Kruger accommodates day and overnight visitors. Arrive in your own car or rent one, and drive yourself through the Park.
Alternatively, book private Guided tours through Kruger2Canyons.com or other local operators, departing from wherever you wish.
Or join an organised Group trip from a local centre. Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa and Nelspruit all have airports and are good starting points.
v daytrips & public campsIf you only have a single day to visit the Kruger, then pity on you! However, an excellent LONG daytrip would see you entering the Park at the Phalaborwa Gate at opening time (between 05:30 and 06:30, season dependent, subject to change, check!). You then spend a day of contrasts within the Park, ensuring that you get to the Orpen Gate before it closes (18:00-19:00).
This drive will give you a hint of what Kruger holds, exposing you to a range of different landscapes and habitats from the flat, carnivore-infested plains of the Satara region to the Mopani veld north of the Olifants, and the stunning riparian scenery and bluffs around the river itself.
It is quite possible to see all of the Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Hippo) within this single journey.
You can do this route in reverse. Either way, returning your point of origin after leaving the Gate will probably be a 90 minute to 2 hour drive.
You MUST overnight very close to the Park to achieve this feat. Kruger2Canyons.com can help with accommodation. Even if you are comfortable driving outside the Park after dark, it is a long and tiring day.
However, you will leave envigorated and with a taste for more.
If you are new to all of this, you might like to read our tips for driving in the Kruger National Park.
If only do a daytrip, you will find that one day is not enough. A minimal Kruger experience should include at least one morning and night drive off-road in a Private Reserve, a Bush Walk, and a braai (barbeque) under the stars.
You should go and sit next to a waterhole for half a day, armed with binoculars, camera, a good book and some refreshment.
Whilst is a great experience to self-drive, make sure that the majority of your activities are Guided, as you will see things (more of them) in a totally different light. High standards and years of experience mean your Guide offers a rich interpretative experience.
And we do recommend making the time to stay at a South African National Park's (SANParks) Restcamp. They are all beautifully located, clean, well-provisioned and great fun (cook your own steaks over a braai in the evening, for example). They were, of course, the original Kruger experience.
The Park truly comes into its own with a longer stay inside its perimeter. A blend of accommodation across a variety of price points caters for all. The infrastructural backbone is a network of SANParks Restcamps.
SANP Restcamps are remarkably good value. Most are fabulously located on riverbanks, dams or areas of particular interest (savannah plains, birding spots). Increasing modernisation is introducing more amenities such as swimming pools in an area which can be very hot. The major camps such as Skukuza and Letaba boast an open-air cinema, and museum or wildlife library. Skukuza has the population of a small South African town but, happily, doesn't often feel like it. | something more upmarket?
Limits are imposed on both the numbers of day and overnight visitors. To guarantee a stay it is essential to book in advance. Consider this up to six months in advance. South African school holidays and religious festivals are extremely busy and can be booked out years in advance.
Staying at a Kruger Restcamp offers better early-morning self-drive exploration (when the animals are most active). You can also participate in activities organised by the camps.
Morning and evening game drives are available in open-sided vehicles. Professional guides provide insight into the flora and fauna around you. Organised Drives also circumnavigate the strict rules on when you must be in Camp (Drives leave before gates open, returning after close at night).
Certain camps organise guided morning or afternoon walks where you will join a group totalling up to eight people escorted through the bush by two trained rangers.
Many Restcamps also offer bush braais, or trips out to safe swimming spots. | read on for some local Restcamp specialities...
There is a good, helpful central reservations facility provided by the National Parks Board who are also extremely responsive to e-mail requests for bookings for both accommodation and activities, which are best reserved well in advance.
restcamp info & bookings >