Our rates are inclusive of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.

African icons – the Lions of the Kruger Park

No matter how often you see lions living free in the African wilds, every time they will take your breath away and make your heart beat faster.

The continent’s largest predator, weighing in at up to 225 kgs for males and 150 kgs for females, is simply magnificent, and for many, it’s an animal that epitomizes all the majesty, fierceness and raw beauty that is true wildness.

Although a vulnerable species on the world’s Red Data list confined mostly to big game reserves in Africa, around the world lions still represent nobility, leadership and courage in the human imagination. It’s no coincidence that their collective noun is a “pride”. National Parks such as Kruger are playing a critical role in the conservation of the species and Kruger’s lion population is healthy and widespread. Of the big cats, it is most likely that you will see lion on a Kruger safari.

One of the reasons for this is that lions do lead bold, extroverted lives. As the apex predator in the ecosystem, they have no reasons to hide. Lions are generally confident in their capacities to dominate Spotted Hyenas, Wild Dogs, Leopard and Cheetah. On their own they might not win every skirmish, but in a coalition, lions reign supreme.

Lions are distinct amongst wild cats for their sociability. They live in prides that can number up to 20 or more individuals. It is the lionesses that define the pride. They are a close-knit group of sisters with perhaps some aunts, girl cousins and daughters in their midst. Lionesses are so bonded they can even synchronise their births so that they can collaborate in raising cubs. They actively strengthen their relationships with endearing displays of affection towards each other.

Together, lionesses are formidable, well-coordinated hunters taking down prey as large as buffalos, wildebeest and zebra. They are fierce defenders of the pride’s territory against other predators. When it comes to the well-being of the pride, lionesses do the literal lion’s share of the work and their whole life is spent in service to the pride they were born into.

Male lions, sporting their magnificent manes, live lives that are more fluid. They too, form close, affectionate bonds, but just with a few other males, often their brothers. Finding and then maintaining a territory is their chief concern and they prioritise keeping roaming male lions away from their pride of lionesses and offspring or are focused on taking over one. This is a strenuous endeavour involving much roaring and hours of chasing, posturing and intimidating, but also fighting.

Male lions do put a lot of effort into avoiding the violence of a fight against each other, but if deterrence doesn’t work, they must go into battle. These territorial disputes between competing male lion coalitions or individuals can be ferocious, resulting in injuries that can be life-changing, and sometimes death. That glorious, luxurious mane of a male lion is not actually about its good looks, it’s there to add a much-needed layer of protection to the back of the neck and the throat, two favourite spots for lions to deliver a death bite. When you have a close encounter with a male lion of a certain age on your Kruger safari, it is likely you will notice his battle scars.

Life in the pride though, is also pretty lazy. Many of our guests enjoy sightings of lions lolling in the shade of the bushveld trees, often lying on their backs with their big, tawny paws in the air. How is it possible that these fierce, powerful predators can also look so cute and cuddly? Well, we recognise that lions show affection just like our domestic cats – it’s all the same, they snuggle, purr, pat with soft paws, rub against each other’s sides, cheeks and foreheads, and enjoy grooming each other. We’re drawn in because more than any other wild cat when they are relaxed and satisfied, lions can look as if as they are very big versions of perfectly huggable kitties.

Whether your Kruger Park sightings of lion are looking into the primordially unsettling golden eyes of a male on patrol or watching adorable cubs gambolling playfully around sleepy adults, it will be an African safari experience you will never forget. Likewise, the sounds of lions roaring back and forth across the darkness of the African night will not fail to thrill you to your core. An interesting fact is that the sound of lions roaring can travel over 5 kilometres. With our location right across the Sabie River at the Paul Kruger Gate, during your stay you will be well within earshot.

Guest Reviews

This property is a must if you are visiting Kruger. It’s very clean and the breakfast and dinner were delicious! There are many animals found right on the property. Sarah surprised us with a wonderful gift in our room for our anniversary and our friend’s rooms as well. We also booked a safari with the hotel and saw the big 5. If you are reading this, book now and you will not regret it.

