I've played Leopard Creek seven times. The first time I walked onto the first tee I was so distracted by the hippo in the water hazard that I four-putted from 12 feet.
Leopard Creek sits on the southern boundary of Kruger National Park. The Crocodile River runs along most of the back nine. On a good day you'll see elephants browsing the tree line from the 15th fairway.
The course was designed by Gary Player and opened in 1996. It is, by every metric I apply, the most extraordinary golf experience in Africa and one of the top five I've had anywhere in the world.
The par-3 13th is the signature hole — 186 yards across a loop of the Crocodile River. The green is on a peninsula. Everything around it is either river, riverbank, or bush. There's a ranger stationed there during play. That tells you what you need to know about how seriously the wildlife takes its part in proceedings.
The club is private. You cannot simply book a tee time. Every round here goes through a hotel arrangement — either the adjacent Malelane Sun or, more often, as part of a longer safari-and-golf itinerary. This is how we send clients here. It is worth every layer of logistics involved.
Green fees are in the region of R2,500 (approximately £105). For what you experience, that is the best value in golf. Full stop.
I've had clients call me from the 15th fairway. One said he'd seen a herd of impala cross the boundary wire while he was lining up a chip. Another sent me a photograph of a crocodile approximately four metres from his ball in the rough beside the 17th. He made bogey. I consider that a win.
If you have been thinking about a golf and safari trip and have not yet committed: I will say this plainly. Do not keep putting it off. This is one of those trips that people describe as life-changing and actually mean it.
James Kinloch
Golf Travel Specialist · View profile →
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