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

Good👍

Posted on 29/09/2025 by Google

(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

My husband and I have never been on a safari and after doing a lot of research we settled on the Kruger Gate Hotel. The service experienced was 10/10 absolutely attentive, from the moment we arrived the stay was nothing short of incredible. Rhandzu made our stay a memorable one he was personable, and always remembered the details. It was lovely to chat with him at the end of a busy day, aside from the impeccable service - the property was absolutely stunning. The amenities were fresh, clean and inviting ! We spent lots of time at the infinity pool, where we saw buffalo as well as a mom and baby elephants. We also visited the spa where we had a couples treatment that was amazing - so amazing I fell asleep. They also had a convenience / souvenir store onsite, a coffee shop and games like chess and mini golf. I will definitely be coming back!

Posted on 26/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

Super mooie omgeving. Mooi hotel met een fantastisch ontbijt en diner. Ruime kamers

Posted on 28/09/2025 by Booking.com

スタッフのサービスが抜群に良い‼︎
Safariツアーも親切にBIG5見させてもらえる。

Posted on 27/09/2025 by Booking.com

Fantastic location, great food, great staff

Posted on 27/09/2025 by Booking.com

Just loved the new pool area looking over the river !

Posted on 27/09/2025 by Booking.com

We loved Kruger Gate Hotel so much we came back again spontaneously and booked an even more expensive room! The staff were exceptional - helpful, playful (hello cheeky lady;) and efficient. The booked safari was next level as safari drivers share intel on animal locations so travelers see more and ours shared stories and information about the animals that you don’t get on a self drive. We now know how the myth of the elephant’s graveyard came about. Incredible. Loved the chalet we stayed on first night. Great design. Especially the mudroom, outdoor private showers and shared chalet pool. Mmmmmmmm

Posted on 26/09/2025 by Booking.com

De gerenoveerde kamers zijn prachtig, het ontbijt fantastisch en het diner in de boma een echt feest.
Het uitzicht over de crocodile river is geweldig en de afstand naar de gate perfect.
Het vriendelijke personeel wat ons welkom terug heette met een grote lach (waren hier zeven jaar geleden ook) en voor ons gaat dit zeker niet de laatste keer zijn in dit fijne hotel! We gaan eind half oktober weer 🥰

Posted on 28/09/2025 by Booking.com

Wir hatten einen rundum perfekten Aufenthalt im Krüger Gate Hotel. Schon die vorab gebuchte Abholung vom Flughafen verlief reibungslos.
Die Mitarbeiter waren jederzeit freundlich, zuvorkommend und aufmerksam

Unser Zimmer war komfortabel, und die gesamte Anlage ist wunderschön und lädt zum Wohlfühlen ein.

Besonders hervorzuheben ist das abendliche Buffet, das mit seiner Vielfalt und Qualität absolut überzeugt hat – auch für Vegetarier gab es eine große Auswahl. Das Frühstück war ebenso ausgezeichnet. Die abendliche Atmosphäre mit Feuerstelle und teils musikalischer Begleitung war außergewöhnlich und gleichzeitig angenehm unaufdringlich.

Ein absolutes Highlight war unser vorab gebuchtes Boma Dinner mit privatem Dining – kulinarisch hervorragend und sehr stimmungsvoll. Ein besonderer Dank an Excellent :) Ein schönes Erlebnis war das phantastische Geburtstagsständchen, das uns unvergesslich bleiben wird.

Auch die Safari-Ausflüge ( ein Highlight) ließen sich unkompliziert buchen. Wir unternahmen eine Ganztagessafari sowie eine Nachmittags-Safari. Bei der Ganztagessafari gab es morgens vor der Abfahrt einen Kaffee und zusätzlich eine Lunchbox für unterwegs.

Fazit: Wir können das Krüger Gate Hotel uneingeschränkt empfehlen und würden bei einem erneuten Besuch im Krüger Nationalpark definitiv wieder hier übernachten.

Posted on 28/09/2025 by Booking.com

Schöner Blick in den Park. 2min Fahrzeit zum Paul Kruger Gate. Geführte Safaris einfach über das Hotel buchbar (am besten vor der Reise anfragen). Super freundliches Personal. Eine unglaubliche Auswahl an Speisen zum Abendessen und Frühstück.

Posted on 28/09/2025 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

Très bien placé à quelques mètres de la Kruger gate. Variété et qualité des plats du buffet

Posted on 29/09/2025 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

Atendimento maravilhoso, ótimas acomodações e muito bom restaurante .

Posted on 29/09/2025 by Booking.com

Hôtel juste incroyable !
La piscine offre un panorama sublime, les chambres sont propres et vraiment agréables, et le personnel est au top, que ce soit pour le safari ou au sein de l’établissement. Le petit-déjeuner est très bon, et le buffet du soir aussi (seuls les desserts étaient un peu décevants). L’endroit est luxueux, calme et parfait pour profiter du cadre exceptionnel du Kruger.

Posted on 29/09/2025 by Booking.com