Posted on 31/08/2025 by Google

What an incredible experience. Tspeho M saw to our private dining and he was absolutely amazing. Everything about this place is perfection!!!

Posted on 29/08/2025 by Google

An amazing trip my family of 9.
Amazing food and room.
All the staff were really nice but a special thanks to the guest manager Sarah.

Posted on 29/08/2025 by Google

An exceptional trip at the Kruger Gate Hotel.
We were a family of nine for a great one-week stay with three safari days.
Upon arrival, we had a few technical issues with one of our rooms, but the hotel quickly managed to fix the situation.
The entire staff is amazing, everyone is very kind, but a special thanks goes to the guest manager, Sarah, who was truly wonderful and really made our week extraordinary.
Everything at the hotel is very well managed, the beds and rooms are very comfortable.
The food is excellent, and I especially recommend the private dinner, which is an incredible experience to share with family.
The safaris are very well organized, and if you’re lucky, you might even see a lion (or six).
We leave with stars in our eyes and the memory of a dream trip.
Once again, thank you to all the staff, and especially to Sarah, for her kindness and outstanding professionalism.

Posted on 27/08/2025 by Google

Spent 3 nights here.. Its a huge hotel with over 400 rooms if im not wrong.. very clean place.. It a 1 min drive from PaulKruger Gate to the Kruger National Park..
Room was nice.. if you are elderly and don wanna take the stairs gor the the \'\'2\'\' rooms.. Our room was on the first floor beside the swimming pool.. Was big and had a sofa as well.. TV programs were not so good..
Awesome breakfast and dinner buffets.. nice wide spread.. all that was tried were simply very every tasty.. breakfast n dinner are at two different restaurants.. they are next to each other.. Dinners variety is very very good.. friendly staff.. There is a viewing deck where if youare lucky you can see animals at the sabie river.. we managed to see elephants and deers..
We tried the inhouse couple massage. 3-4 hours.. was amazing.. Thehotel has a mini golf course and the chest board to play.. Staff were vrey friendly and accomodating to any request..
Actually too many good things to say.. you got to try it..
In short i htink this hotel everyone would want if they were to the park.. Awesome place will return if im back there

Posted on 27/08/2025 by TripAdvisor

As multiple returning guests it was excellent and pleasant as always.
We can highly recommend this experience to any potential visitors.

Posted on 02/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

This was our second stay at the Kruger Gate hotel - every bit as excellent as the first. Rooms are spotless, beautifully maintained, tastefully decorated and spacious, with lots of storage , power points and lighting options; beds are very comfortable.

Every member of staff we encountered, from housekeeping and cleaning crew to waitstaff, spa therapists and reception were incredibly helpful and professional.

The food included in their dinner bed and breakfast rate is still excellent value - constantly freshly made and replenished and of a far, far higher standard than is usual for a hotel buffet. Cocktails, bar drinks and food are similarly delicious (and staggeringly good value!)

The gardens and walkways are lovely, and the infinity pool was a delight. I was pleasantly surprised by the temperature when I dipped my foot in the water on the very sunny August day we arrived - but disappointingly, the the weather was too cool for me to get in the next day! Still, spending hours on the deck there watching the animal drama quietly unfold in front of us while lunching and eventually moving on to their delicious cocktails was a joy regardless

Posted on 28/08/2025 by TripAdvisor

We loved our stay at Kruger Gate. The location is fantastic and our overall experience was amazing. Our kids loved the pool and the wildlife around the hotel. The viewing deck brought us up close and personal with elephants. The facilities and food at dinner and breakfast were excellent and the hospitality were received was world class! One of my highlights was the birthday song the restaurant staff sang to me at dinner. We will definitely go back.

Posted on 01/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

Everything you need for a great safari in a great location is at this property. We hope to be able to come again. The breakfast and lunch are excellent with a great selection. The rooms and entire resort are clean and there is wildlife everywhere at the property.

