Choose your country and language:

Africa

  • Global
  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • DRC
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • Sho't Left

Americas

  • USA
  • Brazil

Asia Pacific

  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia

Europe

  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom
Back

WWhat would you say is the very best, most iconic South African holiday destination? 

The truth is that no one place can represent an entire country. But if there's one place that showcases SA's most prized natural resources, together with our world-class hospitality (in all levels of luxury) as well as our true South African spirit and culture, the Kruger National Park pretty much hits the spot. It's a place where South Africans from all walks of life go to enjoy what our country has to offer. And nine times out of 10, the experience is so profound that we go back time and again to experience that special magic of the Kruger.  

Advice to first-time Kruger visitors is to jump right in and let the Kruger bug bite. If anyone can tell you it's worth it, it's the 73 000 members of the official SANParks - Kruger National Park Facebook group. As recommended by the true Kruger fanatics, these are the top 5 main rest camps to check into in the park:

Did You Know?
TThe Kruger National Park is larger than Israel with nearly 2 million hectares of land.

Satara 
Twitchers, listen up. Satara is a well-wooded camp with prolific birdlife. The camp is also great for big game - with hyena, lion and giraffe roaming about in abundance. 

If you don't get to see the King of the Jungle in the area by day, you'll certainly hear his roar from your tent at night. 

What's available - Campsites with power points, bungalows, guest cottages and guest house accommodation. 
Contact Satara +2713 735 6306/7 or +2782 802 1209

Kruger Quick Guide A first-timers guide to SA's iconic wildlife destination

Food
When to visit
How to get here

LLower Sabie
Backed by the Lebombo Mountains, Lower Sabie graces the banks of the Sabie River, one of the few perennial rivers to flow through the Kruger National Park. While the camp is a base from where to explore the abundant wildlife - including leopard and lion - watching the animals coming to drink at the Sabie River is reason enough to check into this popular camp. 

What's available - Campsites with power points, huts, safari tents bungalows, family bungalows, as well as guest house accommodation. 
Contact Lower Sabie +2713 735 6056/7 or +2782 888 6562

Shingwezi
Shingwedzi lies in the northern part of the Kruger National Park in the heart of mopane country - a quieter retreat compared to Satara and Lower Sabie. A scenic game drive along the Shingwedzi River in a south-easterly direction towards the Kanniedood Dam is one of the most rewarding drives in the park. Waterbuck, nyala, kudu and elephant are often seen here and the birdlife is prolific. The rustic camp carries the essence of the bush.

What's available - Campsites with power points, huts, bungalows, cottages and guest house accommodation. 
Contact Shingwedzi +2713 735 6806/7 or +2782 889 4376

Letaba
The idyllic Letaba Rest Camp is situated on a sweeping bend of the Letaba River, midway between the southern and northern boundaries of the park. The name means “river of sand”, and the sandy riverbed is an excellent location for game viewing, particularly elephant, which thrives in the area. The camp is also home to the Letaba Elephant Hall, which is a great destination for families. 

What's available - Campsites with power points, huts, safari tents, bungalows, guest cottages, as well as guest house accommodation. 

Contact Letaba +2713 735 6636 / 7 or +2782 802 1255

Olifants
Guess what you'll see in abundance at Olifants Rest Camp - elephants! The camp is situated atop a hill, which towers several hundred feet over the Olifants River, with views from the lookout platforms allowing endless opportunities. Apart from the elephants, keep your eyes peeled for lions, crocs and hippos, as well as the beautiful Martial Eagle - the largest eagle on the continent. 

What's available - Bungalows and guest house accommodation. 
Contact Olifants +2713 735 6606/7 or +2782 888 6563

If you're planning your first trip to the Kruger, here's a Quick Guide to help you know where to go, what to pack and what rules to remember –
https://youtu.be/7Bsnn81ro0w

Who to contact?
Best time to visit?
What to pack?
Where to stay?

Related articles

  • Breathtaking scenery

    Patricia Chiloane: Serurubele Boutique Hotel

    Breathtaking scenery
    Patricia Chiloane: Serurubele Boutique Hotel
    Patricia Chiloane is a passionate and dedicated ambassador of Mpumalanga province. She is a descendant of landowners, who have lived in the area of Bushbuckridge for generations. When she initially conceptualised Serurubele Boutique Hotel, the MBA graduate’s goal was to create a tourism ecosystem to benefit everyone in the small town. Her other goal was to elevate Bushbuckridge on the tourism map. The land on which Serurubele Boutique Hotel is built has been in her family for four generations. The hotel’s name, Serurubele, is derived from the SeSotho word for butterfly, the small insect that is endemic to the Lowveld. As visitors walk through the hotel, they are immersed in the story of the region. The hotel’s 16 luxury rooms are punctuated with pictures of the Lowveld butterflies, paying homage to the natural splendour of the area.
  • Vibrant culture

    The Royal Hotel, Pilgrim’s Rest: the Catholic church that became a gold-rush bar in Mpumalanga

    Vibrant culture
    The Royal Hotel, Pilgrim’s Rest: the Catholic church that became a gold-rush bar in Mpumalanga
    The Royal Hotel in preserved Victorian gold-rush town Pilgrim’s Rest, once a Catholic church that was built hundreds of kilometres away, offers old-fashioned comfort and a heap of Mpumalanga history.
  • Vibrant culture

    The Swazi people

    Vibrant culture
    The Swazi people
    The Swazi people, part of the Nguni tribe, originated from east-central Africa in the late 15th century and settled in the area known as Swaziland.
  • Breathtaking scenery

    Sacred sites in South Africa

    Breathtaking scenery
    Sacred sites in South Africa
    South Africa’s sacred sites stretch from Lake Fundudzi in Limpopo and eMakhosini in KwaZulu-Natal to the energy centres identified by spiritualists and mosques and temples.
  • Breathtaking scenery

    Mpumalanga highlights

    Breathtaking scenery
    Mpumalanga highlights
    There are a number of private game reserves and natural attractions for adventure tourists on offer in Mpumalanga.
  • Breathtaking scenery

    5 destinations to add to your SA bucket list

    Breathtaking scenery
    5 destinations to add to your SA bucket list
    5 unique destinations that combine culture, adventure and nature.
  • Vibrant culture

    Pilgrim’s Rest – village with a golden glow

    Vibrant culture
    Pilgrim’s Rest – village with a golden glow
    Pilgrim’s Rest, an old gold mining town dating back to 1873, is a declared national monument on the eastern Escarpment of Mpumalanga offering historical attractions linked to gold as well as many outdoor adventure activities.
  • Breathtaking scenery

    15 Honeymoon destinations that prove South Africa truly is for lovers

    Breathtaking scenery
    15 Honeymoon destinations that prove South Africa truly is for lovers
    Where to honeymoon in South Africa, a truly unique destination.
Copyright © 2025 South African Tourism
|Terms and conditions|Disclaimer|Privacy policy