18 On The Hill review: a luxury tented safari in the Greater Kruger

We want to start our 18 On The Hill review with the details, since those are what really stood out to us. After staying at this new luxury tented lodge in the Greater Kruger, we were especially impressed by the food, the beautiful setting, the spacious rooms, and most of all, how thoughtfully everything was put together.

We're Vikki and Sian from Marula Hill Travel, and we make a point of visiting safari lodges ourselves to get a real sense of what it's like to stay there. With our team's 25 years of safari-planning experience across South Africa and beyond, these personal visits help us recommend the best lodge for each traveller.

18 On The Hill is a luxury tented safari lodge in the Greater Kruger. It offers spacious rooms, great food, and exciting game viewing, all set in a landscape of hills, valleys, rivers, and tamboti forest.

While we were there, we saw lions, leopards, rhinos, and giraffes. But what really stuck with us were the small touches: delicious meals on hot plates, amazing breakfasts, a super comfortable super king bed, and a team that was flexible when something special happened in the bush.

The food was a real highlight

We have to talk about the food first because it was a real highlight of our stay.

We loved the lamb chops, salmon, and the fantastic breakfasts. Every meal was well made and nicely presented.

And then there were the hot plates.

It may seem like a small thing, but we both noticed our food always came on hot plates.

When you eat every meal at a safari lodge, these details really matter. Good, consistent food can make a big difference to your whole stay. At 18 On The Hill, we honestly looked forward to every meal. If food is an important part of your holiday, we think this is one of the lodge's real strengths.

A separate kosher kitchen

One thing worth knowing, because very few Greater Kruger lodges can offer it: 18 On The Hill has a completely separate kosher kitchen, with designated meat and dairy sections, used only under the supervision of trained and approved Mashgichim.

We plan a lot of kosher safaris, and this is normally the hardest part to solve. It usually means bringing in a kitchen team and equipment, or narrowing the search down to two or three properties in the whole country. Having a dedicated kosher kitchen already in place changes what is possible for observant travellers who want a tented safari rather than a lodge.

Hills, valleys and tamboti forest

We also loved the setting at 18 On The Hill.

There's a lot of variety here. We drove through hills and valleys, along the river, and through beautiful tamboti forest. The changing scenery meant no two game drives felt the same. Sometimes we were looking for animals, and other times we just enjoyed the drive itself.

For us, that is an important part of safari.

Wildlife sightings are always exciting, but a safari is about more than just checking animals off a list. The setting, the changing light, the sounds of the bush, and the quiet moments in between are all part of what makes it special.

And the sunsets were remarkable. Watching the light change over the hills was a simple moment that reminded us why we love being in the African bush.

Our wildlife experience at 18 On The Hill

We had some amazing wildlife encounters during our stay.

We saw lion, leopard, rhino and giraffe, among other species.

But one experience stood out to us because it showed something more than just the wildlife.

Wild dogs had unexpectedly been spotted outside the usual game-viewing hours.

Instead of following the usual schedule, the team took guests out to try and see them. We loved that. Seeing African wild dogs is always exciting, and animals don't follow a set schedule. The team noticed something special was happening and adjusted. For us, that said a great deal about the lodge.

Great hospitality isn't always about big gestures. Sometimes it's just about noticing the important moments and responding to them.

What are the tented suites like?

The accommodation at 18 On The Hill feels like a classic tented safari, but with plenty of space and comfort.

We especially loved the super king bed. After early mornings and long hours in the bush, it was a real treat.

Then there was the bathroom. It was enormous.

Having so much space made coming back to our suite after a game drive really enjoyable. You get the charm and connection to nature of a tented stay, but you don't have to give up any comfort. If you love the idea of a tented safari but still want space and luxury, we think this is a great choice.

A well-considered Greater Kruger safari lodge

The word that kept coming to mind during our stay was thoughtful. It wasn't about one big feature, but about lots of small things done well.

The quality of the food. The hot plates. The comfortable bed. The enormous bathroom. The beautiful game-drive routes. And the willingness to take guests out when wild dogs unexpectedly appeared.

Each of these things might seem small on its own, but together they really shape the feel of the lodge.

From our experience at Marula Hill Travel, we know that luxury means different things to different people. More and more, we believe real luxury is about getting the important things right, not just having more. That's something 18 On The Hill did really well during our stay.

Who would we recommend 18 On The Hill for?

There isn't one best safari lodge for everyone. That's why visiting lodges ourselves is so valuable to us at Marula Hill Travel.

Based on our experience, we'd recommend 18 On The Hill to travellers looking for a luxury tented safari in the Greater Kruger, especially if you value great food, spacious rooms, beautiful scenery, and thoughtful service.

We'd especially suggest it for travellers who love good food and want the feel of a tented safari without giving up comfort. In the end, picking the right safari lodge isn't about the longest list of features. It's about finding the place that matches how you want to experience Africa.

Our final thoughts on 18 On The Hill

We left 18 On The Hill with some great memories.

Yes, we saw lions, leopards, rhinos, and giraffes. We also enjoyed beautiful drives through tamboti forest, hills and valleys, time by the river, and some wonderful sunsets. But there were also delicious lamb chops, salmon, and fantastic breakfasts. We loved the super king bed, the huge bathroom, and getting our food served on hot plates.

And there was that unexpected opportunity to head out and see wild dogs.

Each of these details might seem small on their own, but together they say a lot.

18 On The Hill feels like a safari lodge that has been carefully designed with guests in mind.

For us, that was its biggest strength.

Vikki & Sian
Marula Hill Travel

Frequently asked questions about 18 On The Hill

Where is 18 On The Hill?

18 On The Hill is located in the Greater Kruger region of South Africa. The surrounding area includes hills, valleys, river frontage and tamboti woodland, giving game drives plenty of scenic variety alongside the wildlife experience.

Is 18 On The Hill a tented safari lodge?

Yes. 18 On The Hill is a luxury tented safari lodge, combining the atmosphere and connection to the bush associated with tented accommodation with spacious interiors, large bathrooms and comfortable super king beds.

What is the food like at 18 On The Hill?

Based on our stay, the food is one of 18 On The Hill's strengths. We particularly enjoyed the lamb chops, salmon and breakfasts. We also appreciated smaller details, such as meals arriving on properly heated plates, which contributed to a consistently enjoyable dining experience.

What wildlife can you see at 18 On The Hill?

Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed on safari. During our stay, however, we saw lion, leopard, rhino and giraffe, as well as African wild dogs during an unexpected sighting outside the normal game-viewing schedule.

Does 18 On The Hill offer kosher catering?

Yes. 18 On The Hill has a completely separate kosher kitchen with designated meat and dairy sections, used only under the supervision of trained and approved Mashgichim. Very few lodges in the Greater Kruger can offer this, so it is worth raising early if kosher catering matters to your safari.

Who is 18 On The Hill best suited to?

We think 18 On The Hill is particularly worth considering for travellers looking for a luxury tented safari in the Greater Kruger who value good food, spacious accommodation, varied scenery and thoughtful hospitality. As with any safari lodge, the right choice depends on the individual traveller and their wider itinerary.

Vikki Jackson and Sian Loehrer are the founders of Marula Hill Travel. We plan boutique safaris across South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Namibia, and Mozambique. We visit every lodge we sell.