Best hotels in Kruger

Narina Lodge is an intimate retreat along the banks of the Sabie River, in the private Lion Sands concession in southern Kruger. It shares an unfenced border with the infamous Sabi Sand region, and the game viewing in this part of South Africa is, quite simply, outstanding. The lodge is beautifully positioned beneath centuries-old riverine trees, and with just nine ultra-luxurious suites, exclusivity is guaranteed. Safari activities are varied, with the freedom to follow the game off road, and explore after dark, but a real highlight is the opportunity to spend a night out in the bush, on a magical treehouse platform with only the stars for company.

Set in Thornybush Private Game Reserve on the western edge of the Kruger Park, family-run Tangala Safari Camp's rustic charms have been augmented by the addition of a solar farm, which powers the lodge. It's an intimate camp that focuses on solid game viewing (great Big Five sightings!) and good hosting. And, despite the fact that Tangala is one of 12 lodges on this mid-sized (14,000-hectare) reserve, the landscape feels satisfyingly uncrowded and authentically wild. Just a five-hour drive from Johannesburg, Tangala is an easy weekend getaway for locals, or a good option for international travellers looking for a well-rounded safari experience.

RockFig Safari Lodge is the product of a long romance, conceived over two decades. It is the expression of family's love affair with South Africa's Lowveld region, specifically the 530-square-kilometre Timbavati Private Nature Reserve on Kruger Park's western edge. The absence of fences separating this reserve from the national park means that wildlife roams freely between them, and that guests reap the rich rewards. You'll see all the Big Five here, including Timbavati's famed white lions. Round it all off with exceptional guides and superb staff to care for you in camp, and you have a thoroughly good safari.

The award-winning Londolozi Private Granite Suites are the most exclusive suites in the prestigious Londolozi Collection and are part of the Relais & Châteaux portfolio. They can be booked individually or as a private camp for six guests. Children under 16 are not allowed unless the camp is booked for exclusive use. The elegant suites incorporate Feng Shui in their decor and integrate seamlessly with the surroundings. They have large French doors and huge windows which open directly onto the Sand River, and private heated plunge pools. Game drives, bush walks and birdwatching will provide you with incredible wildlife experiences in this renowned game reserve that borders the Kruger National Park.

Thornybush Nature Reserve is an exclusive private reserve in one of South Africa’s finest game viewing regions. This part of the country has a number of conservation areas and private concessions alongside the famous Kruger National Park, which provides a sanctuary for an incredible diversity of wildlife. Waterbuck Game Lodge is tucked away in the southern part of Thornybush, and with just four lavish guest suites, it offers an intimate safari experience, and excellent game viewing. A highlight here is its position overlooking a permanent waterhole, which attracts a constant stream of wildlife, particularly during the dry winter months.

For a really romantic experience in the wild, book a night at Tinyeleti Treehouse. Set high up in the indigenous woodland overlooking the Sabie River in Lion Sands Reserve, this getaway sets the bar high. Lion Sands lies on the unfenced southern boundary of Kruger National Park, and the treehouse perches in an area known as one the busiest and most wildlife-dense in the country. Predators are especially prolific, with frequent leopard and lion sightings. But the real treat is the chance to break away from the clutter with your loved one, and to interact with nature at its purest.

Chalkley Treehouse is named for Guy Aubrey Chalkley, the early 20th-century hunter and African explorer who founded Lion Sands Game Reserve and famously climbed a leadwood to escape attack by predators. Built to echo the spirit of adventure shown by the reserve's founder, the treehouse is a private bush escape like no other. Not only is it on a level with the highest tier of trees, it's extremely luxurious and well-appointed. Lion Sands lies in the game-prolific Sabi Sand game reserve (which borders southern Kruger National Park), which means a truly wonderful setting for your wild and wonderful escape.

Umlani Bushcamp is situated within the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger Park, and is renowned for its world-class game viewing. The camp has been designed to operate in an eco-friendly manner, and reflects the traditional African style - simple, yet comfortable, with just the right degree of rustic. Accommodation ranges from reed and thatched huts for couples and families, to the slightly more luxurious Eco Hut, plus a secluded treehouse a short distance from camp if you feel like a sleep-out. The extra feel-good factor of being environmentally responsible is what makes this camp so special.

Relaxed King's Camp gives you a real sense that you've travelled not only to another place, but to a more elegant era. There are just a few bungalows, all beautifully furnished, and the books, old cameras, typewriters and silver that are used in the decor throughout give a Downton Abbey touch. The lodge overlooks a watering hole that draws a steady stream of animals, so you can breakfast while watching elephants and their skittish young at the water's edge below. Your surroundings? The famed Timbavati Private Game Reserve, home to the Big Five, the small creatures and much more.

Ngala means 'lion' in Shangaan, the traditional language of the local people, and it's an apt name for this beautiful lodge set in the heart of Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, known for sightings of the Big Five, wild dogs and a host more species. Decorated in chic minimalist style, Ngala Safari Lodge is an exclusive destination sheltered by spreading mopane and tamboti trees beside a well-frequented waterhole. The lodge and its sister tented camp are perfectly placed to explore this wild region adjacent to Kruger National Park. Experience excitement, Africa-style, on game drives and walking safaris.

