Our rates are inclusive of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.

Calm, calmer, calmcation - here’s how to take it the easiest on a Big Five safari holiday

Life can be pretty busy. And noisy. To say nothing of the incessant virtual distractions and notifications.

So it’s easy to understand why more and more people are seeking silence, solace and calm on their holiday, or rather their calmcation, be it on an African safari in Kruger National Park that includes the whole family, or a luxury safari experience for two.

Taken from “calm” and “vacation”, a calmcation is simply a holiday that prioritises slowing down, relaxing and unwinding, and engaging in activities that rejuvenate the body and mind. It’s about simplicity, connection and, well, calm. And can be one of the most eco-friendly ways to travel.

And it’s a travel trend that’s showing no signs of slowing down (!!). Take the calmcation to the next level by selecting those experiences known to promote and elevate calm.

“Any kind of time out in nature is good for you, and a safari holiday in Kruger National Park even more so as it really brings you up close and personal with Mother Nature, in a setting that is inherently tranquil,” says Miguel Farinha, Hotel Manager of Kruger Gate Hotel, located mere metres from the Paul Kruger Gate entrance to the Park.

Experience a guided game drive

A guided safari tour is a unique way to experience a different kind of serenity. It’s an opportunity to really sit back and soak in the wonder of the bush and Kruger National Park’s flora and fauna in all its glory.

A guided safari, in particular, serves as a kind of connection between the visitor and the wonders of Kruger National Park. Professional safari guides are there to bring the magnificence of the landscape, the animals, the birds and the flora to life for you, while you simply sit back, relax and soak it all in, and put all those wildlife photography tips you’ve been researching to good use. Navigating Kruger National Park is what they do best, so you can simply focus on embracing it all.

Treat yourself to a spa experience

Is there anything more calming than a full-body massage? Yes, it’s a full-body massage in a tree house treatment room overlooking the Sabie River – the ultimate wilderness spa experience!

Dee’s African Spa at Kruger Gate Hotel offers exactly that – and more. The spa’s approach to wellbeing is one that combines ancient wisdom with modern technologies to offer an authentically tranquil experience.

Opt for silent mode

They say silence is golden and nowhere is this more true than in the Kruger National Park where silence and serenity is all-encompassing. “We love to recommend to guests that they simply sit on the Pool Deck overlooking the Sabie River and soak up the silence. Sure, there’s the sounds of birds and animals but it’s a serene sound that is unique to the area and generally brings on a great sense of calm and connection to nature,” says Farinha.

Embrace the wonder of water

Whether that’s the water from a summer thunderstorm, or immersing yourself in the infinity pool that overlooks the Sabie River at Kruger Gate Hotel, people close to water can do wonders for enhancing that feeling of calm.

Every traveller’s idea of a calmcation will be different – and rightly so – but one thing is for sure. Kruger National Park – the jewel in South Africa’s tourism crown – is the ideal destination for a calmcation that will rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.

Guest Reviews

Our stay at kruger was nothing less than extraordinary, the resort is located at a prime location making the kruger national park quite accessible, thanks to our safari guide Mr Happy we were able to see the entirety of the big 5 animals. However the most impressive thing was their hospitality, the staff were considerate and polite . The spread offered by the hotel is out of the world and despite being a vegetarian I was able to find multiple options
Lastly I would like to specially thank Head chef Leo, as on our demand , within a span of 10 mins chef leo served us a delicious spread of indian dishes , and although we were not able to finish it , it was genuinely quite tasty . Leo is a gem of person and one of the nicest people i have ever met. It was a delight to stay here and I do hope to visit the place soon

Posted on 03/06/2026 by Google

What a luxurious and beautiful place!
The food buffet had some very tasty options.
Personell was very friendly and helpfull.
We booked a couples massage and boy, how good that felt!
Also did a full game drive in Kruger, well organized.
If we ever come back to South Africa, we are definitely staying in this place again

Posted on 02/06/2026 by Google

These photos our butler was amazing

Posted on 31/05/2026 by Google

The atmosphere is relaxed and beautiful as you are in the park. Service is great. Every staff you encounter says hello and asks how you are doing, as well if you are enjoying yourself.The rooms are very large with lots of storage, seating area inside as well as outside. Bed is very
Comfortable. Would definitely recommend and come again

Posted on 28/05/2026 by Google

Excellent hotel - wonderful place to stay

Posted on 04/06/2026 by Hotels.com

no local localização na equipe excelente um lugar maravilhoso e memorável para ficar

Posted on 02/06/2026 by Hotels.com

Tudo incrível!!! Atendimento, refeição, camas maravilhosas.

