Tucked away in the remote northernmost corner of South Africa’s Kruger National Park lies a truly special retreat: The Outpost. Aptly named, the lodge is one of just a handful of stays in the Makuleke Concession, a lesser-known part of the park bordering Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The concession, returned to the Makuleke people in the 1990’s, supports 80% percent of Kruger’s biodiversity while covering less than two percent of the national park’s lands.
The Outpost’s elevated suites offer an unparalleled immersive experience. Open on three sides, the spacious rooms feature uninterrupted views of the Luvuvhu River below. Watch carefully and you might see elephants roaming off in the distance. Ancient baobab trees and fever tree forests line the landscape, and over three hundred species of colorful birds fill the skies. If you were to look carefully under the rocks and dirt of the nearby Lanner Gorge you might even find artifacts of early mankind. All this adds up to one of the grandest and wildest corners of Africa.
While most international visitors flock to southern Kruger for its accessibility and frequent “Big Five” sightings, northern Kruger offers rich biodiversity, raw wilderness, and vast stretches of solitude. True to its name, The Outpost is a rare off-the-beaten-path paradise for travelers seeking a pure safari experience. Planning a trip to South Africa? Read 9 Tips for Planning a Safari to Kruger National Park.
A Journey to the Edge of Kruger
Reaching The Outpost is an adventure in itself. We flew into Hoedspruit Airport, the closest commercial airport. From there, the lodge arranged a driver for the five-hour trek to the remote corner of the park. The final ninety minutes were a safari drive as we entered the park at golden hour spotting elephants, zebras, and cape buffalo along the way. Another option to reach the lodge is to charter a bush plane to the Pafuri airstrip. The gravel runway, often dotted with animals, is only a twenty-minute drive from The Outpost
Once you arrive, modern distractions fade away. The only access to the outside world is Wifi access in the main lodge space. Cell service is non-existent. The reward is an uninterrupted connection to the sights, sounds, and spectacles of nature.
Immersive Suites with Sweeping views
Perched high on a ridge above the Luvuvhu River, the main lodge is connected to twelve elevated suites by a single wooden pathway. The concrete structures balance minimalist architecture with understated luxury as the sweeping landscapes take center stage.
Each suite is open on three sides with wraparound views—A true immersion amongst the African wilderness. Floor-to-ceiling retractable screens can be raised or lowered at the touch of a button for a seamless transition between indoor comfort and outdoor living. At night, leave the screens up and let yourself be enveloped by the sounds of the bush and the vision of the starry sky. In the morning, the sunrise spilling over the horizon is the perfect timekeeper to get you ready for the early safari drive.
At the heart of the property, the main lodge sits perched in the treetops. The open-air space hosts every meal, all deliciously inspired by local flavors. Between game drives, soak in the pool or sink into a sofa, chilled drink in hand, for some respite during the heat of the day. The lodge also acts as a gathering space for guests to chat, relax, and reflect on the day’s animal sightings.
safari—northern kruger style
Twice a day, we ventured out on games drive with our brilliant field guide, Christa. Her knowledge of the bush was as impressive as her keen spotting skills. On our excursions we saw animals both big and small, from the stately elephant to the towering giraffe, and even the tiny termite which leaves its mark on the Savannah in the form of massive and widespread termite mounds. Each animal plays a central role in this vibrant and untarnished ecosystem.
Our adventures took us to the Lanner Gorge, an impressive canyon known for its dramatic cliffs and ancient rock formations—some layers date back over 250 million years. We enjoyed sundowners on the banks of the Limpopo River looking across to Zimbabwe as the sky turned a beautiful burnt orange.
This corner of Kruger isn’t necessarily the place to check off all of the “Big Five”. Cats are less prevalent here. But what the area lacks in predators, it makes up for in biodiversity, birding, and geologic wonders. Remarkably, this region alone is home to eighty percent of Kruger’s biodiversity, making every drive an opportunity to encounter something new.
The Outpost is perhaps the most magical place I’ve visited, and I can’t wait to return. Visit Rare Earth Retreats’ website to book a stay at The Outpost.