This private lodge within the world-renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve offers superb accommodation and fantastic year-round game viewing - it's not unusual to encounter all of the Big Five in one game drive. An easy blend of luxurious under-canvas and thatched suites set within lush gardens gives the feel of safaris of days gone by, with modern touches adding a contemporary edge throughout. Top notch hospitality and knowledgeable guides ensure that your safari experience will be remembered for all the right reasons. Whether you're planning a special family safari or a romantic breakaway, Savanna Lodge is a classy choice.

To the west of Kruger National Park is a lovely, and world-famous, private reserve. Its landscape is dominated by undulating acacia scrub, several seasonal rivers and streams, and animals that roam freely across the unfenced border with Kruger. The reserve is Timbavati, of white lion fame, and home to Kambaku River Sands. This luxury lodge, named for a famous (now sadly dead) elephant known for its huge tusks, sprawls along a dry riverbed with superb views of the bushveld and its animals. You'll see the Big Five here, and much, much more besides. No wonder we love it so...

This exclusive lodge is tucked away within the Timbavati Private Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger Park, and with just five luxury suites, makes a classy choice for families or small groups of friends. It holds a commanding position on a rocky ridge, with stunning views over the surrounding wilderness. This was once a family home, and personal touches are evident in the quirky décor and African artwork throughout. In this scenically beautiful game-rich area you’ll be treated to some exciting viewing, and the chance to explore on foot with highly trained guides and trackers is to be recommended.

This little lodge is situated in the northern section of South Africa's Sabi Sand Reserves. Set on the edge of the unassuming Mabrak River, a hotspot for the surrounding wildlife, the camp is tucked beneath ancient ebony trees. It's an intimate, high-end retreat that provides all the creature comforts of home. Decor could be described as "safari chic", enhancing your sense of being immersed in the bush. Spend your days in a safari vehicle or on well-shod feet, tracking leopard, lion, elephant and rhino with an armed guide before relaxing beside your private plunge pool.

Londolozi (a Zulu word meaning "protector of living things") is a private game reserve in the heart of the larger Sabi Sand Reserve, and is run by the Varty family, well known in the field of conservation pioneering. Of its five camps, child-friendly and elegantly comfortable Londolozi Founders is tucked beneath ancient ebony and matumi trees on the banks of the Sand River. Imagine waking to the evocative call of the African fish eagle before setting off on a private game drive to explore this enormous wilderness filled with the Big Five, especially cats, antelope, zebra and hundreds of birds.

In the central region of the Sabi Sand Private Reserve, spanning the western border of the Kruger National Park, well-known wildlife conservationist brothers Dave and John Varty have created Londolozi Tree Camp - a lodge oozing African bushveld romance amidst the thrill of Big Five encounters. The Londolozi name has become synonymous with sophistication, and Tree Camp, with its enchanting wooden platforms built into a leadwood tree canopy, is a refined sanctuary in the heart of the wilderness. With a prime site overlooking the Sand river, this camp's views are exceptional, with service to match.

Makanyi Private Game Lodge is located in the Timbavati region of the Greater Kruger National Park. Timbavati is translated as, “The Place Where Something Sacred Came Down to Earth”, and Makanyi Lodge is certainly a heavenly place! Located in open, acacia woodlands and constructed of natural woods, thatch and stone, the lodge blends perfectly into the picturesque environs and has extensive views over a dam. It's one of very few commercial lodges in the area, and offers a truly wild yet personalised and private experience - and did we mention the fabulous Big Five game viewing?

Mala Mala Private Game Reserve is sandwiched between two of South Africa's most revered big game protected areas—the Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. There may be borders, but they are fluid to say the least and wildlife roams freely between the Big Five hotspots. Rattray's Mala Mala is a beautiful safari lodge where the wilderness meets a sense of refinement. The subtle colonial theme nods to the days of the early explorers in Africa and whilst it has the feel, comfort and structure of a hotel, the views and wildlife unmistakably belong to one of the top safari spots on the continent.

A hornbill's flight away from the Timbavati River, your oasis awaits amongst the mopane trees in a private corner of the Ngala Reserve. Taking the meaning of 'treehouse' to an entirely new level, this one comes in the form of a four-storey tower with explorer-chic style and a well-stocked bar...we can taste those sundowners now! With no fence separating the reserve from Kruger National Park and access to 36,000 acres of unbroken wilderness, your days will be filled with tracking members of the Big Five on foot and epic game drives - that is, when you can tear yourself from your rooftop perch.

When Singita's founder, Luke Bailes, started out, he might not have known that his own grandfather's family home will eventually be converted into a spectacular lodge. But because this beautiful, lived-in farmhouse now hosts paying guests, a small number of travellers get to experience this private game reserve as a 'member of the family'. The 45 000 acres are explored exclusively by Singita, and private game drives create the feeling of truly living here, and not just visiting. Visits to the community makes this a safari lodge entirely integrated with its surroundings.