Lodges For Sale In Kruger National Park? Quick Answer

accomodation

General

You can choose to stay in different accommodations in different camps. To view this accommodation simply select a camp and then look at ‘Availability’ in the left navigation bar to see what units the camp offers.

You can book and pay for your accommodation online or contact reservations.

All accommodation, washrooms and kitchen facilities are cleaned daily by cleaning staff.

Linen is currently provided in all accommodation (except camping).

Cooking utensils and refrigerators are available in most units. Exceptions will be specified at the time of booking.

Adult is 12 years or older.

Child (2-11 years), under 2 years – Free

Extra person supplements apply to units where the number of beds exceeds the base occupancy when those beds are occupied.

Kruger Accommodation Description:

Kruger National Park offers camp-run accommodation. Each camp has its own unique range of accommodation types.

View pictures of accommodation for each camp or book online.

Basic accommodation types

camping

Pitches for caravans or tents – most have electricity (except Balule and some at Punda Maria). Locations in Lower Sabie have designated boundaries and dedicated water taps.

hut

Single room units with shared kitchen and laundry facilities.

safari tent

Permanent tent tents on permanent platforms. Some have shared kitchen and laundry facilities, while others are fully equipped and have more luxurious amenities.

bungalow

Single room units with one bathroom. Some have shared kitchens, while others have their own kitchenettes with basic kitchen equipment. Some bungalows have perimeter or river views, while others have been upgraded to luxury status.

hut

Single room units with living room, bathroom and kitchen.

family cabin

Shared room with living room, bathroom and kitchen.

guest house

Units with multiple bedrooms and at least 2 bathrooms, one of which is en-suite. Fully equipped kitchen.

Inn

Several bedroom and bathroom units with a lounge area and often with bar facilities and an exclusive view.

Luxury Lodges

Featuring a unique style and atmosphere, these exclusive private lodges are part of a range of products known as SANParks “Golden Kudus” where luxury is the order of the day.

If you go on safari in the Kruger National Park, you have the option of staying overnight. Of course, this is mandatory and a significant number of tourists prefer the luxury and comfort of a holiday home near Kruger Park to the simple comfort of sleeping in the national park. To be woken up by the roar of lions and the howling of hyenas isn’t every European’s dream?

If you only spend one day in the Kruger Park you will be classed as a ‘Day Visitor’. Sleeping in the Kruger Park means you are a ‘night visitor’. You must pay an entrance fee for the number of days you visit the park.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KRUGER PARK & GREATER KRUGER

Many travelers ask what the difference between the Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger is. They are neighbors in the extreme northeast corner of South Africa and two of the country’s most popular ecotourism destinations.

View all Kruger Park Safaris here.

Individually; One is the oldest and largest national park in South Africa and the other is an amalgamation of private game reserves that together form one vast wildlife sanctuary bordering Kruger Park.

combined; The Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger represent one of Africa’s most beautiful and diverse biospheres. The vast protected wilderness region is the core of the Kruger2Canyons (K2C) and Vhembe UNESCO Man and Biospheres and the heart of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTP Treaty, 2002).

The main difference

sponsored by the state versus privately owned

The main difference between Kruger Park and Greater Kruger is that the former is a government sponsored national park; while Greater Kruger consists of a group of private game reserves that fall under an associated body, namely Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR).

Greater Kruger is more of an umbrella brand for the various members of APNR that make up the unfenced protected wilderness area that borders Kruger Park. The latter was formed to coordinate the interests of its members and to act as a single interest group interacting with government agencies that oversee conservation initiatives and ecotourism in the region.

Kruger Park is the largest and oldest of 21 national parks in South Africa controlled and managed by South African National Parks (SANParks). The only private facilities in the Kruger National Park are the luxury safari lodges in the private concessions.

Full versus limited access

The game fences separating the Greater Kruger Private Reserves from the Kruger National Park were removed in 1993 to allow wildlife to roam freely between the two wilderness areas. Kapama Private Game Reserve is a member of APNR but has chosen not to remove its fences.

Wild roams freely between the two protected wildlife areas. For human hikers, movement between the two is restricted as Greater Kruger and Kruger Park operate as two independent ecotourism destinations.

Guests staying at a private reserve in the greater Kruger area can visit Kruger Park freely (for a small entrance fee), while the reverse does not apply; Access to Greater Kruger Private Reserves is restricted to paying guests only.

Where is the Kruger National Park?

The Kruger National Park is located in the extreme northeast of South Africa in the province of Mpumalanga, also known as the Lowveld. Mozambique is on its eastern border and Zimbabwe on its northernmost border.

When you step out into the middle of the dry river bed at Crooks’ Corner, at the very top of the national park where the Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers meet, you stand at the three-way junction of South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The closest towns to the main entrances to Kruger Park are Nelspruit, White River, Hazyview and Malelane. You can fly from Johannesburg to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Nelspruit and take a shuttle transfer to Kruger Park, or fly direct to Skukuza Airport (in Kruger Park). The drive from Johannesburg to the most accessible entrances in the southern part takes between 5 and 6 hours, with a stop for refreshments along the way.

Where is Grosskruger?

Greater Kruger is adjacent to Kruger National Park, on its western border adjacent to the central part of the park. The closest access point connecting the Greater Kruger to Kruger Park is Orpen Gate. The Sabi Sand Game Reserve shares a 50km unfenced boundary with the National Park and acts as a wild buffer between the National Park and Greater Kruger’s unfenced private reserves.

The nearest major town to Greater Kruger is Hoedspruit. It is the central tourist hub of the region and you can fly direct from Johannesburg to Eastgate Airport. Most travelers head to the Greater Kruger; It’s a 5-7 hour drive depending on where you’re staying, with a refreshment stop along the way.

How big is the Kruger National Park?

Kruger National Park covers an area of ​​19,485 square kilometers (7,523 sq mi) and stretches across Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces. It is 360 kilometers (220 miles) north to south and 65 kilometers (40 miles) east to west.

How tall is Greater Kruger?

Collectively, Greater Kruger’s unfenced private reserves encompass 1,800 square kilometers (180,000 hectares/695 sq mi) of land dedicated to conservation. The fences preventing the free movement of game between the Greater Kruger and Kruger Park private reserves were removed in 1993.

Hoedspruit and a number of popular private game reserves in the area are often marketed as Greater Kruger destinations but are not officially part of the APNR Conservation Area.

What’s the same?

Outstanding biodiversity

Greater Kruger and Kruger National Park is situated in a protected wilderness region that is without a doubt one of the most biodiverse in the world. The region is at the heart of the Kruger2Canyons (K2C) and Vhembe UNESCO Man and Biospheres.

K2C is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that connects Kruger Park with Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park and Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park.

Incredible wildlife sightings

Greater Kruger’s private reserves are unfenced and open to Kruger Park. Game roams freely between the two protected wilderness areas. Visitors to both are guaranteed incredible wildlife and bird sightings. The most exciting are the famous Big 5, which include elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard.

Commitment to nature conservation

The preservation of South Africa’s valuable resources is central to the existence of these two entities. A priority is curbing wild poaching, but equally important is protecting the region’s rich ecosystems.

malaria area

The far northeast region is a medium to high risk malaria area. It is highly recommended that visitors take anti-malarial tablets and other precautions to avoid being bitten by the malaria-carrying mosquito. It is a life-threatening disease that can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.

What is different?

Full vs. limited access

Everyone is welcome at Kruger Park, including day visitors. Greater Kruger’s private reserves are reserved for paying guests and the public is not permitted to traverse the unfenced properties.

Larger Kruger safari operators have unlimited access to the Kruger Park public roads (payment of an entrance fee). Your ranger must drive you to one of the Kruger Park entrance gates; There is no shortcut road through the private reserves to Kruger Park.

Kruger Park is up to an hour’s drive from Greater Kruger Private Reserves. The nearest gateway to Greater Kruger is Orpen Gate, which takes you into the center of Kruger. From there head south or north to explore the national park.

Inclusive versus exclusive

Kruger Park is affectionately known as “People’s Park”. The national park has something for every budget and everyone is welcome (aside from the luxury safari lodges with private concessions); You choose the area you like and the accommodation you can afford.

Greater Kruger is the exclusive neighbor. The luxury safari lodges offer an intimate safari experience tailored for discerning nature travelers. Many are award-winning establishments; All offer luxury accommodation and excellent facilities in a secluded bush setting.

Budget vs luxury accommodation

SANParks accommodation ranges from camping to traditional bungalows and family guesthouses. Prices are as affordable as possible for the general public and aimed at self-catering holidays. Only the safari lodges in the Kruger Park’s private concessions offer an exclusive luxury safari experience.

Guests pay a premium to stay at a safari lodge in the Greater Kruger. The majority of their guests are international tourists who benefit from the current exchange rate.

Self-drive vs. open safari vehicles

The majority of visitors to the Kruger Park drive their own vehicles on daily game drives apart from those who book private game drives from SANParks in open safari vehicles.

Greater Kruger’s private reserves do not allow self-drive tours; Guests are taken on game drives in open safari vehicles with a professional ranger and tracker.

Public roads versus off-road driving

Visitors to Kruger Park are restricted to the national park’s public roads unless staying in a luxury lodge in a private concession.

In Greater Kruger, rangers are allowed to drive off-road vehicles to get up close and personal with wildlife viewing.

Day driving versus night driving

Kruger Park has strict opening and closing times for the main gates and the rest camp gates. Visitors are not allowed to drive around after sunset. Severe fines are imposed on visitors who do not make it back to their rest camps in time in the evening.

Greater Kruger Private Reserves do not have strict game drive times. Guests are taken on late afternoon game drives and often return well after dark.

Self-sufficiency vs. fine dining

Kruger Park’s restaurants tend to offer more affordable meals for families, overlanders, and travelers on a tighter budget. Most visitors to the Kruger Park book the self-catering units and prefer the braai (barbecue). In the large rest camps you can stock up on provisions in the shops.

Greater Kruger’s private game reserves are unashamedly marketed to the high-end traveler and, as you’d expect, offer their guests meals well above what you’ll generally find in the Kruger Park. There are no shops on the private reserves, only boutiques selling gifts and necessities.

Which one is better? Kruger National Park or Greater Kruger?

For scenery and wildlife viewing, both are winners. When it comes to accommodation and the safari experience, it all depends on your preferences and travel budget.

Choose Kruger Park

Don’t miss an opportunity to visit Kruger Park. It is an iconic safari destination that is world famous for its incredible biodiversity. Kruger is the oldest and largest national park in southern Africa and one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.

The national park has no less than 6 different ecosystems, so your experience in the southern part will be very different from the central and northern regions. Where you go depends on your fauna and flora.

The Kruger Park offers something for everyone; from budget self-catering accommodation to luxury safari lodges in private concessions; and from the game-rich southern ecosystem to the vast savannah plains of the central region with strong lion populations and the remote far north which is a bird watcher’s paradise.

To avoid the crowds in Kruger Park, choose the time of year you visit carefully (avoid the busy local holiday season) and where you stay. You have a choice of remote bush camps for a more authentic safari experience. For a more exclusive and intimate safari experience, book a luxury safari lodge in one of the private concessions.

Choose Greater Kruger

Greater Kruger Private Reserves offer an exclusive safari experience with luxury accommodation that rivals the best of the Okavango Delta and famous Serengeti. Guests pay a premium for this premium experience.

The number of visitors and safari vehicles is strictly limited in the Greater Kruger. The private lodges are quieter and more intimate, and wildlife viewing is limited to three vehicles at a time. It’s perfect for nature lovers who don’t like crowds, but it comes at a hefty price.

Staying at the Greater Kruger doesn’t mean you miss out on everything the Kruger Park has to offer. Guests can book a full-day excursion to the national park. You also have easy access to popular tourist attractions in and around Hoedspruit, the ‘safari capital’ of South Africa.

What SANParks offers

The Kruger National Park is managed by SANParks, the National Parks Management Authority. SANParks offers a range of accommodation ranging from the large Kruger Park Rest Camps to more remote bushveld camps, satellite camps and bush lodges.

