10 Best Tented Safari Camps in the Greater Kruger
There are several tented safari camps located near Hoedspruit that offer guests a unique and authentic African experience. Hoedspruit is a small town in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, situated near the Greater Kruger National Park, which is one of the largest game reserves in Africa.
These camps offer guests a unique and authentic African experience with comfortable tents, delicious cuisine, and a range of activities that allow them to experience the beauty of the African bush up close.
Here are 10 best tented safari camps in the greater Kruger near Hoedspruit that can be recommended to guests:
1. Sausage Tree Safari Camp
The Olifants West Nature Reserve is a part of the Greater Kruger Park area, and Sausage Tree Safari Camp is located in this reserve.
The natural preserve covers an area that is greater than 40,000 hectares. Two guided game drives in an open safari vehicle are included in the cost of each stay at Sausage Tree Safari Camp. The first game drive of the day takes place in the morning, while the second one departs in the late afternoon and includes snacks to enjoy during the afternoon.
The camp has a terrace with an outdoor pool, and guests may enjoy views of the African wilderness as well as an active water hole from the deck.
There are five tents at the camp, each with an African theme. Each one is outfitted with a private wooden balcony, air conditioning and an attached bathroom that features both an indoor and an outside shower.
They have a view of the Northern Drakensberg Mountains, as well as a dry riverbed and the surrounding wilderness. The balcony is where breakfast and lunch are served, while the traditional boma is where most dinners are consumed while gathered around the fire.
In addition to that, there is an extensive bar selection.
The Hoedspruit Airport can be reached by car in around half an hour from the camp. Accommodation includes all meals per day.
2. Kapama Buffalo Camp
Kapama Buffalo Camp is located within the Kapama Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger Park area. This luxurious tented camp mixes old world charm with contemporary architecture, located among towering shady trees with a seasonal river below.
The ten tented suites at the lodge are built on raised wooden terraces on an elevated riverside. Each tent features oak floors, leather and dark wood accents, as well as a minibar, a Nespresso coffee machine, and a lock-up safe.
Breakfast and lunch are served under a thatch roof, while dinner is traditionally spent in the traditional outdoor boma around an open fire.
Game drives in open safari vehicles are organised by Kapama Buffalo Camp and are accompanied by expert rangers.
Guests can otherwise unwind in the pool for leisure.
Guests at Kapama can also use the spa and exercise facilities at a nearby lodge. For scheduled flights into Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, the resort provides a free airport shuttle service.
3. Imagine Africa Luxury Tented Camp
Also in Balule Game Reserve, Imagine Africa Luxury Tented Camp has 5 tented rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, a garden, a shared lounge, a deck and a bar. It also has a beautiful view of the mountains.
Each tented suite has its own bathroom with a shower and free toiletries, as well as a hairdryer. At the lodge, both Wi-Fi and private parking are free of charge. Every morning at Imagine Africa Luxury Tented Camp, you can get a full English or Irish breakfast. The closest airport to Imagine Africa Luxury Tented Camp is Hoedspruit Eastgate, which is 26 km away.
For a fee, the property gives a shuttle service to and from the airport.
The Drakensig Golf Club is 25 kilometres away, and the Kinyonga Reptile Centre is 35 kilometres away.
4. Parsons Hilltop Safari Camp
Parsons Hilltop Safari Camp offers a restaurant and a common lounge and is located in Balule Game Reserve, within the Greater Kruger Park Region.
Parsons Hilltop Safari Camp offers game drives and walking safaris, as well as garden relaxation. There is a shuttle service available, as well as free parking. The resort has free Wi-Fi.
Set in the bush, the four canvas safari tents each have an en suite toilet, a seating area and a mosquito net wrapped bed with bedding provided.
All of the tents have an own terrace or viewing deck, and some include an outdoor shower or hot tub.
The resort serves continental, buffet, and Full English/Irish breakfasts.
Each evening, a different dish is prepared, and guests dine al fresco around a central fire pit with a view of the spot-lit waterhole. Guests can also dine in the dining room or on their tent’s private terrace. African and international cuisines are available, as are South African wines.
The communal lounge features an outdoor plunge pool. Parsons Hilltop Safari Camp is 49 kilometres from Phalaborwa and is located 15.7 kilometres from Mica. The Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport is 42 kilometres away.
5. Southern Sands Ecolodge
Southern Sands Ecolodge is in the Ndlovumzi Nature Reserve, which is on the banks of the powerful Olifants River. Each of its two well-equipped tents has its own bathroom with an outdoor shower, a fire pit and a fully-equipped outdoor bar.
They are set apart so that you can have your own space. They also each have a deck with furniture that looks out over the river and an outside swimming pool is available to all guests. There is also a splash pool just for younger guests.
If you arrange ahead of time, the lodge can offer specific meal choices, depending on what is available.
Plains game like giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, and several kinds of antelopes are found in the area but guests at Southern Sands Ecolodge can go on organised tours to Kruger National Park and the famous Panoramic route. They can also go on guided game drives in an open game drive car in the 1000-hectare Ndlovumzi Nature Reserve.
