The Best Kruger National Park Safari Lodges

Kruger National Park Overview

While you have many choices for safaris and the accommodations you enjoy during that time, Kruger National Park consistently delivers in both safari and lodging quality. Below are three of Kruger’s best safari lodges – perfect for discerning travelers that enjoy rustic luxury.

Tinga Safari Lodge

The Tinga Safari Lodge is really two lodges in one, though both provide an equally intimate and memorable experience. Legends Lodge is a colonial style, classic lodge on the banks of the lush Sable River. A heavy wooden deck winds around an enormous Jackalberry tree, which is reportedly 200 years old. The library is packed with African literature, and the on-site wine cellar provides guests with the premier South African and international wines. The Legends Lodge provides a luxurious backdrop for game viewing, and there are very few places on the property that don't feature stunning panoramic views of the surroundings and their resident wildlife.

The Narina Lodge remains much truer to its natural surroundings. The lodge itself is unobtrusive and organic against the landscape. Unlike Legends, the main deck here rests on stilts overlooking the Sable River, and individual suites are connected by an elevated wooden walkway. Relax for an afternoon of bird watching (nearby trees attract everything from broadbilled rollers to trumpeter hornbills) with a glass of wine from the on-site cellar, or read a book between game drives in the shade of the large deck.

Imbali Safari Lodge

The Imbali Safari Lodge offers another perspective on the beautiful landscape of Kruger National Park. The Imbali Lodge affords a true five-star experience, with luxurious suites that provide intimate opportunities to observe nearby wildlife while enjoying all of the standard amenities and little extras that you will find here. Enjoy a soak in your private Jacuzzi as you overlook the river and savannah at sunset, or take in the sounds and stillness of your surroundings at night. During the day, enjoy the high diversity of the wildlife in the Imbali concession. Other unique opportunities here include dinner in the bush and the “nomadic” spa experience.

Jock Safari Lodge

The Jock Safari Lodge is a third luxury lodge within the boundaries of Kruger National Park. The atmosphere combines the area’s historic past with the unique style of two groups that are indigenous to the area, the Zulu and the Shangaan. While you are here, be sure to take advantage of the many unique opportunities offered, including a bush walk to some of the oldest Bushmen rock art in Africa, which dates back approximately 3,000 years. Jock provides a very intimate and personalized experience, as there are just three suites at the lodge. Each is equipped with its own chef, waitress, and ranger to ensure that your experience is completely unique.