64 Best Hotels in Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park, South Africa

You'll feel as if you've stepped back in time at this camp because rooms are strategically clustered around the original 1920s homestead, which, with its colonial furniture, historic memorabilia, and wraparound verandah, makes you feel like a family guest the moment you arrive. The lodge was named after renowned cattle farmer turned conservationist, Harry Kirkman, who first lived here one hundred years ago, and who can be seen in the old photographs found about the lodge. Interiors have crafted out light and airy communal spaces for guests to mingle. Seek out a cocktail Paul's Pub (and slide your sightings into the tally board) or settle down with a glass of sherry in front of a blazing log fire. There's game galore in Sabi Sand (the size of New Jersey), which has the highest density of leopards in the world. Kirkman's is ideal for families and family reunions.

On the banks of the Olifants River, Satara's rustic satellite camp differs radically from the others because it really is simple, appealing to those who don't mind roughing it a bit and want to experience the true feel of the bush. There are no shops or restaurants—so bring your own food—and there's no electricity either (only lanterns). Accommodations are in basic three-bed huts with no windows (vents only); the shared bathroom facilities have running water. You must check in at Olifants, 11 km (7 miles) away.

Hidden in the northern reaches of the park, this tiny camp, the oldest of the bushveld camps, is one of Kruger's most remote destinations. Shaded by tall trees, it overlooks the dry watercourse of the Mashokwe Spruit. A raised platform provides an excellent game-viewing vantage point (don't forget to apply mosquito repellent if you sit here at dawn or dusk), and it's only a short drive to two nearby dams, which draw a huge variety of animals, from lions and elephants to zebras and hippos. The main bedroom in each fully equipped cottage has air-conditioning; elsewhere in each cottage there are ceiling fans, a microwave, and a TV.

This self-catering establishment, built in 1915 for the manager of the old Belvedere Power station that provided electricity for the Pilgrim's Rest mining operations, is a great place to experience the awesome beauty of the Blyde River Canyon. Double up in nine twin-bedded rooms, or go it alone in the single room. Plenty of refrigerators, freezers, and stoves make self-catering a pleasure. Several walks, some more gentle than others, take you straight from the house into the surrounding indigenous forests with abundant birdlife and splendid views. The house is fully equipped with linen, towels, cutlery, and crockery, and has a cleaning staff.

This rest camp lies at the southern tip of the park, in a basin surrounded by rocky hills. It's known for its white rhinos, leopards, and wild dogs, but there's plenty of other game, too. A dam (often nearly dry in winter) by one side of the perimeter fence offers good game-viewing, including a close look at cruising crocodiles and munching elephants. It has thoughtful landscaping, which has left much of the indigenous vegetation intact, making for more privacy, plus an attractive pool and well-stocked grocery-curio shop, and kids can run around safely here. Accommodation options run from 65 chalets to 23 family cottages, and two guesthouses.

Close to the park gate at Crocodile Bridge, this larger-than-average, beautiful, sought-after bush camp—popular because it's close to the southern gates, and the game is usually prolific—overlooks the normally dry sands of the Biyamiti River. A private sand road over a dry riverbed takes you to the well-sited cottages, where big shade trees attract a myriad of birds and make you feel almost completely cocooned in the wilderness. Find time to sit in the hide, because the surrounding vegetation is mixed combretum woodland, which attracts healthy populations of kudu, impalas, elephants, lions, and black and white rhinos.

If you want to make the most of the viewpoints along the Panorama Route (and get the best photographs), this old-school holiday resort with campsites, self-catering chalets, and a restaurant, is your best bet. Don't expect oodles of personality, you're here for the location---epic views all to yourself (ask for directions to World's End). There are also horse rides and mini-golf. 

Expect a warm, sincere welcome at this owner-run guesthouse situated on spacious grounds with verdant lawns shaded by indigenous trees. The German-speaking Böhm family have been dispensing good old-fashioned hospitality since 1975. Chalets are perfect for groups and come fully equipped, with bathrooms, tea/coffeemaker, a heater, air-conditioning, and hair dryers. Take time to sit on your private verandah and gaze at the spectacular view of the Sabie River Valley and the prolific birdlife, order a picnic lunch, or walk the steep 4-km (2½-km) walking trail down to the river. A three-course dinner (R300) could include Sabie trout, succulent Karoo lamb, ostrich and venison, and local mushrooms served with fresh herbs and vegetables from the lodge's own garden. Book your first night's dinner in advance.