Posted on 28/05/2026 by Hotels.com

And the stay was a lot of fun, and the hotel has an unbelievably good location! Right at the gate of Kruger National Park! The food and especially the service are perfect. Our server Tshepo was especially nice - very kind and a gifted singer!

Posted on 29/05/2026 by TripAdvisor

Our stay was absolutely fantastic. We spent four nights at the hotel and enjoyed every single moment. The rooms were spacious, beautifully designed, and very comfortable. In general, the entire hotel complex impressed us with its tasteful architecture and the way it blends perfectly into the surrounding nature. Perhaps that is also why you can often spot harmless animals wandering around the property, which added to the unique atmosphere.

The food was excellent, with a wide variety of options to suit every taste. There was always something for everyone, and the entertainment offerings created a wonderful overall ambiance. What truly stood out was the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff throughout the entire resort — everyone made us feel genuinely welcome.

A special highlight was the pool deck overlooking the river, where animals could occasionally be seen nearby, making the experience even more memorable.

We also booked two full-day safaris directly through the hotel with the guides Culture and Chris. Both guides made the game drives incredibly entertaining and shared fascinating insights about the wildlife and the surrounding area. They always did their best to position us in the best spots for animal sightings, which made the game drives truly unforgettable. We never wanted the day to end.

Overall, we would book this hotel again without hesitation. We are certain this will not be our last visit.

Posted on 28/05/2026 by TripAdvisor

Kruger Gate Hotel continues to offer the very best experience for those venturing into Kruger National Park - accommodation, facilities & service and especially the staff make this at top of the list. We atill meet the resident bushbuck and warthog, as well as ververt monkeys and baboons, wandering the grounds but this is part of the pleasure.

Posted on 30/05/2026 by TripAdvisor

Fantastyczna obsługa

Posted on 02/06/2026 by Booking.com

Excellent location right next to Kruger National Park. The breakfast and dinner buffets were outstanding, with plenty of choice and great quality. We especially appreciated the breakfast packs prepared for our early morning safaris. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, and the safari experiences were fantastic.

Posted on 02/06/2026 by Booking.com

Everything

Posted on 01/06/2026 by Booking.com

Amazing location, beautiful setting, friendly and helpful staff, excellent breakfast.

Posted on 29/05/2026 by Booking.com

Einzigartig die Lage, Komfort und luxuriöse Gestaltung der ganzen Anlage mit Infinity Pool und Blick über den Fluss zum Krüger Park. Besonders erwähnenswert ist das herausragende Dinner in der Arena am Abend mit Feuerstelle , welches wir in dieser Vielfalt und Qualität noch nicht erlebt haben. Hygiene 1a, Dessert und Salate in klimatisiertem Bereich. Freitags zusätzlich BBQ. Das einzige Hotel, in dem wir Wiederholungsgäste sind.

Posted on 03/06/2026 by Booking.com

We booked a 3 night stay in their newly renovated luxury room and it was nothing short of fantastic. Its spacious, bright and clean. The property itself is beautiful, looks like a massive treehouse. Its also big and there are lots of areas to explore. Everything is neatly kept and clean. There is a little shop that is open into the evening incase you want snacks and drinks. It also has safari essentials like maps, info guides and binoculars. Breakfast and dinners were absolutely amazing. Its a nightly rotating menu with lots of classic South African foods. Everything from springbok, kudu, crocodile, pap and wors, bobotie, malva pudding. We opted for shuttle pick up and drop offs from the airport which was super easy. We also booked a guided safari one day, and rented a car for a self drive safari the following day. Being able to book both directly from the hotel was very very convenient. Would absolutely recommend this place to anyone and cant wait to visit again.

Posted on 28/05/2026 by Booking.com

Perfektes Hotel am Kruger Gate. Die ganze Anlage war für uns ein Traum mit super schönen Blick von der Terrasse auf den Sabie River (mit Hippos). Hotel nicht ganz billig, aber günstiger als die mega teueren Lodges im Park. Preis war inkl. HP. Abendessen (Buffet) war hervorragend. Mit das beste was wir hatten. Auch das Frühstück war super. Draussen sitzen direkt am Busch. Zimmer modern eingerichtet (nicht unbedingt afrikanisch). Haben hier uns mal 2 Tage gegönnt und würden nächstesmal garantiert länger bleiben - Daumen hoch!! ;)

Posted on 30/05/2026 by Booking.com

Quarto espaçoso, cama e travesseiros excelentes

Posted on 03/06/2026 by Booking.com

Posizione ottima attaccato al Kruger Gate. Posto bellissimo, personale gentile e disponibile. Safari organizzato dall\' hotel bello! Cena e colazione a buffet.

Posted on 31/05/2026 by Booking.com