My husband, our 2,5-year-old son and I just spent three wonderful weeks at the Kruger Eden Lodge. Coming from Germany the flight over night was surprisingly unproblematic, most of it was sleeping, even without any jet lag for we stayed in the same time zone. It’s a truly amazing accommodation. The rooms are chic and comfortable, the staff was super friendly and the garden is so beautiful with lots of big trees and different animal visitors every day. Our son had a blast discovering warthogs, monkeys, baboons, bushbocks, impalas, bushbabies and even zebras nosing around the garden right in front of us!

The lodge borders right to the Kruger Park. We just had to walk a few steps off the property and there was a pathway running along the fence of one of the most famous National Parks in the world. How cool is that?! From there, you have a wonderful view over the Crocodile River, with beautiful sunsets in the evening. We actually had an amazing encounter with an elephant there. For some reason he decided to walk right up to us to the fence. We got to see lots of elephants on our safari tours at the Kruger Park, but this was special – not watching it from the car, but standing so close to this wild, big animal. We also met a herd of zebras with a baby on our side of the fence. They were so curious, we could have stroked them.

These close animal encounters were a wonderful addition to our safari tours at the Kruger Park. There we got to see the Big Five, but also many, many more animals – small and big. We were completely overwhelmed by the density and variety of wildlife there and had different adventures every time we visited the Park. Starting a safari tour from Kruger Eden Lodge was perfect because the Crocodile Bridge Gate is really close and after an hour of driving through the park there is this really nice restaurant with a panoramic view in Lower Sabie – perfect for a late breakfast or an early lunch. We also did a night safari which we would definitely recommend as you get to see animals you don’t usually get to see during the day.

While staying at the Kruger Eden Lodge we enjoyed a day trip to the beautiful Botanical Garden of Nelspruit with its waterfalls. We also visited the mountains at Graskop where you can walk through tropical vegetation around a huge waterfall. My husband was even brave enough to take a bungee-jump-like leap with the big swing there! Another family highlight was a visit at the Elephant Whisperer’s. Our son still talks about how he stroked and fed a real elephant.

We already very much miss our days at the Kruger Eden Lodge. Having daily adventures, bathing in the warm jacuzzi while looking at the wonderful garden and its animal visitors and sitting around the campfire in the evenings having braai (traditional South African barbecue). We want to thank the team at Kruger Eden Lodge for this unforgettable holiday and will definitely return!

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The Mystery of the Ancestral Tree

When you visit our lodge you will definitely be amazed by the wonderful looking wood that you will find in some of the rooms, e.g. as a tables, bedside tables, shelfs or outside as handrails and stairs.

This is the wood of the ancestral or leadwood tree, the largest species of bush willows in southern Africa. (Combretum imberb, Afrikaans: hardekool, Sotho: mohwelere-tšhipi, Tsonga: motswiri/mondzo, Zulu: impondondlovu)

It has a spreading, rather sparse, rounded to slightly umbrella-shaped crown. The small, grey-green leaves are borne on spiny, thin branches. The branches and leaves are hairless. It grows up to approx. 20 m high and the trunk can reach a diameter of up to 1.5 m. The characteristic bark is pale to dark gray and deeply fissured in the longitudinal direction. It reminds a little of crocodile skin. The wood is very hard and heavy, as the colloquial name suggests.

The Hereros and Ovambos of Namibia attach a special cultural and religious significance to the tree, as for them it is the great ancestor of all animals and humans. Kruger Eden Lodge is proud of the presence of ancestral trees on our property, which we treat with respect and even leave dead trees in the place where they lived their lives.

Our wood comes exclusively from settlement fellings in the region. Normally it would be burned in the process. In a small local craft business, however, the wood is saved from this fate and given a second life as a wonderful piece of furniture, which is exclusively and individually made for us with great craftsmanship. With good care, it can last for centuries and thus delight many generations.