This sumptuous Relais & Châteaux lodge, a cross between a Hollywood set designer’s and an Arab prince’s idea of colonial Africa, sits in the 32,123-acre Kapama Private Game Reserve, only 40 km (25 miles) from Kruger. Its main drawing point, apart from the Big Five, is its elephant-back safaris, the only ones in the world where you can take a night safari on the back of an elephant. The first elephant to come to the reserve was Jabulani, a tiny baby orphan abandoned by the herd. Nursed back to health, he was subsequently joined by 12 Zimbabwean elephants, rescued before they were killed for their meat. Today the Jabulani herd provides a thrilling, unique experience for guests.

This delightfully unpretentious lodge, one of the oldest in Sabi Sands, is set among huge trees on the banks of an attractive dam that is a magnet for game—particularly elephants. The lodge has private concession traversing rights over 21,004 acres, so only two vehicles at a time are game-viewing, and what game-viewing! You're almost guaranteed the Big Five, with daily leopard sightings. Eight comfortable thatch chalets, each with a small viewing deck, overlook the bush, food is plentiful and good, and the service is friendly and attentive. The public areas are bright and cheerful, and you can sit on the big viewing deck all day and watch the passing show if you prefer.

Situated in Kruger's southeastern corner, this award-winning small rest camp sits on the scenic Crocodile River and doubles as an entrance gate, which makes it a convenient stopover if you arrive near the park's closing time and are too late to make it to another camp. The road leading from the camp to Lower Sabie is famous for sightings of general game as well as buffalo, rhinos, cheetahs, and lions, but it's often crowded on weekends, holidays, and during school vacations. A hippo pool lies just 5 km (3 miles) away. Accommodations range from bungalows and safari tents to campsites. Two of the bungalows are geared toward travelers with disabilities.

On top of a hill a few minutes' walk from the center of town, these self-catering cottages are very good value. The delightful cottages are all miners' homes dating from 1920. From their verandas are spectacular views of the town and surrounding mountains. Interiors are furnished with period reproductions, complete with wooden floors, brass bedsteads, and claw-foot tubs. Each cottage consists of a small living room, two double bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and a bathroom. There's also a 3-bedroom cottage and a 4-person house. Phone reservations can be made only weekdays 9–4, and if you arrive after hours, you'll pick up keys from the Royal Hotel.

One of Sabi Sand's oldest lodges, Dulini River Lodge scores 10 out of 10 for its gorgeous location—one of the best in the whole reserve—with lush green lawns sweeping down to the Sand River. Game-viewing is so superb that you'd be unlucky not to spot the Big Five. The experienced rangers and staff, some of whom have been at the lodge for years, will look after you in a friendly, unfussy way. Children from 8 years and older are welcome and this is the best family option in the Dulini Collection. Your roomy air-conditioned suite (try to sleep with the windows open so you don't miss that lion roaring or hyena whooping) is decorated in soft earth colors and has its own heated plunge pool. The South African wine list is very impressive and showcases some more boutique offerings.  

This inviting camp has 10 stone-and-thatch suites in individual chalets set amid thick riverine bush; some chalets are linked by interconnecting skywalks, which is great for families or groups traveling together (children six years and older are welcome). Decorated in warm, comforting earth tones, each chalet has its own wooden viewing deck and plunge pool. Old family photographs decorate the walls and tables in this camp, reminding you of Londolozi's decades-old history. Relax on the huge thatch dining and viewing deck that juts out over a quiet backwater of the Sand River, and watch the mammals and birds go by. Or join a group yoga class under the African sky.

This delightful, value-priced camp owned and operated by Honeyguide is situated on both sides of a riverbed within Manyeleti Private Game Reserve. Simply designed and built of corrugated iron and wood, the large public areas overlook green lawns leading to the pool and outside bar. There's a private space in front of each of the 12 platform tents (all with modern conveniences and en suite bathrooms) to chill out and take in the sights and sounds of the surrounding bush. As part of the Children's Safari activities, kids can make clay footprints, learn about the little bugs and critters they see on their guided walks, play soccer, swim, relax in the playroom, and then dig into a special kids' menu.

