Our rates are inclusive of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.

Wild about wellness: Why a safari holiday is the ultimate wellness retreat

Wellness means different things to different people, but there is generally agreement – and evidence – that going on holiday and spending time in nature is good for our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.

An escape to the bush, think the magnificent Kruger National Park and a Big Five safari, is in many ways one of the most holistic wellness experiences travellers can plan for.

At Kruger Gate Hotel you can almost see people relax and recharge when they’re here enjoying the tranquillity of nature and the magnificence of the flora and fauna that surrounds the property.

A safari holiday can be the ultimate wellness experience as it has so many facets to it, all while giving the travellers and guests dynamic options for things to do, or not to do. Remember, there is nothing wrong with doing ‘nothing’ on a safari holiday – being on holiday is the doing!

The ultimate serenity

They say silence is golden and nowhere is this more true than in the Kruger National Park where silence and serenity is all-encompassing. The Pool Deck overlooking the Sabie River is the perfect spot to relax 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, just knowing you’re near the animals in Kruger National Park.

A guided safari tour is another way to experience a different kind of serenity. A safari guide is a connection between the visitor and the wonders of Kruger National Park. They’re there to bring the magnificence of the landscape, the animals, the birds and the flora to life, and experiencing that close-up is one of the ultimate bucket list experiences, and form a key part of an integrated wildlife tourism experience.

Sights, sounds, scents

Wellness is also holistic and engaging our various senses in new ways can positively contribute to an overall sense of wellbeing. The sights, sounds, and smells of the bush engage our senses in ways that are vastly different from their usual environments, making the experience more vivid and memorable.

It could be the smell of the earth after a summer thunderstorm, or the sound of a fish eagle or the sight of a leopard attacking its prey. These are sensory experiences beyond the everyday that stir different emotions and contribute to an overall sense of serenity.

Solo, or not

For many travellers, doing so on their own is its own form of wellness. At Kruger Gate Hotel we regularly welcome solo travellers l and what we love seeing is how they embrace a ‘hybrid’ solo travel approach. This could be joining a group on a guided morning safari, or opting to become friendly with other guests. The great thing is that guests can be solo but not necessarily alone.

The hotel is large enough to never feel isolated even if you are alone. Similarly, it is easy to also be ‘anonymous’ and just do your thing if that’s what you want.

Active wellness

Kruger Gate Hotel, specifically, has plenty of options for those travellers who prefer a more ‘active kind’’ of wellness. The Fitness Centre is a key amenity, available to all guests, while those who prefer a more serene form of wellness can head to Dee’s African Spa on the property. The spa, magnificently situated on the Sabie riverbank, offers a menu of signature spa treatments, all with a uniquely African flair.

In the Fitness Centre new state-of-the-art equipment sits in a thoughtfully designed space with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out on the property’s lush garden, ensuring an experience that engages all the senses.

Ultimately, wellness is a highly personal experience and endeavour but there is little doubt that Kruger National Park – one of the world’s top safari destinations – is a great place to relax and rejuvenate.

Guest Reviews

The location right at the Paul Kruger Gate is simply unbeatable for early morning game drives. You can truly tell that this hotel knows exactly what safari travelers need, and the attention to detail is remarkable.
A great example is their breakfast-to-go logistics: picking up the breakfast packs in the morning was seamless, and the boxes were fantastic. It felt like a little surprise gift box because there was so much more variety and quality inside than we had expected for a takeaway meal.
After long, dusty hours in the park, the infinity pool with its stunning viewing deck was such a welcome luxury. Thoughtful touches like providing mosquito spray in the room, paired with genuinely attentive and warm service from the entire staff, made our stay completely stress-free.
Despite hosting a fair number of guests, the beautifully designed and spacious grounds disperse everyone so well that it never feels crowded. We never encountered queues or bottlenecks at either breakfast or dinner, which kept the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable throughout.
If we would have known earlier, we definitely would have booked one more night here just to relax for a full day in this beautiful hotel.
We would return in a heartbeat and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Kruger!

Posted on 27/10/2026 by Google

Heaven on Earth! Pure magic. An absolutely stunning hotel. Everything is done to perfection. Hospitality is unbelievable from every staff member. The food is amazing the rooms are spacious and comfortable. Quiet and peaceful ambience. The view from the deck was amazing. Will highly recommend can't wait to visit again.

