Our rates are inclusive of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.

Top family holiday destinations for safari lovers

South Africa is notably abundant when it comes to popular family holiday destinations.

A tall giraffe standing in the wild, surrounded by trees and grass, with a clear blue sky above.

As a country of extraordinary diversity, there is a wide array of exceptional mountain, lake, beach, forest, river, desert and bush holiday experiences on offer. For safari-loving families, there are options that range from the mountain and desert areas to the classic South African bushveld, and even, those that get you right near the ocean for a safari- and-sea getaway.

There’s really no-one-size-fits-all when it comes to choosing “the best” family safari experience because families are so diverse. It’s important to match your destination to the temperaments and needs in your own family. For instance, if you are a robust and adventurous group, you may gravitate towards a rugged safari experience in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the arid borderlands of the Northern Cape Province. But, if you’re first-time safari-goers with young children, then you might opt for the easy accessibility of the Pilanesburg National Park, set in a picturesque volcanic crater in the North-West Province.

Why Kruger is a top destination for family safari holidays

The crown-jewel of South Africa’s safari holidays is undoubtedly, the iconic Kruger National Park. Both local and international families are drawn to this Big 5 mecca for good reasons. Traversing both the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, Kruger is one of the largest and oldest wildlife refuges in the world.

With five distinct vegetative biomes, major rivers running through it and a sensational diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects, Kruger offers families a multitude of opportunities to make unforgettable memories together. Getting out into a premier African wilderness together, allow parents to see wildlife in its habitat through the eyes of their children. For young ones, it’s not just the chance to experience thrilling outdoor adventures but lays the foundation for instilling a lifelong appreciation of nature and environmental conservation.

Choosing family-friendly Kruger safari accommodation

As a kingpin of South African tourism, there’s a wide choice of accommodations in and around Kruger. These range from hotels, self-catering units and super-luxury lodges to the Park’s own chalets and campsites. However, not all of these are family-friendly options, and even some that are, may not suit your family’s needs. One of the keys to ensuring your Kruger family safari is a success, is making the right choice of accommodation. Make sure your accommodation choice meets the comfort levels your family needs to be able to relax and have a good time together. Another important consideration is including some different holiday activities so that your children are not always confined to the car on game drives.

Kruger Gate Hotel’s top family-friendly features include:

  • We are located right at the Paul Kruger Gate offering quick and easy access into the most game-rich area of the Park. It takes you less than one minute from our reception to get the gate, which means that just about all of your drive-time is in the Park, not getting to it.
  • Two children stay free with two adults in our family room, including their complimentary breakfasts and dinners.
  • There are great kid-friendly meal options at all our dining venues.
  • Our family pool area includes two shallow pools, sun loungers and a pop-up bar for parents.
  • Take a break from the car and enjoy family fun activities such as tennis, volleyball, outdoor chess and putt-putt in our lush gardens.
  • Our proximity to Mpumalanga’s Panorama Route means that you can explore nearby towns and attractions which offer a wide range of family-friendly fun.

South Africa’s top family holiday destinations for safari lovers include:

  • Mpumalanga – Kruger National Park – the southern region
  • Limpopo – Kruger National Park – the central and northern regions
  • KwaZulu-Natal – Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park and Mkuze Game Reserve
  • Eastern Cape – Addo Elephant National Park
  • Free State – Golden Gate Highlands National Park
  • North West – Pilanesberg National Park
  • Northern Cape – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Guest Reviews

Our experience was phenomenal..the stay was amazing from the security at the gate to the help desk and the management team were very friendly and helpful…ohh I can not forget Refiloe and Miguel and the team at large…they were exceptional…

Posted on 20/10/2025 by Google

(Translated by Google) Really friendly staff.

(Original)
Todella ystävällinen henkilökunta.

Posted on 13/10/2025 by Google

Sim

Posted on 16/10/2025 by Hotels.com

The room was amazing..food was great from breakfast and dinner and lunch..the staff was friendly ohhh Refiloe who has made our stay extraordinary and the team at large

Posted on 20/10/2025 by TripAdvisor

From the moment we stepped into Kruger Gate Hotel it was like stepping into paradise.
I cannot praise the staff enough, thoughtful cheerful very friendly, the catering staff presented a variety of beautiful dishes every day.
The facilities were brilliant, rooms were spacious with extremely comfortable beds. And the view from the pool area onto the safari park were amazing.
I would highly recommend Kruger Gate Hotel to anyone visiting South Africa, especially first time visitors wanting to experience the Safari Park.

Posted on 16/10/2025 by TripAdvisor

We had a great experience at Kruger Gate Hotel. Since we made the reservation we felt that they were very kind and welcoming answering all our questions and support us. When we got here, Dion, the driver who took us from the airport was very nice and helped us to find the animals in our way to the hotel. The hotel has an excellent location and the Safari was perfect! Prince was our tour guide for the Safari and we also loved it. Staff are very friendly and kind. Cleaning is very good . It is a beautiful and big hotel. For sure I will come back!

Posted on 14/10/2025 by TripAdvisor

Wonderful hotel with an excellent viewing terrace to watch the comings and goings of the local wildlife...1st day, we spotted an a bush elephant and nile crocodile, with so many different species of antelopes at the waters edge. Food excellent and rooms very spacious. The staff were so helpful.

Posted on 17/10/2025 by TripAdvisor

Breakfast buffet was excellent
Location of the facilities was excellent
Tea/coffee/water facilities at reception was a great touch
Staff all fantastic
Lunch menu was great

Posted on 21/10/2025 by Booking.com

The entire experience was dreamy, we had a wonderful time. Between game drives that were amazing, we enjoyed all the hotel’s amenities, and they all contributed to our amazing Safari experience. The room was great, and so was the spa and the gym. The food selection is very big and the pool has amazing view (we even had some elephants who visited!). The staff is amazing and very welcoming! Highly recommended.

Posted on 14/10/2025 by Booking.com

Wir haben das Hotel als Start in SA gewählt und es war absolut die richtige Entscheidung.
Für uns perfekt!!!

Posted on 22/10/2025 by Booking.com

Na porta do Paul Kruger Gate, staff cordial, quarto confortável, comida deliciosa, e vista para a savana que permite ver bem pertinho a vida selvagem do viewing deck do hotel (vimos girafas, elefantes, hipopótamos, impalas, macaquinhos, sem precisar sair do hotel).

Posted on 21/10/2025 by Booking.com

Staff were excellent, dinner in the Lapa was amazing with so many options. The pool overlooking the Sabi riverbed was especially great. We spotted a number of different wildlife including hippos and elephants whilst enjoying our morning coffee.

Posted on 19/10/2025 by Booking.com

Fantástico. A cordialidade da equipe, especialmente do gerente Miguel, é impressionante. A qualidade e variedade da alimentação, tanto no café como no jantar, é espetacular. A localização, a limpeza, a estrutura, tudo nota 10.

Posted on 16/10/2025 by Booking.com

Fantástico. A cordialidade da equipe, especialmente do gerente Miguel, é impressionante. A qualidade e variedade da alimentação, tanto no café como no jantar, é espetacular. A localização, a limpeza, a estrutura, tudo nota 10.

Posted on 16/10/2025 by Booking.com

I can\'t fault this place. Everything was amazing, from the rooms and facilities to the location, views and food. Seeing animals wander by whilst swimming in the infinity pool is just incredible.

Posted on 15/10/2025 by Booking.com

Everything was GREAT ❤️

Posted on 16/10/2025 by Booking.com

O lugar é perfeito não encontrei nenhum defeito

Posted on 16/10/2025 by Booking.com