Posted on 31/08/2025 by TripAdvisor

We found Kruger Gate Hotel to be above our expectations, they were really accommodating, and the accommodations were beautiful, clean and with a clear attention to detail. The entire resort provides a great atmosphere for relaxation, rejuvenation and being an excellent location for entry into Kroger. We would definitely recommend this to others, especially those who only have one day, like it\'s, so they can afford the price and make their one night stay extremely worthwhile!

Posted on 27/08/2025 by TripAdvisor

Our stay at Krüger Gate Hotel was simply wonderful. The service was excellent from start to finish, and the entire team made us feel very welcome. We had a private dinner with our server Excellent, who was not only extremely friendly but also very professional and attentive – a true highlight of our trip. On my birthday, the staff surprised me by singing a birthday song together, which made the evening incredibly special. Highly recommended!

Posted on 02/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

Everything was absolutely wonderful.
The room was spacious, tastefully decorated, and very clean. The bed was extremely comfortable. The safaris we booked were simply amazing, and the guides put in great effort to spot all the animals. The organization and the overall flow were excellent. The outdoor area was really beautiful, but the best part was the food. The buffet left nothing to be desired and everything was delicious.

For my daughter’s birthday, we had a private dining experience – the service was outstanding, and Excellent made the evening truly special for us. The crew was fantastic – they sang Happy Birthday, and their voices were just incredible. It was an unforgettable stay!

Posted on 02/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

Loved every minute. The staff was incredibly friendly, helpful & professional. The safari guide & safari itself was amazing.

Posted on 01/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

An exceptional trip at the Kruger Gate Hotel.
We were a family of nine for a great one-week stay with three safari days.
Upon arrival, we had a few technical issues with one of our rooms, but the hotel quickly managed to fix the situation.
The entire staff is amazing, everyone is very kind, but a special thanks goes to the guest manager, Sarah, who was truly wonderful and really made our week extraordinary.
Everything at the hotel is very well managed, the beds and rooms are very comfortable.
The food is excellent, and I especially recommend the private dinner, which is an incredible experience to share with family.
The safaris are very well organized, and if you’re lucky, you might even see a lion (or six).
We leave with stars in our eyes and the memory of a dream trip.
Once again, thank you to all the staff, and especially to Sarah, for her kindness and outstanding professionalism.

Posted on 27/08/2025 by TripAdvisor

Tout était incroyable ! De la chambre, à l’emplacement, au personnel en passant par le restaurant ! Et bien évidemment le safari ! Nous avons passé un séjour de deux nuits tout simplement merveilleux !

Posted on 31/08/2025 by Booking.com

Fantastic resort, lovely staff, excellent food and great location, kids loved the pool

Posted on 26/08/2025 by Booking.com

It’s a beautiful property with very friendly and attentive employees. The lighting is warm and inviting and the resort feels like a huge treehouse with wildlife everywhere. The property even went above and beyond helping us to celebrate our anniversary.

Posted on 31/08/2025 by Booking.com

Ottima struttura , ottimi servizi, ottima la posizione ….consigliato

Posted on 02/09/2025 by Booking.com

Posizione, attività, struttura

Posted on 31/08/2025 by Booking.com

Wegen der Renovierung des Pools und der Zimmer war es etwas eingeschränkt.Aber das Personal war echt top

Posted on 28/08/2025 by Booking.com

Sehr gutes Restaurant (Buffet). Kruger Gate Eingang Nationalpark nur 500m entfernt.Schöner Blick von der Bar-Terrasse auf den Fluss und Nationalpark. Schönes Zimmer.

Posted on 30/08/2025 by Booking.com

Las habitaciones son muy cómodas y espaciosas, el resort es su conjunto es muy completo ya que cuenta con distintas zonas donde poder disfrutar del entorno, los empleados son muy atentos y amables y la comida es variada.

Posted on 26/08/2025 by Booking.com