Our rates are inclusive of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.

A Kruger safari holiday – why not? You only live once…

Do you identify as a YOLO traveller? The “You Only Live Once” traveller is fast becoming a feature when it comes to global travel culture. This intrepid traveller has a ‘Seize the Day’ mindset, and getting out into the world is a life priority.

The YOLO traveller is driven by the desire to make the most of life and embrace new and different experiences. They are not content to muse over their bucket list at home, they are intent on ticking it off! They often seek out extraordinary destinations and once-in-a-lifetime adventures, including African safari experiences.

Here are some of the ways that YOLO travellers find what they are looking for on a Kruger safari holiday:

Embracing immersive, experiential travel – You adventure into the evocative African bush, and it is a unique thrill to set off on a safari game drive with the chance of seeing the Kruger National Park Big 5, and so much more. You’ll also discover the delights of South African culture in food, song, dance, storytelling and crafts.

Luxury and comfort – If you are embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime travel, it makes sense to do it style. Prioritising comfort and exclusivity adds fantastic value to your holiday, and many YOLO guests at Kruger Gate Hotel choose our Nkanyi Suite experience with its private indoor-outdoor lifestyle and butler service.

Adventure and high-thrills activities – While every safari into the iconic Kruger National Park is a thrilling adventure in its own right, our YOLO guests are also interested in the nearby adrenaline-fueled activities, which are top Mpumalanga tourism attractions. You can even reach the hotel via helicopter charter and enjoy exclusive use of the hotel’s helipad.

Sustainable and impactful travel – Many YOLO travellers embrace responsible travel and relish the opportunity to support wildlife conservation and rural community upliftment as a special aspect of their Kruger safari holiday.

There’s much that we can all learn from the YOLO spirit which is driven by the urge to experience life fully and optimise on special experiences. For the YOLO traveller, life is too short to postpone adventure, and every trip should be nothing less than unforgettable. Embracing a “you only live once” attitude, these explorers seek out the world’s most extraordinary experiences, diving into journeys that blend awe, thrill, and discovery. A Kruger safari epitomizes this ethos, offering an iconic, once-in-a-lifetime escape that defines a life well lived.

Guest Reviews

Nice

Posted on 11/06/2025 by Google

I highly recommend this hotel. It is one of a kind. Feels like you are surrounded by bushes and wild animals but in actual fact its one of the safest places to go relax and revive.

Posted on 11/06/2025 by Google

I had an incredible three-night stay at Kruger Gate Hotel, and I can't recommend it highly enough. The rooms were spacious, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed, ensuring a restful retreat after days of exploration. The food was exceptional, offering a variety of delicious options that truly enhanced the experience.

The Viewing Deck was an absolute highlight—especially at night, where I had the surreal experience of seeing hyenas, hippos, impalas and elephant roaming nearby. It felt like an intimate connection with the wild, something you don’t often get in a hotel setting. To top it all off, we were treated to a private dining experience on our final night, set at the same breathtaking deck area.

This stay was nothing short of unforgettable, and I sincerely hope to return in the future. If you’re looking for a luxurious yet immersive safari experience, Kruger Gate Hotel is the perfect choice!

Posted on 10/06/2025 by Google

We stayed here for 4 nights a couple of days ago and can highly recommend it. It’s right on the edge of the park with a great view of the river and surrounding area inside the park. So you can basically watch elephants play in the water while relaxing at the pool with a drink. We even heard a lion roar at night, so you are just in the middle of nature. All the rooms are split over the premises, so it never feels crowded. The rooms were nice, spacious and clean.
We did one full-day guided safari, which was super helpful with lots of information on the animals (we nearly saw everything we wanted to see in just one day), just beware of the monkeys when you stop for a picnic break. Never leave anything in an open car, they will be all over it and raid your stuff :)
The other days we did self drives, which was also great, we saw so many animals (all of the big 5, but so much more as well) and landscapes, which was impressive. The entrance to the park is literally 2 minutes away, so all very close.

The spa in the hotel was great, a huge selection of food for breakfast and dinner as well and the staff was very friendly and helpful. At dinner, they are often singing and dancing, celebrating people’s birthdays or engagements and you really feel that they are enjoy being there and having a wonderful time with the guests.

One staff member that stood out to us was our waiter at dinner. Zenda really made us look forward to every evening, he soon knew us by name, remembered our drink choices, was just such a happy spirit and even reserved a nice table by the fire on the last evening for us so we could watch a singing/dancing show we did not know would take place that evening. We would not have seen it from our usual spot.

For us, a dream holiday and we are already planning the next stay with friends and family.