Posted on 20/10/2026 by Google

Trulia 5-star experience for a hotel

Posted on 20/10/2026 by Google

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a world - class luxury gateway

Posted on 17/10/2026 by Google

Awesome place to enjoy pool bar swimming food excellent

Posted on 17/10/2026 by Google

Superb! A perfect location to combine relaxation with a safari in Kruger Park. The hotel grounds are vast, beautifully landscaped to cater to any guest's needs, and completely immersed in lush greenery. Animals constantly come right up to and onto the property. It is an absolute delight to watch them from the bar while enjoying a delicious cocktail.
However, beware of the baboons and make sure to read all the hotel warnings. They robbed our friends' room because the terrace door wasn't latched properly. But this fact hasn't spoil the overall positive experience of staying here.
The buffet breakfasts and dinners are beyond praise. The variety is incredible and caters to every taste—from fresh-pressed orange juice to crocodile skewers grilled right in front of you, delicious desserts (including Malva pudding), and a great selection of ice cream. It’s a true feast; you won't even have enough room to try everything you want! :-).
The rooms are spacious and clean, featuring wide and extremely comfortable beds. The staff is welcoming and polite. On-site, you'll find a souvenir shop with reasonable prices, a coffee bar serving delicious coffee, a pool bar where you can spot animals, and a very cozy lounge bar with a wide selection of drinks, a warm fireplace, plush armchairs and sofas.
Highly recommended!

Posted on 16/10/2026 by Google

The room was extremely comfortable. Loved the pool and the view. Woke up in the morning with animals right outside our window. Food was excellent highly recommend.

Posted on 15/10/2026 by Google

Its a big lodge with lots of rooms, so expect it to be fairly busy, but overall a great location, good food and staff and a proper Kruger aura to it. Cant go wrong here as a destination or stop over

Posted on 15/10/2026 by Google

Fantastic room , great staff . Brilliantly located for kruger national park.
Rooms serviced to a high standard and all spotlessly clean. Restaurant good as are the bars. Highly recommended

Posted on 14/10/2026 by Google

I can’t think of one negative thing to say! From the communication while booking the hotel/safaris to the meals and friendly staff. The buffets were excellent. A lot vegetarian options. Food and cocktails at the pool were great.

Posted on 25/10/2026 by Google

(Translated by Google) Superb location, just a 1-minute walk from the Paul Kruger Gate and 30 minutes from Skukuza Airport and Camp.

All the staff are incredibly courteous and attentive! (Especially Aleck in the restaurant.)

The hotel prices are also more than reasonable. A large beer, for example, costs €2.50. The cocktails were also mixed with high-quality spirits.

The safari tours organized by the hotel are highly recommended. They are incredibly well-planned, excellently organized, with very well-maintained safari vehicles, great breakfast boxes, and you're practically guaranteed to see wildlife. The guides collaborate with each other and are very experienced.

(Original)
Super Lage, in 1 Min. ist man am Paul Kruger Gate und 30 Minuten vom Skukuza Flughafen und Camp entfernt.
Alle Mitarbeiter sind super zuvorkommend & aufmerksam! (Besonder Aleck im Restaurant)
Die Preise im Hotel sind auch mehr als in Ordnung. Ein großes Bier z.B. für 2,50€. Auch die Cocktails wurden mit hochwertigen Spirituosen gemixt.

Sehr zu empfehlen sind die Safari Touren die vom Hotel organisiert werden. Super durchdacht, tolle Orga, sehr gepflegte Safari-Vehicle, klasse Frühstücks-Boxen und man hat eigentlich Sichtungsgarantie. Die Guides tauschen sich untereinander aus und können viel Erfahrung aufweisen.

Posted on 23/10/2026 by Google

We spent two days there. And it was a fantastic experience. The safaris are great.

Posted on 14/10/2026 by Agoda

This is an excellent location outside the Paul Kruger Gate. The grounds and rooms are maintained in excellent condition. The entire staff is warm and friendly. Being next to Kruger National Park, we could observe animals next to the Sabie River from the pool deck. The included breakfast and dinner buffets were excellent with fresh juice in the morning. I would highly recommend staying here.

Posted on 15/10/2026 by Orbitz

This is an excellent location outside the Paul Kruger Gate. The grounds and rooms are maintained in excellent condition. The entire staff is warm and friendly. Being next to Kruger National Park, we could observe animals next to the Sabie River from the pool deck. The included breakfast and dinner buffets were excellent with fresh juice in the morning. I would highly recommend staying here.

Posted on 15/10/2026 by Orbitz

Beautifull location with excellent rooms and service.

Posted on 21/10/2026 by Expedia.com

Lovely hotel, excellent staff, great meals, top gym, lovely infinity pool, just perfect for a Kruger visit.

Posted on 26/10/2026 by TripAdvisor

Kruger Gate Hotel has been the best holiday ever. Staying in the most beautiful place, watching wildlife passing by the pool was something else. In addition to the overwhelming nature, everything else was truly perfect.
The Hotel, Staff, Food and Experiences have been one of a kind!
I want to single out the incredible staff of Kruger Gate Hotel. We didn\'t just feel like guests, we felt like we\'ve been part of the family. Feeling this welcomed has been extremely special.

Thank you for making our stay unforgettable. We are coming back!