Around the lodge, you can jog, walk, or ride a bike. Southern Sands Ecolodge is 35 km from Hoedspruit, and the closest airport is Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, which is 43 km away.
6. Phelwana Game Lodge
Phelwana Game Lodge can be found in the Hoedspruit region, approximately 47 kilometres away from the Orpen Gate of Kruger National Park.
The resort features well-appointed chalets and nine opulent tents, each of which has its own private pool. You will have access to a deck or veranda, a seating area, a refrigerator, and equipment for making tea and coffee at your accommodation.
At Phelwana, the cost of a night’s stay includes two meals as well as both guided bush walks and game drives. Guests are welcome to unwind and chat with one another over the campfire in the evenings. Cycling and fishing are two additional pastimes that can be done in the neighbourhood.
7. Shindzela Tented Safari Camp
Shindzela is a 64-guest tented safari lodge located in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which is part of the larger Kruger National Park.
Shindzela Tented Safari Camp guests stay in canvas safari tents with two twin beds and a wooden deck. Each tent also has its own private en suite bathroom, which includes a shower, washbasin and toilet.
It provides game drives in open 4×4 cars as well as walking safaris. Guests receive one morning and one afternoon game drive per day, which is included in the cost.
Guests at the Shindzela Tented Safari Camp can enjoy meals on an outside seating area. Solar energy is available at the Camp.
8. AfriCamps Hoedspruit
AfriCamps Hoedspruit provides tented glamping lodging 53 kilometres from the Kruger National Park’s Orpen Gate.
AfriCamps’ two-bedroom self-catering tents have a kitchen, dining space, and seating area. Each tent has its own bathroom with shower. The main bedroom includes a Queen-size bed, while the second features a Queen bed with a single bunk bed. Each of Africamps’ glamping tents has its own private terrace with a wood-fired hot tub.
Each has air conditioning, an interior fireplace, and its own BBQ. Every morning, a continental breakfast is served at the tented camp.
AfriCamps guests can swim in the communal pool or participate in activities such as fishing and canoeing. Day visits to popular destinations include the Kruger National Park, the Blyde River Canyon, and the Panorama Route are possible.
The tented camp is 25 kilometres from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport.
9. Ngama Tented Safari Lodge
Ngama Tented Safari is located approximately 50 kilometres away from Kruger National Park in the Guernsey Private Nature Reserve near Hoedspruit.
The Ngama Tented Safari Lodge comes complete with its very own outdoor plunge pool. In communal locations, there is access to free Wi-Fi. Each of the chalets features a sofa and a coffee maker, in addition to a terrace that is furnished with deck chairs.
Each one features a private bathroom that comes stocked with complimentary products and a blow dryer for your hair.
On-site dining is available for guests, and they can enjoy their meals on the sun patio. In the immediate vicinity, one may participate in a wide variety of activities, such as going on game drives and birdwatching.
10. Nyati Safari Lodge
Nyati Safari Lodge, located in the Greater Kruger National Park’s Balule Game Reserve, offers 5-star accommodation with private terraces overlooking the Olifants River.
Nyati Safari Lodge has a variety of lodging options, including river bungalows, villas, and luxury tents, totalling 22 rooms.
Mosquito netting and private bathrooms with both indoor and outdoor showers are provided with the air-conditioned rooms.
The main building at Nyati Safari Lodge houses a restaurant, bar, shop, pool and lounge area. Some villas have their own pool. All meals are included, as are local beers and wines, soft drinks, water, and bar cocktails.
During the stay, two daily game drives are scheduled in the lodge’s own 10.000 ha exclusive part of the Kruger Park.
The nearest airport is Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, which is 46.4 km away. Airport transports can also be arranged by the resort staff.
You might also be interested in:
Budget Kruger Safaris
Luxury Kruger Safaris
Mid-range Kruger Safaris
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tented safari camp?
A tented safari camp is a type of accommodation that offers guests a unique and authentic African experience. Tented camps are typically located in remote areas of the bush and offer guests the opportunity to get up close and personal with nature.
What are the benefits of staying in a tented safari camp?
Staying in a tented safari camp offers several benefits over other types of accommodation. Tented camps provide a more authentic African experience, allowing guests to feel closer to nature. They also offer a more intimate and personalized experience, with smallergroups and more attentive staff.
What types of tents are used in tented safari camps?
Tented safari camps use a variety of tents, ranging from basic canvas tents to luxurious suites. The tents are typically equipped with comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, and other amenities to ensure a comfortable stay.
What activities are available at tented safari camps?
Tented safari camps offer a range of activities such as game drives, guided walks, birdwatching, and cultural tours. Guests can also relax at the camp and enjoy the natural surroundings.
What is the best time of year to visit a tented safari camp?
The best time of year to visit a tented safari camp depends on your interests and preferences. The dry season (May-October) is generally considered the best time for game viewing, while the wet season (November-April) is ideal for birdwatching and seeing new-born animals.
How do I choose the right tented safari camp?
When choosing a tented safari camp, consider factors such as location, price, amenities, and activities offered. You can use websites to read reviews and compare prices.
