Needles Lodge

We had an absolutely amazing stay at Needles Lodge. We only stayed for 2 nights, but would definitely come back if in the area. The lodge itself is super nice and the location is perfect for game drives. The staff are all super nice and welcoming. They really made us feel at home. We took the all-day game drive with Glen which was brilliant as well!

We visited Needles in February 2025. Everything was just perfect! The friendly and service minded staff (especially Philip). The accommodation was exactly as we had imagined a stay near a safari park would be; spacious common areas where people gathered, and wonderfully clean and fresh rooms. The food was excellent! Incredibly good guides were arranged by Needles for our safaris in the park.

This is our very first Safari trip and I am so glad I chose to go with Needles Lodge. From my first inquiry about the stay to our very last farewell email, there was nothing short of warmth, hospitality and professionalism from Gayle, Denis and their team including Lyn and Phillip. I made a few requests for our itinerary to fit a 9yo and they accommodated us. The lodge is small but beautiful and fits right in with its surroundings/ the bush. Kutu packs came to visit every evening and the resident bush babies are adorable. The bed was comfortable and the room was just perfect for us with huge tub and window to view wildlife outside. The opened air lobby and dining areas are beautiful. The food…..I looked forward to every meal at the lodge. The chef is just so talented. To be honest, the food this good in a remote area was the last thing i expected. They truly made the best food with available ingredients coming from different coasts and regions. To complement the excellent food was a huge selection of wine onsite and the hosts do know their wine. Communal dining was enjoyable meeting and socializing with hosts and other guests. Gayle was so kind asking my picky eating son what his favorite food was and asked the chef to make fresh gourmet mac n cheese for him next day. Thank you, Gayle. The game drives were quite amazing and we lucked out with our driver who was such a wealth of knowledge with passion for the animals and the land. The drive can be long for children but my kid was doing alright. The morning and nights were cold since it was winter and the road can be dusty. But we saw all big 5 on our first day and a long list of beautiful birds that our driver could name every single one and explained further. He even pointed out a snake. We opted out the Sunset drive with jet lag and exhaustion catching up on our 5 week long trip. The second drive was equally amazing with multiple sightings of white rhinos. We also borrowed bikes and rode to the river to see some kind of birds on the river bank. It was a nice ride. Overall, it was a great trip and if I had time, I’d join other tours to surrounding countries too. Highly recommend.

We absolutely loved our stay at Needles Lodge – everything about this place is magical! It’s just minutes from the entrance to Kruger National Park, yet there’s already so much wildlife around the lodge itself – kudus, zebras, and warthogs casually wandering by at sunset to greet the guests. The rooms are equipped with every comfort you could need, but what truly sets Needles apart is the atmosphere and the food. Lynn, Denis, and Philip go out of their way to connect with every guest. The communal dinner is a brilliant idea – it brings together travelers from all over the world to share stories, tips, and even game sightings. As a vegan, I felt especially cared for – I had let them know in advance, and they prepared the most delicious meals for me. I truly felt at home here and will definitely return next time I’m in the south of Kruger!

Our visits to the Kruger over many years has always found us staying in the park and self driving. On this trip we decided to leave the planning and catering to someone else. We honestly couldn’t have been happier with this decision. Denis and his staff couldn’t have been more welcoming or kinder. They went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable, well watered and well fed. The guides were very knowledgeable and made our daily drives very rewarding. The accommodation was extremely exactly what we had hoped for. All our best to a great team, Tony and Fiona

We’ve had the most wonderful stay at Needles Lodge in Marloth Park. Denis, Lyn, Philip and the team made us feel welcome from the beginning. We didn’t manage to book a game drive beforehand, but thanks to the team we got our very own driver John who loved to drive us through the Kruger Park. We would love to come back and enjoy the kindness of everyone of the team of Needles Lodge!