We went looking for a little luxury and found so much more. From beautiful moments on the Sabie River to local stories, incredible food and heartfelt hospitality, discover our stay at Shiviko Kruger.
Greater Kruger, South Africa (13 November 2026) – Four luxury villas. A team of dedicated staff, including your own private chef, butler, and housekeeper. A private safari vehicle for game drives and a Mercedes-Benz V300 for the adventures. A personalised itinerary tailored to your wishes, plus all the downtime you could dream of. And lastly, smart technology to make your stay feel seamless. That was what Shiviko Kruger reached out to share with us, so I went to check it out!
We are always honoured to accept travel invitations, and Shiviko Kruger truly was a treat. My partner and I set off from Gauteng and set our sights on Mpumalanga.
Arriving, we were greeted by the team, served a refreshing drink and given a tour of the property by managers Anica and Michael Jones. Our stay would be in the Ekasi Villa, one of the two-bedroom villas, which pays homage to Soweto and its culture. The villa is filled with incredible artwork by local artists as well as a little library that boasts copies of local heroes’ and leaders’ autobiographies.
The Ekasi Villa is beautifully designed, especially to highlight indoor-outdoor living. Both rooms upstairs face the Sabie River. From our bedroom, we could see the Sabie River and the lazy elephants that made their way down each day. A herd of Kudu even paid us a visit one afternoon.
My favourite spot was outside on the couches, watching all the little birds jump through the bushes.
Beyond the villa is a family paradise! The pool area and clubhouse are set up for having all the fun. The pool has two kinds of slides, both of which are fun for children and adults (speaking as an adult who went down all the slides!). There is an indoor movie theatre, plus popcorn and slushie machines to enjoy; for the grown-ups, there’s also a gym and sauna to help you balance out the delicious food on offer each day.
Upstairs, the stunning bar gives a 180° view of the Sabie River and pool area below. It is the perfect spot to catch the sun going down or watch local sports.
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Rocky the Pangolin is Making Encouraging Strides on the Road to Recovery
Brave Young Volunteer Climbs Down Sewage Manhole to Rescue Trapped DogOnce we were done with the tour, I kicked off my shoes and immediately felt at home. Unless we were walking in the garden or out on a drive, I left my shoes off the entire stay. This was one of the biggest treats, because you can truly relax and unwind.
Shiviko is a luxury getaway, so Chef Jess, our villa’s private chef, indulged us with decadent gourmet meals. Silence, our butler, kept our drinks flowing and made sure we had everything we needed at all times. As a do-it-yourself kind of gal, it took me a day to actually sit back and let Silence take care of everything. Lesley, our barman and all-round helping hand, kept our G&T’s coming, letting us try a few different kinds until we found the perfect one for the heat of the day.
Chef Jess and her incredible sous-chef kept us fed, and fed us well! From unique gourmet meals to delicious firsts! We had venison tartare for the first time, and it was divine!
On Saturday, we hunkered down at “home” for the Springbok game. Chef Jess made us Springbok skewers marinated in Asian flavours (a win on all counts), and then, when our team won, Silence came armed with Springbokkie shooters so we could celebrate.
Take a look at some of the drool-worthy meals below.
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As for activities and adventures, we planned a few drives in the Kruger National Park and a trip up the Panorama Route.
Shiviko is situated 6km from the Paul Kruger gate. While accessing the public park, the Shiviko team work to still make it feel like a private affair. Our guide, Amaze, who would later live up to his name, set off early in the Shiviko OSV to prepare our permits and secure a prime spot before the gates opened. We were then afforded a later wake-up call, a slow coffee and a drive up to the gate in the Mercedes. As soon as we had settled in the OSV, the gates opened and off we drove.
Amaze took us on 3 drives during our stay, giving us some of the most spectacular sightings we have had in the park to date. We got the Big 5 checked off, but more importantly, Amaze helped us spot something we look forward to every November… Baby impala! We got to see all the early babies, and I would have honestly been happy with that. But Amaze used his network to help find the Ugly 5, the Big 5, my favourite birds: the Southern Ground Hornbill and one of the most insane sightings of all… a successful leopard hunt. It was the first time we had ever seen a live hunt in the park, and it was both breathtaking and heartbreaking to witness.
Each villa comes with the use of a professional camera to capture all the moments. I got to play with a Canon EOS R6 Mark II with a 100-400mm lens for all my wildlife shots. Just wow! Now I have camera envy…
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I am convinced that I am slightly cursed because every time I have tried to visit the Panorama Route, the weather shifts to heavy fog and rain. It was our final day, and true to form, we had to cancel our trip because of the weather. Instead, we spent the day lounging around the villa, and it was bliss!
That evening, ‘Small Tortoise’, a local man from the area, joined us for storytelling on our final night. It was a celebration of his Tsonga heritage. As we sat around the fire, he shared insights into some of the important customs practised by the Tsonga people. He spoke in his mother tongue and, with the help of our guide Amaze, we discussed the importance of family and the strength of the family unit during times of grief. Small Tortoise was eager to share and encouraged us to share his stories with anyone who was interested.
For Shiviko, this is a vitally important part of what they offer. South Africa is a melting pot of culture and history. Giving guests a real-world experience and opportunity to speak with people from within the surrounding communities gives insights one may not usually get a chance to encounter.
I left feeling like I had seen more than just the game on our drives. I had been exposed to beautiful, expressive art, had conversations about cultural customs and tried meals I never had the opportunity to try before.
I think it is important to distinguish that Shiviko isn’t a safari lodge. It is perfectly placed to give both access to the bush and the greater beauties on offer in Mpumalanga. Culture is most important. Immersing in what is locally available.
There are elements of the offerings we didn’t tap into, because they were not applicable to our stay. Shiviko is family-forward, and if we had children, it would have been paradise! We are also not a Kosher household. So here is a little about what else the team offers.
At Shiviko, children aren’t simply accommodated; they’re given their own adventures to enjoy. From becoming junior filmmakers for the day, complete with professional camera equipment and a short film to take home, to learning marimba, making traditional beadwork, building their own mocktails and getting stuck into junior fire-making lessons, there’s plenty to keep curious little minds busy.
They can also head out on guided bush walks in the Green Zone to learn about animal tracks and indigenous plants, or plant and name their very own tree. Even the little details have been thought through, with age-specific welcome bags, personalised bedtime treats and creative turndown surprises. It’s a lovely reminder that a family holiday should be just as magical for the children as it is for the grown-ups.
Shiviko Kruger has a fully kosher offering, prepared to Mehadrin standards. Working alongside Kosher Certified South Africa and Kosher in the Bush, the lodge has trained its team and introduced dedicated kitchen equipment, specialist suppliers and mashgiach-supervised meal preparation, allowing observant Jewish families to enjoy a stay without compromising their religious practices. Each villa has its own kitchen and dedicated chef, while Shabbat-friendly arrangements ensure families can relax and enjoy their time together. It’s a meaningful addition to the lodge’s offering and a wonderful example of hospitality that considers the needs of different families.
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