Sunset Walks and Sundowners - Because Golden Hour Is Better With Elephants

At Kruger Park Hostel, we believe sunsets aren’t meant to be watched from a couch—they’re meant to be chased. So, a couple of times a week, we grab our Open Safari Vehicle (OSV for short, because we’re fancy like that) and head out for an adventure that’s equal parts chill and thrill.

The Kick-Off: 16:30 Sharp

Around 4:30 PM, we pile into the OSV and roll out toward the Kruger fence line. The breeze is perfect, the bush smells amazing, and you’re already wondering why you didn’t do this yesterday.

The Walk: 2 km of Pure Magic

Once we reach the Crocodile River, we hop off and take a short stroll along the fence with one of our guides. It’s about 2 km—just enough to stretch your legs without breaking a sweat. On one side, Marloth Park. On the other, Kruger National Park doing its thing.

The Wildlife Show

As the sun starts to dip, the animals clock in for their evening shift:

• Elephants wander down for a drink and a splash. The little ones? They turn the river into their personal water park.
• Hippos grunt like they’re laughing at your walking shoes. If it’s cool enough, they’ll waddle out for a snack on the grass.
• Bonus round: Sometimes elephants pop up on our side of the fence. That’s when you realise just how tiny you are compared to a full-grown pachyderm. (Spoiler: very tiny.)

Sundowners Done Right

After the walk, we rendezvous with the OSV, where cold drinks are waiting. You sip, you snap photos, and you watch the sun melt into the horizon over Kruger. It’s the kind of view that makes you forget what day it is—and honestly, who cares?

The Ride Back: Bush TV at Its Best

Think the fun’s over? Nope. The drive back is like flipping through channels on Bush TV:

• Giraffes doing their awkward runway walk
• Zebras pretending they’re not photogenic (they are)
• Kudus striking a pose
• Mongooses sprinting like they’re late for a meeting
• Warthogs giving you that “what are you looking at?” glare

Dinner & Stories

By the time we’re back, it’s dinner o’clock. Guests gather around the table—or, if it’s Friday, around the fire for a proper South African braai. Good food, good vibes, and stories that start with “You won’t believe what we saw…”

The Best Part? It’s Free

Yep, this whole experience is on the house for our guests. We run it two or three times a week because, honestly, we love it as much as you will. And while you’re waiting for the sun to dip, you’ll meet fellow travellers from all over the world. Who knows? You might leave with a new friend—or ten.