Kruger National Park marked its centennial on May 31, 2026, making this a perfect time to visit South Africa’s 7,576-square-mile expanse. During its first hundred years, it emerged as a birthplace of ecotourism, incorporating wildlife conservation, scientific research, and a golden opportunity to see these natural wonders in person and become part of the conservation conversation through game drives, walking safaris, and other activities. 

The “Big Five”—lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo—may be Kruger National Park’s biggest draws, but family- and community-operated tour companies and lodges unite comfort and style with a commitment to broadening the visitor’s scope with access to hundreds of other animal species and splendid landscapes. While some luxury properties have their own private game reserves, others, such as Leopard Sands River Lodge, are located strategically outside the park. At the Marriott Autograph Collection-managed destination in Mpumalanga state, Founder and General Manager Van Heerden Haasbroek is committed to balancing his dual role as curator of a luxury base camp and environmental steward.

Haasbroek says that his objectives when developing and opening Leopard Sands River Lodge in late 2023 were personal on many fronts. Rather than rely on the existing luxury lodge model, he dug into his resume and the importance of preserving the international treasure for future generations to define the way guests experience the park. Although his team of astute and affable guides does not have free rein over what times they can conduct safaris like resorts with private land do, their narrative and knowledge of the terrain come straight from the heart. 

“Since we opened in 2023, we use our location outside of the park as our strength,” Haasbroek explained when asked about the mindset behind the game drives and other activities arranged for guests. “Our game drive and ‘Panorama Route’ guides, who grew up in or were long-time residents of the area, defined the safari camp stay as much as the animals. Our employees, who believe in the concept and grow with it, make all the difference. I remind my team that the fifth star of a hotel rating does not come from buildings, but from exceptional service–a smile, a willingness to work, and providing our guests the experience they want.”

The resort management’s collaborations with South African National Parks (SANParks) and conservation organizations, neighboring communities, and tourism boards to support the broader Kruger National Park ecosystem are a major selling point. So is its location along the picturesque Sabie River, 15 minutes from Kruger’s southern Paul Kruger gate. However, there is no question that the 18-bungalow spread—with additional bungalows and a resort-wide refresh by Delta Designs’ Grant Gillis in the works—blends modern safari chic with art gallery-inspired touches.

The luxury and premium suites feature a clean layout that flows effortlessly onto the private decks and plunge pools overlooking the Sabie. The visual focal point of each room is a bed draped with mosquito nets that offer protection and romantic vibes. The rest of the surroundings include organic dark wood desks and cabinets crafted with rustic, nature-inspired motifs, framed black-and-white leopard photographs, rich artisanal textiles, an elegant soaking tub, tiled interior shower, outdoor shower, and a supply of South African-made soaps and lotions. 

The 35-minute journey to Leopard Sands from Skukuza Airport is effectively the first immersive experience. Guests land at the stylish and cozy airport, which has a clubhouse-style layout and wildlife sculptures, and are greeted by team members who have already set out a selection of beer, soft drinks, and house-made snacks and biltong, the South African cousin to jerky. Once the luggage is collected, the van heads to the property, where en route guests may have a sighting of hippos enjoying a midday swim in the Sabie River, an elephant family in the distance, or local birds.

The lodge goes big with the arrival. Right after, chilled refreshment towels and welcome drinks are passed out, and luggage is transferred to the suites, a troupe of performers appears out of a side entrance and compels guests to join the dance, as another group does during the twice-weekly “Boma” cookout dinners. Although some experienced travelers may find it a little touristy at first, Haasbroek, Operations Manager Anita Lötter, and other staff provide context that shifts the paradigm to reflect its mission to successfully bridge luxury and cultural preservation in ways benefitting residents of the neighboring town, Belfast.  

Those checking in late morning are dispatched to the restaurant as their rooms are being prepared. It overlooks the pubic pool area and the Sabie, where hippos, elephants, and other animals make frequent appearances. There are a variety of seating arrangements, including communal dining tables, lounge areas with sofas, and tables for two to four people, which give diners a front-row seat to the action along the river. Chef Kevin Govender can often be seen guiding the lunchtime crew, setting up lunch items, including salads, charcuterie, and fresh-baked bread, which one can help themselves to in addition to made-to-order appetizers, mains, and desserts that change daily.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus are developed with care by executive chef Warren Garner and sous chef Kevin Govender, whose mains and appetizers are flavorful spins on international and South African recipes made with local produce and seasoning, and some desserts are integrated with local fruit or pieces of iconic South African candy bars like Peppermint Crisp. Guests are also free to order modified versions of the dishes or go-to favorites like hamburgers. The Wednesday and Saturday “Boma” dinners are a culinary highlight, with grilled chops, vegetables, and stews made out in the open and served family style. The cultural performance with local dancers, singers, and musicians makes it feel a little like a community street party, especially as many employees one will meet have personal ties to the villages or may be related to the performers. 

Early morning drives are the most popular because of the increased possibility of spotting leopards or lions. Fortunately, there’s a culinary team out at 4:00 am laying out pastries, fresh-squeezed juices, grab-and-go mini-meals, and exceptional coffee. Open-air safari game drive vehicles, meanwhile, are stocked with biltong, fresh-baked cakes, cookies, dried fruit and nut mixes, some including macadamias—a local cash crop. There are also warm, fleecy panchos, which often come in handy at 5:00 am.

In every free-standing bungalow, there is an extensive menu on the desk listing complementary game drives and the Boma dinners, along with other activities that can be integrated into a personal itinerary for an extra fee. These include 18-holes at the Skukuza Golf Club, Shangana Cultural Village visits, custom in-room massages, guided walking safaris, and a guided “Panorama Route” drive to awe-inspiring sites including God’s Window, Bourke’s Lot Potholes, and Blyde River Canyon. Guests can also arrange shopping trips in local villages or excursions to the adventure park, with ziplines, foot bridges, and more.

While Leopard Sands does not have a formal spa, the suites’ arrangement allows them to be readily converted into a personal wellness space for a 50- or 80-minute massage. The oils and botanicals used in the treatments are sourced from the area and are precisely selected based on the guest’s needs, indicated on a questionnaire filled out at the time of booking. While there is a new fitness room and the pool deck is a good site for a yoga class or a private practice, all the trappings of a luxury spa experience in the African bush are in place, down to the sounds of wind, water, and rustlings of the occasional passing animal coming directly from the source just beyond the room’s outdoor deck.

Although the morning drives are particularly satisfying and scenic, afternoon drives have their own surprises and expert commentary from the guides who bring warmth and wit. It is wonderful, however, to start and end the day in a cottage that is plush and elegant, yet never over the top, outfitted with things like mosquito repellent, a local wildlife guidebook, sweet and savory snacks from local vendors, and the opulent soaking tub after a busy day in the field.

Video by Johnny Tilly