Kruger National Park

Flood damage Due to severe rain and flooding many camps and roads have been closed since 17 January 2013. The damage caused is extensive and it is expected that it will take many months before all camps and roads are open to the public again. See the official press release for more information.

Kruger monument in front of the Paul Kruger Gate.

The Kruger National Park (KNP) [1] lies in the north-east of South Africa and runs along the border of Mozambique in the east, Zimbabwe in the north, and the southern border is the Crocodile River. The park covers 20,000 square kilometers and is divided in 14 different ecozones, each supporting different wildlife. It is one of the main attractions of South Africa and it is considered the flagship of South African National Parks (SANParks).

Understand

History

The park was established in 1898 by the South African President Paul Kruger as a protected area for wildlife and it opened its gate the general public in 1927 for the first time.

Currently, the park is run by the South African National Parks (SANP) and is probably the best managed African National Park. Wildlife conservation, education and tourism are the main objectives of the KNP. Effective measures to prevent poaching are in place and as a result of this cars are generally inspected upon entering and leaving the park.

The Kruger National Park has now been combined with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and the Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe into a new transfrontier park to be called The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, although border restrictions at crossings still apply, and border posts are not open all day. [2].

Flora and fauna

The southern part of the park along the Sabie and Crocodile river is rich in water and has a lot of game viewing opportunities. Here you can see the best of African flora and fauna such as Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos, Buffalos often referred as the big five, but there are plenty of others to see as well. Driving around the Sabie river will always result in seeing some interesting animals. The vegetation around the Sabie river can be very dense forest and thicket and it gets a little bit more open driving down south to the Crocodile river. The northern part of the park supports less flora and fauna and is often referred as the birding paradise.

If you choose to self-drive, and aren't experienced in African animal tracking, you will still inevitably see elephants and buffalos, and many variety of antelope. Impalas are ubiquitous. Rhinos are less common, but big enough to be seen by the untrained eye. Leopards are seen are commonly seen by the experts, but are camouflaged and in trees, so present a challenge to the untrained. Everything else is down to your luck of the day.

If you have limited time, and want to do Kruger, go in the dry season, stay at a camp like Olifants, and confine yourself to the south of the park along the southern rivers.

Climate

South Africa is located south of the equator and has therefore a reverse order of summer and winter than Europe and North America. Generally is the KNP a dry and hot area, regardless of summer or winter. The South African summer (September -April) in the KNP is hot and sunny with occasional showers and temperature in the shadow range from 18°-30°C. and the winter (May–August) is warm and dry with temperatures ranging from 8°-22°C. September–April Hot and sunny with sporadic thunder showers. Average temp 18-30°C.

Get in

Map of the Kruger National Park

Malelane gate to the park

By car

From Nelspruit you will have to choose to which park gate you want to go. Nearest gates are: Malelane (south east), Numbi (south west) and Kruger Gate (south west, slightly north of the Numbi gate). The N4 is a toll road and you have to pay for its use. Depending on which gate you want to reach, add one or two hours from Nelspruit to find out how long your journey will be. Please be aware that the KNP gates are closed after sunset and visitors are not permitted to drive at night in the park.

The distance from Johannesburg to the 9 different gates of the KNP are approximately:

• Numbi gate: 411 km
• Malelane gate: 428 km
• Phabeni gate: 430-440 km
• Crocodile Bridge gate: 475 km
• Paul Kruger gate: 460-470 km
• Orpen: 490 km
• Phalaborwa: 490 km
• Punda Maria: 550 km
• Parfuri: 600 km

Driving in darkness is considered to be dangerous outside the park especially if you are not used to driving in Africa. Pedestrians walk along the roads as well as local taxi/minibus services and both of them are difficult to spot at night. The area of the Numbi gate had a number of incidents involving barriers on roads and South Africans blame the proximity to Mozambique for this.

By plane

Safari style shuttle service at Eastgate Airport

There are three airports with commercial scheduled flights near Kruger National Park. From south to north, they are Kruger Mpumalanga at Nelspruit, Hoedspruit Airport, and Phalaborwa Airport.

• Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA  ^IATA) at Nelspruit receives flights from Johannesburg International Airport, Durban, Cape Town and Vilanculos. It is the largest airport, with the most facilities and also is visited by some discount airlines. Fares to here from Johannesburg can be half the price of the other Kruger airports. Car rental is possible via: Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Imperial Car Rental and National. If you are staying at one of the northern camps, this airport can be 4 or more hours from your entrance gate.
  • Distances to KNP gates from KMIA are
    • Kruger Gate 82 km
    • Malelane Gate 63 km
    • Numbi Gate 40 km
    • Phabeni Gate 76 km

• Eastgate Airport at Hoedspruit has a couple of flights a day to Johannesburg with South African Airlines only. Avis has a car rental desk there. There is a bar and small shop selling chocolate bars, as well as a souvenir shop, but no serious cafe to speak of. It is listed on the SAA website as Hoedspruit airport, however the airport isn't signposted from Hoedspruit, and to get there you have to go through a gate onto a private reserve. If you are flying out of here, make sure where you are going. Hoedspruit has another grass landing strip near the centre of town. This airport has no scheduled flights.
• Phalaborwa Airport is located 2 km from the Phalaborwa gate of the KNP and serves as an entry route for the northern camps such as Letaba, Olifants, Punda Maria and Shingwedzi. The airport is well connected to Johannesburg International Airport with two flights per day during the week and a single flight on Saturday and Sunday. The airport has car rental services. Again, there is only a single carrier operating.
• Malelane Regional Airport near the Malelane Gate is only used for private and charter flights.

Fees/Permits

The KNP is not open all day and night. Entry gate and camp gate opening and closing times are as follows:

• November–January - Open 4h30 (camp gate) and 5h30 (entry gate), close 18h30
• February - Open 5h30, close 18h30
• March- Open 5h30, close 18h00
• April - Open 6h00, close 18h00
• May–July - Open 6h00, close 17h30
• August/September - Open 6h00, close 18h00
• October - Open 5h30, close 18h00
• November–January - Open 4h30 (camp) and 5h30 (entry, close 18h30)

If you are later back in the camp or found driving around at night, you will be fined very high rates. So make sure to be out or back in the camp before closing time!

Fees apply to access the park. If you are not a resident of South Africa, you can choose to either pay daily conservation fees or buy an international visitors wildcard (valid for entry to all SANParks parks). The break even point is about 4-days conservation fees equal to a wildcard. You can purchase a wildcard or pay conservation fees when you are booking your accommodation, or you pay on admission (if you are not staying in the park) or at your camp. If you are visiting other parts of South Africa, you may want to consider the discounts available for Table Mountain and other parks before making your calculation.

When you enter the park you will be given an admission permit. It is very important to retain this, as you have to present it on the way out of the park to be permitted to exit.

Get around

By car

Animals have the right of way!

The infrastructure of the park is outstanding by African standards and roads inside the park are of very good quality and potholes on the main roads are rare. Smaller sidetracks are close to the originals landscape, but manageable with a normal car, although a 4x4 offers probably a better comfort on this type of terrain. KNP roads have speed limits range from 20 to 50 km/h and it is not wise to go much faster, because game tends to cross the roads out of nowhere.

Make sure you have an up-to-date map, enough to eat and drink, cameras and binoculars, reference books and a litter bag with you, a litter bag is normally given by Park Staff when you enter the park, but feel free to ask at camps and picnic spots.

Take care when approaching animals. They are wild and unpredictable. If you have the feeling that animals get angry, leave! Elephants and rhinos can be very dangerous to you and your car!

It is custom to share information about animal sightings with other park visitors. This happens casually and information is exchanged when two cars from the opposite direction meet and stop for a short chit-chat, there are also sightings boards at all the camps, showing where recent sightings have taken place.

Avis is the only car rental company with an office inside the park at Skukuza Camp, but other companies from Nelspruit and at the two above mentioned airports are happy to provide you with a car as well. You may want to consider an air-conditioned car in the hot climate of the KNP.

Petrol stations within the park do not accept payment by credit card.

The maximum speed limit is 50 km/h on tarred roads, 40 km/h on gravel roads and 20 km/h in rest camps, and is generally obeyed. However lower speeds afford greater safety and better sightings. It takes roughly 10 hours to cross the KNP in south - north direction. Distances between camps sites are on average 1-2 hours in the south and a little bit more than that in the north. Consider the distances between camps site when planning your trip and remember that you are not allowed to leave your car once you left a camp site. Toilets are present at all the camps and picnic areas, but not at the hides. A road can be blocked by buffalo or elephant crossing, adding 20 minutes unexpected journey time to your trip. Leave some slack in your travel time calculations and enjoy the scenery.

By foot

It is possible to go on guided walking tours, which you can arrange through the camp reception, or in advance with SANParks. However, the rangers in Kruger National Park have a policy of not surprising animals, which means you are going to be walking briskly through bushland with a couple of armed guides ahead of you, rather than stealthily moving through the bush to get a glimpse of an animal that hasn't seen you. The reality of this is that most animals will well have truly gone from the area before you get there, and the chances of wildlife spotting are dramatically reduced over what you might see by game vehicle or by car. Still, you might be lucky.

