Property

The small South African holiday town where zebras and giraffes roam the streets

Kirsten Minnaar • 28 September 2026

Marloth Park in Mpumalanga is a holiday town where wild animals roam between homes and the Kruger National Park just across the Crocodile River.

The town lies on the southern boundary of Kruger, between Malelane and Komatipoort. It covers 3,000 hectares and combines residential areas with extensive natural bushveld.

Marloth Park was opened as a holiday township in 1972 before being formally established in 1977. It is named after Rudolf Marloth, a German-born South African botanist, and the indigenous Aloe marlothii plant.

Today, it has become a popular destination for visitors looking to experience wildlife without staying inside a traditional game reserve.

One of the defining features of Marloth Park is that many animals are not confined by fences within the residential section.

Giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, nyala, impala, bushbuck, warthog, baboons, monkeys and other species can move freely through the bush and between properties.

The town also borders the Crocodile River, which forms the southern boundary of Kruger National Park. From the river, visitors can look across into the national park and may spot larger animals along the opposite bank.

Marloth Park itself has four of the Big Five, although dangerous game is managed differently from other wildlife.

Lion, buffalo and rhino are confined to the Lionspruit section of the park. Visitors can access Lionspruit in private vehicles, although some routes may require a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Elephants are not resident in Marloth Park, but they are sometimes visible in or around the Crocodile River in Kruger. There have also been reports of lions moving out of Kruger and into Marloth Park.

Marloth Park attracts tourists and buyers

The Crocodile Bridge entrance to Kruger is about 14km away from Marloth Park, and the Malelane Gate is approximately 35km away. This gives visitors access to the national park for day trips and game drives.

The town is also positioned close to Mozambique and Eswatini, which makes it a convenient stop for travellers exploring the region.

Activities in and around Marloth Park include game drives, guided bush walks, cycling, mountain biking, quad biking, horse riding and fishing.

Visitors can also arrange tiger-fishing trips, night drives and other excursions in the surrounding Lowveld.

Birdwatching is another major attraction. More than 350 bird species have been recorded in the area, including fish eagles, kingfishers, rollers, storks, eagles and owls. Some migratory species are present between September and March.

Further afield, attractions include the Lowveld National Botanical Garden, Shangana Cultural Village and the Makhonjwa Mountains near Barberton.

The Makhonjwa Mountains, part of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, contain some of the oldest exposed geological formations on Earth, dating back to about 3.8 billion years ago.

The wildlife experience has also created a residential property market that caters heavily to holidaymakers and investors.

Pam Golding Properties said in 2023 that investors were buying vacant stands in Marloth Park to build homes for leisure rental income.

At the time, the area principal for Nkomazi, Gerhard van Niekerk, said demand for vacant stands had increased sharply, with plots averaging about R320,000.

The stands were generally between 1,900 m² and 2,200 m², offering buyers the opportunity to build holiday homes surrounded by bushveld.

According to Lightstone figures cited by Pam Golding Properties, freehold homes had a median price of R900,000 in 2022, up 69.2% over five years and 110.3% over 10 years.

Vacant plots had a median price of R250,000, representing growth of 150% over five years and 201.2% over 10 years.

Van Niekerk said the town attracted buyers from across South Africa, including retirees and younger buyers looking to build holiday-rental properties.

Marloth Park also has a small commercial base, including restaurants, shops, a filling station and other basic services.