Schedule of events

What, where, when and how? Here's everything you need to know ...

Friday, 4th April 2025

For those arriving on Friday, join us for an intimate, buffet-style rehearsal dinner at 6 PM under the stars in the Boma area. It’s the perfect chance to mingle and get to know each other before the big day. The team at Kruger Gate Hotel knows how to serve up an incredible feast, so come hungry!

Check-in is from 2 PM. After settling into your room, join us by the infinity pool overlooking the Sabie River for a casual meet-and-greet. We will be there from 12:30 PM. At 3:30 PM, our scavenger hunt officially kicks off! Don’t worry, we’ll provide all the details soon. For now, start prepping your game face for some friendly competition—there’s an amazing prize waiting to be revealed at the rehearsal dinner for the winning team!

Saturday, 5th April 2025

For the adventurous early risers, join us for the Early Bird Game Drive from 5:30 AM to 12 PM—don’t worry, a packed brekkie is included to fuel your morning! While you’re out in the bush, get ready to play our twist on Game Drive Bingo. It’s not just about spotting the Big 5—keep your eyes peeled for all the fascinating wildlife that calls this place home.

Later in the day, head over to the River Boma for the ceremony, starting promptly at 3 PM. Grab a seat, sip on a refreshing drink, and share a few laughs while we all wait for Maria to make her grand entrance and officially kick off the big day. All the info you need for the wedding ceremony & reception will be waiting for you in your hotel room.

Sunday, 6th April 2025

As our wedding celebrations come to a close, we’d love to spend one last morning together! Let's meet for breakfast at 8 AM to relive all the amazing memories from the night before—dancing, laughter, and everything in between. It’s the perfect chance to say goodbye (or see you later) in a relaxed, laid-back setting.

While checkout is officially at 11 AM, there’s no rush to leave. Take your time to soak up the stunning views, lounge by the pool, or simply unwind and savour the moment. For those wanting to make the most of their time in the area, consider venturing into Kruger National Park for some big 5 game viewing, rustic evening vistas and connecting with 'the untouched nature' that is Africa.

The Venue

The Kruger Gate Hotel

Directions

Based on our experience driving up to Kruger from Johannesburg, we've identified two good routes to drive. One is a quick route, and the other is more scenic—check them out here.

Address

Kruger National Park, On The Sabi River At The Paul Kruger Gate, R536, Skukuza, 1350

Contact number

013 735 5671

Kruger Gate Hotel Accommodation

Here are the accommodation options available at a SPECIAL WEDDING DISCOUNTED RATE! Each room comes with a luxurious breakfast buffet already included in the rate, valued at R440 per person.

To book your stay, simply download this document, fill in your preferences and email it to conferencing@krugergatehotel.com. The friendly team at Kruger Gate Hotel will get in touch with you directly to confirm your booking and provide payment details.

A little bonus: Friday night’s dinner is on us, so there’s no need to include it in your reservation.

Kruger Deluxe | R4420 for 2

This room features 1 King bed, a living area with a workstation, a smart TV, and a sofa bed for one child under 12. Rooms include a modern bathroom with a walk-in shower and toilet—everything you need to dress up for the celebrations and enjoy a peaceful sleep after the reception.

Kruger Luxury | R5136 for 2

The Kruger Luxury Room offers all the amenities you need (mentioned in the Delixe) with an added touch of elegance and style. It also has a private patio for you to enjoy a peaceful morning cuppa.

Kruger Deluxe Family room with 2 beds to meet your family's needs at R5590.00 per room per night, based on 2 guests only. If you have 2 children under 12 stay, they stay for FREE. There will be a third and fourth-person supplement charge for guests over 12 years old.

Deluxe Family | From R5590 for 2

Attire

Look good, feel good. And that's exactly what we're after! When we take photos, and all of you will be in them, we want those memories to be eternal. But in 50 years when we show you how you look, stylish, cool, and elegant is how we want you to feel.

We do have a few DON'Ts. No jeans, t-shirts, casual dresses, sneakers, flip-flops, athletic wear, or overly casual accessories. When we relax and the photos are done, we can whip out those flip-flops, pumps, or red cowboy boots.

Gifts and Registry

Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is a mystery,
But today is a gift,
That is why it's called the present.