Unauthorised walking is not allowed and also extremely foolish.

See

Sabie river is the place with the most abundant wildlife in the Kruger National Park

• Crocodile River view point is nearby the Crocodile Camp travelling north on the main road direction Lower Sabie and then following the sign to the Crocodile River view point on a dirt track for a couple of kilometers. As a reward you can get out of your car and go with a park guide down to the river to watch hippos and crocodiles from a few meters distance.

• Masorini is a restored Iron Age village about 10km from the Phalaborwa gate. It is probably the most accessible of the remnants of stone and Iron Age life within the park. There is a picnic area and toilets near the bottom of the hill. You need to be accompanied by the guide to tour the village itself. The huts are reconstructed and show the process the civilisation went through to forge iron. These people were not just forging iron for spears and hunting, they had an entire economy based on selling and trading the iron they forged. Brochures say the guided tours are free, and leave at scheduled time. The reality seems to be that tips are required to the attendant who runs the tours, and if you are interested in taking the tour then the attendant will guide you.

Do

Wildlife experiences

Bush drive vehicles commonly used in the park

The basic way to see the wildlife is to tour the park by car during the daylight hours when the park is open. This is a very effective way of seeing wildlife, even for first timers. There are many other wildlife experiences on offer.

• Bush drives First time visitors may want to consider to book a guided tour through the KNP with local park guides. Bush drives are available from Berg en dal, Letaba, and Skukuza camp and some other camps, and cost around 170 Rand (~$30USD) per person. Experienced rangers will take you in a 4x4 car to the KNP and explain you the finer details of game spotting.

• Night drives Discovering the KNP on your own is a great adventure, but there are a few things that you can not do without a ranger. One of them is to have a night drive through the park to see nocturnal creatures such as lions, leopards and hyenas. Tours take a couple of hours and leave usually shortly before the main gates close in the night.

• Wilderness trail Discover African flora and fauna on foot is an unforgettable lifetime experience and only few places in Africa offer such tours. You join a group of up to 8 mates and 2 rangers on a hiking tour that lasts for 3 days and you learn a lot of things about South African wildlife and there is no way that you could see animals closer than on this tour. Imagine seeing lion, elephant or rhino only a few meters from you. This is a breathtaking experience. Trails follow circular routes and you return each evening to the safety of your camp where dinner awaits. The duration of the trails is three nights and two days, either from Sunday to Wednesday, or from Wednesday to Saturday. Hikers meet at the designated restcamp at 15:30 on Sundays or Wednesdays from where they leave by vehicle for their trail camp after a short briefing.

• • Bushman trail Berg en dal camp offers the bushman trail around the Berg en dal camp which is surrounded by granite rocks. Expect to see elephants, white rhinos and buffalos.

• • Metsimetsi trail Is best enjoyed during the South African winter, check in at Skukuza camp and you will travel north to the N’waswitsontso river nearby the Satara camp.

• • Napi trail Check in at Pretoriuskop to enjoy the Napi trail and you may see white rhinos, elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs and in the past you saw wild dogs which are rare nowadays.
  • Nyalaland trail Check in Punda Maria camp in the north of the KNP to spot crocodiles, elephants and hippos as well as bird watching is going to be on your agenda. Buffalo also frequent the area. Birdlife is prolific.
  • Olifants Trail Check in at Letaba Camp. The trail crosses the Olifants River as well as the Letaba River which supports a variety of wildlife, including large predators, elephant and buffalo. Also listen out for the call of the African Fish Eagle.
  • Sweni Trail Check in at Satara Camp. The Sweni area is popular, in that, there is a high density of both predator and prey, and a trail experience here give hikers the opportunity to observe lion and even cheetah.
  • Wolhuter Trail In the southern part of the park (white rhino country), between the Berg-en-Dal and Pretoriuskop.

• Olifants River Back Pack Trail. 42km, 4 Days, from Olifants to Letaba, no frills, no trace camping, no camps provided, sleep in your own tent out in the park with the wildlife. R10 560 for up to 8 people. 
• Landrover Lebombo Eco-Trail
• The 3 brand new 'Transfrontier Trails do Limpopo'
  • The Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail
  • The Machampane Wilderness Trail
  • The Massingir Hiking Trail

• Walking Safaris (Africa Walking Safaris), 30 Cambridge Avenue, Craighall Park, Johannesburg (eight walking trails throughout the Greater Kruger National Park), ☏ +27(0)82 350 2999FORMAT, andrew@africawalkingsafaris.co.za. Offers specialist walking safaris for groups of up to eight guests, led by two armed and experienced trails guides. Prices vary according to the accommodation type, ranging from rustic tented bush camps to luxury safari lodges. Typically, the day's activities are an early morning walk, setting off at sunrise and covering 5-8 km over 4-6 hours, before returning to camp for brunch. In the afternoon, guests may elect for a walk, or a game drive in an open game-viewing vehicle which departs around 4PM and returns to camp around 7PM. This drive includes a sundowner drinks stop at sunset, followed by a night drive with spotlights to view Kruger's nocturnal wildlife. US$200-600 per night. 

