Luxury Safari Review: Baobab Ridge, Kruger National Park

Last updated on February 11th, 2024 at 09:47 pm

Stretching over 7,000 sq. miles and roughly the same size as the country of Israel, Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the largest national parks in the world. Home to over 147 different species of mammals (and over 500 species of birds), a visit to Kruger is guaranteed to be unlike any experience with nature before. Whether you opt for a self guided drive or an all inclusive safari (highly recommended to book at Baobab Ridge), there’s nothing more thrilling than getting up close and personal to Mufasa in his territory.

Or if you’re like me, you might prefer getting close to Pumba and admiring Mufasa from afar.

Recently, we had the luxury of staying at Baobab Ridge for three unforgettable nights. Keep reading to learn more about why you need to stay here for your next visit to the bush.

Keep in mind that this site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. However, this does not impact my honest reviews and comparisons. I only make recommendations based on personal experience(s), in order to help you make the best decisions while traveling!

Location

Within Kruger, the land is divided up further into different private game reserves. A few of the main reserves include Timbavati, Sabi Sands, Klaserie and Balule.

Baobab ridge is located within the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. Game viewing is relatively on par across all the private reserves, although people have mentioned that Sabi Sands might be more consistent due to the sheer amount of lodges and guides in that area. As mentioned before in my post about what to expect on an African safari, it’s important to have a guide and a tracker to know where the animals will be.

Sabi Sands is also heavily commercialized, making Klaserie (and Baobab Ridge) a great option for people like myself that are really turned off at the idea of “waiting” to see the animals because there’s always a line of 5+ land cruisers in any given viewing spot. (The bush is not a zoo and shouldn’t be treated as such).

Bedrooms

With only seven units on the entire property, the rooms at Baobab Ridge are exceptionally spacious and clean. Each suite comes with high-vaulted ceilings, a king size bed (or two twins), an immaculate bathtub, an indoor/outdoor shower, and. a personal outdoor patio. For families, there is a junior family suite available that comes with a king bed AND two twin beds for the little ones.

All rooms include free daily housekeeping, nightly turndown service, and laundry service. Did I mention laundry service for free?

Game Drives

All game drives are included when you book at Baobab Ridge. You will most likely encounter David as your guide, with over 10+ years of experience in the bush. In a former life, David told us that he worked in the mines up north and migrated to the bush in hopes of a better life. He has a terrific eye for spotting, a great love for the animals, and is very knowledgeable about the different species of wildlife.

Be prepared for early mornings and late nights in the bush. Morning game drives depart at 530am and the afternoon drives start 3pm. Although this may vary from time to time, drives will typically take ~3 hours or longer.

Click here for information on What to Expect on Your First Safari Game Drive.

Outdoor Deck & Pool

After an eventful morning game drive, guests will usually take it easy until the afternoon drive or until it’s time for group dinner. People come to Baobab to relax, unwind, and enjoy nature. Not only is this incredible pool the best amenity at Baobab, but there is also a large watering hole located right in front where the animals will stop by for a drink of water and to cool off under the hot African sun.

A few of us were lucky enough to see a huge group of elephants (and some baby ones) taking a sip from the watering hole. We also saw plenty of jackals, monkeys, and impala roaming around while we sunbathed on the wooden deck.

Food & Drink

Along with game drives, all food and drink (excluding spirits) were included in the stay. While we personally didn’t have any dietary restrictions, the staff were very considerate towards any guest with any special or dietary needs.

Aside from the wildlife viewing, the food was probably the best part of the experience. There was always fresh fruit and juice served with breakfast, along with something savory such as an English breakfast, custom omelette, pancakes, and more.

Lunch was always served about an hour before the afternoon game drive and dinners would usually start about 30 minutes after getting back from the drive. The timing worked well, allowing guests enough time to freshen up before dinner.

The nightly food and ambiance were spectacular. If the weather is good, you’ll be able to enjoy dinner around the fire in an intimate setting with other guests. We met people (mostly couples and families) who were visiting from all over the world, but also got to meet local South Africans.

The connection through traditional African food made an even larger impact to an already unforgettable experience.

Additional Amenities

In addition to the long list of amenities already listed, it’s hard to believe that Baobab offers even more opportunities to make your visit to the bush a truly memorable one. Here are some additional activities to check out during your stay (the majority of which are already included in the rate):

• Fireside meals
• Guided bush walks
• Refreshments during game drives
• On-site massage (not included)

Did you get a chance to experience a safari in luxury at Baobab Ridge? Let me know in the comments below.

Traveling to other parts of Africa? Check out my other travel guides here.