Kruger Park Rest Camps

Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp: is located in southern Kruger on the banks of Matjulu Spruit Lower Sabie Rest Camp: is located in east-central Kruger on the banks of the Sabie River Olifants Rest Camp: is located in northeast Kruger overlooking Lebombo Mountain Orpen Rest Camp : on the western border near Orpen Gate Pretoriuskop Rest Camp: in the southwest of Kruger near Numbi Gate Punda Maria Rest Camp: in the northernmost Kruger near Punda Maria Gate Satara Rest Camp: located in the center of Kruger Shingwedzi Rest Camp: Located in North Kruger overlooking the Shingwedzi River Skukuza Rest Camp: Located in South Kruger on the banks of the Sabie River

Kruger Park Bushveld Camps

Bateleur: located in North Kruger, southwest of Shingwedzi Rest Camp Biyamiti: located in South Kruger, closest to the Malelane and Crocodile Bridge entrance gates Shimuwini: located in north-central Kruger, southwest of Mopani Rest Camp Sirheni: located far north of Kruger, southeast of Punda Maria Rest Camp Talamati: Located in the center of Kruger, southwest of Satara Rest Camp

Kruger satellite camp

Balule: lies south of Olifants Rest Camp, near the eastern boundary of Kruger Park Malelane: lies near the Malelane entrance gate, on the southern boundary of Kruger Park Maroela: lies 2 kilometers east of Orpen Rest Camp, on the western boundary Kruger Park Boundary Park Tamboti: Located 2 kilometers east of Orpen Rest Camp, on the western boundary of Kruger Park

Kruger Park Bush Lodges

Boulders Bush Lodge: lies south of Mopani Rest Camp in the north center of Kruger Park Pafuri Border Camp: lies in the extreme north of Kruger Park, near Punda Maria Rest Camp Roodewal Bush Lodge: lies north of Satara Rest Camp on the banks of the Timbavati river

Private Concessions in the Kruger National Park

The private concessions in Kruger National Park are areas of land designated by SANParks as restricted access nature reserves and private facilities operating under government license. Each concession is several thousand acres and is unfenced, allowing game to roam freely throughout the vast wilderness areas.

Access to the private concessions in Kruger Park is restricted to paying guests, but safari operators in the private concessions have full access to the park’s public roads. Your game warden may drive off-road on his private property for game viewing, but is prohibited in the rest of Kruger.

Singita Private Concession

Singita Lebombo

Singita Sweni

Mluwati private concession

Imbali Safari Lodge

Hoya Hoya Safari Lodge

Hamilton’s Tented Camp

Jock of the Bushveld Private Concession

Jock Safari Lodge

Fitzpatrick is with Jock

Lukimbi private concession

Lukimbi Safari Lodge

Tinga Private Concession

Tinga Safari Lodge

Narina Safari Lodge

Mutlumuvi Concession

Plains camp; Home of Rhino Walking Safaris

Rhino Post Safari Lodge

Other private lodges in the Kruger National Park

Camp Shawu

Camp Shoga

Pafuri camp

Shishangeni camp

The Outpost

Private Reserves of Greater Kruger

Greater Kruger is made up of private game reserves that are members of the Associated Private Nature Reserve (APNR). All but the Kapama Private Game Reserve are unfenced and game is free to roam the vast protected wilderness area.

Balule Private Game Reserve: 40,000 hectares

Greater Olifants River Conservancy

Olifants West Game Reserve

Olifants North Game Reserve

York Game Reserve

Parsons Game Reserve

Grietjie Game Reserve

Mohlabetsi South Nature Reserve (including Jejane Private Nature Reserve)

Mohlabetsi River Nature Reserve

Timbavati Game Reserve: 14,000 hectares

Motswari Game Reserve

Ngale Game Reserve

Tanda-Tula Game Reserve

Umlani Game Reserve

Sabi Sand Game Reserve: 65,000 hectares

MalaMala Game Reserve

Djuma Game Reserve

Lion Sands Game Reserve

Sabi Sabi Game Reserve

Londolozi Game Reserve

Singita Game Reserve

Ulusaba Game Reserve

Umbabat Private Game Reserve

Ntsiri Game Reserve

Ndlopfu Game Reserve

Ingwelala Game Reserve

Kapama Game Reserve: 50,000 hectares

Klaserie Private Game Reserve: 60,000 hectares

Thornybush Private Game Reserve: 11,500 hectares

Manyeleti Private Game Reserve: 23 000

BOOK A KRUGER ADVENTURE WITH MOAFRIKA TOURS

MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator based in Johannesburg offering a diverse range of day tours and long term tours to destinations in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique.

Your safety and well-being are our top priority. We are here anytime, any day to book extra activities, solve any problems, offer advice on how to make your trip special and just be there if you need to speak to someone.

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Kruger National Park

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This will always be seen as the prototype of wildlife sanctuaries in Africa. Kruger National Park is roughly the size of the whole of Wales, which measures 1,948,528 million hectares. Covering both the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces in the northern parts of South Africa, it offers the visitor an exciting and up-close wildlife experience. The park stretches 352 kilometers north to south along the Mozambique border and is the largest in South Africa. The diversity of wildlife (147 species), birds (507 species), fish (49 species) and vegetation (300 species of trees) is unmatched anywhere else in South Africa. Man’s interaction with the park over many centuries – from Bushman paintings to majestic archaeological sites such as Masorini and Thulamela – is very evident in the park.

Proclaimed in 1926, Kruger National Park was the first national park in South Africa and was named after Paul Kruger, South Africa’s first President. As early as 1884, Kruger developed programs to counteract the increasing threat of extinction of game through poaching and hunting. Without him, nobody knows what would have become of South Africa’s game. Thank you Paul!

Most of the park is in the Lowveld, which has a subtropical climate. These parts are known for their Big 5 namely lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. The park is also home to other wildlife such as giraffe, hippo, wildebeest, zebra and a variety of bucks. The Kruger Park is well developed and a quick number of options are available to offer an unforgettable experience for all budgets. Surrounding Kruger Park are a number of private game reserves – many of which now share unfenced boundaries with each other and with Kruger Park. Here you can be pampered like a star and facials, massages and wellness and beauty spas are not uncommon. These include the well-known Sabie Sabie Game Reserve, Ulusaba Private Game Lodge, Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve and Shumbalala Game Lodge. Self-driving the park is easy, and the accessibility of the roads makes it possible to master any vehicle. Alternatively, you can join guided walking safaris, mountain bike trails, hot air balloon rides and birding excursions with qualified guides at the private lodges mentioned above.

While staying in the heart of the park is the ultimate experience, there are also a number of small towns surrounding Kruger Park that are within easy driving distance for day trips and visits to the park. Some of these are Nelspruit, Hazyview, Sabie, White River, Graskop and Marloth Park which is a conservation park in its own right. This beautiful wildlife park is 15 minutes away and wild animals feed on your doorstep every morning. The nearest airport to the park is Kruger-Mpumalanga International Airport, just outside of Nelspruit. The Panorama Route is also close by, where the world’s only green canyon is located, the Blyde River Canyon. It is considered one of the natural wonders of southern Africa, dammed by a 72m high wall, it is the third largest canyon in the world. Along with God’s Window, a viewpoint at 1829m above sea level, these destinations are considered the most beautiful places you will ever see in South Africa.

The southern, more popular part of Kruger is about 4 1/2 hours drive from Johannesburg and 4 hours from Pretoria. It takes a little longer to drive to the more remote, far less traveled northern part, which is not on the same route. You could do a great loop tour if you had about ten days. Fly to KMIA and enter the park in the south, drive north very slowly, spending a day or two in various camps along the way, then drive back to Johannesburg or vice versa.

“Africa has something special that touches the soul.”

Whether you are an avid novice or a seasoned safari fanatic, African wildlife and Saharan landscapes will never fail to get under your skin. The continent’s natural beauty may not be defined by lush greenery and refreshing waterfalls, but we can bet it will still blow your mind once you set your eyes on it. But where exactly can you experience the magic of Africa unfolding? In its national parks and game reserves, of course. There are over 50 national parks in Africa and we bring you the 10 most extraordinary of them right here.

Prepare your camera, put on your khakis, and ride off on one of this intrepid mixes of exciting animal encounters, breathtaking scenery, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences! climb volcanic crater? Sightings of leopards catching prey? Pink flamingos basking in the sun? With these national reserves in Africa, we have it all covered.

The best national parks in Africa: take your pick

Each offers something unique and extraordinary apart from an abundance of animals and birds.

1. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

The Serengeti is not only one of Africa’s most famous national parks, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many even consider it the seventh wonder of the world due to its beauty and variety of flora and fauna. Serengeti National Park protects and preserves much of Africa’s wildlife. One of the most exciting phenomena that occurs here year after year is the great wildebeest migration, when some six million of these mighty animals take part in this 40 km long ritual that has been going on for millennia.

Serengeti National Park is ranked in the top 10 national parks in Africa due to wildebeest migration and its reputation for maintaining the natural balance of predators and prey. If you’re lucky, you might see lions and aardwolves hunting here!

Best known for: wildebeest migration, lion hunts

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2. Etosha National Park, Namibia

Etosha National Park, Namibia’s most important wildlife habitat, is one of the best national parks in Africa for spotting cheetahs. It has been a game reserve since 1907 when efforts were made to repopulate the region after large numbers of wildlife such as elephants and lions were hunted to near extinction. In this South African national park, visitors can camp, go on extensive wildlife safaris and observe animals in their natural habitat. From black rhino, elephant, cheetah to zebra, there is a tremendous variety of species residing within the boundaries of this park. Animals aside, Etosha National Park is known for its mesmerizing landscapes, including savannas, grasslands, dry lake beds, Dolomite hills and more.

Best Known For: Cheetah spotting, water hole staking

3. Kruger National Park, South Africa

Established in 1898, Kruger National Park is one of the most popular and best national game parks in South Africa due to its amazing population of Africa’s “Big Five” – ​​lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard. Like many other national parks in Africa, Kruger prides itself on being a grassroots animal husbandry and sanctuary. As well as spotting wildlife, visitors can also explore the unique historical and archaeological sites within the park’s boundaries and see things like ancient Bushman rock paintings. Aside from the best, Kruger is also the best equipped national park here, thanks to its webcams showing live animal activity, signposts, restaurants and gas stations.

Best Known For: Accessible Wilderness, Elephant Back Safari, Self Drive Safari, Mountain Bike Tours

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4. Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya

The species of algae found in Lake Nakuru attracts millions of pink flamingos, which is why this national park is known as “bird watchers’ paradise”! In addition to the flamingos, the park is also home to an ecologically diverse range of animal species, including white rhinos, baboons, warthogs, cheetahs, giraffes and many more. A relatively new name on the list of national parks in Africa, Lake Nakuru was recently enlarged to help the rare and endangered black rhino find sanctuary.

Other bird species that can be seen here include the Pied Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle and Goliath Heron.

Best Known For: Bird watching, white rhinos

5. Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia

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The Namib-Naukluft National Park is home to the Sossusvlei clay and salt pan, the Naukluft Mountains and part of the Namib Desert in Namibia. One of the main reasons that draws people to this largest national park in Africa (and the world!) is its striking orange dunes. Despite the region’s aridity, it’s easy to spot some pretty interesting creatures in this area, including geckos, snakes, rare insects, hyenas, and jackals. Its location near the Atlantic coast helps this park extract the required amount of moisture to support the animals that live here.

Best Known For: Largest national park in Africa, geckos, orange sand dunes

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6. Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo

If you are looking for an enormous biodiversity, you should go to Africa’s first national park – the Virunga National Park. Visitors will be thrilled to see rainforests, volcanoes, glacier-topped mountains, savannas, swamps and more in this most biodiverse part of the continent. Climb to the top of Nyiragongo Volcano and you’ll have sweeping 360-degree views of the world’s largest volcanic lake.

In fact, Virunga was featured in the 2014 documentary Virunga, which showed the park’s efforts to protect the near-extinct mountain gorillas that live here. The film also showed how the dedicated group of rangers who run this first national park in Africa work every day to ward off poachers. The park is also home to chimpanzees and lowland gorillas.

Best Known For: Mountain gorillas, varied topography, volcano

7. Ngorongoro National Park, Tanzania

Located in Tanzania, Ngorongoro National Park is mostly populated by the local Maasai herders. Ngorongoro means “gift of life” in Maasai. Ngorongoro Park is also home to the famous Ngorongoro Crater, which was formed after a major volcanic explosion, and is one of East Africa’s top national parks. Currently, none of the park’s main managers are actually Maasai.

Although the park is extremely beautiful and home to an enormous population of African wildlife, questions are raised about the ethical side of the park’s management trying to eradicate the local Maasai who live on this land to build luxury hotels.

Best Known For: Ngorongoro Crater, Crater Rim Walk, Maasai Village Tour

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8. Amboseli National Park, Kenya

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Another prominent name in the list of national parks in Africa, Amboseli National Park is known for being home to over 400 species of birds and over 47 species of birds of prey thanks to its large swamp system. In fact, the Amboseli Reserve is known as one of the best places in the world for bird watching and bird photography.

Herds of elephants grazing against the majestic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, the breathtaking sunsets on the far horizon and the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with some of Africa’s wildest creatures – that’s what you get at Amboseli National Park. The park originally began as a reserve for the Maasai people and is now a fully-fledged game reserve.

Best known for: bird species, reptiles, Kilimanjaro

9. Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

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Tired of the arid Sahara deserts and endless arid vegetation on your African safari? Visit Hwange National Park for a refreshing visit to the world’s tallest waterfall – Victoria Falls. The park is home to over 500 species of animals and birds that live in this unique forest ecosystem right on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Last but not least in the Hwange National Park you will definitely find a large number of elephants. Following the tragic death of the famous lion named Cecil following a poaching incident, park authorities are taking all steps necessary to prevent such horrific acts in this beautiful and biologically rich South African national park.