Other than wildlife

• Play golf at the 9 hole golf course in Skukuza, originally designed for the local personnel it was recently opened to the public. Please bring your own golf clubs with you and enjoy this very special golf course. Considering the average temperature in the KNP this is one of the toughest 9 hole golf courses in the world.

Buy

Bigger camp sites such as the Lower Sabie and Skukuza have comfortable shopping facilities and you can buy foodstuffs and souvenirs, as well as some other travel items you may have forgotten. The range is more limited at the smaller or more remote camps. It is easy for them to run out of particular items, so you have to make do with what is there. Fresh milk particularly can be in short supply.

Artistic wood carvings can be found there as well and is usually of reasonable quality and cheaper than in Cape Town. Carvings can be found in and around the gates to the Kruger National Park as well.

Animal skins and rugs are available as well.

Eat

Pafuri picnic area in the far northern part of the park

For self-catering, there are designated picnic areas in the camps, as well as some picnic areas away from the camps (with an armed attendant). The picnic areas have (braai) barbecue facilities and tables.

The camp shops sell food to barbecue and drinks at quite reasonable prices, as well as firewood. They only sell take-away alcohol to those who have proof they are staying in the park.

Many of the camps have cafeterias and restaurants, but don't plan on any variety between the camps. The menu is the same at each camp, with a range of only 10 or so dishes. Most visitors familiar with the park are self-catering in their lodges or at the picnic areas.

Lodges in the private areas of the park and outside the park will cater food, often arranged in well-sheltered outdoor restaurants with open fireplace, and barbecue South African specialties such as:

• wart hog sausage
• springbok tenderloin
• ostrich steak
• Biltong made of game, like Kudu, Zebra or Elephant

Drink

No alcohol may be brought into the park

Alcohol cannot be brought into the park. Take away alcohol cannot be bought from the park shops, unless you are staying in the park. The camp restaurants and bars sell beer, wine and spirits.

The bars in camp aren't crowded of an evening with people recalling tales of wildlife seen during the day. Generally people aren't visiting Kruger for the nightlife, and are more likely to spend the evening with a braai ready for an early start the following day.

Sleep

Camps Inside the KNP

Several camps inside the KNP provide accommodation and shelter to visitors and are the only places inside the park where you may leave your car safely. The level of service depends on the camp size and can range from a tent site with a picnic area and bathroom facilities to a small town with swimming pool, library, restaurant, cafeteria, filling station, supermarket and golf course. Most accept payment by credit card. Travel from one site to another takes on average 2 hours, whereas distances in the south are shorter and northern camps can be a little bit further apart.

The SANParks website allows bookings online for all parks, with instant confirmation and availability checks. You will need to register before you commence your booking, and the registration process can take around half an hour to be confirmed before you can commence booking. The SANParks site is not the first site returned by most search engines when searching for accommodation in Kruger, but it is the only site where you can book accommodation directly. All other sites will only take "provisional bookings", and are just agencies.

• Bookings at SANParks, ☏ +27 (0)12 428-9111FORMAT, fax: +27 (0)12 343-0905FORMAT, reservations@sanparks.org. 

Getting a response from email sent to the reservations email address seems next to impossible. I suggest using a tour operator cheaper and more efficient. Kruger Park Reservations and Information There are options to book activities (such as drives) online when booking accommodation, but your accommodation is booked the website does allow you to add or incorporate additional activities with your reservation. However, you can book them on arrival in camp (subject to availability) or in advance by phone.

Main Camps

• Berg en Dal, +27 (0)13 735-6106, - a medium sized camp located on the banks of Matjulu-Dam. Visitors of the camp can rest in the local cafeteria or prepare food in the communal kitchen, buy fuel in the petrol station, have a picnic, use public telephones, enjoy a good dinner in the restaurant and cool down in the swimming pool. The camp offers accommodation ranging from tent sites with power points to caravan sites, three bed bungalows and bigger facilities such as 6 and 8 bed houses. Activities from this camp include the Bushman and Wolhuter Wilderness Trails (see also Do section), morning drive, night drive and the Rhino trail camp walk.

