The Outpost

The wilderness of the norther Kruger National Park has long been beloved of South Africans looking to escape the crowds found in the more popular areas further south. However, it has attracted precious few overseas visitors, thanks in the main to inaccessibility and a lack of luxury lodges.

That has all changed since The Outpost opened, offering adventurous visitors and those who have visited the Kruger many times the chance to enjoy the wild, rugged and beautiful northern part of the park in the lap of luxury. The 12 suites are built up on the hillside to maximise the stunning views out over the bush and have been built side-on to ensure that wherever guests are in the suite they get to enjoy the views. Fronts can be rolled up to allow a cooling breeze to flow through and there are outdoor decks where guests can relax in the afternoons. The rooms are wonderfully spacious and comfortable, with beautifully appointed bathrooms – there can be few better views from a bath anywhere in South Africa. Fully stocked minibars mean guests don’t even need to leave the comfort of their suite to enjoy a drink, but the stunning main area tempts them to spend as much time there as possible. The “indoors” area is an open plan lounge, bar and dining area, with plenty of comfy sofas and the customary incredible views. A sparkling swimming pool sits in the middle of a large deck and is a lovely spot to cool off in the afternoons, with the deck making for the ideal spot to enjoy alfresco dining when the weather allows.

As well as offering game drives, the lodge allows guests to pre-book guided walks through this remote and beautiful wilderness, renowned for large expanses of fever tree forest. Whilst there may not be the density of game that other areas of the Kruger has, the lack of other visitors and stunning views arguably makes this the most rewarding part of the whole park to go on safari.