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

(Translated by Google) You have to go there. It's great.

(Original)
Il faut y aller. C’est top

Posted on 21/09/2025 by Google

Amazing hotel with wildlife in & around the property. Safari game drive with Joel was excellent and we accomplished the Big 5 views of the animals. Food & accommodations were great. Spa treatment with massage, very relaxed 😎🤘🏼

Posted on 19/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

The staff were amazing. Food was incredible. Rooms were great. The whole environment was a paradise.

Likely the best hotel you’ll ever stay at.

Posted on 20/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

This is a great place to stay. Near the park (less than a mile) but less than the park prices. The Safari\'s were great, the food excellent and the service superb.We enjoyed th offered Safari\'s plus a night Safari done by SanParks.

Posted on 18/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

Très bel établissement, bien situé juste à côté d une entrée du parc. .Grand confort, gentillesse du personnel, au top pour les safaris et les massages

Posted on 19/09/2025 by Booking.com

De tudo! Este hotel é espetacular, simplesmente sensacional em tudo, da arquitetura, a hotelaria, dos atendentes e equipe até os safaris!

Posted on 23/09/2025 by Booking.com

Excellent location, very clean room, well equipped, very hot water in the bathroom, nice stuff. Everything is very well organized. First thing we saw - pumbas on the parking. Lots of them. Then we entered our room and saw an impala on the terrace, just lying there. I was shocked. There is a shop with snacks and souvenirs and a welcome point with some snacks and beverages in reception area.
We had morning safari for 333 $. It\'s a good price for private safari, it starts 5:30 and you are back at 12. Breakfast to go is provided. Cars are very good and comfortable, even in group, i think, you can have nice observation. We were alone in the car, our guide was a wonderful man, he did his best to show us the animals. We saw lions twice, a lot of giraffes, hippos, elephants, zebras and so on. When we were back we saw a lot of elephants from the pool area.
The most impressing thing - dinner. It is the best dinner we had in South Africa, even better than 300$ dinner in a fancy restaurant in Cape Town. And this one was only buffet, included in our stay but such a big choice and what wonderful taste has the chef, my compliments, every dish was beautifully done. On your way to dinner you can see monkeys on the trees. Hotel is beautiful. Perfect choice for first nights in Kruger. Thank you very much for our wonderful memories.

Posted on 20/09/2025 by Booking.com

Hotel ótimo, com uma localização muito próxima à entrada do parque Kruger. Boas opções para alimentação. Vista para o parque sempre com animais passando por perto. Funcionários simpáticos.

Posted on 19/09/2025 by Booking.com

It’s our 4th trip to Kruger Gate Hotel. We love the fact that we can fly directly to Nelspruit and it’s a short drive to the hotel. The newly renovated bedrooms are lovely. Also love the new breakfast area.

Posted on 21/09/2025 by Booking.com

Lage, Personal, Buffets, Ausstattung. Fazit: Eine supergute Lodge!

Posted on 17/09/2025 by Booking.com

Super schönes Hotel mit Blick auf den Kruger Nationalpark .
Personal sehr freundlich und Hilfsbereit.
Man kann auch diverse Safaris über das Hotel buchen.

Posted on 17/09/2025 by Booking.com

Quarto muito confortável e espaçoso.

Posted on 16/09/2025 by Booking.com

De tudo. Localização excelente. Banheiro excelente. Cama excelente. Café da manhã melhor do mundo. Jantar legal. Piscina linda com possibilidade de ver animais (vimos hipopótamo na nossa vez).

Posted on 18/09/2025 by Booking.com