• Crocodile Bridge, +27 (0)13 735-6012 - The third smallest camp of KNP and located close to Crocodile River, Crocodile Bridge is in the most southern part of KNP and it is a camp and as well a gate site. The proximity to the SA civilisation one stone throw apart from the camp means that there is no wilderness romantic, but it serves you well if you are a late comer and the KNP gates are shut. Facilities include laundry service. There is a great amount game around this camp / gate, consider yourself very unlucky if you do not spot Lions in this area. Lions are also known to be "hanging" out in trees in this area, the only place in KNP where this can be seen.

• Letaba, +27 (0)13 735-6636 - One of the more beautiful camps, Letaba is in the central section of KNP next to the Letaba River in the middle of elephant country. Accommodation ranges from tents to huts catering 2-4 persons per accommodation. The camp is known for its elephant sightings and has an exhibition about the elephant life cycle. Camp facilities include: cafeteria, fence perimeter, laundry, restaurant and a swimming pool.

Zebras near Lower Sabie

• Lower Sabie, +27 (0)13 735-6056 - The most luxurious camp, recently renovated after it was destroyed by a fire. Lower Sabie is in the south east of KNP on the banks of the Sabie River, and offers superb game viewing. Therefore it is one of the most wanted camps by the locals. You can often spot white rhino, lion, cheetah, elephant and buffalo around the camp, because these animals come down to the river to drink. Accommodation is superb in Lower Sabie, there are campsites available with ample shade, as well as some of the best safari tents in Kruger as well as huts and chalets.

• Mopani, +27 (0)13 735-6535 - The newest and most comfortable rest camp in the KNP. Mopani has been built near a dam that attracts a lot of wildlife into the monotone northern mopanie dominated shrub veld vegetation. Wildlife spotting from the camp is superb and you would have to drive for hours to see more game from your car than in this camp. Enjoy a splash in the swimming pool after a game drive you are prepared for dinner in the local restaurant which is supposed to be far better than in other camps and it offers dinner à la carte. Accommodation in this camp offers fully equipped kitchen and supports up to 6 persons in a house.

• Olifants, +27 (0)13 735-6606 - Probably the best known camp among South African tourists. Olifants is in the middle of the KNP on top of a hill overlooking the banks of the Olifants River. You can see Africa unfold from your terrace and the Olifants camp has the best settings from all camps. You can see kudu, elephants, lions and giraffes from your room when they come to the Olifants River to bath and to drink, a must visit for astrology enthusiasts, with amazing star gazing, this is the only Kruger that offers drives at night focusing on stars instead of game viewing.

• Orpen, +27 (0)13 735-6355 - the smallest camp in the park, situated at Orpen Gate. Orpen offers basic accommodation for 2-3 persons in a hut without bathroom. Consider to stay there if it is too late to reach another camp before darkness.

• Pretoriuskop, +27 (0)13 735-5128 - A large and luxurious rest camp close to the Numbi Gate located in the southwest of KNP. The landscape consists of rocky mountain and steep ridges supporting klipspringer, reedbuck, rhinos, giraffes and wild dogs in the surrounding shrubs. Accommodations are traditionally thatched rondawels for up to three visitors without bathroom. Other camp facilities include swimming pool, laundry, restaurant and cafeteria.

• Punda Maria, +27 (0)13 735-6873 - the most northerly camp, also the 2nd smallest of KNP. Punda Maria camp sits on top of a hill and whitewashed thatches are arranged in terraces. The camp offers a rich flora and famous for its huge variety in birds. The camp facilities include a restaurant.

• Satara, +27 (0)13 735-6306 - A bushveld camp that is situated centrally in the park, surrounded by hot plains that offer good grazing opportunities and attracts a lot of game. It is the second biggest camp in the KNP and offers accommodation, restaurant, cafeteria and laundry facilities. This also big cat country, so expect busy roads and crowded sightings during South African holidays.

Accommodation at Skukuza

The old railway bridge near Skukuza

• Shingwedzi, +27 (0)13 735-6806 - nice quiet camp in the far north of the park. Shingwedzi lies in the middle of the mopanie shrub veld and benefits from the proximity of the Shingwedzi River and the Kanniedood Dam which attract most of the game in this area. The camp facilities include accommodation, restaurant, swimming pool, cafeteria and laundry. Nyala country!

