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.
Kruger National Park
Jock Safari Camp
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 older than 6 welcome)
- Budget: From R12525 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge
- Villa: Fitzpatrick’s at Jock (3 Bedroom Villa)
- Exclusivity: Medium lodge; 12 suites; 6 guests maximum per game drive
Kruger Shalati
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 older than 6 welcome)
- Budget: From R12950 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury lodge
- Exclusivity: Large lodge; 31 suites; 6 guests maximum per game drive
Narina Lodge
Narina Lodge, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve. When you stay at Narina or Tinga Lodge you are absolutely spoiled, 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 older than 16 welcome)
- Budget: From R29175 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Superior luxury lodge
- Exclusivity: Small lodge; 9 suites; 6 guests maximum per game drive
Tinga Lodge
Tinga Lodge. When you stay at Tinga Lodge you are absolutely spoiled, 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 older than 6 welcome)
- Budget: From R29175 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
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 R25740 per person per night
- Perfect for: Families, couples & groups (children older than 10 welcome)
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge
- Exclusivity: Medium lodge; 18 suites; 6 guests maximum per game drive
Ivory Lodge
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 hour drive (transfers can be arranged)
- Perfect for: Couples & families (children older than 10 welcome)
- Budget: From R48670 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
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 hour drive or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Mbombela): +/- 2 hour drive (transfers can be arranged)
- Perfect for: Families, couples & groups (children of all ages welcome)
- Budget: From R26500 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge
- Villa: 2 bedroom luxury villas (Mahlatini or Tumbela)
- Exclusivity: Large lodge; 25 suites; 6 guests maximum per game drive
Earth Lodge
Earth Lodge, a luxury lodge situated in the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in the southwestern section of the Greater Kruger area, adjacent to the National Park.
- Closest airport: Skukuza: +/- 1.5 hour drive or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Mbombela): +/- 2 hours’ drive (transfers can be arranged)
- Perfect for: Couples or friends (no children allowed)
- Budget: From R39000 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
Thornybush Game Lodge, Situated in Thornybush Nature Reserve, a 15,000-hectare private game reserve within the Greater Kruger area.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit: +/-45 minute drive (transfers can be arranged)
- Perfect for: Families & couples (children of all ages welcome)
- Budget: From R18000 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
Saseka Tented Camp, situated in Thornybush Nature Reserve, a 15,000-hectare private game reserve within the Greater Kruger area.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit: +/-45 minute drive (transfers can be arranged)
- Perfect for: Couples (children older than 12 welcome)
- Budget: From R26000 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Premium Lodge
- Exclusivity: Small lodge; 9 tented suites; 6 guests maximum per game drive
Monwana Lodge
Monwana Lodge, 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 older than 12 welcome)
- Budget: From R43430 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
Simbavati Hilltop Lodge. Situated in the 53000-hectare Timbavati Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit: +/-2 hour drive (transfers included)
- Perfect for: Families & Couples (children older than 12 welcome)
- Budget: From R18900 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Luxury Lodge – Tented Camp
- Exclusivity: Small lodge; 8 tented suites; 8 guests maximum per game drive
Simbavati River Lodge
Simbavati River Lodge. Situated in the 53000-hectare Timbavati Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit: +/-1.5 hour drive (transfers can be arranged)
- Perfect for: Families & couples (children of all ages welcome)
- Budget: From R12500 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
Kings Camp. Situated in the 53000-hectare Timbavati Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit: +/-1 hour drive (transfers can be arranged)
- Perfect for: Families & couples (children older than 6 welcome)
- Budget: From R17300 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 Nature Reserve - Greater Kruger
Ivory Wilderness, River Rock Lodge
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 hour drive (transfers can be arranged)
- Perfect for: Families & couples (children older than 5 welcome)
- Budget: From R6600 per person per night
- Earthstompers rating: Classic/Rustic
- Exclusivity: Small lodge; 6 suites; 9 guests per game drive
Simbavati Waterside Lodge
Simbavati Waterside Lodge. This newly renovated camp is situated in the 60000-hectare Klaserie Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.
- Closest airport: Hoedspruit: +/- 45 minute drive (transfers can be arranged)
- Perfect for: Families & couples (children of all ages welcome)
- Budget: From R14500 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
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
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
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
Typical Kruger safari timeline
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
We recommend booking at least a two-night safari, for several reasons. Firstly, a two-night safari will include four game drives; this gives you ample opportunity to see the variety of different wildlife on a reserve. If the weather or the animals aren’t playing along on one drive, at least you have other chances later in your stay! Secondly, a two-night safari will give you time to relax and enjoy the beautiful lodge midday on your “middle” day. This makes for a more relaxing and present experience, and allows you to get a sense of the place rather than rushing in and out.
How to get to Kruger
By flying: 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. Most lodges also have private runways for charter flights. Flying is the quickest and most efficient way to reach this remote part of South Africa.
By road: 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.
Earthstompers ratings
These lodges are mostly 3, 4 or 5-star graded, but some lodges choose not to be star graded. It can be difficult to understand the level of the lodge and experience, especially since they are so unique. We have therefore rated lodges according to personal experience, to help our guests choose the level that suits them best.
- Rustic: No star rating or 3 star (basic & rustic lodges)
- Classic: No star rating or 4 star
- Luxury: 5 star
- Superior Luxury: 5 star +
- Premium: 5 star ++