Best known for: Victoria Falls, elephants, bird species

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10. Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania

Extending from Soda Lake Manyara to the Gregory Rift, Lake Manyara National Park is one of the best national parks in Africa for families with children, couples and adventure seekers. Soda Lake makes up an enormous part of Lake Manyara Park during the monsoons and almost completely disappears during the dry season.

The park attracts a large number of African wildlife including Maasai lions, Tanzanian cheetahs, African leopards, blue monkeys, African bush elephants, gazelles, giraffes, hippos and Grant’s zebras and more. Treat yourself to an intrepid game drive here and spot the park’s big cats, which climb trees when not hunting prey. Hippos can also be observed from afar, lounging in their favorite pond.

Best Known For: Soda Lake Manyara, Maasai Lions

So, which of these adventurous national parks in Africa will you visit first? Let us know in the comments below. But before that, plan a trip to Africa, the wildest continent in the world.

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Frequently asked questions about national parks in Africa

Which are the best national parks for a safari in South Africa? Addo Elephant National Park, Kruger National Park, Marakele National Park, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve and West Coast National Park are some of the best national parks in South Africa for a safari.

Which are the best national parks in East Africa? Ngorongoro National Park and Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania are among the best national parks in East Africa.

Which are the best national parks in South Africa? The Etosha National Park in Namibia, the Kruger National Park and the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe are among the best national parks in South Africa.

Which is the largest national park in Africa? The Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia is the largest national park in Africa.

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Get up to 3GB of Vodacom or MTN data from WifiOnSafaris for free while staying at any of the KNP restcamps where there is cellular network coverage (both local and international visitors can make use of it).

Currently, free Wi-Fi in Kruger National Park is only available at Skukuza and Pretoriuskop restaurants, and access can be painfully slow, especially when restaurants are full and Wi-Fi is congested.

Your only other option to connect to the internet is to use the cellular networks, which offer coverage at many of the rest camps, but unfortunately you have to pay for the data and it can get expensive.

But not anymore…

WifiOnSafaris allows you to get free data so you can access the internet for free in the Kruger Park.

Coverage and access speeds tested by Vodacom and MTN Kruger

These two cellular networks provide coverage for most of the rest camps in Kruger, but the speeds at which you can access the internet with them vary greatly.

So WifiOnSafaris ran tests in specific areas of each rest camp to see how fast the connections are and came up with some interesting results…

A 3G connection with a download speed above 0.5Mbps can be considered good enough to surf the web, send emails, whatsapps, etc. Once you reach 2Mbps and above, you can They also expect to watch videos online and stream media.

A 2G Edge connection is only fast enough to access email and WhatsApp, albeit very slow and unreliable, and web browsing is too slow to be practical.

So looking at the results, Vodacom is the clear winner, with good average download speeds in many of the camps and a slow 2G Edge connection in just two, namely Tsendze and Shingwedzi.

MTN lags behind with slow 2G Edge connection in Lower Sabie, Crocodile Bridge, most of Berg En Dal excluding the restaurant, Satara, Tsendze and Shingwedzi.

MTN is fastest at Maroela Camp at 29.3Mbps, but Vodacom hits a staggering average download speed of 30.22Mbps at the Crocodile Bridge, the fastest in the entire park.

Check out the detailed speed test results listed below by camp.

How far can you get with 3GB of free Kruger National Park mobile data?

When you’re not using it for data-heavy things like streaming, watching videos, or listening to music, there’s a lot you can do with it…

133 hours surfing the internet.

Up to 153 hours on Facebook.

Over 102,400 emails without attachments and up to 1000 with attachments.

Chat on Skype for up to 13 hours.

Send more than 102,000 WhatsApp messages.

What you need to use the free data

An MTN or Vodacom SIM card in your mobile (cellular) phone or router (or other SIM-enabled device), either contract or prepaid (pay as you go), so the free data package can be sent to your number.

And then use it just like any other bundle of data on your phone, router or other sim-enabled device to access the internet at the park where there is network coverage.

For international visitors, WifiOnSafaris can provide an MTN or Vodacom SIM card for the duration of your stay in South Africa and an internet connection device free of charge. And of course the free data will be pre-loaded on your SIM card so you can use it at the Kruger as well.

How the speed tests are performed

To ensure consistent results, the same device is used for all tests – a Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime mobile phone.

With either a Mtn or Vodacom SIM card installed, the speed test is performed by navigating to this website with a browser and then clicking the Start button on the Wifi Speed ​​Test page in the installed nPerf click app.

nPerf is an award-winning, reliable application that performs millions of tests and more than 1 billion measurements per year worldwide. The nPerf server network consists of more than 350 servers worldwide with a total bandwidth of more than 1 Tb/s.

Top 10 Kruger Park Self Drive

Best game viewing routes

A kudu on the road. C Duplessis

Skukuza to Satara (H1-2, H1-3) 93 km

The best chance of seeing lions in Kruger Park is on the Skukuza-Satara tar road (H1-2, H1-3), which leads out of the Sabie River basin into the central grasslands. Elephants are often seen in the mixed forests at the N’watindlopfu River crossing and at the three nearby waterholes. One place to stretch your legs is at the Kruger Tablets exit point. Tshokwane is about halfway between Skukuza and Satara and is the only stop along the road where food and refreshments are available.

The Tshokwane area is usually good for game viewing, as the confluence of mixed forests, grasslands, riverine scrub and the Lebombo Mountains attracts a wide variety of wildlife species. The central grasslands begin north of Tshokwane. This is a big game area with the largest grazing herds in the park and the big cats that feed on them. The grasslands around Satara are known for buffalo and lion sightings. Most of the large birds of prey can also be found here.

Allow at least five hours for this journey, including a stop at Tshokwane.

Read more about game drives from Skukuza to Satara

Skukuza to Lower Sabie (H4-1) 46 km

This road follows the Sabie River from the thorn thickets and mixed forests of Skukuza to the more open grasslands of southeastern Kruger. It is a popular street for tourists and animals. It is said that there are more leopards per square kilometer in this riverine bush than anywhere else in South Africa.

The area around Skukuza is good for lion and hyena sightings.

Nkuhlu Picnic Site is the only stop along this road and the terraced banks offer good views of the river and its resident hippo and crocodile populations. The N’watimhiri Causeway is a good detour off the main road. Larger herds of willow become more evident closer to Lower Sabie as the bush becomes more open. Look for cheetahs and rhinos in the thorn bushes closer to Lower Sabie Camp.

Bird watchers should stop at Sunset Dam, one of the Southeast’s premier waterfowl viewing sites.

Read more about game drives from Skukuza to Lower Sabie

Lower Sabie to Tshokwane (H10) 40 km

This is one of the most scenic drives in Kruger as it encompasses the Lebombo and offers great views across the eastern grasslands. The road traverses a variety of habitats connected by grasslands where cheetah, lion, hyena and the large herds of grazers that hunt them can be seen.

The distinctive outline of Muntshe Hill stands out clearly against the Lowveld. The Mlondozi Dam lookout offers good birding and views over the Lebombo and eastern plains. About 25 km north of Lower Sabie, the H10 meets the Lebombo and rises above the grasslands. Nkumbe Hill (394 m) is one of the best viewpoints in Kruger.

The road then descends fairly quickly into the mixed forests of the N’waswitsontso river basin where elephants are often seen.

The Tshokwane area is good for lions and other big game.

Recommended time, two and a half hours, including stops at Mlondozi, Nkumbe and Orpen.

Read more about game drives from Lower Sabie to Tshokwane

Malelane to Skukuza (H3) 40 miles

The Malelane-Skukuza road meanders gently through the mixed forests of the south-central Kruger area, rising and falling through a series of low ridges and flat valleys that form the drainage basin of the Crocodile and Sabie river systems. The Malelane area is good for white rhino and many other herbivores. The herd size is smaller here than in the eastern grasslands.

In the more stunted steppe south of Afsaal there is almost always wildlife, as the pasture here is particularly nutritious and hyenas are regularly sighted. Meals and refreshments are available at Afsaal. Look out for lions between Afsaal and Skukuza. A good vantage point is Mathekenyane (Granokop). The road then descends gently into the thorn bushes of the Sabie River Valley around Skukuza.

Plan three and a half hours, including a refreshment break in the Afsaal.

Read more about game drives from Malelane to Skukuza

Voortrekker Road (H2-2) 35 km

The Voortrekker Road from Pretoriuskop to Afsaal descends from the foothills of the lower escarpment. In the 19th century truck drivers used this route, which was romanticized in the book Jock of the Bushveld.

There is a turnoff to Jock’s birthplace near Ship Mountain. The dirt road follows a line of willows that graze through the Suurveld of south-west Kruger National Park, giving a better than average chance of good sightings of rare wildlife such as eland, white rhino and sable antelope.

There is a take away restaurant and shop in Afsaal which has a picnic area under a giant jackal berry tree.

Allow two hours for this route as it should be approached very slowly.

Read more about game drives from Pretoriuskop to Malelane

Timbavati Road (S39) 59 km

The dusty Timbavati Road follows the Timbavati River north and joins the Satara main road near Olifants Camp. The dirt road and river meander through a mosaic of diverse landscapes in the game-rich grasslands of central Kruger. Leeubron is a good watering hole for lion sightings as they are attracted by herds of impala, wildebeest, zebra and other grazing animals.

Cold drinks and firewood can be purchased at the Timbavati Picnic Spot, but there is no restaurant or take-away shop. Interesting stops include Ratelpan, the Piet Grobler Dam and the Roodewal Water Hole. Kudus, giraffes, elephants and other browsers are usually seen along this drive.

Allow three hours including a stop in Timbavati.

Read more about game drives from Orpen to Olifants

Olifants Loop and River Road to Letaba and Engelhard Dam (S92, S91, H1-4, H8, S44, S46, H1-6, S62) 81 km

The Olifants River traditionally marks the boundary between southern and northern Kruger. The ring road from Olifants Camp south over the low bridge at Balule is the rugged Veltland of Olifants. Not surprisingly, elephants are usually plentiful along the banks of the Olifant River. The exit point N’wamanzi offers a good view.

The dusty river road from Olifants to Letaba is a pleasant drive, but game viewing is hit or miss as the Mopaneveld does not have the same carrying capacity as southern Kruger.

Engelhard Dam is known for its bird watching. There are likely to be frequent stops along this route, so allow four hours for a full experience, including a meal at Camps Olifants or Letaba, which have wonderful views from the restaurant areas.

Read more about game drives from Letaba to Olifants in southern Mopaneveld

Around Shingwedzi – Red Rocks Loop, Kanniedood Dam and Mphongolo Loop (S52, S56, S50) 170 km round trip

The riverine vegetation and water support large elephant populations around Shingwedzi, where most of the Kruger’s largest tusks have been recorded. There are three compelling drives through the alluvial flood plains surrounding Shingwedzi Camp. They are the Red Rocks Loop, Kanniedood Dam and the Mphongolo Loop. While you can cover them all in a 9-hour day, it’s better to break them up into two days. Red Rocks Loop follows the Shingwedzi River upstream for about 30 km to Tshanga Lookout Point and returns on the opposite riverbank.

The S50 past Kanniedood Dam is a good game drive. There are often nyala and kudu grazing in the riverine bush and leopard should be kept on the lookout. Mphongolo Loop, north of Shingwedzi, supports large populations of elephant and buffalo and the area is reportedly good for lions. There are beautiful river trees along this dust road.

Read more about game drives around Shingwedzi

Mahonie loop (S99) 28 km

Mahonia (Mahogany) Loop around Punda Maria Rest Camp is a road for Kruger lovers. It is a botanist’s delight that the dust road curves in a wide arc through sandveld foothills supporting an intriguing mix of trees and shrubs. The dirt road is not a heavily traveled wild road in terms of the number of animals. The more likely animals to be seen are kudu, impala, warthog and elephant.

However, it is a street for rarities – like Sharpe’s Grysbok. The Strait has a good reputation among bird watchers as it falls in the transition zone between subtropical and tropical birding environments and therefore there is a good chance of seeing species not normally seen in South Africa. This ride might seem like a relatively short route, but allow at least two hours to do it very slowly — preferably at sunset or sunrise.

Read more about Game Drive by Mahonie Loop

Luvuvhu River Drives (S63 and S64) about 40 km

The definitive Kruger experience in the far north is the Luvuvhu River Drive, which includes the Luvuvhu River Bridge, Pafuri Picnic Site, the road to Crooks’ Corner and Nyala Drive. The Luvuvhu River Valley has exceptional forest clusters and river viewpoints and no shortage of crocodiles basking on the sandbanks. There is a high traffic of waterfowl and birds of prey. Nyala, kudu, impala and baboons are usually found in riverine forests dominated by nyala trees. Most leopards in northern Kruger are found in these tropical riverine forests.