• Skukuza, +27 (0)13 735-4152 - Located in the southwest of the KNP and serving as the Headquarters of KNP, Skukuza is located 20 minutes from the Kruger Gate and is the biggest camp inside the KNP. It has more than 140 huts/chalets and some 100 camping sites available. It offers a gas station (pump), library, post office, car rental, grocery store, a-la-carte restaurant, youth hostel, 9 hole golf course (the hottest one in the world) and swimming pool. Skukuza is situated directly on the Sabie River and animals often come here to drink.

• Tsendze, The newest camp in the park, opened for visitors in November 2006. Rustic layout offering very basic camp sites in a natural environment. There are no shops and visitors are requested to check in at Mopanie. Hot water in the restrooms are provided by gas geysers with open-roofed showers to gaze at the night sky. No electricity available, also no generators allowed, to keep to the tranquility of the bush.

Main Camp Satellites

• Balule - A satellite camp of Satara, Balule is a rustic bush camp with little luxury, but a lot of bush romantic. It is in the middle of the KNP near the Olifants camp where you have to check in and then drive 11 km to get to the Balule camp. The camp is on the banks of the Olifants River and it suits you best when you are prepared for self-catering and if a you are happy to share a communal kitchen.

• Malelane - A satellite camp of Berg-en-Dal, situated near the Malelane entrance gate on the very southern border of the park. A very nice camp with basic chalets and camp sites, but the view of sugar plantations opposite the river is a bit of a spoiler.

• Maroela - A satellite of Orpen the camp is situated on the banks of the Timbavati River. This is the only camp in the park that solely caters for caravans, camper-vans and tents.

• Tamboti - A satellite of Orpen, Tamboti is a tented camp situated on the banks of the seasonal Timbavati River where you can see the beasts from your tent coming to the river. Facilities include tented accommodation, communal ablution and communal kitchen without cooking utensils. Some units are accessible for wheelchairs.

• Pionier - A tented camp, administered by Letaba.

Bushveld Camps

Bush camps provide smaller accommodation varieties than the main camps. They do not have full shops or restaurants in them and only some (Talamati, Biyamiti and Bateleur) will allow you to use electrical equipment like hairdriers.

• Bateleur - A camp in the northern area of the park. It has 4 and 6 bed cottages, a mini shop and cottages have basic television facilities.

• Biyamiti - In the southern area of the part, this camp has a mixture of 1 and 2 bedroom cottages. It has a mini shop and offers game drives and walks.

• Shimuwini - This camp is in the middle of the park. Its name means "Place of the Baobab" and is situated along the banks of the Letaba river which is lined with these trees.

• Sirheni - In the northern areas of the park, this camp is situated near the Sirheni dam.

• Talamati - Located in the "lower-middle" area of the park, It offers 2 an 1 bedroom cottages, a mini shop, a bird hide and a game hide.

Bush Lodges

• Boulders - one of the larger private camps

• Roodewal - another small private camp.

Luxury Lodges

• Lukimbi Safari Lodge, ☏ +27 (0)11 431-1120FORMAT. 
• Tinga Private Game Lodge, ☏ +27 (0)13 735-8400FORMAT. 
• Jock Safari Lodge, ☏ +27 (0)13 735-5200FORMAT. From R3.500pps. 
• Singita Private Game Lodge, ☏ +27 (0)21 683-3424FORMAT. Sweni and Lebombo Lodges 

• Imbali Safari Lodge, ☏ +27 (0)31 310-3333FORMAT. 
• Rhino Walking Safaris, ☏ +27 (0)11 467-1886FORMAT. Part of Isibindi 
• Shishangeni Lodge, ☏ +27 (013) 735-3300. 

Outside the KNP

• Pestana Kruger Lodge, R570, Malelane Gate, ☏ +27 (0)13 790-2503FORMAT, fax: +27 (0)13 790-2503FORMAT, kruger.lodge@pestana.com. Luxury accommodation, from the apartments you have a nice view over the Crocodile River bordering the KNP. From R900 per person. 

• Malelane Sun Lodge, R570, Malelane Gate, ☏ +27 (0)13 790-3304FORMAT, fax: +27 (0)13 790-3303FORMAT. Luxury accommodation next to the Malelane gate into the KNP. It is well situated next to the Crocodile River and close to the most attractive game viewing opportunities in the KNP. Its facilities include 9 hole golf course, tennis, swimming pool, restaurant, car park and bar. It has a high viewing deck onto the Crocodile river, from which one can often see hippos, elephant, crocodiles, antelope and other wildlife. From R800 per person. 

