The newly built Skukuza Safari Lodge is expected to open soon, with construction recently completed.

The 128-room lodge is a three-star facility with a combination of eight luxury suites, standard rooms and family rooms, including universal access rooms.

According to SANParks, the Skukuza Safari Lodge has been built to widen the guest base for SANParks and Kruger National Park, and to provide accommodation for tourists and delegates of the conference centre.

The body says the conference centre is underutilised because of a lack of suitable accommodation. Skukuza currently offers camping, chalets and corporate-style houses.

With this new product, SANParks hopes to attract the local emerging tourist market and draw international groups and FIT travellers, for whom camping or self-catering would not be attractive.