Along the S64 there are dramatic sandstone cliffs which are the site of the ancient Iron Age kingdom of Thulamela. Pafuri Picnic Site is a good BBQ area under the tall Ana trees (cold drinks and firewood are sold). Admire the February 2000 high water mark marked on the wash blocks. Although the road distance along the river is quite short, you can spend a whole day in this area and still not get enough. If you’re pressed for time, allow four hours.

Read more about game drives along the Luvuvhu River and Nyala Drive

Kruger is the park with the greatest variety of wildlife in South Africa and you can enjoy safaris and nature walks for up to a week here. At least two days will give you a real taste of the park’s amazing wildlife viewing, but you’ll need at least five days to really appreciate its diversity. With a park this spectacular, even two weeks isn’t too long, especially when combined with Victoria Falls.

Factors to consider

The first thing you need to understand: Kruger National Park is huge! At 7,523 square miles (19,485 km²), it’s about the size of New Jersey, Israel, or Wales. Roughly oblong in shape, it stretches 360 km north to south and an average of 65 km east to west. That’s a lot of grass! It contains five different habitats, each with its own specific fauna.

Therefore, among the elements you must take into account are:

How many different animal and bird encounters you would like to have and how much of the park and its diverse ecosystems you would like to experience

Whether you are planning a self-drive experience, an organized guided safari, or both

The rest camps and/or lodges you wish to stay in and the distances between them

The speed limits of 50 km (30 mph) on paved roads and 40 km (25 mph) on dirt roads

Frequent stops for wildlife interactions, including animals on the roads

If you desire a self-drive safari, a half-day or full-day guided safari can equip you with knowledge and context at the start of your trip that will make your self-drive experience more rewarding. Plan at least two days. If a guided safari isn’t in your budget, note that SANParks (the government agency responsible for running South Africa’s national parks, including Kruger) offer short morning and afternoon game drives from each camp and entry gate.

You don’t need a 4×4 vehicle for a self-drive safari in the Kruger. Main roads are paved and most of the secondary unpaved roads are in good enough condition for two-wheel drive vehicles. Note that dirt roads are often closed during and after heavy rains.

Kruger is divided into three sections: north, central and south. Because the different ecosystems run parallel from north to south, it’s entirely possible to experience several different ecosystems in each of the three zones. However, southern Kruger is undeniably wetter and game richer than the Limpopo region of northern Kruger.

There are several private concessions within the Kruger National Park. These exclusive use, unfenced concessions dominate some of the best Big 5 wilderness areas, ensuring the best game viewing without the crowds. They also offer safari activities not allowed in the rest of the park, such as guided nature walks, off-road drives into the bush, and headlight-lit night drives. These are far more personalized and specialized guided experiences, and not necessarily as expensive as you might think.

Kruger in 1 day

Lion in the dense foliage

If seeing this vast national park in one day seems far-fetched, consider that many South African day-trippers make the trip. It’s far from ideal, of course, especially when you’ve flown such a long route to explore South Africa in depth. However, it is doable if you have limited time.

It is not allowed to drive in the park at night (therefore you cannot experience Kruger after sunset). Gates open and close at strict times, and day visitors are restricted to certain areas, which may limit the amount of game viewing you’ll experience. Nevertheless, you can still see a lot. Please note that this option is only suitable if you are already near the Kruger National Park.

Start your day early and arrive at one of the 10 entrance gates before they open. If planning a self-drive safari, obtain a map from the front gates showing the location of day visitor areas, picnic areas, rest areas, etc. Otherwise book well in advance for a morning guided open vehicle safari tour. Learn about the park and wildlife ecology from a knowledgeable ranger. Morning trips start half an hour before the official opening times at the front gates, giving you a head start on other day visitors. Fleece blankets and ponchos are provided, but dress warm with layered clothing.

After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring in your own vehicle. Don’t try to cover too much ground. Realistically, you should be exploring from your entrance gate to the next exit gate in just 3 or 4 hours. The Malelane Gate is the most convenient entrance if you are coming from Johannesburg or KwaZulu-Natal.

Kruger in 2-3 days

Impala in Kruger National Park

With 2 or 3 days you can experience most of a section (North, Central or South) of Kruger. It is best to settle into an individual bush camp or lodge and spend your time exploring either self-drive or enjoy organized safaris and various other activities at your camp or lodge. Private concessions are best for the latter as they offer bush walks, night game drives and specialized activities such as bird watching. Lukimbi (in southern Kruger) and Imbali (in central Kruger) are good options. You can fly into one of the three airports serving Kruger and be taken to your lodge, or alternatively fly on a chartered plane to one of the 21 private lodges – like Sabi Sabi or Londolozi – with their own runways.

If you’re planning a self-drive tour, here’s a great option for a short visit to Kruger from Johannesburg: Follow the ‘Panorama Route’ via the Victorian-era gold mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest and Lisbon Falls, then pass the beautiful Blyde’s River Canyon and the legendary Three Rondavels. Allow six hours driving time plus time for sightseeing. Enter the Kruger National Park at Orpen and continue to your lodge. Get an early start on day two with a morning guided game drive. Then spend the rest of the morning exploring the area around your lodge. The hot afternoon hours are best spent relaxing by the swimming pool. As temperatures drop with the sun, embark on an evening or nighttime game drive before enjoying a traditional South African dinner. Depart your lodge the next morning (day three) and travel south along HI-3 through Kruger National Park via Skukuza, exit here or further south at Malelane. From Malelane it is 405 km back to Johannesburg.

Krueger in 4-5 days

spotted hyena

With 4 to 5 days you can really maximize your game watching opportunities and also make time for a more varied activity or two. Spend your first day in Greater Kruger visiting the beautiful Blyde’s River Canyon and the famous Three Rondavels, then visit the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center to learn about their animal rescue and conservation programs. Spend the night at Kapama Private Game Reserve. Enjoy your first game drive the next morning, followed by a guided bush walk in Kapama in the afternoon.

After another early morning game drive on day three, drive the short distance to Kruger National Park and enter through the Orpen Gate. Spend two full days exploring the park. Escape the crowds and head to Olifants for at least one night. This place offers a breathtaking view over the river of the same name, whose banks are full of wildlife. Then continue north to Mopani and take your time to explore the historical sites of Shilowa. Although not rich in big game, Mopani is an exceptional spot for bird watching. Take the Tropic of Capricorn loop and visit the Nshawu Pans for some of the best birding in the area. On the fifth day, exit the park through the Phaloborwa Gate.

Kruger in 1 week

Cheetah in Kruger National Park

From Johannesburg, follow the N-4 to Nelspruit and stop to visit Chimpanzee Eden, run by the Jane Goodall Foundation. Although there are no native chimpanzees in southern Africa, this educational experience is unforgettable. Continue to Hazyview to spend the night. Begin day two with an early morning hot air balloon flight over Kruger National Park’s Sabie River Valley. Then drive to the nearby Sabi Sands Game Reserve, where you’ll stay for two nights (accommodation is available to suit all budgets). This reserve borders Kruger National Park, shares the Big Five and other wildlife, and is particularly well known for leopard sightings. Spend two days of off-road game drives and early morning and sunset game walks.

On day five you will enter Kruger National Park proper at the Kruger Gate near Skukuza. Then follow the route in the 4-5 day itinerary above, drive north to Olifants for a night and then continue north to Mopani. On the seventh day, leave the park via the Phaloborwa Gate. Visit the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center to learn more about the animal rescue and conservation programs. Then drive back to Johannesburg via the beautiful Blyde’s River Canyon (with its famous Three Rondavels) and the Victorian-era gold mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest.

Kruger in 10 days

Giraffe in Kruger National Park

With 10 days, you can escape the crowds and explore the relatively little-visited northern section of the park. For the first six days, follow the week-long itinerary outlined above. Then, on Day 7, drive north from Mopani to Shingwedzi. Although the north of Kruger has far fewer animals than the south, Shingwedzi is known for its elephants. Follow the Shingwedzi Tour into the Shingwedzi floodplain (allow 4 hours) – a riverine forest teeming with buffalo and waterbuck (lions are often active late in the day, preparing for their nocturnal hunt). This area also offers sensational bird watching at Kanniedood Dam. Spend the night at Shingwedzi Camp.

From Shingwedzi, the only road north is the H1-7. Follow him on Day 8 and do some game viewing on the 20km unpaved Mphongolo Loop – one of the best drives in all of Kruger. This takes you through a magnificent riverine forest fed by huge herds of elephants (leopards and lions are also common sights). Proceed to Pafuri Camp for the night. Nestled in the extreme northeast corner of Kruger, at the interface with Mozambique and Zimbabwe, this is considered the most ecologically diverse and scenically attractive area in the Kruger National Park. Spend your last day relaxing on game drives and exploring the area’s attractions. On the tenth day, leave the park through either the Pafuri or Punda Maria gates.

Kruger in 2 weeks

cape buffalo

Two weeks offers the opportunity to explore Kruger National Park from start to finish, spending time at one or two private game reserves adjacent to the park and also visiting the top nearby attractions.

From Johannesburg, you will follow the week-long itinerary for the first four days. On day five, head north across the beautiful Blyde’s River Canyon and the legendary Three Rondavels. Then visit the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and spend two nights at the Kapama Private Game Reserve. On the first morning there (Day Six) enjoy a game drive followed by an afternoon guided bush walk in Kapama.

On Day 7, drive north to enter Kruger National Park at the Pafuri Gate and follow the 10-day itinerary in reverse order, with overnights at Pafuri Camp and Shingwedzy Camp. Drive south from Shingwedzy via Mopani. Take the Tropic of Capricorn on a self-drive safari and visit the Nshawu Pans for some of the best birding in the area. Then continue south to Olifants for at least one night.

On Day 10, continue south into the most visited, game-rich and mountainous southern part of the park. Spend two days and nights in one of the private concessions enjoying bush walks, night game drives and special activities such as bird watching. Sabi Sabi and Londolozi are good options and give you the chance to see white rhino (largely absent in the north). End your tour with a 2-day flight from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Victoria Falls.

Conservation Fees in the Kruger National Park

Daily Standard Conservation Fee: International visitors

November 1, 2021 – October 31, 2022

Per adult: ZAR 440

Per child under 12 years old: ZAR 220

Daily Standard Conservation Fee: Citizens and Residents of South Africa (with ID)

November 1, 2021 – October 31, 2022

Per adult per day: ZAR 110

Per child under 12 years old: ZAR 55

SADC nationals (with passport)

November 1, 2021 – October 31, 2022

Per adult per day: ZAR 220

Per child under 12 years old: ZAR 110

Members of SANParks’ WILD loyalty program do not pay daily conservation fees provided they present proof of identity and their WILD card upon arrival.

municipal tax

Please note that a mandatory 1% community tax is not included in the daily rates.

goal times

Opening hours of the entrance gates

Oct – Mar: 05:30

April – September: 06:00

Opening hours of the warehouse gates

Oct: 05:30

Nov – Jan: 04:30 am

February – March: 05:30

April – September: 06:00

Closing times of the entrance and the warehouse gate

Aug – Oct: 6:00 p.m

Nov – Feb: 6:30 p.m

March – April: 18:00

May – July: 17:30

Read more detailed information on Kruger Park’s South, Central and North Entrance Gates

Help

Read questions and answers in our General Info Guide help

1 How many days you want to go on safari Needless to say, the time you spend on an African safari has a direct impact on how much it will cost you. And the more days you spend on safari (with the same company), the less you pay per day.

2 If you want to travel Visiting much of Africa during the school holidays will cost more than when it’s not, but other local factors can also affect the cost of your safari. The majority of Africa’s national parks have times when game viewing is better than other times. If you want to keep costs down, try visiting an off-season park. While this can mean less visible wildlife and, if it’s the rainy season, the occasional washed-out road, it brings significantly lower prices, fewer tourists, and gorgeously lush scenery.

3 Where you want to go Many people are surprised that much of Southern Africa, where park infrastructure is often better and self-drive and camping safaris are easier, offers a more affordable safari experience than East Africa.

4 Which accommodation category you feel comfortable with As with any holiday, accommodation consumes the lion’s share of your budget. At the very top start the highly exclusive tented camps that are often found in private or communal conservancies. Deliciously romantic, they may be, but there’s no escaping the fact that these places cost a fortune. In high season, many come in at a cool $2,000 a night for two.

5 The Location of the Accommodation A good way to save money is to stay outside of the parks. The problem with this is that you usually miss the first light of morning or the glow of dusk. Both are the best times for wildlife viewing.

6 Getting around Most camps and lodges offer morning and evening safari drives. In the very best locations these are done in custom made luxury safari jeeps. At the other end of the spectrum are the pop-top minibuses used by many budget safari companies. Be careful with these. Some companies ensure that every seat in the vehicle has someone seated, and if you get a middle seat you won’t see much.

7 How exclusive you want your experience Visit well-known parks like Kruger in South Africa and you’ll find lower prices, but also paved roads and crowds of other people. In contrast, head to one of the private concessions in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and you’re guaranteed peace and tranquility, but at a price.

Estimated 1600 lions in Kruger Park

©Nigel Dennis

How many lions are there in Kruger Park?

