. Upon arrival they go over a number of documents in a room where afternoon tea is. You enjoy it with an aquarium full of fish and sharks or Colobus monkeys. Afternoon was plentiful, fresh and lots to eat. Its a small buffet. Hot and cold drinks and fruit are also available. We were lucky and got the aquarium room in uShaka Lodge with our new best friend Oscar, the cutuest fish ever. The other side has 2 Hyenas with Leopards next door to them. Its lovely listening to them growl through the night. Rooms are large and comfortable with everything you need for an overnight stay. Bed is really comfortable. The Staff are amazing, especially the Keepers. But really they are a credit to the zoo, all and each of the staff. Pre Dinner drinks with the white lions was another amazing experience. A few Moets, whats not to like? Dinner amazing although limited choice, but can understand why. Entree was plentiful, Mains of Lamb Shanks to die for, meat falls of the bone. The Salmon well cooked. Both beautifully presented. Deserts delicious. Fortunately you can stroo the zoo grounds until dark so its like having your own private zoo. Breakfast the next morning delicious, everyone has diffenent times dependent upon their package. The morning experience was really good and educational. We highly recommend at least a one night stay you wont be disappointed. One suggestion make sure you pick the right rooms. …
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Suggest you pick the right rooms as some of the animals may not like to spend time with you.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PRICE RANGE
USD 1,048 - USD 1,171 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaAustralian Capital TerritoryCanberra
NUMBER OF ROOMS
18
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Frequently Asked Questions about Jamala Wildlife Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Escape Rooms Canberra (6.3 km), Australian War Memorial (7.4 km), and National Bonsai & Penjing Collection (1.2 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
Conveniently located restaurants include Olive at Hawker, Les Bistronomes, and Sage.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Are there any historical sites close to Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
Many travellers enjoy visiting National Archives of Australia (5.5 km), Calthorpes' House (5.5 km), and Albert Hall (5.0 km).
Does Jamala Wildlife Lodge have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the park view available here.
Is Jamala Wildlife Lodge accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.