Kruger Gate Hotel — Hotel in Bushbuckridge

It is mid-August 2025, and I am once again sitting on the deck of the Kruger Gate Hotel, looking out at the Sabie River. Right now, I can't see anything in its bed or on its banks, but a few days ago, a herd of elephants kept me company right below the deck. I've also seen buffalo, leopards, hippos, and lots of antelopes from here. And cheeky monkeys, which two years ago tried to steal my delicious pizza baked in the restaurant on the deck right next to the amazing Infinity Pool. I don't really feel like going in now, after all, it's August (winter) and the water is cold😊. But who knows, maybe after one Castle beer I'll pluck up the courage 😊. Tomorrow, after five days, I'm leaving, so I want to enjoy it here while I can. After all, who knows when I'll be back. The last time I was here was in January this year, and at that time, I didn't even dream that I would be back here in six months. Sitting on the deck, looking at Sabie, enjoying the African wilderness and the fantastic and luxurious room 410 where I am staying. I really didn't plan it that way. But life can be unpredictable.|I like the Kruger Gate Hotel, not only because it is located in the middle of the African wilderness (with Kruger National Park on one side and private nature reserves on the others) and because it is an open-air hotel where you have to be alert, as not only the aforementioned monkeys can appear before your eyes (or behind you). Bushbucks graze here regularly, and I know from telling that a few years ago wild dogs chased an impala into one of the pools (they didn't get it). And the day before my arrival, a leopard appeared on the hotel grounds and killed one of the bushbucks. And it is still roaming around here somewhere. The Kruger Gate Hotel simply lived up to its reputation and my memories of it.|But I also like it here because of the people who work here, from management to the cleaning crew. They are all pleasant people who can be relied upon and who would, figuratively speaking, bring the moon down from the sky for guests. I was very happy to see General Manager Miguel, Sarah, Wendy (thanks for solving the Wi-Fi connection problem), and others whose names I didn't remember (my apologies to them). I am also glad that I got to meet Amos, my guide on a safari to Kruger Park two years ago, at least for a moment. We have kept in touch via WhatsApp and send each other photos and videos (he sends me lions and antelopes, I send him bears and deers 😊).|This time, however, I had a different guide for the morning game drive, for which the hotel provided us with a box of breakfast: Culture. And just as I have wonderful memories of Amos, Culture was in no way inferior to him. He was kind, smiling, helpful, and patient. He was a knowledgeable guide who had no problem answering my questions (I sat right next to him) and explaining everything I could think to ask. He took us towards Skukuza and then down south to the Afsaal rest area, from where we returned to the hotel. And it was worth it. Zebras, giraffes, antelopes, hyenas, but we were also lucky enough to see the famous African Big 5. Yes, we also saw rhinos (four), which is becoming more of a problem every year due to poaching for their horns ☹. That is why the park management decided to capture all rhinos and dehorn them (it does not hurt them, as they are actually nails and hair, they have no effect, but you cannot explain that in Southeast Asia ☹). I don't know if this was done to all the rhinos in the park, but it was done to the ones we saw. But if it helps them, then it's better for them to be without horns.|However, we were also lucky with lions and leopards (four, which is a great success). And also buffaloes and elephants, although in the case of elephants, this is quite normal; it would be strange if we didn't see any 😊. But I'm not a "hunter" of selected animal species; I'm happy with all the ones I manage to see, and it's enough for me just to be in the park. I still don't take it for granted, even though I've spent months there since 2000. Every time is a special experience for me, and I always look forward to it as if it were my first time. The Kruger Gate Hotel has made this experience possible for me many times, and I believe it will do so many more times.|But to get back to the hotel itself, for me it is the ideal place not only for a safari, but also for "ordinary" relaxation. The beautiful and spacious rooms are suitable for all types of visitors, from individuals through families to large groups, and if anyone wants, they can even organize a wedding here (I don't plan to use the hotel services to that extent😊). I have already mentioned the excellent staff, but I must also mention the cuisine. The buffet-style breakfast and dinner offer probably the best food (in terms of both quality and quantity) I have ever experienced in a hotel. So not only lovers of African wildlife, but also gourmets (which I am not, I admit, but I have tasted a lot here) will find something to their liking. Evening performances by African dancers (I didn't catch them every time, but quite often) add to the magical atmosphere of Africa.|It may sound like a cliché (but I can't influence the readers of this review), but I can only recommend the Kruger Gate Hotel to all potential visitors who are considering a trip to South Africa and a safari in Kruger Park. For myself, I would add that this hotel will be one of my destinations on my next visit to this beautiful country. Regardless of when that will be (something tells me it definitely won't be in six months ☹). I say goodbye with a view of a large elephant that just came down to the river to drink 😊.||Radoslav...