How many lions are there in Kruger Park? It is estimated that there are currently 1,600 lions in Kruger National Park and almost all of them are in top condition. This is the result of a lion population survey conducted during the winter months of 2005 and 2006 (data from 2011 put the number of lions in Kruger National Park at between 1,620 and 1,750). The survey is the first to look at the park’s entire lion population, as previous lion censuses only targeted specific areas of Kruger National Park.

The research led by Dr. Paul Funston from Tshwane University of Technology and Dr. Sam Ferreira of the University of Pretoria’s Conservation Ecology Research Unit saw Tshwane students Andrei Snyman and Hennie de Beer spend many nights in a steel cage on the back of a bakkie waiting for lions to arrive at loudspeakers picking up the emergency calls of a buffalo calf.

digital cameras and lasers

This method of luring lions to call stations using distress calls is fairly common for estimating lion numbers in an area, but this latest Kruger survey included a new twist on the old technique. When the lions arrived at the calling station, the students pointed both a digital camera and a laser range finder at the lions. With these two tools, the age of the lions could be estimated from their shoulder height.

By measuring a lion’s shoulder height in pixels in the photograph and knowing the lion’s distance from the photographer using the laser rangefinder readings, the lion’s true size (and age) could be determined. In this way, the researchers could not only count the number of lions in Kruger National Park, but also divide the lions into age groups. This can provide an estimate of the lion population growth rate, fertility and other information.

Previous estimates of the lion population in Kruger National Park

Previous estimates of the lion population in Kruger Park were based largely on the work of Dr. Butch Smuts, who conducted a total census of the Kruger lions in the central region. Extrapolated from census of smuts and other data, a commonly cited estimate of lion numbers in Kruger National Park is around 2,000 animals. Before beginning their investigation, Funston and Ferreira estimated that Kruger would have around 1,700 to 2,200 lions.

This estimate was based on educated guesses about the density of lions in different zones of the park, depending on rainfall and underlying rock types. Both rainfall and the soils produced by different types of rock affect the vegetation in an area, which affects the number of herbivores, which is related to the number of lions.

During the survey, 422 lions visited 229 call stations scattered around the park, and another 273 lions were spotted at work by the researchers. Because the researchers did not attempt to count every individual lion in the park, but used a sampling method, their final estimate of the size of the lion population in Kruger is within the standard confidence limits used by scientists. From the data, the survey found that there are currently 1600 ± 225 lions in the Kruger (95 percent confidence limits from 1158 to 2042).

Ganites versus basalts

© Shem Compion

The statistics collected indicate that the researchers’ early estimates of 12-15 lions/100 km2 in the southern basalts and 7-8 lions/100 km2 in the northern basalts were on target. However, it appears that the granite-based Kruger landscapes support fewer lions than previously expected, as the number of lions found in these areas is only slightly below the expected 5-6 lions/100 km2 in the north and 10-12 lions/100 km2 to the north lay the south.

Funston comments: “In the north (north of the Olifants River) and extreme south (south of the Sabie) lions have never been thoroughly surveyed before, which meant we had to guess/extrapolate from other areas and that contributed to the disparagement would have “overestimated”.

Lots of muscular lions

The lions that attended the call stations were also rated on a scale of one to five for their physical condition. A Leo scores a 5 if they appear healthy and have a lot of muscle mass and tone; a four if it’s slightly off peak conditions; a three if it’s a bit thin and some large bones show through; a two if they haven’t eaten in weeks, and a one if they’re on the brink of death.

Funston says, “Over 98 percent of the lions observed during the survey were either in good or very good physical condition.” The average condition score of the lions in the far south was 4.9, in the central area 4.6 and in the far north 4.3.

Then and now

With all of the data collected during the survey, the researchers can compare their findings to the findings of Butch Smuts in the 1970s, who studied the lion population in the park’s central precinct. Funston comments: “At the time the park was suffering from a severe drought and artificial water features were just being provided for the game.

These combinations are believed to have caused the lion population to increase significantly. However, the census of 708 lions in the central district in the early 1970s is quite comparable to our current estimate of 670 lions in the same area.”

“As Dr. Smuts did his total census, he also determined the sex and age ratio of the population, data important for determining the population’s reproductive rate and structure. There were striking similarities between the current study and the previous study, with 53.3 percent and 52.3 percent of the population being adults, then and now. Similarly, the sub-adults made up 17.1 percent of the population when surveyed by Smuts and 18.7 percent during this survey. The same pattern was also evident in boys.

bovine tuberculosis and lions

© Shem Compion

With many concerned about the impact bovine tuberculosis (BTB) could have on Kruger lions, with several lions having been euthanized in recent years after being found in an emaciated state as a result of the disease, comments Dr. Funston: “At this stage we do not see any population effects of BTB disease in the Kruger lion population in terms of population size and structure (sex and age ratio), both of which are almost identical to surveys conducted in the early 1970s earlier were conducted in the central district of the park It is believed that BTB was present.”

Kruger’s state veterinarian, Dr. However, Roy Bengis warns, “Any impact seen in lions may not become apparent until BTB prevalence in buffalo and other prey species reaches the same levels as in the South.”

Other extraordinary encounters

The survey has provided insight not only into the Kruger lion population, but also into that of other carnivores. More than 400 spotted hyenas and more than 60 leopards were sighted during the survey. Cheetahs, wild dogs and black-backed and side-striped jackals also turned up to examine the emitted sounds of the distressed buffalo calf. While the appearance of a carnivore in search of an easy meal isn’t all that surprising, hippos and elephants also frequented the calling stations.

Looking back on nights in the field, Funston says: “During the investigation many amazing and fascinating animal interactions were observed, including a pride of lions unluckily killing an African wild dog near the Crocodile Bridge, the team was most amazed by the arrival of a stray.” Domestic dog at a calling station near Nwanedzi.

The dog came barking out of the night and chased away some spotted hyenas that were lurking nearby. However, the arrival of three subadult lions seemed to seal the dog’s fate, especially when the young male lion decided to grab him. A determined chase ensued, with the plucky little dog turning and turning away from the lion.

When the lion finally got to it, the dog rolled over, taunted and snarled at the lion, who, rather perplexed, decided that discretion is the better part of bravery and let the little mutt fight another day.” “That observation is however , as domestic dogs near wildlife sanctuaries can be major contributors to disease transmission to wild carnivore populations.

The many cold and dark hours spent by the students on the back of the bakkie, armed with cameras and laser range finders, will soon be translated into scientific papers on the lion population in Kruger National Park. They will also be used in conjunction with other data to gain more insight into how lion density is affected by precipitation, habitat type and herbivore density in the Kruger.

Predators that appear at the call stations during the investigation. Figures courtesy of Dr. Paul Funston, unpublished preliminary data.

south

Central

north

Far north

calling stations

76

51

35

67

lions

150

126

31

120

Hyenas 191

107

33

80

leopards

43

3

8th

9

Black-backed jackal

3

12

9

40

Side striped jackal

3

1

19

Wild dogs (pack)

13 (2) 7 (1)

11 (1) 7 (1)

By Melissa Wray

Best travel time for the Kruger National Park

When is the best time to visit Kruger Park?

Summer

Kruger Park is a national park where each season brings its own highlights. No matter when you decide to go on safari in the Kruger National Park – you will not be disappointed! Game viewing can be best during the dry winter months, however lush bushland, plenty of newborn wildlife and the summer migratory birds arrive. Kruger Park has one and most of the year it is hot (over 25°C) during the day.

Summer is the rainy season in Kruger Park. The rains fill the rivers and waterholes, causing the bushland to look lush. Game viewing is sometimes a little more difficult in the summer season as the vegetation is dense making it a bit more difficult to locate and spot wildlife. Towards the end of November and beginning of December the Kruger National Park is full of newborn babies and spotting wildlife with their young is an unforgettable Kruger Park safari experience.

Bird watching is excellent at this time as the summer migratory birds arrive. If you plan to visit Kruger Park in the summer, we recommend arriving by air-conditioned vehicle and staying in air-conditioned accommodation.

During the day it can get very hot with up to 30 degrees Celsius. Camping can be a little uncomfortable, but if you’re a die-hard camping enthusiast, don’t let the heat and rain put you off.

winter

Although some visitors prefer the lush vegetation of the summer months, the best time to view African wildlife in Kruger National Park is during the dry winter season. The bushveld is more open, allowing for better visibility. The grass is low, the bushes and trees are sparsely leafy and because it’s so dry – with no rain – wildlife migrates to the water.

Waterholes, dams and rivers become a bustling activity and you are more likely to spot wildlife in the mornings and evenings when they come for a sip of water. Daytime temperatures in winter are pleasant but nights can get quite chilly so be sure to pack something warm if going on afternoon/night game drives.

temperatures

November to December:

November temperature: (+/-) 16 – 32 °C

(+/-) 16 – 32 °C December temperature: (+/-) 18 – 34 °C

January to April:

January temperature: (+/-) 18 – 34 °C

(+/-) 18 – 34 °C February temperature: (+/-) 18 – 33 °C

(+/-) 18 – 33 °C March temperature: (+/-) 18 – 33 °C

April:

April temperature: (+/-) 13 – 28 °C

May to June:

May temperature: (+/-) 13 – 28 °C

(+/-) 13 – 28 °C June temperature: (+/-) 9 – 26 °C

July to August:

July temperature: (+/-) 9 – 26 °C

(+/-) 9 – 26 °C August temperature: (+/-) 12 -28 °C

September to October:

September temperature: (+/-) 12 – 28 °C

(+/-) 12 – 28 °C October temperature: (+/-) 16 – 32 °C

Help

The summer months in Kruger Park are very hot and humid with either sustained rainfall or occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Many young animals are born during this period. These are typically drier months with very hot days. Bird watchers can enjoy the multitude of migratory birds during this time. This is the autumn season in Kruger Park and the vegetation is beginning to change from dense lush green bush to a little more sparse brownish bush. Temperatures start to cool at night, but it is still warm during the day. In the afternoon scattered thunder showers are possible. During the winter months, cold temperatures occur at night and at dawn. The vegetation turns completely brown and the trees lose their leaves. Visibility during game drives is enhanced by the sparser vegetation. This period is very dry in the bush with very cold night time temperatures and therefore cool during early morning and late afternoon game drives. Game viewing is generally fantastic as visibility is good and game is concentrated around each water source. July to October is the end of the dry season and the malaria-carrying mosquitoes are dormant. Spring is the peak of the dry season, with hot, dry winds and colorless, sparse vegetation. As the rivers and dams are low, high concentrations of game can be seen in these areas and game viewing is generally good. The first rains can arrive towards the end of October and the signs of spring and a new rainy season are evident.

Read questions and answers in our Safari Planning Help

First national park in South Africa

The Kruger National Park is a South African national park and one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of ​​19,623 km2 (7,576 sq mi) in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of northeastern South Africa, stretching 360 km (220 mi) north to south and 65 km (40 mi) east to west. The administrative headquarters are in Skukuza. Parts of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898 and in 1926 it became South Africa’s first national park.

West and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. To the north is Zimbabwe and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park linking Kruger National Park with Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park and with Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park.

The park is part of the Kruger-to-Canyons Biosphere, an area designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an International Human and Biosphere Reserve.[6]

The park has nine main gates that allow access to the various camps.

history [edit]

Pre-reservation (before 1898) [ edit ]

Over 420 recorded archaeological sites in the Kruger Park provide evidence of its pre-modern occupation. However, most sites had relatively short periods of settlement, as the presence of predators and the tsetse fly limited livestock farming. Iron smelting operated on Masorini Hill, the H9 route, until the Mfecane era. The reconstructed Thulamela, on a hilltop south of the Levuvhu River, was inhabited from the 13th to 16th centuries and had ties to traders from Africa’s east coast.

Before the Second Anglo-Boer War, the area now covered by the park was a remote stretch of the last wild frontier of the eastern South African Republic. Paul Kruger, then President of the Republic of South Africa, declared the area inhabited by the Tsonga people to protect their wildlife. James Stevenson Hamilton noted many kraals along the Sabi River and also further north across the Letaba River [7], although the north was sparsely populated compared to the south. Many of the local people were employed by railway companies in the late 19th century to build rail links, particularly between Pretoria (now in South Africa) and Lorenço Marques (now in Maputo, Mozambique). Abel Chapman, one of the hunters who noted that the area was overhunted in the late 19th century, drew attention to this fact.

Sabi Game Reserve (1898–1926) [ edit ]

In 1895, Jakob Louis van Wyk introduced a motion for the creation of the game reserve in the Volksraad of the old South African Republic. The proposed area stretched from the Crocodile River to the Sabi River to the north. This motion, tabled with another Volksraad member named R.K. Loveday and accepted for discussion in September 1895 by a majority of one vote, led to the proclamation of a “Government Wildlife Park” by Paul Kruger on March 26, 1898. ” This park later became known as the Sabi Game Reserve.

The park was originally created to control hunting[8] and to protect the reduced number of animals in the park.

