Protea Hotel - Less than 100 Meters from Kruger Gate at Kruger National Park
Written: Jan 19 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: In the thick of the best-known safari area in South Africa.
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: The Protea Hotel Kruger Gate is in the middle of the great outdoors, luxurious accommodations, and is a fabulous place to witness the call of the wild.
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| TheSmartTraveler's Full Review: Protea Hotel Kruger Gate |
On our Safari to South Africa in December 2008, our tour was booked at the Protea Hotel Kruger Gate. As we exited our bus under the towering indigenous portico, we knew we were about to experience something special at the 4-Star Protea Hotel Kruger Gate, located on the banks of the Sabie River in Mpumalanga. We were escorted to our room under a world of suspended timber walkways, threading through indigenous forests and the sounds of birds singing. Our deluxe room gave us the impression of living in a tree house free as a bird. The veranda and walkway to our air-conditioned room was at a level normally the sole domain of the variety of birds found in the area. Our room had a king size bed, desk, sofa and chairs, and deluxe bathroom complete with everything you needed. All rooms at this hotel are air conditioned and have satellite television, mini-bar, personal tea and coffee making facilities and a spacious working area.
We enjoyed a buffet-style breakfast served in the restaurant. Lunch was served on the wooden pool bar deck. As the dinner drum sounded, our group enjoyed dining under diamond bright stars at the Lapa Restaurant to the sounds of the bush. We enjoyed a sumptuous buffet of true African cuisine, including game and choices from huge pots of African delicacies. The last night of our stay here, my wife and I arrived for dinner a couple of minutes before the gates were opened to let the guests into the restaurant. A female employee dressed in local dress standing high on the wall announced that she needed a strong warrior to hit the ceremonial gong with a special stick. Prior to walking to the Lapa I enjoyed a couple of glasses of South African wine. My wife encouraged me to volunteer as the strong warrior. I grabbed the stick, reared back in my best impression of Mickey Mantle, and struck the stick as hard as I could into the gong. I could see the ball going over the 461 foot mark in dead center field of the old Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. My swing into the gong made such a loud sound that my wife and young children nearby had to cover their ears. Unfortunately for the Lapa Restaurant, the ball did not go out of the park; however, my swing did break their ceremonial stick into pieces. This female employee gave me the title as the strongest warrior ever to dine at the Lapa Restaurant.
While drinking a glass of African wine on the unique view deck at the sundowner bar area, overlooking the mysterious Sabie River flowing through the Kruger National park, we enjoyed front row seats to a very spectacular display of Africa. The deck allowed us the opportunity to come within touching distance of Africa's impressive variety of game.
The Protea Hotel Kruger Gate is a birdwatchers` paradise. We were awakened at dawn to the cry of fish eagles. After our wake up call, we went to the lobby and were given a box breakfast. We boarded an open-air vehicle for about a four to five hour game drive in Kruger National Park. On this drive we hit the jackpot by seeing the "Big Five", lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and white rhinoceros. We also spotted giraffes, zebras, antelopes, wildebeests, impalas, baboons, and so many types of birds. When we returned to the hotel, we showered and took a swim in the pool overlooking the outskirts of Kruger National Park and the African terrain. Impalas could be seen from the pool area. We also enjoyed a sunset drive in Kruger National Park.
There are historic towns very close to the hotel with spectacular sights such as Pilgrim`s Rest, Gods Window, waterfalls and Bourke`s Luck Potholes.
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: John Isaacs
Location: Miami, Florida
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I get the shakes if I don't take at least 5 good trips a year.
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