I don’t even know where to begin. This hotel is perfect for anyone wanting a combination of a fun-packed safari holiday and relaxing evenings. We have just been for our honeymoon here and it far exceeded our expectations. Incredible.||Location |This is everything! Paul Kruger gate is just as you turn left out of the hotel meaning you are straight in to the park on your game drive within minutes. We also did excursions to the mountains and another gate but nothing exceeded an hour and a half travel. |Just be prepared for a long transfer of 5 - 6 hours if you are flying in to Johannesburg. It is honestly worth it though to be so close to the park.||Rooms |The rooms are spotless. Cleaned every day and the cleaners are friendly and attentive. We had a king room which was spacious and also had a seating area and a great view. We did consider upgrading but we weren’t in the hotel or room enough and the room had everything we needed including: shampoo, shower gel, tea/coffee, fridge and hair dryer. We also paid extra to have the bed made up with elephants and roses which was an extra special touch. ||Food and drink|A highlight for us. Breakfast at the hotel had everything you could possibly think of from omelettes, full English, pastries, breads, fruit and more. If you’re going out in the mornings reception will do a packed lunch which includes: sandwich, yoghurt, cereal bar, fruit, juice and mini cheddars - again a nice touch. Lunch by the pool bar isn’t included but is very good value. Beautiful salads and pizzas to enjoy with a view. The evening food was the best we have had in a hotel. All freshly cooked, all delicious. We especially enjoyed the stir fry and the smores. Desserts were huge and full of flavour. All drinks are reasonably priced. For something extra special and to try the best beef you’ve ever had, book the private dining! ||Staff|The staff are what make this hotel experience special. From the moment you are greeted by the reception staff, to ordering a drink at the bar, being served dinner or just walking around the hotel everyone is friendly and welcoming. |A special thank you to Tshepo for serving us during our private dining experience and making it one to remember, Rhandzu for being so approachable and chatty with us each day and Neo for looking after us most evenings at dinner. We will be forever grateful for making our stay what it was. ||Facilities |The gym has a good range of equipment and is kept clean. Towels and water provided. The spa is phenomenal! The best massage we have ever had! Couples massage with bubbly and fruit platter is a special treat and worth it if you have a rest day. Pool viewing deck has incredible views - always something to see. There is also a park for children, tennis and volleyball court and mini golf. Try to find time to build in a free day to enjoy what the hotel has to offer.||Drives and excursions|We booked our holiday with tour compass who organised all of our activities with an external company known as Echo Africa who were amazing. Numerous game drives, a bush walk and a trip up to panorama in the mountains to see the sights are all a must. We were lucky to see the big 5 on our first drive and there is always something new to see and experience. Kruger is such an incredible and beautiful place. ||Overall, we couldn’t be happier with this hotel. We have left with memories that will last a lifetime and we are so grateful for the hospitality we have received. We will be recommending to everyone we know! A must do, once in a lifetime experience.||Thank you to all at...

We stayed at Kruger Gate Hotel for 3 nights during our South Africa trip. We booked the hotel for some Kruger Park safari experiences based on the social media reviews, price/performance comparison with other options and their previous Marriott link that gave us a confidence on the standards of the hotel.

The hotel is excellent. There are plenty of facilities including 2 pools, a barista, a spa and restaurants to keep you entertained. Our luxury room was in fact quite luxurious with a bath and walk-in shower, separated toilet, nice leather decorations and even a book shelf with a few books in case you didn’t bring any. The hotel room was clearly recently refurbished and everything looked brand new. The decorative photos on the room walls were so cute that it felt like home. This home feeling is also complemented by the welcoming staff who immediately makes you feel like you are part of the family. The hotel’s safari experiences gave us some of the most amazing experiences of our life.

Some details on the particulars:

Welcome: We flew to Skukuza airport from Johannesburg to reach to this hotel. We arranged a pick-up from the hotel (which you definitely should if you are flying). Reception staff were very welcoming checked us in with a smile and it was a lovely arrival experience after all.

Location: The hotel is not inside the Kruger park, but just outside. It is very easy to reach to the park from the hotel, however, you need to pay park entry fees each time you enter the park. While this is a bit of a disadvantage compared to the other hotels inside the park, considering the price differences, Kruger Gate Hotel is way more advantageous and the entries are nothing to worry about.

Rooms: The rooms extremely comfortable, recently refurbished and very nicely decorated. The rooms were decorated very homely.

Meals: The hotel offers breakfast and dinner included bookings which is a necessity since the other alternatives are very limited. The buffets have quite a lot of options. While the food taste/quality is not memorable, it is definitely doing the job to have an enjoyable meal.

Pools: The hotel provides two pools: a large one for sunbathing and another small one by the bar that looks towards the Kruger park. This second small one was absolutely our favourite, especially on our last day when hippos and elephants showed up next to it.

Spa: We a great experience at the spa which has massage rooms overlooking the kruger park. It is very clean and the staff were lovely.

Safari Experiences: We went to 2 different morning safaris. We saw almost any animal that you can think of; lions, giraffes, elephants, impalas, zebras, a hippo, baboons, kudus and the list goes on. The guides were very experienced. We would recommend the morning safaris since the animals start disappearing with warmer temperatures.

Staff: All the staff were extremely helpful and they always approached you with a huge smile. They make you feel welcome and do their best to make your holiday a memorable one. We would like to thank every employee of the hotel, especially Sarah, the guest relations manager.

Overall, we will recommend this hotel to everyone and they gave us some of the most memorable experiences...