James Stevenson-Hamilton became the reservation’s first warden in 1902.[8] The reserve was located in the southern third of the modern park.[9] The Singwitsi Reserve, named after the Shingwedzi River and now in northern Kruger National Park, was proclaimed in 1903.[10] In the following decades all native tribes were removed from the reserve and in the 1960s the last ones were removed at Makuleke in the Pafuri Triangle. In 1926 the Sabie Game Reserve, neighboring Shingwedzi Game Reserve and farms were combined to create Kruger National Park.[11]

In 1923 the first large groups of tourists began to visit the Sabie Game Reserve, but only as part of the popular South African Railways “Round in Nine” tours. The tourist trains used the Selati railway line between Komatipoort on the Mozambique border and Tzaneen in the Limpopo province. The tour included an overnight stay at the Sabie Bridge (now Skukuza) and a short walk, escorted by armed rangers, into the bush. It soon became a highlight of the tour and provided valuable support for the campaign to have Sabie Game Reserve proclaimed a national park.[12][13]

Kruger National Park (1926–1946) [ edit ]

Following the proclamation of Kruger National Park in 1918, the first three tourist cars entered the park in 1927, increasing to 180 cars in 1928 and 850 cars in 1929.[4]

Warden James Stevenson-Hamilton retired on April 30, 1946 after 44 years as Warden of Kruger Park and its predecessor, the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve.

plaque in the park. Every now and then people are killed, but this is extremely rare.

Stevenson-Hamilton was replaced as overseer by Colonel J.A.B. Sandenbergh of the South African Air Force.[12] In 1959, work began to completely fence the park’s boundaries. Work began on the southern border along the Crocodile River and in 1960 the western and northern borders were fenced off, followed by the eastern border with Mozambique. The fence served to limit the spread of disease, facilitate border patrols, and deter poachers.[12]

The Makuleke area in the northern part of the park was forcibly taken from the Makuleke by the government in 1969 and some 1500 of them were resettled on land to the south so that their original tribal lands could be incorporated into the larger Kruger National Park. [14][15]

Pride of lions on a tourist street

In 1996, the Makuleke tribe filed a land claim for 19,842 hectares (198.42 km2), namely the Pafuri or Makuleke region in the northernmost part of the park.[16] The land was returned to the Makuleke, however they chose not to relocate the land, instead working with the private sector to invest in tourism. This led to the construction of several game lodges from which they earn royalties.[17][18]

In the late 1990s the fences between Kruger Park and Klaserie Game Reserve, Olifants Game Reserve and Balule Game Reserve were dropped and incorporated into Greater Kruger Park, adding 400,000 hectares to the reserve. In 2002, Kruger National Park, Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe and Limpopo National Park in Mozambique were incorporated into a peace park, the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.[11]

In 2009, SANParks planned a four-star hotel northeast of Malelane on the banks of the Crocodile River as part of a survival strategy to make the park less dependent on government subsidies.[19] Finally, Radisson Blu was commissioned to operate a 104-room safari resort starting in 2019[20][21] that promises to have a lower environmental footprint than previous existing camps. The three-star, 128-room Skukuza Safari Lodge, due for completion by the end of 2018,[22] was required by the adjacent Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Center, which opened in 2011 and attracts guests arriving by charter flights or coaches.[ 22] ] The park’s former director, Salomon Joubert, warned that these developments threaten the park’s character, ethos and original goals,[19] but Environment Minister Edna Molewa found the 0.3% development of the park acceptable.[ 22] The park was temporarily closed on March 25, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on June 8, 2020.[23]

Location and geography[edit]

The park is located in north-eastern South Africa,[9] in the eastern parts of the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Phalaborwa, Limpopo is the only town in South Africa that borders the Kruger National Park. With an area of ​​19,485 km2, it is one of the largest national parks in the world. The park is approximately 360 km long and has an average width of 65 km. At its widest point, the park is 90 km wide from east to west.[9] To the north and south of the park, two rivers, the Limpopo and the Crocodile, form its natural boundaries. To the east, the Lebombo Mountains separate it from Mozambique. Its western boundary runs parallel to this area, some 65 km away. The park varies in elevation from 200 m (660 ft) in the east to 840 m (2,760 ft) in the southwest near Berg-en-Dal. The highest point in the park is here, a hill called Khandzalive. Several rivers flow through the park from west to east, including the Sabie, Olifants, Crocodile, Letaba, Luvuvhu, and Limpopo rivers.

Climate [ edit ]

The climate of the Kruger National Park and Lowvelds is subtropical/tropical, specifically a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). Summer days are humid and hot. The rainy season is from September to May. The Kruger National Park website lists September and October as the driest periods, culminating in late October with the onset of the rainy season. Because the park stretches 360 kilometers, or 220 miles, from north to south, the climate can vary throughout the park. Skukuza in the southern part of the park is about 2 to 3 °C (3.6 to 5.4 °F) cooler than Pafuri in the north year-round, with significantly more rainfall.

Climate Data for Skukuza, 1961-1990 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record High °C (°F) 43

(109) 43

(109) 42

(108) 40

(104) 38

(100) 35

(95) 36

(97) 38

(100) 42

(108) 44

(111) 43

(109) 42

(108) 44

(111) Average maximum temperature °C (°F) 33

(91) 32

(90) 31

(88) 29

(84) 28

(82) 26

(79) 26

(79) 27

(81) 29

(84) 30

(86) 31

(88) 32

(90) 30

(86) Average low °C (°F) 21

(70) 20

(68) 19

(66) 15

(59) 10

(50) 6

(43) 6

(43) 9

(48) 13

(55) 16

(61) 18

(64) 20

(68) 14

(57) Record low °C (°F) 11

(52) 10

(50) 8

(46) 6

(43) 1

(34)−4

(25)−4

(25)−4

(25) 1

(34) 6

(43) 10

(50) 10

(50)−4

(25) Average rainfall mm (inches) 94

(3.7) 96

(3.8) 66

(2.6) 38

(1.5) 14

(0.6) 11

(0.4) 11

(0.4) 8

(0.3) 28

(1.1) 40

(1.6) 63

(2.5) 92

(3.6) 561

(22.1) Mean precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 9 9 9 6 3 2 2 2 3 7 10 10 71 Source: SAWS[24]

Climate data for Phalaborwa Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average High Temperature °C (°F) 34

(93) 33

(91) 32

(90) 30

(86) 29

(84) 27

(81) 26

(79) 28

(82) 31

(88) 32

(90) 32

(90) 33

(91) 33

(91) Daily mean °C (°F) 26.5

(79.7) 26

(79) 25

(77) 23

(73) 20

(68) 18

(64) 17.5

(63.5) 19

(66) 22

(72) 23

(73) 24

(75) 26

(79) 22

(72) Average low °C (°F) 21

(70) 21st

(70) 20

(68) 17

(63) 12

(54) 10

(50) 9

(48) 11

(52) 14

(57) 17

(63) 19

(66) 21

(70) 16

(61) Average rainfall mm (inches) 97

(3.8) 81

(3.2) 65

(2.6) 25

(1.0) 12

(0.5) 4

(0.2) 7.5

(0.30) 7

(0.3) 21

(0.8) 46

(1.8) 69

(2.7) 96

(3.8) 529

(20.8) Source: [25]

Climate Data for Pafuri Rest Camp, Kruger National Park Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average High Temperature °C (°F) 35

(95) 34

(93) 33.6

(92.5) 32.7

(90.9) 29.9

(85.8) 27.7

(81.9) 28

(82) 29.9

(85.8) 32.1

(89.8) 34.7

(94.5) 34.1

(93.4) ​​35.1

(95.2) 32.2

(90.0) daily mean °C (°F) 28.2

(82.8) 28

(82) 26.9

(80.4) 25.4

(77.7) 21.7

(71.1) 18.9

(66.0) 19

(66) 20.9

(69.6) 23.8

(74.8) 26.9

(80.4) 27.2

(81.0) 28.2

(82.8) 24.6

(76.2) Average low °C (°F) 21.5

(70.7) 22

(72) 20.3

(68.5) 18.1

(64.6) 13.6

(56.5) 10.2

(50.4) 10

(50) 12

(54) 15.6

(60.1) 19.1

(66.4) 20.4

(68.7) 21.4

(70.5) 17.0

(62.7) Average rainfall mm (inches) 90

(3.5) 77

(3.0) 36

(1.4) 22

(0.9) 10

(0.4) 5

(0.2) 2

(0.1) 2

(0.1) 10

(0.4) 17

(0.7) 54

(2.1) 86

(3.4) 411

(16.2) Source: [26]

Biodiversity[ edit ]

Veld Types Open savannah grasslands with stunted mopane make up much of the northern plains. Mixed thorn and marula forests occur on granite in the southwest. Open or dense savannas occur on dry basalt plains in the southeast

vegetation[ edit ]

The plant life consists of four main areas that roughly correspond to the four quadrants of the park. The main steppe types are determined by the precipitation gradient (400 to 750 mm per year) and geological substrates.

Shrub Mopane Veld [ edit ]

Shrub mopane covers almost the entire north-eastern part of the park.

Red willow and mopane veld [ edit ]

This area is in the western half of the park, north of the Olifants River. The two most prominent species here are the red willow (Combretum apiculatum) and the mopane tree (Colophospermum mopane).

Thorn Trees and Red Bush Willow Veld [ edit ]

This area lies between the western border and about the middle of the park south of the Olifants River. Combretums such as red willow (Combretum apiculatum) and acacia species predominate, while there are large numbers of marula trees (Sclerocarya caffra). The acacia trees dominate along the rivers and streams, the very dense Nwatimhiri bush along the Sabie River between Skukuza and Lower Sabie being a very good example.

Knob Dorn and Marula Veld [ edit ]

South of the Olifants River in the eastern half of the park, this area provides the most important rangeland. Species such as Red Grass (Themeda triandra) and Buffalo Grass (Panicum maximum) predominate, while Acacia nigrescens, Leadwood (Combretum imberbe) and Marula (Sclerocarya caffra) are the most important tree species.

Local vegetation communities[edit]

There are a number of smaller areas in the park that have distinctive vegetation. The Pretoriuskop Sourveld and the Malelane Mountain Bushveld receive relatively high rainfall. Sickle bush and silver tufted leaf (Terminalia sericea) are to be emphasized here. The Sandveld communities northeast of Punda Maria are equally distinctive, with a wide variety of unique plant species. The bushy hills along the Levuvhu River are also home to an interesting variety of flowers and some almost endemic species.

mammals[edit]

All five big game animals can be found in the Kruger National Park, which has more species of large mammals than any other African game reserve (with 147 species). Webcams are set up to view wildlife.[28]

The park stopped killing elephants in 1994 and attempted to relocate them, but by 2004 the population had increased to 11,670 elephants, by 2006 to approximately 13,500, by 2009 to 11,672 and by 2012 to 16,900. The park’s habitats may only be able to support around 8,000 elephants, although this is not entirely clear. Elephants change plant growth and plant density in the park, and some species, such as Wildebeests, for example, clearly benefit from an increase in grassland. The park began an attempt to use contraceptives in 1995, but abandoned this due to problems with contraceptive administration and anger from the herd. The park has taken a strong stance against poaching of all animals, particularly the rhino.

Kruger supports packs of the endangered African wild dog, of which there are believed to be only around 400 across South Africa.[29]

birds [edit]

Birds Harlequin quail (C. delegorguei) are migratory and late summer nesting birds on the grassy plains. They are profusely nomadic after good rains, but almost absent in dry years.[33] ) are blustery migrants and late summer breeders in the grassy plains. They are plentiful nomads after good rains, but almost non-existent in dry years. Yellow-billed maggotworms (B. africanus obligate [34] ) are obligate symbionts of large herbivorous mammals. After an absence of more than 80 years, they celebrated an independent comeback from 1979.

A fairly uniform assemblage of bird species is present from the southern to central areas of the park, but a decline in diversity is evident on the mopane-dominated plains north of the Olifants. Most species breed in summer, when rain provides most plant and animal food, but the larger raptors, conversely, breed during the dry winter when their prey is most exposed.[33] Of the 517 bird species found at Kruger, 253 are residents, 117 are non-breeding migrants and 147 are nomadic.

The avifaunal affinities of the park, which forms the southern Lowveld, are mainly in the tropical north. Some representatives of this group are the African open-billed vulture, hooded vulture, Dickinson’s kestrel, white-headed lapwing, brown-necked parrot, Senegal coucal, broad-beaked roll, trumpeter hornbill, Boehm’s spinetail, tropical boubou, Meves’ Starling and the scarlet sunbird.[33] Some 30 species of waterfowl and waders depend on the rivers or associated levees,[35] including the African pinfoot, white-backed night heron, white-headed lapwing and thick-knee. Other species are restricted to riparian thicket or forest, including African goshawk, crested guinea fowl, Natal spur fowl, Narina trogon, Pel’s fishing owl, bearded bush robin, terrestrial brownbul, and black-throated eagle-eye. This habitat is often reduced by drought[36] or floods, or the undergrowth is developed by elephants[33].

