Kruger National Park Hotel Tips by diver-x

Skukuza Rest Camp, near the Paul Kruger Gate, is the largest rest camp in Kruger National Park, and can accommodate over 1000 guests. The have camp sites for tents & caravans, bungalows, cottages and luxury guest houses. Many of the cottages and bungalows have en suite bathrooms and kitchenette facilities. There are also communal kitchens for units that don't have their own.

Our cottage had en suite bath and a small kitchenette in the outdoor porch. We had a fridge, sink and a barbeque as well as cupboard space and dishes. The bungalow was very clean, a little small, and had twin beds, rather than a double or queen. We had the same bed situation at all 3 rest camps that we stayed at.

Unique Qualities: Skukuza has 2 restaurants as well as a cafeteria and take-away stand. The gift shop was comprehensive and the general store had basic supplies for almost any need. They also had a pretty good selection of wine.

I liked the location of the restaurant at Skukuza best. It overlooks a very scenic watering hole. We didn't see any big animals taking advantage of it, but the birds were absolutely gorgeous!

As at all of the major rest camps, game drives and walks are offered (See Must See Activities) at 5:30 AM and 5:00 PM. We took a morning game drive at Skukuza for R100 per person.

Our bungalow at Skukuza cost R425, plus R120 per person for Kruger Park daily admission, for a total of R665 for 2 people. That came to about $100 USD.

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Theme: Campground
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Address: Near the Paul Kruger Gate
Directions: Skukuza camp is in the south west of Kruger Park.
Website: http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/

Satara Rest Camp is Kruger Park's second largest rest camp, behind Skukuza. It offers pretty much the same amenities as Skukuza, from basic tent sites to luxury guest houses, restaurant, gift shop, general store and of course, the game drives and walks.

Unique Qualities: Our bungalow at Satara was pretty much the same as the one at Skukuza, but cost a little less: R395, plus R120 per person daily park admission, for a total of R635 (about $95 USD). Again, we got 2 twin beds instead of a double or queen.

Satara was also the only camp where we heard lions roaring at night! There were elephants a-plenty on the night game drive as well!

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Theme: Campground
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Address: Near the Orpen Gate
Directions: Satara is in the southern-middle section of Kruger Park.
Website: http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/

I have to say, we had the worst experience at Lower Sabie rest camp, though I'm not sure if our experience is typical of this camp. We arrived quite late, just before the reception desk closed. Since we were starving, we decided to go to dinner (typical South African buffet) before we looked at our hut. Big mistake. When we got to the room, we found a bat in the bath tub. Fine. Cliff fulfilled his duties as husband and got rid of the bat.

But then we looked a little closer, and we found bat guano on the floor, on the window sills, on the tables. . . Lots of it. We went back to reception to see if anyone was there, but no luck. We did find a broom in a utility closet, so we took that, cleaned up the room, drank a bottle of wine on the porch and went to bed.

We awoke before sunrise the next morning, we looked around and found nearly the same amount of bat guano in the room as there was when we arrived! Horrified, we washed (thank God we brought our own towels) packed up our belongings, and put them in the car and went off to our morning game walk at 5:30 AM.

Back from the game walk, we went to reception to check out and complained about the bat situation. Unfortunately, the manager didn't quite understand that we didn't want them to kill the bats ("We can't kill any animals here"), but that we thought that they shouldn't rent out the room until the bats were removed and any entryways blocked. It was clear that they were well aware that there was a problem with the room because the manager said that they had notified a "team of scientists" to come to take them away. But she didn't quite grasp that it was unhealthy for people to stay in the room. Exasperated, we left with no satisfaction.

Unique Qualities: Our guano-covered room cost us R460, plus R120 daily park admission for a total of R700 or $104 USD. The most expensive room we had at Kruger.

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Theme: Campground
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Address: Close to Crocodile Bridge Gate
Directions: Lower Sabie rest camp is in the southern part of Kruger Park.
Website: http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/