Posted on 06/06/2025 by Google

Our stay at Kruger gate hotel was incredible, an entire experience that felt totally surreal. The staff were so hospitable and so welcoming, we couldn’t have asked for more. Everyone was so friendly and the atmosphere here was beautiful. I cannot recommend Kruger gate hotel enough to anyone visiting South Africa. A bucket list stop for sure.

Posted on 14/06/2025 by TripAdvisor

Seldom a return visit surpasses prior experiences. They keep on getting better. Will surely be back in the future.

Posted on 09/06/2025 by TripAdvisor

Kruger Gate Hotel each and every member of the team deserve Five stars, pick up from air port was very prompt, checking was very prompt, booking our safari’s where mostly pre booked just needed to confirm on arrival which was easy, as most where early starts the hotel offer a breakfast box which was simply to order the day before and you collect in the morning which a good selection to choose from. We did book an extra safari which we weren’t able to attend due to my wife having a migraine, we thought we lost the money but on checking out the hotel refunded our money which was surprising unexpected. Everything from our room, grounds of the hotel, bar, dining area, view deck, spa, golf course and play area were as we expected all well kept. Dining area Lapa is where we ate during the evening with very good choices to suit everyone’s dietary needs, the staff were hands on at all times, some freshly cooked as ordered. Breakfast dining again catered for everyone’s dietary needs including gluten free food, with plenty of options of hot and cold food and drinks. Bar serviced anything from soft drinks, cocktails, wine, beers, spirits, and even tea and coffee with a very relax setting. View deck one of our favourite places to unwind and relax watch the elephants, hippo’s, giraffes and lions roam freely while we had a drink, there is also a chance to use the infinite pool on the view deck if you wish too, there was also three smaller viewing deckings which where available for everyone to use. Our room was five star very high standard and modern too all house keeping staff worked hard and kept our room clean and turned our bed down every night which is nice touch. Safaris where excellent and the driver would go above and beyond to get you to see the Big Five, with plenty of stops to use the toilets, gave plenty of time for pictures to be taken. Gary & Sarah you have an excellent team who provide a five star service to all of your guest. What a beautiful place to stay

Posted on 09/06/2025 by TripAdvisor

Been going to this hotel for over 40 years. Such good value and the perfect location for the start of the Kruger

Posted on 10/06/2025 by Booking.com

café da manhã excelente ,staff super atencioso ,ambientes super agradáveis

Posted on 09/06/2025 by Booking.com

As instalações do hotel são lindas. O deck com vista para o parque é um espetáculo a parte. Tivemos sorte e em poucas horas pudemos avistar muitos animais. Comida e atendimento impecável. Muita variedade de opções. Os funcionários estão sempre felizes e dispostos a te ajudar. A localização é perfeita para quem está interessado em fazer self Safari, a menos de 5 minutos do portão do parque.

Posted on 06/06/2025 by Booking.com

Localização boa para quem não vai ficar dentro do parque, pois fica logo ao lado do portão Paul Kruger (é só cruzar a ponte). Por estar tão perto e de frente pro rio, é possível ver alguns animais passando perto da piscina, como elefantes (uma família passou por ali de manhã um dia), ou perto dos quartos (como macacos e impalas).
O café da manhã é muito bom, buffet bastante variado com opções feitas na hora (omelete, waffle, panquecas).
O jantar também é um buffet numa área com uma foqueira, bastante variado com opções de pratos africanos e de cozinha internacional. E alguns preparados na hora (wok, queijo quente, smores). Algumas noites tiveram apresentação de dança e música local, muito legal!
O quarto que ficamos era super confortável, cama enorme, banheiro com pia dupla, banheira e chuveiro. Todas as comodidades (frigobar, máquina de café, chaleira elétrica, cofre, secador de cabelo, ameninites) Muito bem decorado também.
Bastante seguro, todos os carros precisam se identificar para entrar, incluindo os carros de Safari.
A piscina fica na area mais próxima do parque, a vista é linda. Piscina para crianças fica num pedaço mais protegido da mesma área.
O spa é sensacional, fazer massagem num bangalô de frente para o rio, super privativo, foi muito relaxante.

Posted on 09/06/2025 by Booking.com

Amazing location. Great equipment. Super comfortable and clean.

Posted on 10/06/2025 by Booking.com

Es war einfach toll. Am Pool viele Tiere beobachtet. Frühstück und Abendessen Buffet. Es hat an nichts gefehlt. Zimmer sind groß und komfortabel eingerichtet. Sehr gute Betten.

Posted on 07/06/2025 by Booking.com