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

Nice

Posted on 11/06/2025 by Google

I highly recommend this hotel. It is one of a kind. Feels like you are surrounded by bushes and wild animals but in actual fact its one of the safest places to go relax and revive.

Posted on 11/06/2025 by Google

I had an incredible three-night stay at Kruger Gate Hotel, and I can't recommend it highly enough. The rooms were spacious, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed, ensuring a restful retreat after days of exploration. The food was exceptional, offering a variety of delicious options that truly enhanced the experience.

The Viewing Deck was an absolute highlight—especially at night, where I had the surreal experience of seeing hyenas, hippos, impalas and elephant roaming nearby. It felt like an intimate connection with the wild, something you don’t often get in a hotel setting. To top it all off, we were treated to a private dining experience on our final night, set at the same breathtaking deck area.

This stay was nothing short of unforgettable, and I sincerely hope to return in the future. If you’re looking for a luxurious yet immersive safari experience, Kruger Gate Hotel is the perfect choice!

Posted on 10/06/2025 by Google

We stayed here for 4 nights a couple of days ago and can highly recommend it. It’s right on the edge of the park with a great view of the river and surrounding area inside the park. So you can basically watch elephants play in the water while relaxing at the pool with a drink. We even heard a lion roar at night, so you are just in the middle of nature. All the rooms are split over the premises, so it never feels crowded. The rooms were nice, spacious and clean.
We did one full-day guided safari, which was super helpful with lots of information on the animals (we nearly saw everything we wanted to see in just one day), just beware of the monkeys when you stop for a picnic break. Never leave anything in an open car, they will be all over it and raid your stuff :)
The other days we did self drives, which was also great, we saw so many animals (all of the big 5, but so much more as well) and landscapes, which was impressive. The entrance to the park is literally 2 minutes away, so all very close.

The spa in the hotel was great, a huge selection of food for breakfast and dinner as well and the staff was very friendly and helpful. At dinner, they are often singing and dancing, celebrating people’s birthdays or engagements and you really feel that they are enjoy being there and having a wonderful time with the guests.

One staff member that stood out to us was our waiter at dinner. Zenda really made us look forward to every evening, he soon knew us by name, remembered our drink choices, was just such a happy spirit and even reserved a nice table by the fire on the last evening for us so we could watch a singing/dancing show we did not know would take place that evening. We would not have seen it from our usual spot.

For us, a dream holiday and we are already planning the next stay with friends and family.

Posted on 06/06/2025 by Google

Seldom a return visit surpasses prior experiences. They keep on getting better. Will surely be back in the future.

Posted on 09/06/2025 by TripAdvisor

Kruger Gate Hotel each and every member of the team deserve Five stars, pick up from air port was very prompt, checking was very prompt, booking our safari’s where mostly pre booked just needed to confirm on arrival which was easy, as most where early starts the hotel offer a breakfast box which was simply to order the day before and you collect in the morning which a good selection to choose from. We did book an extra safari which we weren’t able to attend due to my wife having a migraine, we thought we lost the money but on checking out the hotel refunded our money which was surprising unexpected. Everything from our room, grounds of the hotel, bar, dining area, view deck, spa, golf course and play area were as we expected all well kept. Dining area Lapa is where we ate during the evening with very good choices to suit everyone’s dietary needs, the staff were hands on at all times, some freshly cooked as ordered. Breakfast dining again catered for everyone’s dietary needs including gluten free food, with plenty of options of hot and cold food and drinks. Bar serviced anything from soft drinks, cocktails, wine, beers, spirits, and even tea and coffee with a very relax setting. View deck one of our favourite places to unwind and relax watch the elephants, hippo’s, giraffes and lions roam freely while we had a drink, there is also a chance to use the infinite pool on the view deck if you wish too, there was also three smaller viewing deckings which where available for everyone to use. Our room was five star very high standard and modern too all house keeping staff worked hard and kept our room clean and turned our bed down every night which is nice touch. Safaris where excellent and the driver would go above and beyond to get you to see the Big Five, with plenty of stops to use the toilets, gave plenty of time for pictures to be taken. Gary & Sarah you have an excellent team who provide a five star service to all of your guest. What a beautiful place to stay

Posted on 09/06/2025 by TripAdvisor

Been going to this hotel for over 40 years. Such good value and the perfect location for the start of the Kruger

Posted on 10/06/2025 by Booking.com

café da manhã excelente ,staff super atencioso ,ambientes super agradáveis

Posted on 09/06/2025 by Booking.com

As instalações do hotel são lindas. O deck com vista para o parque é um espetáculo a parte. Tivemos sorte e em poucas horas pudemos avistar muitos animais. Comida e atendimento impecável. Muita variedade de opções. Os funcionários estão sempre felizes e dispostos a te ajudar. A localização é perfeita para quem está interessado em fazer self Safari, a menos de 5 minutos do portão do parque.

Posted on 06/06/2025 by Booking.com

Localização boa para quem não vai ficar dentro do parque, pois fica logo ao lado do portão Paul Kruger (é só cruzar a ponte). Por estar tão perto e de frente pro rio, é possível ver alguns animais passando perto da piscina, como elefantes (uma família passou por ali de manhã um dia), ou perto dos quartos (como macacos e impalas).
O café da manhã é muito bom, buffet bastante variado com opções feitas na hora (omelete, waffle, panquecas).
O jantar também é um buffet numa área com uma foqueira, bastante variado com opções de pratos africanos e de cozinha internacional. E alguns preparados na hora (wok, queijo quente, smores). Algumas noites tiveram apresentação de dança e música local, muito legal!
O quarto que ficamos era super confortável, cama enorme, banheiro com pia dupla, banheira e chuveiro. Todas as comodidades (frigobar, máquina de café, chaleira elétrica, cofre, secador de cabelo, ameninites) Muito bem decorado também.
Bastante seguro, todos os carros precisam se identificar para entrar, incluindo os carros de Safari.
A piscina fica na area mais próxima do parque, a vista é linda. Piscina para crianças fica num pedaço mais protegido da mesma área.
O spa é sensacional, fazer massagem num bangalô de frente para o rio, super privativo, foi muito relaxante.

Posted on 09/06/2025 by Booking.com

Amazing location. Great equipment. Super comfortable and clean.

Posted on 10/06/2025 by Booking.com

Es war einfach toll. Am Pool viele Tiere beobachtet. Frühstück und Abendessen Buffet. Es hat an nichts gefehlt. Zimmer sind groß und komfortabel eingerichtet. Sehr gute Betten.

Posted on 07/06/2025 by Booking.com