- Ugwe

We are sentimental and we're all about the mushy-icky-cuteness of love. That means we want you there, simple. If you want to gift us, we would be really grateful too.

How we met

The best birthday gift Claus could have asked for..

When it comes to the universe and how it makes its decisions, we can't assume to know its intentions. But we both believe that what happened that day was beyond our control. You want the sauce? Popcorn ready? Good.

Earlier that day:

On Claus's end the celebration of his 25th birthday set the stage for this exciting day. Visitors from Johannesburg, friends from Stellenbosch and a naturally excessive celebratory vibe with much laughter, and maybe a few too many bottles of Brampton’s sparkling wine, set the stage for a sun-filled afternoon to remember.

Elsewhere, as the evening set in for Maria, her sister's birthday celebrations came to a close. Why not take up the offer of a casual date from a gentleman friend down the road? It was December, and going out for drinks with no strings attached could make her holiday all the more fun. If necessary, her early-morning flight the next day would give Maria an easy out if this potential suitor just didn't suit. And if that didn't work, Bohemia was a spot where she was sure to bump into friends she knew and loved.

"Let’s head to Bohemia" have to be the most commonly-spoken words in Stellenbosch.

As the evening set in, “where to next?” was an obvious one for Claus and his birthday group. Gaby was in town, and what better way to give her a taste of Stellenbosch, than to show her the worst, most run-down and suspect watering hole the town had to offer? You guessed it - Bohemia. The place it would all truly come together.

The worst, run-down and suspect bar, Bohemia:

Maria’s date was going terribly (just kidding, he was fine…). While there, she bumped into a friend from varsity who joined their table, and the ensuing fun and laughter made for an extremely pleasant evening. Although her upcoming flight was early the next day, what could go wrong with spending a few more hours enjoying the good company and the ice-cold gin and tonics in the heat of the Cape summer?

Enter one drunk and boisterous Claus Obermeyer.

You see, Maria’s old varsity friend knew Claus as well. She had been part of Claus’s birthday group all day, enjoying the celebrations. Claus, failing to escape intoxication thanks to a particularly festive and enthusiastic cousin (whose name we will not mention), spotted her in the distance and walked over to her table to seek a few moments of refuge and take a well-deserved break.

And there it was. Claus and Maria’s worlds colliding for first time as Claus decided to join the table before anyone could object. Can you guess who wasn't so impressed? Can you guess? Maria's date. Not impressed one bit. It didn't take long for Maria to realise that although barely able to stand upright, this (really really) strange friend-of-a-friend had an energy and a laugh that unintentionally hijacked her date (shame).

As drunk and young goes, mistakes often happen.

Birthday-boy Claus had made the table the centre of attention, and whenever one of his friends left, another one was just around the corner, ready to come over, bring him a drink, and wish him all the best.

Then suddenly, BOOM - liquid! With his flailing elbows Claus spilled his beer in Maria's direction. And to make matters worse, the poor embarrassed fool had not heard Maria clearly saying: "Don't buy me another beer, I'm drinking a gin and tonic."

Now what does an Obermeyer do with a mistake? He fixes it. And with that, two new beers were ordered. Well Maria, unimpressed for not being heard, was even more unimpressed when that second beer toppled over onto her and her handbag.

For Maria (who was covered in beer), going home for her early flight the next day now made a lot more sense. And having made apologies more than once, "I really have to go" sounded to Claus like a moment that could never be fixed. Luckily Claus had enough wits about him to ask for Maria’s Instagram handle earlier in the night, and if all else failed, they also had a friend in common.

Maria left and Claus was defeated BUT little did he know, those were the two best-bought beers of his life.

The beginning of January really set the stage. Without there being all that many places to have an after-work drink, Claus and Maria kept constantly finding each other. Again. And again. And.. again. Luckily for Claus, Maria turned out to be pretty forgiving. And soon they were friends. They smiled, laughed and enjoyed each other's company more than anyone else's. After weeks the love grew stronger and soon, dating was in order.

On the 1st of April, Claus took the step to set the relationship in stone. And as memory recalls, the line went something like:

"Do you want to make our me's into a we?" The rest is history.

Stellenbosch is not just good for wine, food, and really awful hangovers. It's also where a little love story finds its humble beginnings. Ask any of us about the story and you'll enjoy the tale, we're sure!

