Independent hotels in Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa

"Super welcoming, friendly and safe. Very attentive to details. "

"Amazing stay, food, decor, amenities, rooms were great and would love to stay here again. Safari was also amazing with a great guide, Culture. Conveniently located 1min away from the Paul Kruger Gate. Highly recommend staying here."

"Sunbirds Oasis Lodge exceeded all expectations. The attention to detail in both the accommodations and service is unmatched. The rooms are elegant yet comfortable, with breathtaking views that make you feel at one with nature. The meals were exceptional, generous, and expertly crafted with the vibrant local flavors. It was a memorable experience. Whether you’re looking for wilderness or a quiet retreat, this lodge offers it all. It’s an oasis of calm and luxury, and I can’t recommend it enough."

"I cannot express how amazing this place was. I've been all over the world, and every aspect of the AM Lodge is by far the most superior. The unique daily game drives had our Bush Bar (best bar in South Africa, thanks to Benjamin and Penwey) interrupted by a Nyala being chased by a wild dog. Literally chasing Lions led to our fantastic guides helping another group get out of a ditch. Even seeing zebras and wild buffalo ended up being so hilarious, it brought tears to our eyes! For the millennials reading this, imagine the perfect mix between Steve Irwin and Wild Boyz. Shepherd is the definition of what a proper host looks like. We had a strange request of being shuttled to a nearby tattoo shop, and they happily obliged. Our chefs made amazing food, with our only request being to show us the local cuisine. That kota sandwich and African buffet was exactly what we were talking about! Way to deliver! At no point did I ever think I was anything less than royalty thanks to the amazing staff, treatment, and accomodations. I don't know how they managed to do it, but they also made it seem like me and my father were the only ones there! As if the entire safari grounds were just for us (even though, they obviously had other guests). I hope to have the chance to visit again. If any guest is considering a safari, the search ends here. "

"Do you want to see the big five while being treated as a royalty? Book the Elephant Plains Game Lodge. Their facility is excellent, location is great, and the level of service is awesome. They will be waiting for you when you arrive because they know that you’re coming and they will pamper you on every step of the way: from the room personalized for your visit to the dining options tailored to your diet to sundowners and welcome back drinks. They make you feel like a family and you would not want to leave. Ever. "

"Up close and personal with the wildlife."

"The minute we arrived we were greeted by lovely staff and elephants at the pool. What followed was a once in a lifetime experience. The positives - Beds are super comfy with electric blankets for those cold nights and a fan for the warm days. The food was AMAZING. I LOVED being seated with fellow safari mates and getting to know people from across the world even though we are total introverts. Our guide Leighton was brilliant, knowledgeable and an excellent driver. And the wildlife…. Wow. I still can’t believe we saw so many lions, leopards and cheetahs, not to mention everything else. Being birders we were worried that we would be ignored and never get a moment to identify a bird but Leighton balanced the needs of the guests so well and had an excellent knowledge of all animals. The only downsides… when we arrived we were so hungry but because our flight was delayed we missed the afternoon safari and had to wait until everyone returned before we could access any food - a wait of 2 hours was really tough and no one explained what was happening. Highly recommend explaining the daily itinerary to people on arrival and having snacks available for purchase. Loved the Couples shower but unfortunately not enough hot water for 2 people. "

"Staying at simbambili was the best experience of our life. The lodge was stunning, the food was exceptional, the attention to detail was like no other, but above all the team that worked there made you feel like family. I looked at dozens of lodges before choosing for our honeymoon, so when I finally landed on Simbambili, it was due to the amazing reviews and location. When we arrived it was even better than what we could have imagined. Magical is really the word that comes to mind. Our days started with our Ranger Solomon and Tracker Roy, took us out on our drives. They were so passionate and knowledgeable. Then came back to a very cheerful Caroline who welcomed us, and then every meal Rich was there to take care of us. There was a watering hole at the lodge and constantly we were able to see so many animals coming up for a drink. Look no further for your dream safari, it’s at simbambili!"

"The premises is very nice, very clean and comfortable. The self catering unit was well equipped with everything you may need for self catering. The place is beautiful and peaceful. Loved the communication and flexibility I got when still planning the trip and the efforts made to make our birthday special. The only thing I didn’t not like was the rudeness from the lady that woke us up for breakfast on our last morning, she was very rude about how we must be at breakfast by 08:00 ( which o think of breakfast is between 08:00 and 10:00 then guests should have the flexibility between those times). The girl banged the door and rudely communicated how we need to be there at 08:00. She needs general customer service communication training as all my encounters with her were not pleasant. The rest of the staff was amazing. "