South Africa’s Kruger National Park remains the continent’s flagship wildlife destination, with a handful of standout rest camps drawing visitors back year after year. For travellers planning a memorable safari, five camps lead the pack, each offering its own blend of atmosphere, scenery, and access to the park’s legendary game viewing.

Skukuza Rest Camp, the largest camp in the reserve, is perched on the banks of the Sabie River and offers a vibrant base with ample facilities and access to varied habitats, making it a reliable spot for Big Five sightings. Nearby, Lower Sabie Rest Camp enchants with peaceful river views under towering sycamore figs, and is ideally placed for some of the richest game drives in the park’s south.

Further north, Olifants Rest Camp boasts a spectacular cliff-top setting high above the Olifants River, where guests can watch elephants and hippos from the comfort of their verandah. Satara Rest Camp sits in open grassland that attracts large prides of lion and plentiful plains game, making it a favourite for photographers and big cat enthusiasts alike. Finally, Mopani Rest Camp offers a quieter, northern retreat beneath mopane trees and beside the calm waters of Pioneer Dam.

Together, these camps highlight the diversity and depth of the Kruger experience, where the spirit of the wild is never more than a step from your doorstep.