Some of the larger birds require large territories or are sensitive to habitat degradation. Six of these birds, broadly restricted to Kruger and other extensive conservation areas, have been assigned to an imaginative grouping called the “Big Six Birds”.[37] It is the Spitz-headed vulture, martial eagle, saddleback stork, kori bustard, ground hornbill and the reclusive Pel’s fishing owl that are localized and rarely seen. The 2011 air survey found 22 martial eagle nest sites, the 2015 survey another 17, while the 2020 survey found a total of 70 nest sites, [38] although the activity of these has yet to be determined. There are 25 to 30 breeding saddle stork pairs in the park, along with a handful of non-breeding individuals.[37] In 2012, 178 ground hornbill family groups roamed the park and 78 nests were known, of which 50% were active.[39] A 2013 study estimated that 904 pairs of white-backed vultures, 78 pairs of crested vultures, and 60 pairs of bald vultures breed in the park.[40]

Other Vertebrates[ edit ]

Kruger is inhabited by 126 reptile species [41], including black mambas, African rock pythons and 3,000 Nile crocodiles. So far, knowledge of reptile densities and distributions, particularly at smaller spatial scales, is limited by sampling bias, and a strong dependence on the park’s public infrastructure is evident.[41] There are 33 species of amphibians[42] and 50 species of fish in the park. A Zambezi shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as a bull shark, was caught in July 1950 at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers. Zambezi sharks tolerate fresh water and can migrate far up rivers such as the Limpopo.[43]

invertebrates [ edit ] [44] A seasonally variable biomass of arthropods is observed in response to the summer rainfall regime and the predominantly deciduous vegetation, as demonstrated by sampling over an 11-month period in the grasslands near the Satara camp.

219 butterfly and skipper species are native to the park.[45] The fastest and most robust of these belong to the genus Charaxes,[46] of which 12 species have been recorded.[47] The genera Papilio and Acraea are also well represented with about 10 and 15 species respectively.[47] The total number of Lepidoptera species in the park is unknown but could be in the order of 7,000, many of which are widespread in the African savannah. The mopane moth in the northern half of the park is one of the most prominent, and communities outside the park have intermittent permits to harvest its caterpillars. The park has a wide variety of termites and 22 genera are known, including the mound-building genera Macrotermes, Cubitermes, Amitermes, Odontotermes, and Trinervitermes.[51] A new isopod species, Ctenorillo meyeri, has been discovered in termite nests east of Phalaborwa and near Mopani Rest Camp.[52] It is the first occurrence of a termitophilic species from the family Armadillidae. Many mosquito species are found in the park, including the Culex, Aedes, and Anopheles genera, which target mammals. A. arabiensis is the most widespread of the 9 or more Anopheles species in the park, and its females transmit malaria.[53] As of 2018, 350 species of arachnids, excluding ticks and mites, are known from Kruger.[54] These are mainly true spiders, including 7 species of baboon spiders, but also 9 species of scorpions and 7 species of pseudoscorpions, 18 species of solifugids (solar and Roman spiders), 2 species of harvestmen and 1 species of tailless whip scorpions.[55]

Threats[edit]

The park’s ecosystem faces multiple threats, including intense poaching, urban development on its borders,[56] global warming and droughts,[57] animal overpopulation[58] and mining projects[59].

Light pollution from rest camps and nearby towns affects the biodiversity of Kruger National Park. In particular, it changes the composition of nocturnal wildlife and the hunting behavior of predators.[60] In 2022, it was announced that Nkosi City, a R8 billion development, was planned near the park’s western boundary.[61]

Flooding or the raising of the walls of the Massingir and Corumana dams in Mozambique could potentially damage the pristine canyons of the Olifants and Sabie rivers respectively through siltation. The Olifants River Gorge has a deep, single-stranded structure with rapids that is home to many crocodiles in addition to hippos and fish. Fish stocks on the Olifant have already been reduced by hundreds of dams in its upper reaches.[63]

Measures against poaching[ edit ]

Kruger is not exempt from the threat of poaching that many other African countries face. Many poachers are looking for ivory from elephant tusks or rhino horns, which are similar in composition to human fingernails.[64] The park’s anti-poaching unit consists of 650[65] SANParks game wardens, supported by the SAPS and the SANDF (including the SAAF). As of 2013, the park is equipped with two drones on loan from Denel and two Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters donated by the RAF to bolster its airspace presence. Automated motion sensors direct intruders to a control center along the Mozambique border,[68] and a specialized canine unit has been introduced.[69] As an alternative to costly new fences, buffer zones have been established along the border with Mozambique[70] from where many poachers have entered the park.[71] The original 150km fences were dropped in 2002 to create the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.[65][72] The National Anti-Poaching Committee oversees all activities and coordinates interested parties.[73][74]

Poachers[ edit ]

Kruger’s big game poachers operate with night vision devices and large caliber rifles equipped with silencers and sophisticated telescopic sights.[75][76] They are mostly Mozambican nationals who initiate their carefully planned incursions from the border region of South Africa and Mozambique.[75][77][78] In 2012, about 200 poachers were arrested[79] while about 30 were killed in fighting.[80][81]

In July 2012, a Kruger ranger and a police officer were the first to die in an anti-poaching operation,[82] while other employees reported intimidation by poachers.[83][84][85][86] A staff strike at Kruger affected some anti-poaching operations,[87] and some employees were directly involved.[83][88][89][90][91][92] Rangers in and around the park have been pressured or blackmailed by poaching syndicates into providing information on rhino whereabouts and anti-poaching operations.[93]

In December 2012, Kruger began using a Seeker II drone against rhino poachers. The drone was loaned to the South African National Parks Authority by its manufacturer, Denel Dynamics, South Africa.[94][95]

In June 2019, a Helix surveillance system was deployed on night missions in the park and arrested half a dozen suspected poachers.[96]

Other threats to poachers include the dangerous nature of the park itself. In February 2018, a poacher was reportedly trampled by elephants and then eaten by lions, leaving rangers later finding only a human skull and trousers alongside a loaded hunting rifle.[97][98]

In December 2021, two suspected poachers were arrested in Kruger National Park’s Skukuza after they were discovered in possession of unauthorized guns and ammunition.[99]

Rhino [ edit ]

Poachers make no distinction between white and black rhinos,[84][100] but black rhino losses are low due to their reclusive and aggressive nature.[101] Rhino horn fetches between $66,000 and $82,000 per kilogram,[78][85][101][102][103] and the CITES ban has proven largely ineffective against the rhino horn trade.[104][105] The second horn is also sometimes hacked out of the skull to obtain about 100 ml of moisture, which is sold locally as a traditional medicine.[101]

Rhino horn poaching escalated in the 21st century, with 949 rhinos killed in Kruger in the first 12 years[66] and more than 520 in 2013 alone.[106][107] A memorandum of agreement is seen as a necessary milestone in stemming the tide between South Africa and Vietnam, in addition to that with China,[71][108][109] while negotiations with Thailand have not yet started.[110] The amount of stockpiled rhino horn is not publicly known.[111] Since 2009, some Kruger rhinos have been fitted with invisible tracking devices in their bodies and horns, allowing officers to locate their carcasses and track the smuggled horns via satellite.[112] The 22,000 white and black rhinos of South Africa represent about 93% of the world’s population of these species, of which 12,000 are found in Kruger National Park.[84][105]

elephant [edit]

Kruger experienced significant elephant poaching in the 1980s.[112] Poaching was halted for many years due to international and national efforts, including a global ban on the sale of ivory from 1989, but a sharp increase in 2014 has continued and the number of elephants poached in the park each year is growing at an alarming rate.[ 113][114]

On 6 November 2008, after approval by CITES, 47 tonnes of Kruger’s stockpiled ivory were auctioned. The sale raised approximately $6.7 million, which went toward increased anti-poaching efforts. The intent was to flood the market, bringing prices to a halt and making poaching less profitable. But instead, the legal sale was followed by “an abrupt, significant, sustained, robust, and geographically widespread increase” in elephant poaching, later research showed.[115][116]

The recent Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) has rejected proposals for further one-off sales of ivory from stockpiles as they have led to an increase in poaching across the continent.[117][118] Across the continent, the African elephant population declined by 30% between 2007 and 2014. [119][120]

Other [edit]

It is predictable that wire trapping to obtain meat will eventually become the most difficult form of poaching.[121] A scheme has been proposed to reward neighboring communities with proceeds from the sale of game in exchange for their cooperation in game conservation.[121] Larger communities include Bosbokrand, Acornhoek, Hazyview, Hoedspruit, Komatipoort, Malelane, Marloth Park, Nelspruit and Phalaborwa.[105] Communities along the northern border have complained of a range of issues affecting them, including livestock killed by escaped predators.[122]

Recreation camp[edit]

Kruger Park contains twelve main rest camps as well as several smaller camps scattered throughout the park.[123] There are also several concessions licensed to private companies with their own warehouses.[124]

The main camps in the park are larger camps with shops, restaurants or cafeterias, gas stations and first aid stations. The largest camp, which also serves as Kruger’s headquarters, is Skukuza.

Skukuza[edit]

Our Founders bust at reception in Skukuza

Skukuza is the largest camp in Kruger as it also contains the park’s administrative headquarters. It is located on the south bank of the Sabie River, 12 km from the Paul Kruger Gate and 39 km from the Phabeni Gate.[125] In addition to lodging, Skukuza offers a conference center and is a short drive from Skukuza Airport, the only commercial airport in the park.

Berg-en-Dal is one of the most accessible camps in Kruger. It is 12 km from the Malelane Gate, which is an hour’s drive from Mbombela via the N4.[126] The camp consists of 69 bungalows for 2-3 people, 23 multi-bedroom family cottages for 4-6 people, 2 guest houses and 72 camping or caravan sites.[127] Entlang eines Großteils der Grenze des Camps verläuft der Rhino Trail, ein Wanderweg, der etwa eine Stunde dauert. Das Lager enthält auch mehrere Aussichtspunkte und ein Schwimmbad.

Malelane [ bearbeiten ]

Ein Wegweiser im Park

In der Nähe von Berg-en-Dal und dem Malelane-Tor befindet sich das kleine Malelane-Außenlager. Mit 15 Zeltplätzen, 4 Rondavels mit vier Betten und 1 Rondavel mit drei Betten bietet Malelane nur eine Aktivität von Pirschfahrten.[129] Der Check-in erfolgt über das Malelane Gate.[130]

Krokodilbrücke [ bearbeiten ]

Crocodile Bridge liegt direkt an der südlichen Grenze des Parks in der Nähe der Stadt Komatipoort. Es ist kleiner als die anderen Hauptcamps und hat daher kein separates Restaurant. Das Camp hat auch einen einfachen Zugang zur mosambikanischen Grenze direkt auf der anderen Seite von Komatipoort.

Letaba [ bearbeiten ]

Elefantenstatue außerhalb der Letaba Elephant Hall

Das Rastlager Letaba überblickt eine Biegung des Letaba-Flusses, ganz in der Nähe des geografischen Zentrums des Parks. Zu den Unterkünften zählen 86 Rondavels, 20 möblierte Zelte, 10 Cottages mit sechs Betten, 5 Hütten mit drei Betten und gemeinschaftlichen Waschräumen, 60 Stellplätze für Zelte oder Wohnwagen und zwei große Gästehäuser, das Melville und das Fish Eagle. Das Gästehaus Fish Eagle enthält auch ein privates Vogelhäuschen. Letaba beherbergt auch die Elephant Hall, ein kleines Museum, das Elefanten gewidmet ist, insbesondere den glorreichen Sieben.

Untere Sabie [ bearbeiten ]

Lower Sabie liegt etwa 45 km flussabwärts von Skukuza am Südufer des Sabie River. Es befindet sich in der Nähe einer der drei Brücken, die den Fluss Sabie im Park überqueren (beide anderen befinden sich in der Nähe von Skukuza). Aufgrund seiner Lage hat es große Wassermengen, flache Ebenen und Hügel, die vom Lager aus leicht zugänglich sind.[131]

Mopani [ bearbeiten ]

Mopani liegt am Nordufer des Pioneer Dam, südlich des Wendekreises des Steinbocks und 50 km nördlich von Letaba. Mopani ist auch der Verwaltungssitz des Shipandani Sleep-Over Bird Hide, ein Hide, das für Übernachtungen von 2-6 Personen gebucht werden kann.

Andere Lager [Bearbeiten]

Mopani-Camp-Tor

Die anderen Hauptlager sind:[123]

Olifants und sein Außenlager Balule

Orpen und seine Außenlager Maroela und Tamboti

Pretoriuskop

Punda Maria

Satara

Shingwedzi

South African National Parks verwaltet auch mehrere Bushveld Camps: Bataleur, Biyamiti, Shimuwini, Sirheni und Talamati. Zusätzlich können zwei Übernachtungsverstecke, Sable Hide und Shipandani Sleepover Hide, gebucht werden. Mehrere private Lodges, darunter einige Luxus-Lodges, sind ebenfalls über den Park verstreut.

