Best hotels in Kruger

Safari lodges often promise family-friendly experiences, but few deliver quite like this newcomer on the Kruger fringe. Located at Elephant Point with sweeping views over the Sabie River toward the national park, Shiviko takes a refreshingly different approach – one where families actually do things together rather than being separated into adult and kids' programmes. Each of the four villas tells a different South African cultural story through its art and décor, while your dedicated butler, private chef and nature guide take care of everything from dawn game drives to candlelit dinners on your terrace. The clubhouse – complete with water slides and a soundproofed cinema – seals the deal for younger guests, though the adults-only bar upstairs has rather impressive sunset views to keep everyone happy.

Built high atop an old anthill, Nambu Camp is entirely elevated, offering soaring views across the Olifants West Nature Reserve. Sharing an unfenced border with Kruger National Park, wildlife is free to roam in their numbers and the camp's guides have a real talent for finding just what you're longing to see. With only six chalets, the camp has an exclusive and intimate feel, and there's ample space to relax and soak up the view – this includes a well-loved waterhole below where herds of elephant arrive to drink. The team is highly efficient and treats you like family, always ready with a smile.

Out of all the private reserves surrounding the Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands is probably one of the most exclusive and it’s home to some of the most luxurious lodges on the continent. Meaning ‘tranquil’ in the local Tsonga language, the lodge appears to float above the Sand River and the interiors are a clever mix of open areas and intimate spaces, allowing you to enjoy your safari just as you wish. As well as top-notch game drives and walks, relaxing is the name of the game here and when you’re not spotting leopard and enjoying sunset G&Ts, take a dip in your private pool, visit the gym or indulge in the spa.

Imbali is sheltered in a riverine forest overlooking a river in a 10,000 hectare private concession in Kruger National Park. It is one of only three lodges in the area and is built on the site of a 400-year-old African settlement where evidence of an ancient culture has been found. The lodge continues the safari tradition of a bygone era, incorporating comfort and luxury in the serene African bush. A waterhole next to the camp provides wonderful wildlife and bird watching from the decks. The romantic suites are furnished in understated luxury and boast jacuzzis or plunge pools.

*Closed for extensive refurbishment from 18 March to 20 September 2024* This well-appointed and intimate tented camp is located in Ngala Private Reserve within Timbavati, the first private nature reserve to remove the fences that separated it from its neighbour, Kruger National Park. This satellite camp to Ngala Game Lodge is set beneath giant shady trees on the banks of the seasonal Timbavati River, and is known for its Big Five and wild dog sightings. Game, walking and photographic safaris are led by expert guides and trackers, who make sure that no rock is left unturned in pursuit of the animals.

Sabi Sand Game Reserve is the oldest private reserve in South Africa, sharing a 50-kilometre, fenceless border with Kruger National Park. It offers, almost indisputably, the best Big Five game viewing in the country and there are an abundance of predators. Here, tucked tastefully in the mature bush, is newly renovated Cheetah Plains, a collection of superbly stylish stand-alone homes. Expect a contemporary design, clean lines, carefully chosen natural materials and modern fixtures. This is a place that promises a luxury experience of the highest order.

Toro River at Toro River Lodges is an authentic African bush lodge located within the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve. This Big-Five safari destination presents guests with a legacy experience, characterised by unique, rugged beauty. Set along the Makhutswi River, Toro River epitomises the connection between untouched African landscapes and responsible human intervention, with a commitment to ongoing conservation efforts that aim to preserve the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve. Designed to integrate into its natural environment, Toro River exists as a blend of modern comforts and untouched wilderness.

Nkuwa Wilderness Camp is a serene bushveld retreat nestled within the expansive Selati Game Reserve. This exclusive tented camp, consciously designed to minimise environmental impact, offers a unique sanctuary beneath the majestic canopy of a Sycamore Fig Tree. With just four luxury ensuite safari tents, guests are ensured a personal and undisturbed experience, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of your surroundings for an authentic wilderness encounter.

Rhino Plains Camp is a small, pioneer-style bush camp in a 12,000-hectare private concession within the central Kruger National Park. Nestled in an acacia thicket overlooking the broad Timbitene plain and a waterhole that attracts numerous wild animals such as rhino, buffalo, giraffe, elephant and lion. This is the camp to visit if you're interested in exploring the bush on foot. It has a charming atmosphere of a early naturalist’s rest base, with elegant furnishings consisting of family heirlooms, polished brass and silver. For the environmentally conscious you'll be pleased to know that it's also eco-friendly.

The Farmstead at Royal Malewane is an exceptional new addition to the eclectic collection of lodges and hotels that fly the Royal Portfolio Collection banner. It occupies an elevated perch in the Thornybush Private Game Reserve, a wildlife sanctuary that shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park, across which animals spill in great numbers. Just 12 kilometres away is Royal Malewane, one of the most prestigious lodges in the country. The Farmstead offers the very best in accommodation – perfect for honeymooners and visitors who can afford its exclusivity. Once you're there, expect five-star accommodation, cuisine, guiding and wildlife.

Kambaku Safari Lodge lies within the Timbavati Game Reserve on the western, unfenced border of South Africa's much-loved Kruger National Park. The 540-square-mile amalgamation of private reserves offers an exclusive game-viewing experience that is far less-crowded than the adjacent National Park. It is also home to the infamous white lion population, thanks to a naturally-occuring recessive gene which gives the lions their pale, pearly coat. Besides the spectacular, undulating terrain, ranging from savanna bushveld to various kinds of woodland, the region offers potential sightings of the Big Five, as well as wild dog, cheetah, and plenty of other animals.

Africa on Foot is an unfenced wildlife camp specialising in walking safaris - one of the most unique and exciting activities Africa has to offer. Guests are taken deep into the bushveld where they will encounter big game on foot. It is based in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, which shares unfenced borders with Kruger National Park. This allows predators and other wildlife to roam freely throughout the reserves. To ensure that guests are truly immersed in the rustic bush experience and to keep things natural and eco-friendly, the camp is run on solar power, and lanterns decorate the camp.

The name comes from the Swazi word for the Kiaat tree — and the owner, Giel, cut and shaped that same timber into every door, cupboard, kitchen, vanity and piece of furniture in the house. That detail tells you most of what you need to know about umVangati House: it is a place built with genuine care, by hand, in one of South Africa's most dramatic natural settings. The property sits on Swadini Road in the heart of the Blyde River Canyon — the third largest canyon in the world and the deepest of its kind — with the Panorama Route and Kruger both within reach. Entirely solar powered and adults only, it is a guesthouse that has worked out precisely what it wants to be. Quiet. Personal. Unhurried.