Unfenced Kruger National Park Golf Course: A Haven for Lions, Leopards, and Hyenas Run Wild
Experience the thrill of playing golf in the heart of the African wilderness at Skukuza Golf Club Set within the untamed beauty of Kruger National Park, this fenceless course offers a truly wild and unforgettable golfing adventure
Professional golfers often express frustration with rowdy crowds, but at a South African course, the audience takes on a whole new meaning. At Skukuza Golf Club in Kruger National Park, spectators have been known to include actual wild animals, earning the course its reputation as the "wildest course in the world." In one notable incident, spectators were reported to have feasted on a giraffe in the middle of the third fairway.
Rivalry for the title is abundant, with fairways in southeastern Australia populated by kangaroos, water hazards in Florida hosting alligators, and South Africa's Limpopo province serving as a grazing ground for zebras, wildebeest, and antelope at Legend Golf and Safari Resorts Signature Course. At Skukuza, players can witness impressively large herbivores during a round without the hindrance of fencing.
This implies the presence of predators, and there are many of them. Lions lounge lazily near a tee box in the afternoon sun, while hyenas linger nearby to grab leftovers from the next hunt of the prides; a perfectly camouflaged leopard lurks in the dense bushes behind a green, and a Nile crocodile - holding a fresh kill in its jaws - watches golfers from the shores of the appropriately named Lake Panic.
Six bull sharks accidentally found their way onto an Australian golf course. Then they disappeared.
Tree-felling elephants, warring hippos and more are all part of a day's work for head greenskeeper Jean Rossouw. "Our slogan is the wildest course in the world for a reason," Rossouw told CNN.
"We are committed to preserving the natural beauty of the national park, allowing the animals to freely roam in their natural habitat...that's the experience we aim to provide for our visitors. Our golf course offers everything you need to enjoy the outdoors."
A male lion surveys the view from the 12th tee.
Indalo Wiltshire Skukuza Golf Club
Safety first
Rossouw, who grew up in the two-million-hectare national park, was uniquely qualified for the greenkeeping job he began in 2016, with a set of responsibilities unlike any other.
Ensuring the safety of staff and players is the top priority, with precautionary measures taken before the first tee off. Each morning, Rossouw's team conducts a thorough cart drive around the nine-hole course to assess animal presence and check for any overnight damage, such as carcasses, broken branches from elephants, or holes dug by burrowing species like warthogs.
If the team determines that the course is unsafe, golfers are not allowed to play. If potentially dangerous animals are observed in one area, nearby holes may be closed while the others remain open. Rossouw explained that any occupying animals are gently encouraged to move away from the area, but if they are not swayed by food, they are left to leave on their own.
In August 2022, the effectiveness of the club's safety protocols was demonstrated when a giraffe was killed on the third fairway, prompting the closure of the course. After a feeding frenzy by lions and hyenas, the carcass was removed by South African National Parks (SANParks). The course was reopened once the predators were successfully led away into the bush by rangers. See more on our Instagram page @skukuzagolfclub.
The course is monitored throughout the day by staff and they stay in touch with park rangers. Before playing, all golfers are required to sign an "activity indemnity form" in addition to the waiver signed by visitors at any of the nine main gates. Rossouw stated that there have been no major incidents so far and he is confident that this trend will continue as long as golfers remain aware of the unique environment in which they are playing.
"People clearly demonstrate respect for the animals and this mutual respect is important," he commented. "Many people assume that if there's a lion on the fairway, it will immediately attack you - but that's not true. The lion has already noticed and detected you long before you've noticed them, so they will try to avoid you first."
Players must sign an indemnity form before teeing up at Skukuza.
Indalo Wiltshire Skukuza Golf Club
Disruptors
Given the array of bite force on display around the course, Rossouws choice for the animal he is most wary of may come as a surprise.
At the par-three ninth hole, there is a shoutout for the hippos that wallow in the waters. However, they usually only come onto land at night, posing a lower threat. Rossouw is relatively untroubled, except during winter when the hippos search for grass, or during battles between bulls moving in and out of the water.
Two bulls fight for dominance in Lake Panic as other hippos watch on.
Indalo Wiltshire Skukuza Golf Club
Instead, the buffalo is the one he keeps a close eye on. With a weight of up to 1,800 pounds (816 kilograms) and a pair of menacing horns, combined with a surprising burst of speed, they are a formidable force.
"They're so unpredictable," he explained. "They've chased me a few times in the golf cart, so we definitely keep a closer eye on them."
Buffalo are a major cause of damage to the golf course, posing a challenge for the greenkeeping team. A recent incident saw a herd of almost 200 buffaloes trample and cover a fairway with dung, highlighting the significant impact of these hooved animals on the course. Surprisingly, it is not the elephants, but rather the buffalo and antelope that are the primary culprits for the destruction caused. Despite the inconvenience, the team managed to find a positive aspect in the form of free fertilizer from the incident.
The team finds relief in the absence of bunkers, a deliberate choice made due to the potential presence of hippos and crocodiles nesting in the sand. However, the abundance of trees serves as "aerial bunkers," keeping the workload high. "Despite the disruption and challenges of dealing with the animals and maintaining the course, I believe the team is doing a great job," Rossouw commented.
Lions deal relatively little damage to the course compared with other animals.
Indalo Wiltshire Skukuza Golf Club
A new era
Today, the club is unrecognizable from its humble beginnings as a few worn holes on an abandoned landing strip back in 1972. The "browns" greens and makeshift clubhouse bar have been replaced, and the course is now open to the public, not just exclusive to club members and park staff, as it was before 1999.
The club has implemented practical upgrades and a proactive social media strategy to take advantage of the viral popularity of the wildlife on the course. They now have a dedicated "spectators" tab on their Instagram account, showcasing the animals and the unique opportunity to play golf in close proximity to them. This has proven to be a successful marketing tactic for the club.
In September, the club maintained its streak of more than 1,000 rounds played for the fifth consecutive month. Members can play a nine-hole round for 77 rand ($4), while non-members and overseas visitors have the option to rent clubs and play for 297 rand ($16). The course also offers alternative tee boxes to change the length of holes for golfers who want to play 18 holes.
Membership, now available worldwide, has increased as well, and Rossouw is proud to work at a destination that is becoming increasingly popular. However, the greenkeeper's most cherished moments are when there are no golfers in sight. During these times, he enjoys a leisurely drive around the course, taking a moment to enjoy a cup of coffee.
On a particularly special morning, he may park and quietly observe a pack of his favorite animals: African wild dogs.
Endangered African hunting dogs are a rare sight at Skukuza.
Indalo Wiltshire Skukuza Golf Club
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are just over 1,400 of these skittish and highly endangered animals left in the wild. Despite the rare sightings, every buffalo charge or divot is more than worthwhile. He said, "There's no better place to work."
"Hopefully its part of peoples bucket lists, even if theyre not golfers, just to come and enjoy the facility. Golf or no golf its one of the things Im sure people need to do."
