Insider Journeys: Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef Safari Camp

Property Overview

Sal Salis is an all-inclusive eco-luxury safari camp nestled in the Cape Range National Park on the shores of Ningaloo Reef. A Luxury Lodge of Australia, 15 purpose-built Wilderness Tents are only 50 metres from the shore, offering privacy and spectacular views over the Indian Ocean. The Honeymoon Tent offers a more intimate experience for newlyweds and couples, with additional space and exclusive beach access.

The tents feature a comfortable king-sized bed (twin bed configuration is also available), an eco-bathroom, and an outdoor deck, perfect for slinging up your hammock and unwinding with a good book or cool drink while watching the sunset.

Complimentary guided activities are included in your stay, with twice-daily options including gorge walks, bird-watching tours, snorkelling and kayaking adventures. If you'd prefer to explore the reef at your leisure, non-motorised watersports equipment, snorkelling gear and wetsuits are available. Guests enjoy access to Sal Salis' private beach, or you may choose to relax at the Main Lodge which has a range of board games, books and a self-service bar available 24 hours.

Enjoy all-inclusive dining at Sal Salis, from delicious a la carte breakfasts, leisurely light lunches and communal dinners by candlelight. The daily changing menu showcases local produce and modern Australian cuisine, with a generous selection of wines, beers, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages from the self-serve Open Bar.

What we loved

I was captivated even before I arrived in Exmouth. It had been a while since I’d flown across Western Australia in daylight and I’d forgotten how wonderfully vibrant the vast and diverse landscape looked from the air, from the sparkling blue ocean to the increasingly red earth dotted with vegetation and small townsites. I spent the entire flight from Perth to Learmonth gazing out the window, completely mesmerised.

There is something really special about falling asleep and waking up to the soothing sound of waves gently rolling in and out only metres away from your tent. Viewing the ocean directly from my bed will always make me happy.

One of my favourite times of day at Sal Salis was the hour before and after sunrise - perfect for a quiet, contemplative stroll (or an energetic jog) on the beach while the water is at its calmest and the sand is cool and footprint-free.

Late afternoon was another. After a refreshingly cool shower and change, guests head to the main lodge for pre-dinner drinks and canapes. The self-serve open bar allows you to make, shake or pour anything you fancy, from a perfectly chilled glass of iced tea, bubbles or G&T to your favourite cocktail with all the trimmings. The outdoor deck is an ideal vantage point to watch the sunset, drink in hand, and share stories of the day’s adventures with fellow guests while the staff serve a variety of delectable canapes. As soon as the sun sinks beneath the horizon, we take our seats around the communal dining table, ready for an evening of delicious food with specially matched wines.

Dining at Sal Salis is truly incredible, with a daily changing menu and all three meals included in your stay. While evening canapes and the three-course dinner are communal affairs, breakfast and lunch are enjoyed at your leisure within the set times. For me, the highlight was the beautifully fresh seafood. Apart from the canapes, my favourite dishes included the fish tacos and chilli mussels I had at lunchtime, and the delicate kingfish with basil oil and juicy local prawns in a mild yellow curry sauce entrées on the first and final night respectively.

What surprised us?

I loved the stillness and remoteness of Sal Salis - a deep sense of place and how precious the wilderness around you is, grabs you almost instantly upon arrival. It was an important reminder of the fragility of our environment in general and how we should be conscious of our impact on it, even in our day-to-day lives. Sal Salis' tread lightly ethos is apparent throughout, from the semi-alfresco eco-ensuite bathroom with a nature (no flush) toilet, water-use limits, only au naturel air conditioning (i.e. the sea breeze) and just enough solar energy in your tent to power the lights and little bedside fans (a 220v power board is available in the main lodge for charging larger devices like cameras). To further protect the environment, thoughtful extras were provided in your tent, including refillable drink bottles, locally made eco-friendly soaps and marine-safe sunscreen.

I visited Sal Salis in March at the beginning of the season when the weather was still quite hot and humid, but even without air conditioning, I was never uncomfortable. The main lodge and luxury safari tents are pitched at the perfect angle to capture the breeze and a chilled drink at the open bar or quick dip under a cool shower did the trick in the heat of the day. The temperatures drop toward the middle of the year, so it may be a good idea to pack a cardigan or light jacket for cool evenings if you're travelling between June and August.

The Sal Salis team go above and beyond to ensure guests have everything they need to enjoy their stay. We felt spoilt from the moment we touched down at Learmonth Airport, with thoughtful touches like chilled juices in the airport transfer van and a welcome drink and cool towel upon arrival at camp. Staff members have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the region, and they are happy to share everything from their life stories to where the previous night's dinner was caught or the best times and spots to snorkel. If you want to mix and match the a la carte options at breakfast time, they will accommodate that. If you're feeling peckish outside of meal times, a grazing board or fruit platter may appear as if from nowhere. If you take an unexpected tumble on a nature walk, someone will catch you before you hit the ground and hurt yourself (I may have just been very fortunate to trip in the right place at the right time!)

Recommended experiences

Most people travel to this corner of the world to swim with whale sharks. While it’s a stand-out bucket list option, there is so much more to experience in this stunning region. Before dinner, the Sal Salis team update the board in the main lodge with the following day’s weather report and the two guided activities that are on offer – generally a nature-based tour or walk in the National Park in the morning and a snorkelling or kayak experience in the afternoon – which guests can sign up for that evening. The breakfast and transfer pick-up times will also be available for guests pre-booked on a full-day whale shark (or humpback whale) tour that day.

I joined a Yardie Creek Gorge sunrise hike on my first morning and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was still dark when we left camp but by the time we reached the starting point after a 20-minute drive, the light was starting to touch the landscape, changing its appearance every few minutes. Once again I was struck by the silence and peacefulness of being in the middle of seemingly nowhere. Until we passed a set of trees where a colony of very noisy bats lived (I had no idea they sounded like that!) As we headed further along the gorge's clifftop, we spotted black-footed rock wallabies darting in and out between rocks and bushes which was delightful. After an unfortunate heart-stopping near-fall, I was too nervous to continue on the final section of the walk (which was also the steepest), but I happily sat and waited for the group to return while taking in the beautiful surroundings.

Depending on the time of year and weather, other complimentary activity options may include guided walks at Mandu Mandu Gorge, kayaking adventures and drift snorkelling in sheltered bays. As a bit of a bird fan, I was disappointed to miss out on a birdwatching tour on our final morning as it clashed with our airport transfer; as a fair trade-off, I was happy enough to spot a Nankeen Kestrel (who posed long enough for me to get a few pictures from afar) while eating breakfast.

My husband booked a Whale Shark Swim on our second day, while I stayed behind to relax and make the most of the camp. Whale Shark Swims operate from mid-March to July. From July to October, you can join a Humpback Whale Swim. These full-day tours can be booked together with your Sal Salis stay at an additional cost, including transfers, lunch and snorkelling equipment. After an initial snorkel shortly after departure, there's a relatively long boat trip to the viewing point in open water; depending on the number of guests on board, the group might be divided into separate swimming sessions. While it's a fast-paced experience, the extraordinary opportunity to swim with these peaceful, majestic creatures is truly humbling.

If you'd prefer to explore Ningaloo at your own pace, the reef is only metres away from the shore of Sal Salis' private beach. Snorkelling equipment, wetsuits, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards can be requested at the reception desk. There are also four semi-covered ‘beach pods’ (lovingly referred to as “eggs”) and deck chairs which are ideal for relaxing on the beach. Beach towels and cushions are provided in the tents.

It was a special privilege to experience this spectacular corner of the world.