Kruger Advice – Feedback on Protea Marriott

[as02]

Hi All! My wife and I are planning a SA holiday with some friends in May ’25.
We’ve been struggling to figure out the acco for Kruger. We’re sure we don’t want to stay in the self-service cottages.
Private lodges seem too expensive. Protea fits well in our budget, but we’re apprehensive that it won’t have the charm of staying in the park around wildlife..

1. Is that true? Is the Protea experience very different vs. private lodges?
2. Are there any similarly priced options as Protea?
3. Are there any reasonably priced private lodges one could consider?

Any other feedback you may have for Protea will be super super helpful too.
Thank you!

[HampshireHog]

If you mean the Kruger Gate hotel it’s fine but obs not in the park. We self drive in a hire car frequently and use San Parks self catering bungalows which yes are tatty and not too clean in the main but put you in the centre of the action which after all is the main point. Nkuhlu tented camp is a newish private camp in an excellent location in the park for self drive and not megabucks gets rave reviews, we’re staying there soon.