Hotels of Earth

Kapama Karula

★★★★★ Kapama Private Game Reserve, Phalaborwa, ZA

9.9 guest rating· 38 reviews

The five stars

Kapama Karula holds a five-star rating in its official classification, the requirement for every property in the Hotels of Earth collection.

The service side of those stars shows in its listing: Fitness facilities, Fitness center, Swimming pool, Room service and Terrace.

About this hotel

Luxurious Safari Experience at Kapama Karula

Luxurious Suites with Private Heated Pool

Indulge in the opulence of the spacious suites at Kapama Karula, featuring heated swimming pools, outdoor showers, and elegant decor. Relax on the outside deck area with sun loungers and enjoy views over the Klaserie River.

Exquisite Dining and Relaxation

Experience a blend of contemporary African ambiance at the modern lounge and bar. Enjoy a romantic dinner for two in the library upon request. Unwind at the luxury spa surrounded by glass walls, offering serene views of the African bush. Relax in the multipurpose library or make use of the complimentary WiFi and internet stations.

Unforgettable Game Drives and Family-Friendly Accommodation

Embark on thrilling game drives in open safari vehicles with experienced rangers. Each suite offers comfort and convenience, including amenities like a stocked minibar, Nespresso coffee machine, and gas-heated fireplace. Family suites provide a spacious retreat with separate living and children's bedrooms.

Book now for an unforgettable safari getaway at Kapama Karula!

Rooms & rates

Superior Villa

Sleeps 2 · 90 m² · Queen Bed

  • Desk
  • Air conditioning
  • Bathrobe
  • Private bathroom
  • Separate bathtub and shower

Luxury Villa - Superior

Sleeps 2 · 90 m² · Extra-large double bed (Super-king size)

  • Desk
  • Air conditioning
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Bathrobe
  • Private bathroom

Luxury Family Villa - Superior

Sleeps 4 · 170 m² · 2× Twin bed

  • Desk
  • Air conditioning
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Bathrobe
  • Private bathroom

Amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Outdoor pool
  • Pool with view
  • Swimming pool
  • Fitness/spa locker rooms
  • Spa/wellness center
  • Spa/wellness center services
  • Sauna
  • Hot spring bath
  • Fitness facilities
  • Free Parking
  • Accessible parking
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast takeaway containers
Show all 80 amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Air conditioning
  • Sun loungers or beach chairs
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Business center
  • Room service
  • 24-hour security
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Airport shuttle
  • Airport shuttle (free)
  • Access to health care professionals
  • Babysitting/child services
  • Beauty Services
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Cashless payment available
  • Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Delivered food - securely covered
  • Designated smoking area
  • Entertainment staff
  • Evening entertainment
  • Face masks for guests available
  • Facilities for disabled guests
  • First aid kit available
  • Food delivered to guest room
  • Fruits
  • Game drives
  • Guest room sealed after cleaning
  • Guest rooms disinfected between stays
  • Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
  • Hammam
  • Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
  • Heating
  • Ironing service
  • Key access
  • Kid meals
  • Laundry
  • Laundry washed per local authority guidelines
  • Luggage storage
  • Manicure
  • Massage services
  • Meeting/banquet facilities
  • Outdoor fireplace
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Pedicure
  • Physical distancing in dining areas
  • Physical distancing rules followed
  • Private check-in/check-out
  • Process in place to check health of guests
  • Safety deposit box
  • Sanitized tableware & silverware
  • Shared lounge/TV area
  • Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
  • Shuttle service
  • Smoke alarms
  • Soundproof rooms
  • Special diet menus - on request
  • Staff adhere to local safety protocols
  • Steam room
  • Sun terrace
  • Terrace
  • Thermometers for guests provided by property
  • Walking tours
  • Yoga classes

Location

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Kapama Private Game Reserve, Phalaborwa, ZA

Check-in
from 02:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Check-out
until 11:00 AM

What guests say9.938 reviews

+ Exceptional staff+ Superb food
Cleanliness10.0
Service10.0
Location9.7
Room Quality10.0
Amenities9.7
Value for Money9.8

Karula is a first class experience from top to bottom. The amount of luxury is almost too much.

10.0

The whole Karula experience is not to be believed. It is a first class place all around. The rooms are enormous, the meals are great, and every possible need is taken care of. As a bonus, our guide Priscilla and tracker Suggest were incredible.

There was nothing not to like.

Richard · US · 2026-05-16

A beautiful property, but one experience significantly impacted our stay

9.0

This was one of the most amazing places we have ever stayed. The setting in the bush is breathtaking, and the rooms are luxurious, beautifully designed, and incredibly comfortable — having a private pool was a real highlight. The restaurants and lounge areas are tastefully decorated and create a wonderful atmosphere throughout the property. The staff were outstanding. A special shout‑out to Advice, Sindele, Elvis and Desire for their warmth, professionalism, and the way they consistently went out of their way to make us feel welcome. Their care made the experience truly memorable. The food and snacks were creative, delicious, and of consistently high quality and the wine and drinks selection was impressive.

I would have given this property a 10, but one issue unfortunately marred the entire experience. During our two‑night stay, both of us fell ill and ended up missing meals and game drives. When we raised this with the manager in person, the reaction was disappointing — there was no real acknowledgment, concern, or empathy. We asked whether they could investigate the possibility of food contamination, but the response was limited to a vague “we’ll look into that,” with no follow‑up. For a property of this calibre, the lack of customer care in a situation like this was surprising. Senior staff should be trained to handle guest concerns professionally and with genuine attention. Instead, we were left feeling as though raising the issue was unwelcome and that the assumption was that it couldn’t possibly be on their side. It left a bitter aftertaste, which is unfortunate given the high cost and otherwise excellent aspects of the stay. The message we walked away with was: enjoy the property, but don’t complain or expect your concerns to be taken seriously.

Alpinechick · CH · 2026-04-09

Excelente escolha!

10.0

O hotel é incrível, apenas 10 suítes… amplas e com piscina privativa … toda arquitetura clean e elegante com uma pegada de “África” …A equipe é gentil, prestativa, dedicada a cada hóspede. As refeições excelentes, bem como as bebidas incluídas nas diárias! A localização- muito perto do aeroporto facilita a logística… o transfer oferecido pelo hotel já é um game (estrada dentro do parque e já é possível avistar animais). Nosso ranger Mike nos levou aos lugares certos para ver e observar os animais!

Nada! Tudo perfeito!

Cristiane · BR · 2025-12-02

Fantastique, fabuleux, extraordinaire ! À ne pas manquer.

10.0

Nous avons eu le plaisir de revenir pour la 7ieme fois et aurions aimé pouvoir resté et plus longtemps. L’endroit est exceptionnel, tout est proche du parfait!

Christophe · FR · 2025-08-25

exceptional

10.0

It was exceptional. The staff, the food, the drives, the room. I’ve clearly been doing the bush incorrectly.

nothing

Thembelihle · ZA · 2025-06-17

Superb

9.0
Gladys · ZA · 2025-04-28

Hotels of Earth · questions

Is Kapama Karula really a five-star hotel?
Yes. Its own classification data carries five stars; that rating, not a style label, is what puts a property in this collection.

Good to know

Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

A deposit may be required at the property.

Parking

Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

Internet

WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Pets

Pets are not allowed.

Children and extra bed policy

Children of any age are allowed.

Children up to and including 2 years old stay for ZAR 200 per person per night when using an existing bed.

You haven't added any cots.

You haven't added any extra beds.

Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.