This tented camp, built on wooden platforms, minimalist but with surprising luxury touches (owned and operated by Honeyguide within Manyeleti Private Game Reserve), gives you the total bush experience at half the price of some of the more upscale lodges. Designed to reflect Hemingway's Africa, it sits in a tamboti grove overlooking a dry riverbed. You'll feel very close to the bush (but quite safe and secure) in your large, comfortable tent with its leather couch and en suite bathroom with concrete bath, double shower, and separate toilet. Tea or coffee is served in your tent at dawn, and meals are served communal style in a big safari tent around a long wooden table in an intimate, relaxed atmosphere. Spot game as you lounge on the swimming pool deck, or browse in the temperature-controlled wine cellar. No children under 12, but children are allowed at its sister camp, Khoka Moya.

This charming boutique hotel, on the banks of the White River, is only a short drive from Kruger Park, and it was originally a 1920s hunting lodge. Rooms, most of which have private gardens and outside showers, are individually furnished in colonial, Victorian, Provençal, or English-country styles. High tea, which includes cucumber sandwiches and cream scones, is a specialty. Sip an evening sundowner, before dining on superb county-style cuisine under the stars ($$). Fly-in guests receive complimentary transfers to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, only 4½ km (3 mi) from the lodge. Balloon flights, helicopter trips, Kruger Park excursions, and scenic trips can be arranged.

This lodge, one of South Africa’s loveliest, is set among 14,826 acres of private concession in southwest Kruger—the park's first with game-rich traversing rights as a result—with twelve comfortable, spacious suites, each with a plunge pool and stunning views over the Biyamiti River. Had Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, author of the famous Jock of the Bushveld and his canine superstar still been alive, they would have highly approved of today’s camp, which is authentic and steeped in history. The food, service, and rangers are superb, but the game-viewing is spectacular—think night drives in Kruger. The nearby Fitzpatrick’s Camp is better for families and intergenerational trips.

Renowned for its relaxed and informal atmosphere, Leopard Hills is one of the premier game lodges in the Sabi Sands area. Set on a rocky outcrop with panoramic views of the surrounding bushveld, this small lodge offers privacy and luxury. Its main draw is its spectacular game-viewing; during a two-night stay you're almost guaranteed to see the Big Five at close quarters. Rangers are eager to share their knowledge and quick to rush guests off to see big game. The decor has an authentic bush theme, which gels well with the surroundings. Each double room has its own private pool (in addition to the main pool) and deck overlooking the bushveld. Bathrooms have his-and-her showers both indoors and out. 

Overlooking the frequently dry Letaba River, this lovely old camp sits in the middle of elephant country in the park's central section. There's excellent game-viewing on all the roads round the camp: be careful in early morning and at sundown that you don't bump into a hippo. The camp itself has a real bush feel: all the huts are thatch (ask for one overlooking the river), and the grounds are full of old trees. The restaurant and snack bar look out over the broad, sandy busy-with-game riverbed. Campsites, on the camp's perimeter, offer lots of shade for your tent or trailer.

Ivory Lodge offers the ultimate in luxury, privacy, and relaxation. Suites are really more like villas, as each has its own private entrance, separate sitting room and bedroom joined by a breezeway, and superb views overlooking the Sabie River and Kruger—the spacious deck comes equipped with a telescope and a plunge pool. Suites are decorated in contemporary African-European style with wood-burning fireplaces, a butler's passageway—you'll have a personal butler—and an indoor and outdoor shower, as well as a freestanding tub. For something even more special (if possible), inquire about spending the night at the Chalkley's Treehouse. 

Set on one of the longest and best stretches of river frontage in Sabi Sand, you can watch the passing animal and bird show from your deck or from the huge, tree-shaded, wooden viewing area that juts out over the riverbank facing Kruger National Park. The guest rooms are comfortable and attractively Africa-themed, with honey-colored stone floors with pebble inlays, cream wooden furniture, embroidered white bed linens, and lamps and tables of dark indigenous wood. The food is imaginative and tasty, the staff enthusiastic, and the rangers highly qualified. After an exhilarating game drive, take a bush walk, go fishing, or relax with a beauty treatment at Lalamuka Spa (lalamuka means "unwind" in Shangaan). There's a resident senior ecologist, plus a classy and interesting curio shop.

