Where we are
Location
Marloth Park is one of South Africa's most unique private nature reserves — unfenced and surrounded by bush, with the Kruger National Park right next door.
Key distances
| Destination | Distance |
|---|---|
| KNP fence line | 100 m |
| Crocodile Bridge (KNP gate) | 16 km |
| Malalane (KNP gate) | ~30 km |
| Lionspruit Game Reserve | 4.4 km |
| Marloth Park centre | 3.4 km |
| The Tin Shack (restaurant) | 3.7 km |
| Watergat Restaurant | 4.3 km |
| Komatipoort (town) | ~18 km |
| Skukuza Airport (KNP) | ~60 km |
| KMI Airport (Mbombela) | 98 km |
| OR Tambo International (JHB) | ~430 km |
Distances are approximate. Driving times based on typical road conditions.
About Marloth Park
Marloth Park is a private nature reserve in Mpumalanga, bordering the southern edge of Kruger National Park along the Crocodile River. Unlike most private reserves, it is unfenced — which means wildlife wanders freely through the neighbourhood. Warthog, kudu, nyala, impala, vervet monkeys, and African bush squirrels are daily visitors to most properties. Leopard, elephant, and hippo are also regularly spotted along the fence line and river.
The reserve covers around 6,000 hectares and is home to roughly 1,200 permanent residents plus hundreds of holiday properties like Hakuna Matata. The roads are largely unpaved but accessible by standard sedan for most of the year. It is a genuinely wild corner of South Africa — not a tourist resort, but a living bush community.
Walking during daylight hours is safe and encouraged — including along the KNP fence line, where you may see the Big Five on foot from behind the electrified barrier. There is, however, a local curfew from 18:00 to 06:00: it is strongly recommended that guests remain indoors during these hours and do not walk outside at night. Never handfeed any wild animals.
Access to Kruger National Park
From Hakuna Matata, you have two convenient options for entering Kruger National Park:
Crocodile Bridge Gate
16 km away · approx. 15 min drive. Excellent for game drives in the southern section of Kruger. Good lion and cheetah territory.
Malalane Gate
Approx. 30 km · 30 min drive. Access to the Berg-en-Dal area, known for rhino and buffalo sightings.
Kruger Park opens at sunrise and closes at sunset — gate times vary by season. It is strongly recommended to book your day permit in advance via the SANParks website, especially during South African school holidays.
Nearby attractions & dining
Lionspruit Game Reserve
4.4 km · Walking safaris and guided game drives outside the main park.
Crocodile River
Metres away · The river forms the Kruger boundary and is home to crocodile and hippo.
Mjejane Game Reserve
Nearby · Private reserve adjoining Kruger, accessible via a low water bridge.
Jabula
Popular local restaurant — a reliable choice for dinner in Marloth Park.
Amazing River View Bar & Restaurant
Outdoor dining with views over the river and bush — great for sundowners.
Phai Tong Thai Restaurant
Thai restaurant within Marloth Park — a welcome change of pace.
Kruger Pride Safaris
Day trips into Kruger National Park in an open game viewer vehicle. They collect and drop off directly from the house — no need to arrange your own transport into the park.
Komatipoort
~18 km · Nearest town with supermarkets, fuel, and a border crossing to Mozambique.
Malelane
~42 km · Larger town with additional shopping, medical facilities, and the small Malelane Airport.
Getting there
By car: From Johannesburg, take the N4 east through Middelburg and Nelspruit. At Malelane, continue on the N4 to Komatipoort. Follow signs for Marloth Park — the reserve entrance is clearly marked. Journey time from Johannesburg is approximately 5 hours. Take extra care when driving at night: wildlife can be hard to spot and may act unpredictably on the road.
By air (best option): The best option from Johannesburg is one of the three daily flights into Skukuza Airport, right in the heart of Kruger National Park. From Skukuza it is a 3-hour self-drive through the park to Marloth Park — a safari in itself. Car hire is available at Skukuza. Alternatively, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport near Mbombela (98 km, ~1 hr 10 min drive) is served by regular flights with car hire available.
No train option. There is no practical rail connection to Marloth Park. A car or flight is required.
Location score
Booking.com guests
"Location is very good — nice and quiet, close to the Kruger fence for long walks."
— Dirk, South Africa
Address
4447 Seekoei Road
Marloth Park
Mpumalanga 1321
South Africa
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