Tore zum Kruger Park [ bearbeiten ]

Nord- und Südtor

Pafuri-Tor des Krüger-Nationalparks

(nördlichster Eingang zum Park) Crocodile Bridge

(ein südöstlicher Eingang zum Park) Phabeni Gate

(ein südwestlicher Eingang zum Park)

Der Kruger Park hat folgende Tore:

Name Road From Town Coordinates Crocodile Bridge Gate on the extension of Rissik Street from Komatipoort Malelane Gate on the R570 off the N4 near Malelane Numbi Gate on the R569 road from Hazyview Phabeni Gate on the road off the R536 from Hazyview Paul Kruger Gate on the R536 road from Hazyview Orpen Gate on the R531 road from Klaserie Phalaborwa Gate on the R71 road from Phalaborwa Punda Maria Gate on the R524 road from Thohoyandou Pafuri Gate on the R525 road from Musina

Wilderness trails [ edit ]

Nine different trails are on offer in the Kruger National Park.[132] Some are overnight and they last several days in areas of wilderness virtually untouched by humans. There are no set trails in the wilderness areas; a visitor walks along paths made by animals or seeks out new routes through the bush.

Gallery [ edit ]

Elephant family at an artificial water hole

Male giraffes necking

Two lionesses having a break after an unsuccessful hunt

A greater kudu bull

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Further Reading[edit]

Carruthers, Jane (1995). The Kruger National Park: A Social and Political History. Natal: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press. ISBN 9780869809150 .

Kruger National Park is a scenic and magical place that most locals return to again and again. Established in the 1920s, this national park is the largest in South Africa. Kruger National Park is located between the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces and borders Mozambique. It is home to the Big Five animals, stunning flora and is a center for wildlife research. Over the years and as the emphasis on conservation has increased, numerous private reserves and concessions have sprung up on the fringes of the original park, making your safari opportunities far greater.

We’ve narrowed down your FAQs to some of the most relevant. Have a look:

Tech addicts and mobile junkies will be relieved to know they are not completely cut off from the rest of the world. Most parts of the Kruger National Park have cellular coverage, with rest camps and private lodges providing the strongest signal. Please note that mobile phone use is not permitted on game drives in the Kruger Park in order not to disturb the animals.

Am I safe from wild animals at night?

As long as you follow Kruger Park’s guidelines, you’re safe. The camps are gated and fenced to prevent wildlife from entering your camp. Baboons and monkeys are present in most camps but keep a safe distance and they will not threaten you at all. Camps allow for free movement at night, making the overall Kruger Park experience a relaxing and safe one.

Is the water drinkable?

Although the tap water is safe to drink, bottled water is available in all rooms and can be purchased from all Kruger National Park shops.

What’s the deal with malaria?

Kruger National Park is a malaria risk zone. Although only a few cases of malaria have been reported, it is good to know when there are high-risk times. The rainy season lasts from October to May and this is when the risk of malaria is highest. From February to May, the risk is at its absolute peak. Ask your doctor about the right medication to prevent malaria. You must start anti-malarial medication a week before your trip.

What about mosquito nets?

Pafuri Luxury Tented Camp

The majority of the private lodges in the Kruger offer guests the luxury of mosquito nets in their rooms along with all the other bits and pieces to prevent bites like sprays, creams, coils and plug-in dispensers. Camper and mobile travel nets can be bought at outdoor and sporting goods stores, while repellents are available at any pharmacy or supermarket.

How do I prevent mosquito bites?

Rule number one would be to cover up at night and wear clothing that doesn’t expose your extremities, especially around your ankles. Apply the repellent every four to six hours. Burn repellent oils and if possible plug in and use a heated insecticide at night.

Can I go on safari when I’m pregnant?

As Kruger Park is a high risk area for malaria, it is not recommended to travel there while pregnant. There are many other ways in South Africa to take time out and enjoy the bush. There are a variety of parks and reserves across the country that would be better suited. Alternatively, you can opt for a malaria-free safari.

Why do I have to pay conservation fees?

All guests visiting Kruger National Park are required to pay Conservation Fees, which are calculated based on the day you spend in the park. Conservation fees bring in funds that support the process of preserving the park’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage while focusing on the maintenance of lookout hides, monitoring water supplies, and monitoring waterholes.

Endangered animals like the rhino benefit from conservation fees that help prevent poaching

Every visitor to the Kruger National Park pays a conservation fee for each day spent in the park. The funds are not only used for nature conservation, but also for the maintenance of viewing hides, water supplies, water holes, etc.

When and how are conservation fees paid?

Conservation fees are paid at the gate upon your arrival at the park. Guests holding a valid Wild Card do not have to pay parking fees as they are included in their membership fees. When you book a safari with us you can choose to have these charges included in the cost of your safari so you don’t have to worry about them during your stay.

Can I bring my pets to Kruger Park?

Only guide dogs are welcome in Kruger National Park and the appropriate permits and paperwork must be obtained in advance. No other animals are allowed in Kruger Park.

What is the self drive speed limit in Kruger Park?

The maximum speed is 50 km/h (31 mph) on tar roads, 40 km/h (24.8 mph) on gravel roads and 20 km/h (12.4 mph) on rest areas. For best game viewing, an average speed of 20-30 km/h (18.6 m/h) is recommended.

It is important to drive slowly in the park to protect valuable wildlife. After all, you don’t want to miss a great sighting

Can I feed the animals in Kruger Park?

In the Kruger National Park you are not allowed to feed the animals at all. This is considered a serious offense and you will be subject to a hefty fine if caught. Birds, baboons and monkeys can be found at all rest camps and picnic areas, but when fed they lose their natural fear of humans and in some cases can become very aggressive and dangerous. Read the rules of conduct in Kruger National Park.

Monkeys are highly intelligent and you should never feed them no matter how close they get to you.

What is the status of rhino poaching in Kruger Park?

As of May 2017, Kruger National Park authorities have reported that they have begun dehorning orphaned baby rhinos in a desperate attempt to curb poaching. The procedure is harmless to the rhino and will hopefully discourage poachers from going after rhino in the absurd belief that it has healing properties. Poaching is a very serious offense and you should immediately report any information to an on duty park officer, game warden or shelter manager.

What types of tours are there?

All types of tours are offered and it all depends on what type of experience you are looking for. You can combine a Kruger safari with either a visit to another country or even another experience within the same country. South Africa has it all!

Whether it’s a game drive or a bush walk, you can enjoy many activities in Kruger. Please note that activities within the national park are limited, but private reserves and concessions offer a greater variety of activities. Let us advise you on what to expect from your safari.

security

Like most parks and reserves in South Africa, the Kruger National Park is very safe to visit in our opinion. Crime is not an issue in the park. For the most up-to-date information on travel in South Africa and in particular the Kruger National Park, it is worth checking the latest travel advice (see the ‘Safety & Security – South Africa’ link below).

Johannesburg

When visiting Kruger, Johannesburg is the main entry point from abroad and crime is a problem in the city. You don’t have to worry about a thing on a guided tour, as your guide ensures your safety at all times. Furthermore, as the airport is on the eastern outskirts of Johannesburg on the main road to Kruger, there is no need to stay in the city or even drive through the city when traveling to/from Kruger. For more tips, see the Cities and Other Urban Areas: Safety Precautions section below.

Malaria & Vaccinations

Kruger NP is in a malaria zone, but there is very little risk during the wet summer months (from October to April). At this point, you should take steps to protect yourself by wearing appropriate clothing and applying mosquito repellent. Before you travel, get medical advice on antimalarial medication and if you need it. Multiple vaccinations are also recommended when traveling to South Africa in general and to Kruger.

animal sightings

Although more than a million visitors come to Kruger each year, wildlife incidents are extremely rare. As long as you listen to your guide you are very safe. Self-drivers should follow parking rules and only leave their vehicle in designated areas. For more tips, please read the “Safety Precautions for Wildlife Viewing” below.

Visitor information for Kruger Park Day

Day Guide to Kruger National Park

Day visitors are very welcome in the Kruger National Park!

Before you visit, take some time to plan your trip and be realistic about how much you can drive and see in a day. Kruger Park is huge, there are strict speed limits within the park and distances between locations can take longer than expected.

Choose your entrance and exit carefully, know the opening and closing times, and also know in advance which picnic area or watering hole you will be visiting. Each gate of the Kruger Park has specific facilities. Game viewing highlights in the area differ from gate to gate – read the information available and plan accordingly.

With so much to see and do, you’ll need to arrange a few things – here are guidelines for visiting this national treasure:

entry

For day visitors, admission to Kruger Park is on a first come, first served basis and strict quotas apply to each gate. It is recommended to get to the gate of your choice as early as possible, especially in high season. Guests with overnight bookings are not affected by these regulations.

There is a daily entry fee for all visitors unless you have a wild card.

At particularly busy times of the year, a cost-effective park and ride system will be introduced at all gates. Designated parking spaces will be allocated. You can either ‘hop and drive’ in safari vehicles on a game drive or head straight to the recreational picnic areas to BBQ and relax.

behavior

Day visitors are not allowed to bring alcohol into the park. Visitors are asked to be considerate of others at all times and to follow Kruger Park’s rules of acceptable behavior in the interests of a safe and happy experience for all. Loud music, littering and speeding to the gates, among other offences, are unacceptable in the Kruger National Park.

goal times

Kruger National Park has 10 entrance gates: Crocodile Bridge, Malelane, Numbi, Phabeni, Paul Kruger, Orpen, Phalaborwa, Punda Maria, Pafuri and Giriyondo.

The gates of Kruger Park open

Nov-Jan: 05:30

February: 05:30

Mar & Oct: 05:30

Apr: 06:00

May-July: 06:00

Aug-Sept: 06:00

Close park and storage gates

Nov-Jan: 18:30

February: 18:30

March & Oct: 18:00

Apr: 5:30 p.m

May-July: 17:30

Aug-Sept: 18:00

It is important that all day visitors pay special attention to the opening and closing times of the gates.

picnic areas and restaurants

You can enjoy a great picnic and lunch break in the amazing Kruger Park! Stretch your legs and relax – are available and also a number of places on the self-drive routes. A detailed map showing the picnic areas can be purchased at Kruger’s front gates and shops. In all places you will find (Cadac Gas Braais). Some locations also offer a tuck shop where you can purchase soft drinks, snacks, and wood. You can also rent a Gaskottel (portable frying pan on a stand) at most picnic sites for a small fee. As a bonus, the pan is washed before you leave – what a relief – no greasy pans to worry about! Certain locations have something different to offer, such as a great view, a swimming pool, or a unique feature. Day visitors are also welcome at any of the restaurants at the Main Rest Camps.

Archived Messages

Media release: Water in the Krüger drinkable

Date: 2009-02-02

The Chief Executive of South African National Parks (SANParks), Dr. David Mabunda, announced today that despite positive reports of cholera in the rivers, there is no risk of tourists and staff in the Kruger National Park (KNP) catching cholera from drinking water.

“We can say with certainty that our drinking water is safe from bacteria that could lead to cholera because it’s treated well before it enters the water systems,” he said.

Test results, completed by an independent laboratory in Polokwane, showed certain rivers in the KNP still carry cholera. These rivers include the Crocodile River (tested near Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp), Olifants River (tested near Balule Satellite Camp), Shingwedzi River (tested near Shingwedzi Rest Camp), and Luvuvhu River (tested near the flood bridge).

“Although these tests were positive, they do not pose a danger to anyone because people can only become infected if they are exposed to this water, and since you are not allowed to swim in any river in the park, the risk of contagion is very low,” said dr mabunda

According to the KNP’s family doctor, Dr. Rossouw Ferreira (who lives in Skukuza), there are currently no confirmed cases of cholera in the KNP.

KNP vets and scientists also confirmed today that there is no risk to animals, including marine life, as this particular strain of cholera is species-specific and only affects humans.

“Of concern is the large amount of faecal coliforms found in all rivers tested,” warned Dr. mabunda The Crocodile, Sabie, Sand, Olifants, Letaba, Shingwedzi and Luvuvhu rivers all recorded high concentrations of these bacteria. All of the above rivers flow through human settlements outside the park before entering the park, and it is suspected that the relevant bacteria infect the rivers before entering the park.

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) standards say the samples tested “pose serious health risks” and infants and people who are HIV positive are at greatest risk.

With most of the above rivers flowing heavily due to the good rainfall over the last few days, there is a good chance that the risks will decrease as the river water is diluted.

“We will be testing again in two weeks to review the situation and we hope these results will all be negative,” concluded Dr. mabunda

Published by:

Raymond Travers, Media Relations Practitioner, Kruger National Park. Contact: Tel: (013) 735 4116, Mobile: 082 908 2677 or Email: [email protected]

Requests:

William Mabasa, HOD: Public Relations and Communications, Kruger National Park. Contact: Tel: (013) 735 4363, Mobile: 082 807 3919 or Email: [email protected]