10 Best-value Luxury Greater Kruger Safari Lodges

By Philip Briggs

Greater Kruger is one of Africa’s best Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) destinations. It comprises a mosaic of private reserves that lie to the west and south of the vast Kruger National Park and mostly share an open border with it. But where Kruger is serviced by public rest camps, these private reserves offer a more exclusive safari experience in small luxury lodges that offer packages inclusive of guided activities, meals and, in many cases, drinks. Greater Kruger offers superb general wildlife viewing and it is unmatched when it comes to large carnivores such as lion, leopard, cheetah and African wild dog.

233 Greater Kruger Safaris

1. Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside (Sabi Sands)

Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside Umkumbe is a down-to-earth lodge situated on the Sand River

Located on the banks of the Sand River in Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, Umkumbe sleeps a maximum of 20 guests in 10 rooms. Several rooms have interleading doors, making it highly suitable for families. The lodge is owner-managed, and the focus is on providing a rustic, personalized safari experience. Hearty South African dinners are usually enjoyed under the stars in a boma (a rounded wooden enclosure set around a fire).

17 Umkumbe Safari Lodge Tours

2. Kapama River Lodge (Kapama GR)

Enjoy exceptional wildlife viewing and luxurious accommodations at Kapama River Lodge

Five-star Kapama River Lodge is an all-suite property set in Kapama Private Game Reserve, which extends over some 150km²/58mi² of African bush. Because Kapama is fenced, animals cannot range freely between it and other parts of Greater Kruger, which means that there is little seasonal fluctuation in populations. Visitors stand an excellent chance of seeing all the Big Five in Kapama, along with cheetah, African wild dog, giraffe and a wide variety of smaller grazers. The 55 spacious and elegantly decorated deluxe suites have air conditioning, natural stone bathrooms and great views over the game reserve.

21 Kapama River Lodge Tours

3. Greenfire Game Lodge (Balule NR)

Greenfire Game Lodge Set on a well-wooded riverbank, Greenfire is one of the best-value lodges in Greater Kruger

Greenfire Game Lodge is a well-priced bush property set on a seasonal tributary of the Olifants River as it runs through the 500km² Balule Private Nature Reserve. Guests can enjoy wonderful views over the riverbed from the large wooden deck, which opens out to a natural rock swimming pool. The modern glass-fronted rooms have wide balconies overlooking the forest-fringed river. Plenty of wildlife passes by the lodge and all the Big Five are regularly seen on game drives in Balule, which shares an open border with Kruger.

Greenfire Game Lodge Tours

4. Arathusa Safari Lodge (Sabi Sands)

Arathusa Safari Lodge Wildlife viewing is reliably good at this top Sabi Sands property, which overlooks a waterhole

One of the premier safari lodges in the world-famous Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, Arathusa accommodates guests in a dozen brightly decorated thatched suites. A memorable feature of this luxurious lodge is its location in front of a waterhole that attracts a steady stream of thirsty wildlife in the Dry season. In addition to twice-daily game drives, you can enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, a pampering treatment in the in-house spa, or a look around in the cool cellar that is stocked with fine Cape wines.

Arathusa Safari Lodge Tours

5. Elephant Plains Game Lodge (Sabi Sands)

Elephant Plains Game Lodge Elephant Plains, on the normally dry Manyeleti River, offers stellar wildlife viewing in Sabi Sands

Elephant Plains is a popular owner-managed lodge set on the wooded bank of the seasonal Manyeleti River as it flows through the wildlife-rich north of Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. Guests can choose between modern open-plan luxury suites or more affordable rondavels (traditional round buildings resembling African huts) that date to the lodge’s earliest days. Either way, you’ll sleep in a walk-in net below a thatch roof, and you can enjoy modern amenities including air conditioning, a private deck and a minibar. There’s also a lovely honeymoon suite named after the Manyeleti River.

Elephant Plains Tours

6. Motswari Game Lodge (Timbavati NR)

Motswari Game Lodge Motswari is an exclusive game lodge in the heart of the Big Five country of Timbavati Private Nature Reserve

Motswari is a premier luxury lodge in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, a 534km²/206mi² area of grassland and woodland that shares an unfenced border with Kruger. It accommodates up to 30 guests in 15 thatched bungalows decorated in traditional African style. All bungalows incorporate a king-size bed with Egyptian cotton bedding, walk-in netting, air conditioning and a private deck. A big attraction of Motswari is that Timbavati (named after a seasonal river that flows through it) offers wildlife viewing of a similar quality to Sabi Sands but carries far lower tourist volumes. It is also the only place where white lions (the result of a rare recessive gene) are known to occur naturally on a regular basis.

Motswari Game Lodge Tours

7. Ku Sungula Safari Lodge (Balule NR)

Ku Sungula Safari Lodge Enjoy fantastic wildlife viewing at this relaxed lodge in Balule Private Nature Reserve

Every day offers fresh wildlife thrills at Ku Sungula Safari Lodge, whose local Tonga name means ‘New Beginning’. Situated in Balule Private Nature Reserve, this is an unpretentious lodge that offers a memorable African bush experience at a reasonable price. Accommodations are in traditional thatch rondavels with walk-in nets, air conditioning, a modern en suite bathroom and a private terrace. Because Ku Sungula is only a few minutes’ drive south of the Olifants River, which is a year-round wildlife magnet, game drives offer excellent Big Five sightings. Between drives, you can cool off in the swimming pool or chill on the terrace.

Ku Sungula Tours

8. Mjejane River Lodge (Mjejane GR)

Mjejane River Lodge Mjejane is a well-priced four-star lodge set on the southern bank of the atmospheric Crocodile River

The most southerly private reserve bordering Kruger is Mjejane Private Game Reserve, whose unfenced border with the national park follows the course of the Crocodile River, which flows all year. Here, the four-star Mjejane River Lodge occupies a prime riverbank location above a wide sandy floodplain that is regularly visited by elephants and other wildlife. The lodge comprises 17 elegantly decorated rooms and suites, all with air conditioning, sliding glass doors and tree-shaded decks offering a river view. Animals can cross freely from Kruger, which means that all the Big Five might be seen on guided game drives or bush walks in Mjejane.

Mjejane River Lodge Tours

9. Nkorho Bush Lodge (Sabi Sands)

Nkorho Bush Lodge Nkorho is a small Sabi Sands lodge with eight air-conditioned chalets, a swimming pool and spa

Intimate, even by the standards of Greater Kruger, Nkorho is a low-key bush lodge comprising just eight thatched chalets. All the rooms are air-conditioned and come with wooden floors, modern decor, walk-in nets and wildlife paintings on the walls. The lodge has a prime location for guided game drives and bush walks in the north of Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. Amenities include a natural rock swimming pool and a professional spa.

10. Tomo Safari Lodge (Balule NR)

Tomo Safari Lodge offers a reasonably priced Big Five adventure in Balule Private Nature Reserve

Tomo Safari Lodge stands inside Balule Private Nature Reserve, which forms part of the unfenced Greater Kruger ecosystem and is home to healthy populations of all the Big Five. It has an attractive location below the Mpumalanga Escarpment on the tree-lined bank of the (normally dry) Umhlametsi River. Accommodations are in airy and brightly decorated thatched chalets with private decks and modern bathrooms that include an outdoor shower.

Tomo Safari Lodge Tours