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

Name: Belvedere Guest House
Address: Off the R532, Pilgrim's Rest, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Telephone: 013-759–5432-Reservations
Price range: $$

You may be in darkest Africa, but you'll be amazed by the very high standards you'll encounter for both service and accommodations. The latter range from fairly basic in the Kruger Park huts to the ultimate in luxury at most of the private camps. You may forget that you are in the bush until an elephant strolls past. The advantage of a private lodge (apart from superb game-viewing) is that often everything is included—lodging, meals, beverages, including excellent house wines, game drives, and other activities. It's essential to note that there are no elevators in any lodging facility in Mpumalanga or in Kruger.

Prices at most guest establishments on the escarpment include a three- to five-course dinner plus a full English breakfast. Most places have at least one vegetarian course on the menu. Many lodges and hotels offer special midweek or winter low-season rates. If you're opting for a private game lodge, find out whether they accept children (many specify only kids over 12), and stay a minimum of two nights, three if you can.

In Kruger National Park you have the choice between budget self-catering huts from R530 per person per night and much more expensive (but worth it) self-catering cottages in the more remote and exclusive bushveld (bushveld is the generic term for the wild indigenous vegetation of the lowveld) camps, which range from R580 to R685 per person. Visit the South African National Parks website (www.sanparks.org) to get information and book accommodations. Make sure you book well in advance and, if possible, avoid July, August, and December, which are South African school vacations.

Belvedere Guest House

$$ | Off the R532, Pilgrim's Rest, South Africa

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.

District 6 Miners' Cottages

$ | Pilgrim's Rest, South Africa

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.

Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park

Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park

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