Everything you need to know before your stay — rooms, meals, wildlife, safety, sustainability, activities and more.
Room Types:
• Mixed dorm rooms (two 6-bed dorms)
• Private rooms (shared bathroom)
• Private ensuite rooms
Are dorms mixed or female-only?
Dorms are mixed. We try to place women together, but with only two dorms this is not always possible.
Power outlets: All beds and rooms have power outlets.
Temperature:
• Summer: Warm — every room has fans.
• Winter: Can be cold — blankets available on request.
Laundry: Laundry facilities are available for a small fee.
Shared kitchen? No shared kitchen is available.
Guest cooking:
• Breakfast: You may cook your own eggs (we provide raw eggs).
• Dinner: Only if cooking for the whole hostel.
• Lunch: No cooking allowed.
Food storage: Fridge use only on special request.
Meal times:
• Breakfast: 04:00–10:00
• Dinner: 19:00 (communal table)
Dietary needs: Vegetarian and limited vegan options with 48h notice.
Snacks & drinks: Free tea, coffee and filtered water 24/7.
Lunch available? No — restaurants nearby offer lunch options.
Wi‑Fi available? Yes — free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the hostel.
Strong enough for video calls? Yes — digital nomad friendly.
Cell signal? Limited in Marloth Park, but Wi‑Fi is reliable.
Available activities:
• Daily Kruger Park game drives
• Panorama Route day tours
• Camping safaris (Kruger, Ponta, Eswatini, Malolotja)
• Free bicycles
• Guided walks
• Sunset walks + sundowners
Game drive departure times:
• Summer: 04:30
• Winter: 05:30
Return time: Approximately 13:00–14:00.
Can I join a game drive on checkout day? Yes.
Do I need to stay the night before a safari? Yes — departures are very early.
Closest Kruger gate: Crocodile Bridge Gate — 20 minutes away.
Gate times:
• Marloth Park: Open 24 hours
• Kruger Park: 05:00 summer / 06:00 winter
Road conditions:
• Winter: Good
• Summer: Can be muddy; Kruger may close gravel roads
4×4 needed? No.
Taxis? No taxis in Marloth Park.
Getting around: By foot or bicycle — daytime only.
Walking at night? Not safe — predators roam at night.
Cancellation policy:
• Full refund if cancelled 48+ hours before arrival.
• 1-night fee if cancelled within 48 hours.
Camping safaris: Full prepayment required.
Accepted payments: Visa, MasterCard, EFT.
Local shops: Accept both card and cash.
Is the hostel fenced? No — wildlife roams freely.
Walking at night? Not safe — lions & leopards occasionally enter.
Do monkeys steal food? Yes — do not leave food unattended.
Medical assistance? A clinic is located 1 km from the hostel.
Swimming pool: Yes — open 24 hours.
Towels & linen: Provided.
Bush gym: Free for all guests.
Parking: Free and secure.
Animals you may see: Kudu, zebra, giraffe, impala, warthog, mongoose, and many birds.
Feeding: Only lucerne and wildlife pellets. Never human food.
Mosquitoes: Few in winter; repellent recommended in summer. Marloth Park is a low malaria-risk area.
Eco-friendly operations: Low waste, reduced water use, solar power, grey-water recycling, composting, LED lighting, homemade food products, reusable water bottles.
Ethical safaris: SANParks rules followed strictly — no off-road driving, no chasing wildlife.
Community support: Local employment, local suppliers, local guides, and responsible cross-border tourism.
Conservation: Ongoing grassland reseeding in Marloth Park.
Check-in: 15:00
Check-out: 10:00
Quiet hours: From 22:00.
Alcohol: No outside alcohol — licensed premises.
Smoking: Outdoors only.
Atmosphere: Social but not a party hostel. Expect communal dinners, sunset walks, occasional events, karaoke nights, braai nights, and township dinners.
Do you accept volunteers? Yes — exclusively via Worldpackers.com.
Minimum stay: 4 weeks.
Duties: Cooking, baking, making yogurt/jam/muesli/rusks, stocking the pantry, and general hostel tasks.
Location: Inside Marloth Park, along the fence of Kruger National Park.
Distance to Kruger: 20 minutes from Crocodile Bridge Gate.
Nearby restaurants:
• Amazing Kruger View
• The Tin Shack
• bos. Restaurant & Bar
• Giraffe Pub & Grill
Johannesburg shuttle: JSL Transport offers daily shuttles from O.R. Tambo Airport to Marloth Park.
Tofo, Mozambique: Cheetha Express — Thursdays at 06:00 from Nelspruit.
Maputo, Mozambique: Cheetha Express — daily at 15:30 from Nelspruit.
Kruger Park Hostel offers a diverse range of guided tours, safaris, and multi‑day camping expeditions designed for adventurous travellers, wildlife lovers, and guests seeking authentic African cultural and wilderness experiences.
Our daily open‑vehicle safaris depart early in the morning for the best wildlife viewing opportunities. Expect sightings of elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and more. Trips return early afternoon.
A full-day scenic experience along South Africa’s famous Panorama Route, including the waterfalls, and incredible viewpoints. Departs early morning and returns around sunset.
Explore the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) through cultural villages, traditional dancing performances, markets, and mountain scenery. A unique immersion into local heritage.
A short but unforgettable wildlife camping trip including rhino viewing, game drives (optional extra), and a peaceful camp atmosphere.
Includes beach camping, snorkelling, scuba diving (optional extra), surfing (optional extra), and the chance to swim with dolphins (optional extra). A perfect mix of relaxation and adventure.
A remote off‑grid camping adventure featuring 4x4 dune driving, untouched beaches, ocean swimming, starry nights, and complete digital disconnection.
Extended wildlife immersion with multiple game drives, bush dinners, and nights under the African sky. Ideal for travellers wanting “pure safari”.
Mountain hiking, waterfalls, wild swimming, and high-altitude camping in one of Southern Africa’s most scenic reserves.
All tours are small‑group, eco-friendly, and guided by experienced, certified field guides.
