Our rates are inclusive of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.

Slow down and take the scenic route: must-sees on the way to Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park has long been one of South Africa’s top tourist destinations, attracting more than a million visitors annually.

For most visitors, it is understandably the main attraction on their stay. The park’s sheer size and variety of wildlife means that you could spend days exploring it and still not see everything. From spotting some of the rare birds of South Africa to getting a closer view of animals found in Kruger National Park, it’s a destination that offers everything – and more.

But there’s also plenty to see in the areas around the park, from breathtaking landscapes to famous eating spots, and historical landmarks. As Miguel Farinha, Hotel Manager at Kruger Gate Hotel points out, visiting at least some of these attractions is especially easy for visitors driving to the park from South Africa’s biggest population centres.

“Whether you’re driving to Kruger from Gauteng, KZN, or further afield, there are some must-see attractions as you drive through Mpumalanga,” he says. “Even if you fly into Kruger Mpumalanga or one of the other airports servicing the park, it’s worth taking one- or two-day trips during your stay to get a fuller experience of what the region has to offer.” Incidentally, the distance from Johannesburg to Kruger Park makes it ideal for a weekend getaway.

For those in search of stunning scenery, Farinha points out that visitors need look no further than the Panorama Route, which is centred on the Blyde River Canyon, the world’s third-largest canyon.

“The canyon itself offers numerous activities including hiking, horse-riding, white-water rafting and kloofing,” says Farinha. “But it’s far from the only thing that Panorama Route has to offer, whether you’re looking for dramatic landscapes, sites of natural beauty, South African history, or foodie delights.”

When it comes to landscapes, the route offers views of the canyon. But there are other features such as God’s Window and Three Rondavels. The former is a vantage point on the Drakensberg escarpment, situated on a cliff with a 700-metre drop. On clear days, you can see as far as the Mozambican border from it. The latter, meanwhile, is a geological feature which resembles the round, thatched huts which people in the region traditionally live in.

“If you ever need a moment of awe, you could do a lot worse than to stop off at God’s Window or the viewing point for Three Rondavels,” says the hotel manager.

As he points out, however, the region also has plenty to offer for people who want to get up close and personal with geographical and geological features.

“The area leading up to Kruger is home to some incredible waterfalls, such as the Bridal Veil (named for their similarity to a bride’s veil), Mac-Mac, and Berlin Falls,” says Farinha. “For cave lovers, there are the Echo and Sudwala Caves. The latter are believed to be among the oldest in the world.”

Another unique geological feature in the area is Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Situated at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde Rivers, the formations were created by centuries of water flowing through the landscape. The potholes also mark the start of the Blyde River Canyon.

If history’s more your thing, the region has a rich heritage stretching back thousands of years. The historic mining town of Lydenberg, for example, is home to the Lydenberg Heads, hollow terracotta sculptures dating back to 500 AD. And if you want something a little more interactive, why not pay a visit to the museum town of Pilgrim’s Rest?

“Pilgrim’s Rest is a lot of fun for kids and adults,” says Farinha. “As well as soaking up the history of gold mining in the region, you can try out gold panning, hike, and have a well-earned cold one at one of the town’s pubs at the end of the day.”

Building time into your trip to experience more than just Kruger National Park activities is a must.

For foodies, there is an increasingly wide array of options for all budgets within Kruger National Park and its surrounds. No establishment, however, has managed to achieve quite the same acclaim as Harrie’s Pancakes in Graskop. Founded in 1986, the restaurant has been a must-do for visitors to the region for much of its history.

“As someone who works in the hospitality industry, I have some idea of how volatile the restaurant industry can be,” says Farinha. “The fact that Harrie’s Pancakes has become a South African institution by focusing on delicious pancakes with sweet and savoury fillings, adapting to changing tastes over the years, is something that should be more celebrated.”

Ultimately, Farinha says, there’s a lot more to the areas around Kruger than spectacular wildlife. As he points out, by taking the time to explore those things, you’re not only giving yourself a much richer understanding of the region but also contributing to local communities that may not be served directly by the park.

“The people of Mpumalanga are some of the warmest and friendliest I’ve ever met,” says Farinha. “So, next time you’ve got a big trip to Kruger planned, why not stop off and experience these incredible people and that warmth yourself?”

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

Right from the beginning, we were assisted and welcomed with warmth and professionalism by Relax, Sarah, Nolwazi, and their incredible teams. Every aspect of our stay was thoughtfully curated and delivered with genuine care.

The rooms were beautifully prepared, offering comfort and elegance. The food was absolutely delicious — every meal a delight! The game drives were exciting and well-organized, giving us unforgettable moments in nature. And the spa… what a treat! The service throughout was consistently warm, attentive, and heartfelt.

We are so grateful for the time, effort, and hospitality that went into making this trip so special. Thank you for creating such a memorable experience — we’ll cherish it always!

Posted on 04/09/2025 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

The moment we arrived at the Kruger Gate Hotel, we were enchanted with the construction. The walkways.. the lights at night….
And the drama all added to the ambience. I opened my window and saw monkeys swinging from the trees behind my room! This is not forgettable! Variety at the buffet was insane!
Our servers were anxious to please, the next morning we went on a safari very early, and it was just about walking distance from the hotel! I never expected this. The minute we entered the park our vehicle was surrounded by elephants. And that was just the beginning. This was the experience of a lifetime. We were with Gate One, which is a leading tour company, and as we were leaving the resort, the operations manager approached me. I can’t remember her name.- She was charming.- as was every single person that we met. We promised her to fill out the survey form, which I just did. I would not hesitate to trust everything about the Kruger Gate hotel!

Posted on 02/09/2025 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

Absolutely everything - what a spoil - such class and comfort

Posted on 04/09/2025 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