Kruger National Park Safari
Kruger is one of Africa’s best safari destinations. Kruger National Park is a government-owned National Park, and the greater Kruger area includes the Park, as well as many privately-owned surrounding game reserves, such as Thornybush, Sabi Sands, Timbavati & Klaserie. There are no fences between the Park and the private reserves, so the animals migrate freely.
The following are a few of our favourite options for safari in Kruger National Park and the greater Kruger area. We recommend at least 2-4 nights of safari to get the full experience. We have selected these lodges based on personal experience of visiting the lodges, in order to be able to best recommend what might suit our clients. Some lodges are better suited for a family or multi-generational holiday, whereas others are set up for a luxurious honeymoon or couples’ getaway. Please get in touch if you would like assistance sorting through the options to find the right one for you!
Kruger National Park
Jock Safari Camp operates on an exclusive private concession, uniquely located within the borders of the National Park itself.
- Closest airport: Skukuza, +/- 1 hour drive (transfers can be arranged)
- Perfect for: Families, couples & small groups – children above 6 years welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 10 885 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge
- Villa: Fritzpatrick’s at Jock – 3 Bedroom Villa
- Exclusivity: Medium-sized lodge; 12 suites; 6 guests maximum per game drive
Kruger Shalati is something different in the heart of Kruger National Park. Only 5 minutes away from Skukuza Airport, adjacent to the Skukuza Camp, this is luxury accommodation in a re-envisioned train station on the Selati Bridge above the Sabie River. Game drives are conducted in Kruger National Park.
- Closest airport: Skukuza, +/- 5 minutes’ drive (transfers included)
- Perfect for: Families, couples & groups – children above 6 years welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 9 950 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury lodge
- Exclusivity: Large lodge; 31 suites; 6 guests maximum per game drive
Narina Lodge, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve. When you stay at Narina or Tinga Lodge you are absolutely spoiled for choice as you do your game drives on a private concession within Kruger National Park, and you have traversing rights to Sabi Sands for game viewing.
- Closest airport: Skukuza, +/- 30 minutes’ drive (transfers included)
- Perfect for: Couples & small groups – children above 16 years welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 23 490 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Superior luxury lodge
- Exclusivity: Small lodge; 9 suites; 6 guests maximum per game drive
Tinga Lodge. When you stay at Tinga Lodge you are absolutely spoiled for choice as you do your game drives on a private concession within Kruger National Park, and you have traversing rights to Sabi Sands for game viewing.
- Closest airport: Skukuza, +/- 15 minutes’ drive (transfers included)
- Perfect for: Families & couples – Children above 6 years welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 23 490 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Superior Luxury Lodge
- Villa: Hinkwenu Residence – 2 Bedroom Villa
- Exclusivity: Small lodge – 9 Suites – 6 Guests maximum per game drive
Sabi Sands Game Reserve – Greater Kruger
River Lodge, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve. Located within the 65,000-hectare Sabi Sands Game Reserve and the Greater Kruger area.
- Closest airport: Skukuza – +- 1 hours’ drive – Transfers can be arranged
- Budget: From ZAR 20 720 per person per night
- Perfect for: Families, couples & groups – Children above 10 years welcome
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge
- Villa: No private Villa available
- Exclusivity: Medium lodge- 18 Suites– 6 Guests maximum per game drive
Ivory Lodge, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve. Located within the 65,000-hectare Sabi Sands Game Reserve and the Greater Kruger area.
- Closest airport: Skukuza – +- 1 hours’ drive – Transfers can be arranged
- Perfect for: Couples & Families – Children above 10 years welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 36 870 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Premium Lodge
- Villa: Fish Eagle Residence – 2 Bedroom Villa (Children of all ages welcome)
- Exclusivity: Small lodge- 8 Suites – 6 Guests maximum per game drive
Bush Lodge, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. Situated in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve in the southwestern section of the Greater Kruger area, adjacent to the National Park.
- Closest airport: Skukuza – +- 1.5 hours’ drive or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Mbombela) – +- 2 hours’ drive – Transfers can be arranged
- Perfect for: Families, couples & groups – Children of all ages are welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 16 000 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge
- Villa: 2 x 2 bedroom luxury Villas (Mahlatini or Tumbela)
- Exclusivity: Large lodge- 25 Suites – 6 Guests maximum per game drive
Earth Lodge, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. Situated in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve in the southwestern section of the Greater Kruger area, adjacent to the National Park.