One of the most popular camps in Kruger, Lower Sabie has tremendous views over a broad sweep of the Sabie River and sits in one of the best game-viewing areas of the park (along with Skukuza and Satara). White rhinos, lions, cheetahs, elephants, and buffalo frequently come down to the river to drink, especially in the dry winter months. Long wooden walkways curve around the restaurant and shop where you can sit and look out over the river. Ancient trees full of birds line the camp perimeter along the river (spot the dozing hippos) and there are lots of animal waterholes within a few minutes' drive. Guests have a range of options to stay in, ranging from huts and bungalows to safari tents; there is one family cottage.

Stone and thatch air-conditioned rondavels with two bathrooms and an outside shower are decorated in creams and browns and luxuriously furnished with natural finishes like copper and wood, colorful handwoven tapestries and rugs, terra-cotta floors, and original artwork. Public areas have a traditional safari feel, with plush couches, animal skins, and African artifacts. Shaded by ancient jackalberry trees, a huge deck overlooks the Sand River and its continuous passing show of animals. Browse in the air-conditioned Monkey Room for books and wildlife videos, sample the magnificent wine cellar, sun yourself by the pool, or stay fit in the well-appointed gym. The food is tasty, wholesome, and varied. Children over four are welcomed with special programs, activities, and goody-filled backpacks; children under four are not allowed on game drives. One guest room is geared toward travelers with disabilities.

The breathtakingly beautiful Rattray's Camp merges original bushveld style with contemporary African luxury. Stay in one of eight opulent villas with spacious double bathrooms, dressing rooms, and private heated plunge pools. The entrance hall, with art by distinguished African wildlife artists such as Keith Joubert, leads to a huge bedroom with a wooden four-poster bed, lounge with comfy furniture, writing desks (for crucial nightly journal entries), antique Persian rugs, and a dining nook. Floor-to-ceiling windows with insect-proof sliding doors face the Sand River and open out onto your own game-viewing deck. Public areas include viewing and dining decks, an infinity pool, lounge areas, a library, a bar and an impressive wine cellar.

This exclusive camp with seven ultra-luxurious suites lies at the southern end of Main Camp and overlooks the Sand River and surrounding bushveld. If it's privacy and exclusivity, or a perfect family or friends getaway you're looking for, then this is the spot. With its own pool, library, and boma, it's smaller and more intimate than Main Camp, but it shares the same magnificent all-around bush and hospitality experience. No children under 12 years old are allowed.

If you’re looking for a truly exclusive experience, this lovely camp set high on stilts overlooking the Sand River at the southern end of the main MalaMala Camp fits the bill. Perfect for couples or a family or friends gathering, enjoy total privacy in your spacious air-conditioned suite or sit out on your big wooden viewing deck and enjoy the passing parade of game. There’s a great Out of Africa feel to the comfortable accommodation which echoes the colors of the surrounding bushveld, but Karen Blixen could never have imagined this present-day luxury.

Small, intimate, and ideal for backpackers and do-it-yourselfers, this camp has a good close-to-the-bush feeling. Stay in one of five very basic rondawels, or camp. There's a communal kitchen, communal freezer and an ablution block with showers. If you need supplies, a swim, or a bit more sophistication, you can head over to Berg-en-Dal, just a few kilometers away. A bonus is that you're within easy driving distance of good game areas around and toward Lower Sabie and there are also guided bush drives. Check in at Malelane Gate, from which the camp is managed.

Orpen's small, cozy satellite campsite on the Timbavati River is just 3 km (2 miles) away from the Orpen Gate. It can be hot, dry, and dusty at any time of the year, but you'll feel close to the bush among thorn trees and big shady maroela (marula) trees. There are showers, a communal kitchen, and freezers for your perishables. A small hide (blind) overlooks a water hole, and there's lots of excellent game in the vicinity, including cheetahs, lions, and rhinos.

Built in the lee of a rocky kopje overlooking a dam, amid surrounding mopane woodlands, this camp in the northern section is one of Kruger's biggest. If it's hippos you're after, sit on your veranda overlooking the dam and feast your eyes on an ongoing cavalcade of these engaging giants. Constructed of rough stone, wood, and thatch, the camp blends well into the thick vegetation. Shaded wooden walkways connect public areas which overlook the dam, and the view from the open-air bar is awesome. Ask for accommodations overlooking the lake when you book. Although the area doesn't teem with game, it's a really comfortable camp to chill out in for a night if you're driving the length of the park.