But there is another mystery of the ancestral tree, related to its wood. The stored heartwood is unsightly grey. However, if you oil and polish it, it turns a wonderful dark brown. On colder days the special oil must be heated up as to be seen on the photo. Particularly beautiful are the yellow edges of the outer layers that border the brown heartwood and even show up in some places on the furniture.

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How and where to legally and safely walk around in the Kruger Park

For real Kruger Park fans and die-hard nature lovers, there is hardly anything more exciting than walking in the Kruger National Park. In addition, sitting in the car for a long time is tiring and you long for some exercise.

At first this doesn’t seem like a good idea. From the car you can see hundreds of dangerous animals such as crocodiles, elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinos, wilddogs, hyaenas and poisonous snakes in an unimaginable density. You might think that you can hardly get a few steps far. Of course, the animal inhabitants of Kruger Park also have to survive somehow. However, they are usually faster and/or can see, hear, smell better, have better reflexes and/or better camouflage or have natural protection like armoring or weapons.

However, our ancestors also had to walk, but paid a high price for it. Even today, some people want or need to walk through Kruger Park. There are the rangers for example, who do this day in and day out. But they are always in pairs, have a lot of experience, are armed and unfortunately also very endangered.

If you want to hike in the park as a tourist, you can only do so with a professional and armed escort on fixed routes. You can find a number of interesting offers on the Internet. Professional walking safaris should therefore not be considered further here. In fact, there are also other safe ways to get out of the car and move around freely. Be it for exploration, for relaxation and movement or simply for the feeling of freedom. We are concentrating more on the south because it is easy to reach from the Kruger Eden Lodge.

Observation hideouts
There are a few hides scattered throughout the park. For example the Gardenia Hide on the S119 or the hide at Lake Panic near the H11. These are positioned at strategically favorable locations such as rivers, reservoirs, mud pools, etc. Here there is always the possibility to get off, walk a few steps and observe or photograph animals directly and without a fence or car doors.

Picnic places
The public picnic areas such as Nkulu on the H4-1 or Afsal on the H3 are not fenced. You can move freely there and also walk a few hundred meters. Many animals visit these picnic areas because sometimes something falls off. There are often good opportunities for photos here.

Bridges
You can disembark on high bridges that are already within the park but before the entrance gates, such as Malelane Gate or Kruger Gate. But not on flat bridges, such as Crocodile Bridge. On bridges behind the gates, disembarking is generally not permitted. But there are a few exceptions, especially further north, where signs allow this. Yellow lines limit the safe area, but you should always stay close to the vehicle.

View points
At some view points, such as the Stevenson-Hamilton Monument on the S22 or Granokop on the H1-1, you can leave the vehicle and explore the area. Some signs indicate the boundaries of the areas. There are fantastic views here. Also ideal for some gymnastics.

Skukuza Golf Course
The golf course is located directly in the Kruger Park and is not fenced! Some photos then also show hyenas, leopards or wild dogs on the green. Another highlight is a tee across Lake Panic, where hippos and crocodiles lie. Balls that land in it are lost forever! Guests who do not play are also welcome, but are not allowed on the pitch.

Half marathon
Once a year a half marathon takes place in the Kruger Park. Running there is a dream for every long-distance runner. However, the places are limited. The entire route is well guarded, but the race often has to be interrupted because lions, wild dogs, elephants, etc. claim parts of the route for themselves.

Campsites
The campsites are an exception and do not really belong in this list because they are fenced. But because of their size, you don’t really notice it that way. There you can sometimes walk a few kilometers, often with magnificent views. There are also restaurants, pools, cinemas and shops. In Berg en Dal you can find a view on a reservoir and the Rhino Walking Trail.

Walking the fence
Walking along the fence in Marloth Park is particularly popular. The trail starts a few meters from our lodge. In principle, this trail is not in the park either, but it leads several kilometers along the Crocodile River and offers a constant view on the river and the Kruger Park with everything in it. On our side of the fence you already see a lot except the Big 5 which makes it a lot safer. However, you shouldn’t hike alone, as the fence isn’t really tight and even lions make it through sometimes. Please infrom yourself before you start walking. 

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