- Closest airport: Skukuza – +- 1.5 hours’ drive or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Mbombela) – +- 2 hours’ drive – Transfers can be arranged
- Perfect for: Couples – No Children allowed
- Budget: From ZAR 26 000 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Premium Lodge
- Exclusivity: Medium lodge- 12 Suites – 6 Guests maximum per game drive
Thornybush Nature Reserve – Greater Kruger
Thornybush Game Lodge, Situated in Thornybush Nature Reserve, a 15,000-hectare private game reserve within the Greater Kruger area.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit – +-45 minutes’ drive– Transfers can be arranged
- Perfect for: Families & couples – Children of all ages are welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 13 500 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge
- Villa: Kamara House – 3 bedroom Villa
- Exclusivity: Medium lodge- 16 Suites – 6 Guests maximum per game drive
Saseka Tented Camp, Situated in Thornybush Nature Reserve, a 15,000-hectare private game reserve within the Greater Kruger area.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit – +-45 minutes’ drive– Transfers can be arranged
- Perfect for: Couples – Children 12 years and above welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 19 500 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Premium Lodge
- Exclusivity: Small lodge- 9 Tented Suites – 6 Guests maximum per game drive
Monwana Lodge , Situated in Thornybush Nature Reserve, a 15,000-hectare private game reserve within the Greater Kruger area.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit – +-45 minutes’ drive– Transfers can be arranged
- Perfect for: Couples – Children 12 years and above welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 25 020 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Premium Lodge
- Villa: Monwana Villa – 2 Bedroom Villa
- Exclusivity: Small lodge- 8 Suites – 6 Guests maximum per game drive
Timbavati Private Game Reserve – Greater Kruger
Simbavati Hilltop Lodge. Situated in the 53 000-hectare Timbavati Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit – +-2 hours’ drive– Transfers included.
- Perfect for: Families & Couples – No children under 12
- Budget: From ZAR 11 625 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge – Tented Camp
- Villa: NA
- Exclusivity: Small lodge- 8 Tented Suites – 8 Guests maximum per game drive
Simbavati River Lodge. Situated in the 53 000-hectare Timbavati Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit – +-1.5 hours’ drive– Transfers can be arranged
- Perfect for: Families & Couples – Children of all ages welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 9 125 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge – Tented Camp
- Villa: Simbavati River Sands – 2 Bedroom Villa
- Exclusivity: Small lodge- 10 Suites – 8 Guests maximum per game drive
Kings Camp. Situated in the 53 000-hectare Timbavati Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit – +-1 hours’ drive– Transfers can be arranged
- Perfect for: Families & Couples – Children above 6 years welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 14 700 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge
- Villa: Waterbuck Private Camp – 4 Bedroom Villa
- Exclusivity: Small lodge- 9 Suites – 6 Guests maximum per game drive
Klaserie Private Game Reserve – Greater Kruger
Ivory Wilderness, River Rock Lodge. This rustic camp is situated in the 60 000-hectare Klaserie Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit – +- 1.5 hours’ drive – Transfers can be arranged
- Perfect for: Families & Couples – Children above 5 years welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 5 850 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Classic/Rustic
- Exclusivity: Small lodge- 6 Suites – 9 Guests per game drive (full game viewer)
Simbavati Waterside Lodge. This newly renovated camp is situated in the 60 000-hectare Klaserie Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit – +- 45 minutes’ drive – Transfers can be arranged
- Perfect for: Families & Couples – Children of all ages welcome
- Budget: From ZAR 10 375 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury lodge
- Exclusivity: Small lodge- 8 Suites – 6 Guests per game drive
Cape Town & Greater Kruger stay packages
Exceptional Cape & Safari. (6 nights)
Budget: From ZAR 88 857.00 per person
Includes:
All-inclusive stay at Monwana Game Lodge, Suite (3 nights)
Cape Cadogon Boutique Hotel B&B, Luxury room (3 nights)
All Airport transfers
Escape Cape & Safari (7 nights)
Budget: From ZAR 74 235 per person
Includes:
All-inclusive stay at Lion Sands River Lodge, Luxury Room (3 nights) – Greater Kruger
More Quarters Neighbourhood Hotel B&B, Luxury Apartment (4 nights) – Cape Town
All Airport transfers
Stylish Cape, Safari & Victoria Falls (10 nights)
Budget: From ZAR 106 988.00 per person
Includes:
All-inclusive stay at Tinga or Narina Lodge, Suite (3 nights) – Kruger National Park
Cape Cadogon Boutique Hotel B&B, Luxury room (4 nights) – Cape Town
Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel B&B, Suite (3 nights) – Victoria Falls
- Morning or evening game drives at Victoria Falls Game Reserve
- Guided tour of the falls
- Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River
- Victoria Falls Helicopter flip
This schedule varies by season and by lodge, but a general idea of what to expect is:
Arrival day:
- 13:00: arrival at the lodge
- 13:30: lunch served
- 15:00: high tea and snacks; time to meet your ranger
- 15:30: depart on afternoon game drive
- 19:00: return from game drive, and dinner served
Following day
- 5:00: wake up call
- 5:15: Coffee/tea and greet your ranger
- 5:30: depart on morning game drive
- 9:00: return from morning game drive; breakfast served
- 9:30: time to relax and enjoy the lodge
Continue with lunch and afternoon schedule
You can fly into Hoedspruit, Skukuza, or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to enjoy your safari at private lodges within Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger area. There are daily scheduled flights between Cape Town, Johannesburg, Hoedspruit, and Skukuza Airports operated by Airlink. This is the quickest and most efficient way to get to this remote part of South Africa. It is possible to travel by road from Johannesburg, but when you consider the drive time (6-8 hours), cost, convenience, and safety, we recommend flying. Many of these reserves also have private runways, if you would prefer a charter flight into these lodges.
These lodges are nearly all 4 or 5-star rated, so it can be difficult to understand the level of the lodge and experience, especially since they are so unique. We have therefore rated them according to personal experience.
- Classic/rustic: 3-4 star or unrated
- Luxury: 5 star
- Superior Luxury: 5 star +
- Premium: 5 star ++