After hard days at work, we spent evenings of youthful energy in the setting summer sun of the Western Cape. Soon we were more than just friends. It wasn't long after this that, we moved in together and made memories as your 'standard vanilla ice-cream couple', with a little fun, laughter, and lots of braaing and dinner parties.

BUT THEN, COVID hit. The start of our first real challenges as a couple. We moved our entire lives up to Johannesburg in 2021. Circumstances were tough. We all remember. It was the cute yucky honeymoon phase we never gave up keeping the fun alive.

It has not been an easy road together. Throughout the five and a half years of fun, wine, laughter, turmoil, and memories, we've made friends and hosted extremely ridiculous events (like smashing the walls of our house, or surprise birthday parties with copious amounts of giggles and champagne). Let's be honest. We love to celebrate life. We love to make that feeling the centre of the room.

With many seasons ahead with milestones that will flow like bubbles bursting atop the edge of a champagne glass, our commitment to each other remains as festive as it is strong.

But when the days are done and hosting packed away, what do we do? We turn down and get some rest and 'us-time' in the Kruger. This is why we've decided on the Kruger Gate Hotel. The tranquility, the peace, the beauty, and the endless hills that roll and remind us of the adventure we've had together. Now we're taking it one step further. We want you here to celebrate again with us, as we mark this down as a new chapter.

Our journey (mushy-icky-cuteness of it all)

An almost 6 year history of memories ...

From bright-eyed twenty-something-year-olds to a more life-battered couple entering their 'dirty thirties, we've changed and grown together.

Let's get to know the Turners a bit ...

The Turner family unit were born in what was once known as the breadbasket of Africa - Zimbabwe.

Zambezi bath time and African sunsets were soon followed by a peaceful, yet frosty stint in Ireland, and finally, they all settled in Stellenbosch for several years. Three countries, two continents, and many different experiences. This was the childhood of the Turner Five. Parents Vanessa and John Turner raised five independent, intelligent, and inspiring children.

Maria's three sisters and one brother make a festive Christmas when all come together. Eldest, we have the lawyer of the family, Camilla Gibbs who lives with her husband Kelvin with their two boys Nick and Cameron, in Zululand KZN. They love the sea, and all the joys it bring. Second eldest, we have Maro and his gorgeous wife Amber, who live in glamourous Dubai, where they have shaped a comfy life for themselves to share with their new dog son, Bailey. Then we have Sophia (officially Dr. Sophia Turner), who recently made Germany her home after completing her PHD in Invasive biology. She shared a passion for cycling rediculous distances with her Canadian partner, Marc. Finally the youngest, Christina Harley (soon to be Doctor in Latin) who enjoys the peaceful academic and cultural lifestyle of Leuven, Belgium together with her husband Jason.

The Turners have a strong bond, connecting regularly on WhatsApp video calls uniting the stories of each sibling, the parents and their lives.

Some insights into the Obermeyers & Deisters ...

Claus' humble beginnings start in Johannesburg. Here we have parents Gaby and Jake, and sister Jen. His earliest memories are in Buccleuch, an outlying plot-like highveld of the Midrand, where he had endless garden adventures. Later, they settled in the hearty suburb of Blairgowrie in Randburg, Johannesburg, where Jen and Claus had their teenage (and goth heavy metal) years. Now some 10-odd years later, Claus and Maria have settled in the same suburb with their two husky dogs, Sasha and Atlas.

The Obermeyers are not the biggest family, but with the cousins all being similar in age, they came together a lot in the school holidays (both winter & summer) This cousin bond is key to understanding who Claus is His cousins Martie, Callie, and Heino have shaped both his and his sister Jen's upbringing.

Later during his varsity days, Claus spent a lot of time with his cousin Callie and later Heino, getting up to things that brothers do.

Claus's mum is a Deister hailing from the Rhine region in Germany. Here the family has a strong history rooted in 'hosting'. The family's wine farm would host royalty travelling in the area, where they would put together feasts of note. This sense of community and sharing love through food is in DNA, along with all the festivities that come with it. And the gene is particularly strong with Claus. It has carried through during his hospitality days in the Winelands, and later back in Johannesburg. With many weekend breakfasts and weekly family dinners, the family unit together to make new memories, connections and laugh a lot too of course.