Staying in Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is South Africa's oldest, biggest, and most famous game park. It's home to Big Five game—lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo—as well as diverse wildlife due to the varied habitats of grasslands, savannah, rivers, and riverine thickets. Once here, you'll be able to spend time to see the animals hunt, socialize, play, fight, feed, and perform mating rituals in the remote African bush.
Part of the Greater Kruger Park, Kruger National Park includes an additional million acres (4,047 sq km) of adjacent private land. Many private safari lodges are situated in private game reserves adjacent to the state park. However, the wildlife roam free across the entire area as fences were dropped between private and state land. This means that game-viewing is just as good in the smaller private reserves. You also have the bonus of being allowed to go off-road for better sightings, and in the exclusive private reserves, you will encounter few other tourists.
As a guest in a top-rated safari lodge, you'll have access to guided bush walks, specialist photographic or birding safaris, and learn the art of tracking beyond a traditional safari. What's more, from your suite, you can take time to absorb the sounds of the wild with a champagne sunset, full moon bush dinner, bush yoga, or a meditative walk. Connect with the local communities and visit a futuristic African village.
All-inclusive rates at safari lodges cover meals, luxury accommodation with spas, gyms, and pools, as well as professional guides and children's entertainment. When deciding how many days to spend in South Africa, plan for at least three days in Kruger so that you also have time to unwind and enjoy your beautiful lodge.
Londolozi Pioneer Camp
Luxury
Be treated like royalty in the oldest and possibly the top luxury safari lodge in Kruger, the Londolozi Pioneer Camp in the privately-owned Sabi Sand Game Reserve. This is an African pilgrimage and a meditative wilderness experience. The secluded camp consists of three interconnected luxury suites and a bush homestead for groups of up to 12 people. Amenities include an "explorer lounge," interactive kitchen, lookout deck, breakfast balcony, and lap pool. The decor is Ralph Lauren meets safari homestead with memorabilia, leather, and crystal providing classic elegance.
Highly experienced rangers will tailor game drives and bush walks to match your needs, whether it's a family safari or a focus on botany, tracking, or birding. You may want to experience the wilderness through champagne sunsets or full-moon bush dinners. Immerse yourself in the Londolozi experience of self-discovery, social development, and conservation: consider doing a luxury wellness safari and retreat with well-known wellness experts, life coaches, wisdom keepers, and shamans. Sign up for a photographic big cat safari supported by a professional photographic studio, or connect with community development projects in a futuristic African village.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Elephant Plains Game Lodge
Mid-Range
Elephant Plains Game Lodge in the private Sabi Sands Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger Park offers affordable luxury and exceptional game-viewing. As a small friendly lodge, you receive plenty of personal attention. Accommodation is world-class: elegant and spacious, in a beautiful garden setting. Quaint, old-fashioned rondavels (traditional African round buildings) have private decks and en-suite bathrooms, while open-plan suites include a lounge. The glass-fronted honeymoon suite has a private splash pool. With spectacular views over the river and bush, shower while watching animals at the watering hole.
Highly trained guides will find the Big Five, the famed herds of grazers, and the rare wild dog. Go for a bushwalk, slow down, and take in the sounds and sights of the bush. Without any day visitors, you have exclusive use of the reserve, with no jostling around the lion pride to get a better view. Enjoy the outdoor pools, fitness center, and spa between game drives. Settle down in the library or have some fun in the games room. Babysitters are also available. Meals are sumptuous and beautifully presented with a top-class wine cellar. Vegan? Kosher? Halal? No problem. The lodge caters to different dietary preferences.
Lukimbi Safari Lodge
Luxury
Enjoy exclusive game-viewing and top-class luxury at Lukimbi Safari Lodge. It's a small lodge inside Kruger National Park where you'll enjoy uninterrupted private safaris and plenty of personal attention. Built from natural materials and nestled under ancient trees, this bright quirky lodge blends into the local African environment, and every space offers magnificent views. Be inspired by the artisanal décor and artworks; luxuriate in a stone bathtub overlooking the river, doze on your private deck, or dip into your plunge pool.
Experience the animals. Spot the Big Five, where professional guides will take you off-road. Look out for rare wild dogs and odder creatures such as wildebeest (gnu) and hyenas. Be entranced by 300 bird species, lizards, snakes, and the iconic dung beetle on a guided bush walk. Watch buffalo herds from your deck, splash in the pool, and see hippos in the river doing the same. Enjoy spa treatments, the gym, or simply enjoy the art of doing nothing. Parents can take a break with the varied Kids' Programme, Safari Playroom, and available babysitters.
Relish fine cuisine with imaginative dishes made from fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients in the dining room. Enjoy the braai (barbeque) in the boma (traditional African enclosure). Try out award-winning South African wines and let the guides regale you with fantastic stories of the bush.
Royal Malewane Lodge
Luxury
For luxury and exclusivity, consider the Royal Malewane Lodge in the Thornybush Private Game Reserve on the boundary of Kruger National Park. This classic lodge evokes the romantic beauty of a past era, with exotic and opulent influences from Mombasa, Persia, and antiquity. The accommodation comprises six luxury suites, two royal suites, and the six-bedroomed Africa House. Each unit has its own deck, pool, and dedicated services. These are deeply private getaways situated in wild bushveld, with magnificent views.
View the Big Five with the assistance of the most qualified guides in Africa. Take a game drive or guided bushwalk and observe the ecosystem's intricacies, from insects to birds. Take a specialist bird safari or a photographic safari. After the African sunshine, indulge your senses with a treatment using indigenous ingredients or relax around the courtyard pool. Or make use of the fully-equipped gym, heated pool, and steam room.
Being on safari means quality and memorable dining experiences with diverse and contemporary cuisine. Dine under the African sky with a view of the Malewane River, accompanied by the sounds of the bushveld, and a local choir. Or perhaps you want a tailored menu for just yourself or a six-course meal for guests. Additionally, you can request meals from the kosher-compliant kitchen.
The African Rock Lodge
Standard
The African Rock Lodge is an affordable lodge in a wildlife estate near Kruger National Park. The thatched accommodation with its Big Five theme complements the natural environment. The suites have private decks, opening onto the sounds of the wild. The main building has a pool, terrace, and large barbeque area.
Take a game drive to see the Big Five in nearby Kruger National Park or one of the numerous private game reserves. In the estate, you can see giraffe, waterbuck, warthog, kudu, wildebeest, zebra, and nyala. A unique feature is walking or cycling on your own among the animals on the estate. Hear the call of the hyena, and see an infinity of stars on a night walk.
Breakfast is included with accommodation, and dinner is optional. Enjoy lavish cuisine on the patio, in the elegant open dining room, or have a barbeque next to the campfire.