Hans Merensky Hotel & Spa

Hans Merensky Hotel & Spa: Located right alongside the Kruger Park boundary fence, Hans Merensky is one of the best known and most natural of all South Africa's golf courses. With its own fair share of wildlife to keep the naturalist in you fully satisfied, don't be surprised to see giraffe, zebras, warthogs, impala, monkeys and baboons roaming the fairways. Hippos and crocodile can also be seen in and around some of the water hazards.

Notwithstanding the wildlife attractions, this is a very good quality golf course in its own right. Expansively laid out across gently undulating terrain, the good-width, well-maintained fairways are usually flanked by a generous measure of semi-rough, before small trees and bushes take over. Ball-finding from wayward tee-shots is not too much of a problem, but working the ball back through the trees may interfere with a direct shot to the green.

The par-3's are all excellent, three of them requiring a shot over water to find the safety of the green. The only other water you'll encounter comes at the par-5 16th, dangerously defending the front of the green. A small number of thatch-roofed bungalows discreetly line a few of the holes, but not to the detriment of the naturalness of the course, or your ability to hit the big timber from the tee.

As with its neighbour, the Kruger National Park, there is a feeling of openness and space here at Hans Merensky, and a knowledge that at any point during your round something may wander out of the bushes that's worth getting your camera out for.