"An intimate, affordable boutique stay where wildlife visits your doorstep."
Located in Marloth Park. Big 5 game viewing requires driving into the Kruger National Park (approx 20 mins to the nearest gate).
Located in Marloth Park—a unique holiday town separated from Kruger only by the Crocodile River—Needles Lodge is a highly-rated, owner-managed boutique guest house where free-roaming wildlife (zebra, giraffe, kudu) regularly wander right up to the lodge.
Marloth Park offers a very different experience to standard private reserves. It is a residential wildlife conservancy situated on the southern boundary of Kruger, separated only by the Crocodile River. There are no fences between properties here, and non-dangerous wildlife (giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, kudu, ostriches) roams freely among the houses and lodges.
Needles Lodge is widely considered one of the premium accommodations in Marloth Park, while still remaining exceptionally affordable. It operates more like an intimate, luxury guest house than a commercial hotel. The lodge features just six beautifully appointed suites centered around a lovely living area, dining room, and an outdoor pool.
The standout feature of a stay at Needles is the intimacy with plains game. It is a daily occurrence for zebras, warthogs, or giraffes to approach the patio while guests are having breakfast or relaxing by the pool.
While you cannot do Big 5 game drives *within* Marloth Park, the lodge is very close to both Crocodile Bridge and Malelane gates, making it a perfect base for day trips into Kruger.
Excellent, home-cooked three-course dinners prepared by the owners/chefs, served in a tasteful dining room or out on the deck. Breakfasts are generous and highly rated.
Located in a conservancy that protects plains game habitat and manages the delicate balance between residential living and wildlife presence.
Species that are frequently sighted in this specific area:
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From ~R1,500 per person per night
Bed & breakfast or Half Board rates available. Safaris into Kruger are booked separately.
Marloth Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa
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