Posted on 16/10/2026 by TripAdvisor

I went here as part of a tour group. It was probably the most memorable of all hotels we stayed in, and there were a couple other great ones too. Wake up to elephants or hippos and other animals on the property? Why not. It\'s such a beautiful property and the facilities are well maintained. The staff was on top of everything. The dinner....such a treat! Bring your appetite, look at the stars, and don\'t forget to go to the cold room, too. :D

The bed is comfy, the rooms were great if you don\'t want to go experience the property. They do come in for turndown service and to cover the windows, as the baboons will try to get in if you leave the door unlocked (this is not unique to the area, monkeys in other areas do this too!). They don\'t approach you unless you leave out food, so don\'t worry. They did run on the roof and made hilarious sounds, but it\'s part of the experience. I was warned about mosquitoes but I didn\'t get stung once which is a first. Upon arriving, I turned up the AC and asked for bug spray. They brought me a can which was a game changer. And the location...couldn\'t be better. Literally waling distance from Kruger (don\'t even think about walking though...there are safari vehicles for a reason!). I would stay here again. Highly recommend!

Posted on 15/10/2026 by TripAdvisor

Thank you for this amazing stay. Harold from the Safari was truly amazing and made our trip super special. And Preselda fron tha Spa gave an excellent massage. In overall the stay was awesome!

Posted on 22/10/2026 by TripAdvisor

Best experience ever! Thank you Lawrence for making the best one! And thank you Floyd for being the best safari guide! See you soon

Posted on 20/10/2026 by Booking.com

Ubicación e instalaciones

Posted on 19/10/2026 by Booking.com

The informal atmosphere amid luxury.

Posted on 18/10/2026 by Booking.com

Location was superb, staff were so friendly and helpful and just the entire hotel is an epic place. It was our best holiday ever as a family and I would highly recommend to everyone else!! Thank you so much Sarah and team!!

Posted on 16/10/2026 by Booking.com

Accueil propriété repas cadre .. tout est un sans faute

Posted on 27/10/2026 by Booking.com

Very nice place, fantastic service, all clean, pool, bar, food all perfect. If we have to comeback for sure we will stay in this hotel.

Posted on 23/10/2026 by Booking.com

I really loved this hotel! The staff were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and always helpful. The food was absolutely delicious, and the evening entertainment was fantastic. The whole atmosphere was wonderful, and we truly enjoyed our stay!

Posted on 18/10/2026 by Booking.com

​We had a wonderful stay at the Kruger Gate Hotel! The property itself is beautiful, with grounds that have a natural feel and have clearly been designed with great consideration for the surrounding environment.

​Prime Location: Situated right on the iconic Sabie River and just moments away from the Paul Kruger Gate into the national park, the location could not be better for safari lovers.

​The Rooms: Our room was lovely—fresh, spotless, modern, and very comfortable to relax in after a day in the bush.

​Service & Guest Relations: The staff are exceptional. Everyone was incredibly warm and friendly, constantly making us feel like we were their number one priority.

​Dining Experience: WOW—the food served here is absolutely incredible! A massive thank you to all the talented chefs. Both breakfast and dinner were buffet-style with an unreal variety of choices, all wonderfully fresh and full of flavor:
​Breakfast: Served in a light, airy setting where sitting outside allows you to listen to the peaceful sounds of nature as you start your day.
​Dinner: Transformed into a magical evening atmosphere complete with open-air dining, a cozy fire pit, the sounds of the surrounding bush, and even live performers playing while you dine!
​
The Views & Value: The scenery looking out over the river is simply breathtaking, and when you factor in the quality of the food, service, and location, the value for money is spot on.
​
We will definitely be returning to the Kruger area in the future, and when we do, we will without a doubt stay at the Kruger Gate Hotel again.
🙏🩷🐘

Posted on 17/10/2026 by Booking.com

Essen und Service

Posted on 15/10/2026 by Booking.com

Muy bueno. Para el safari te preparan una caja muy completa

Posted on 14/10/2026 by Booking.com

Sehr passend gestaltetes Ambiente, außerordentlich freundliches Personal in allen Bereichen. Schmackhaftes und vielfältiges Abendessen. Gratis Wasser auf den Tischen, im Zimmer und an weiteren Stellen. Frühstücksbüffet einschließlich Kaffee Spezialitäten .Tresor inclusive.

Posted on 24/10/2026 by Booking.com

Super emplacement, l\'hôtel est magnifique..

Posted on 23/10/2026 by Booking.com

Excellent, friendly service. Food was fabulous. Room was incredibly comfortable. Swimming and bar facilities just amazing. Views exceptional.

Posted on 18/10/2026 by Booking.com

Magisk boendemiljö

Posted on 17/10/2026 by Booking.com

Lokatie, sfeer, eten

Posted on 25/10/2026 by Booking.com

Tudo

Posted on 21/10/2026 by Booking.com

Personalen var väldigt hjälpsamma.

Posted on 28/10/2026 by Booking.com