• Protea Kruger Gate, On the Sabie River at the Kruger Gate, ☏ +27 (0)13 735-5671FORMAT, fax: +27 (0)13 735-5676FORMAT. Elegant lodge in front of the Kruger gate situated in the banks of the Sabie river offers good access to the most attractive part of the KNP, apartments are designed as tree huts and are connected by raised wood walkways. Facilities of the lodge include play area for kids, swimming pool in scenic area, spacious car park, electric security fence, several bars, pool service an enormous park like garden with some kind of wildlife such as green monkeys, springbok, bush babies and occasional visitors such as a rhino and cheetah have been spotted. Dinnertime is announced with a traditional African drum and it sound like “tam-tam” and a fabulous display of exquisite South African food is then waiting for you. You have the choice between a big salad buffet supplemented by barbecued meat. The service is generally very good and staff is very friendly and charming, nevertheless sometime slow by hectic European/American standards and order can be delivered by piecemeal, first the scones, 15 minutes later the coffee, 20 minutes later the bill, 20 minutes later collecting the money for the bill, 30 minutes later bringing the change. R1500 per room. 

• Mvuradona Game Lodge, ☏ + 27 (0)83 326-2835FORMAT, jay@africaunleashed.co.za. Nestled a the Crocodile River and only a few minutes from either Malelane and Crocodile Bridge Gate. The Lodge has its own population of giraffe, zebra, lion and other animals. Transfers from the surrounding airports and game drives can be arranged. They four-star lodge offers Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. All rooms are equipped with satellite TV and MNet and coffee/tea facilities. From R450 to R1200 per person. 

• Khaya Umdani Kruger, Korhaanlaan 2907, Marloth Park, ☏ + 27 (0)84 565-5916FORMAT, bookings@khayaumdani.com. Located in Marloth Park Conservancy Area, which borders Kruger National Park to the South, this wildlife lodge offers luxury four-star self-catering accommodation for up to ten guests . Marloth Park is home to a wide variety of African wildlife, including a range of bird species and many different small animals, ranging from Zebra and Warthog, to Giraffe and Kudu. Animals roam free within the park, and come right up to the lodge's veranda. The Krokodilbrug Kruger National Park gate is less than half an hour's drive from Marloth Park. R3000 per night for the entire lodge. 

• Many people also prefer to sleep at nearby towns, such as Komatipoort (just 8 km from the Crocodile Bridge Gate), Nelspruit (for Numbi Gate), Malelane (for Numbi Gate), Sabie and Hazyview (for the Phabeni Gate) and Hoedspruit (for the Orpen gate). All of these have a wealth of accommodation of every standards, are easily accessible for the Park for self-drive guests and tours in can be arranged via private tour operators.

• Masodini Private Game Lodge, Maroelalaan, Balule Nature Reserve, ☏ + 27 (0)82 563 33 23FORMAT, sabine@masodini.co.za. Ideally situated in the 40.000 hectares Balule Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park. A Bush lover's paradise within this 'Big Five' Conservation area, the Lodge itself is surrounded by Fever trees and evergreen African date palms creating the perfect oasis. The lodge overlooks the water hole, is safe and fenced-in, providing protection against unwanted animal intruders.Masodini is exclusive and intimate, able to provide guests exclusive use of the camp and facilities for up to 12 guests. Ideal for honeymooners, singles or families with children of all ages. Awesome Game walks, Game drives in open 4x4 Game drive vehicles and wonderful Birding opportunities in and around Masodini with friendly and experienced Nature Guides. There are many places to visit using Masodini as a base, such as the Kruger National Park, Khamai Reptile Park, Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre, the Cheetah Project, the Panorama Route, local villages and so on. From R750 per night/per person full board incl. tea and coffee. 

Private Game Reserves and Lodges

Signboards to private camps

Mainly located in the north east of the Mpumalanga Province and often share a border with the south-western part of the KNP. In recent years, most fences between the KNP and private game parks have been dismantled and animals can freely choose were to go.

• Idube Safari Lodge, ☏ +27 (0)11 431-1120FORMAT, fax: +27 (0)11 431-3597FORMAT, res@idube.comres@idube.comFORMATMULTIPLE-EMAIL. Idube is a quiet treat nestled in the savanna and is arguably one of the best places in Africa to see the big five up close in the wild. Idube is a 20 bed boutique hotel offering luxury accommodation, tasty African cuisine and the best of South African hospitality. 

• Mala Mala, ☏ +27 (0)11 886-4382FORMAT, fax: +27 (0)11 789-2677FORMAT, reservations@malamala.com. Mala Mala is famous for easily seeing the big five and it has been operated for nearly 40 years. It is often the rest place for celebs and industry tycoons who can afford the hefty price tag that comes with superb service. Mala Mala is split into three different sites, all of which are booked through the above contact details. 
  • Main Camp is a luxurious place in the middle of Mpumalanga with elegant rooms. Each room has two bathrooms, a telephone and things you would expect in an upper class hotel, but not in the middle of the bush. Other parts of the hotel demonstrate its history as a hunting camp as was the fashion some time ago by presenting animal skins, heads and massive elephant tusks.
  • Harry’s Camp is the budget version of Mala Mala and shares the same wildlife experience as the main camp for less money. Facilities include bar, swimming pool and of course a private air-strip.
  • Kirkman’s Camp is an ex-cattle farm in a colonial style house near the sand river. Decoration reminds the visitor of past times and the reception looks like an exposition of old weapons, animal skins and other hunting trophies. Facilities include swimming pool, bar and private airstrip.

• Sabi Sabi, ☏ +27 (0)11 483-3939FORMAT, fax: +27 (0)11 483-3799FORMAT, res@sabisabi.com. Sabi Sabi is among the most famous and pricey game lodges around the KNP. Together with Mala Mala they pioneered private game reserves and this is partly because of their much favoured location near the Sand River as a source of permanent water. Game viewing is absolutely superb and you stand good chances of seeing many highlights. Bookings for the different lodges should be made through the above contact details. From R5600. 
  • Selati Lodge is a charming place decorated in colonial style from the nineteenth century and has therefore no electricity and receives a maximum of 16 guests in 8 rooms and has bar and pool facilities.
  • Bush Lodge is located close to a water hole and some of the rooms overlook it. The lodge is tastefully decorated with African art and accommodates 54 guests in chalets and 5 suits. Facilities include bar and pool.

• Simbavati River Lodge, Timbavati Private Game Reserve, ☏ (+27) (0) 15 793 9051FORMATNOCC. luxury tented guestrooms and thatched chalets equipped with private game viewing deck, coffee and tea area and toiletries. Some of its facilities and services are splash pool, lounge and viewing deck. From USD 453.33. 

• Singita, ☏ 27 (0)21 683-3424FORMATNOCC, fax: +27 (0)21 683-3502FORMAT, reservations@singita.co.za. Constantly wins awards for Best Hotel and Safari. 
  • Ebony Lodge
  • Boulders Lodge
  • Lebombo Lodge
  • Sweni Lodge
  • Castleton Camp

Stay safe

Animals are dangerous and unpredictable

• Respecting speed limits inside the KNP is mandatory. Big game is crossing the roads in the park without any warning and an upset elephant is not easy to deal with - the same applies for rhinos and giraffe bulls. Speed limits are 50km/h on tarred roads and 40km/h on gravel roads.
• You must not get out of your car inside the Kruger National Park unless you reach a designated place like viewpoints or between the yellow lines on high water bridges. These are camps, picnic places and designated view points.
• You are not allowed to drive at dark through the park (the gates normally close and open in daylight). Please be careful when driving outside the park at night, especially in rural areas.
• Firearms must be declared and sealed at the entrance gate.
• No pets are permitted in the KNP
• Do not feed animals for you own safety as well as for the animal well-being.
• KNP and surrounding areas in the eastern part of the country are in a seasonal malaria zone. Consult a physician regarding appropriate precautions given the time of year you will be travelling. The most important defenses against malaria are: using DEET-based mosquito repellent; covering your skin, especially around dusk; and using mosquito nets while sleeping. South African pharmacies also offer a wide range of malaria tablets, which you can take a few days prior to arrival in a malaria zone and that are by far cheaper than in other parts of the world.

Go next

• Pilgrim's Rest and the Blyde River Canyon are often visited in the same trip as Kruger.

• Johannesburg (the biggest city south of the Sahara) and Pretoria in the Gauteng Province are busy cities of banks and government institutions and are 4 hours drive from the park.

• Cape Town is one of the largest cities in South Africa and is in the south-west corner of the country near the Cape of Good Hope. Cape Town is a stone's throw from South Africa's world-famous Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch and Paarl.

• Durban is primarily a holiday/resort city at the Indian Ocean but also boasts South Africa's busiest container port.

• Drakensberg -- Massive and spectacular mountain range. Peaks exceed 3000 meters above sea level. Climbing, hiking, wilderness trails, mountain biking, fly fishing, and more.

• Lesotho -- real Africa right on South Africa's doorstep.

The border crossing into Mozambique within the greater park isn't really practical for overseas visitors. Rental cars are not permitted across the border and there is no transport to or from the border post to speak of. There are no facilities, apart from customs and immigration, at the border post. The customs, immigration and (Mozambique) tourism officials at the crossing are busy doing a range of activities, none of which actually involve processing people across the border.