A safari in Kruger National Park, South Africa, is often considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Kruger National Park is located in the north-east of South Africa. Kruger extends nearly 220 miles from north to south, and is about 40 miles wide - a large portion of Kruger actually borders with Mozambique too.
The park is around 20,000 sq km in size and home to more than 200,000 mammals, together with hundreds of varieties of birds, reptiles, and interesting insects. Kruger is nearly 20,000km2. If that’s difficult to get your head around, think of it as the size of a small country. It is a sustainable ecosystem that requires very little game management.
Planning a trip to Kruger can be daunting, given its size and the abundance of options. This guide aims to assist in the planning process, particularly for those embarking on their first safari adventure to Kruger.
Best Time to Visit Kruger National Park
Kruger is an interesting place, as there isn’t really a bad time to go. Each season offers a unique experience, and different pros and cons.
- Winter Months (May-September): The South Africa winter months are considered a great time to visit Kruger. This is by far the driest time of the year, which means the vegetation and the bush is less dense, and therefore it’s easier to spot animals. The low rainfall at this time of year means many rivers and waterholes are low or even dry, meaning the few that do have water are likely to have more animals at them. The temperature in the winter is warm during the day, but can be very chilly though the night.
- Spring/Early Summer (November): This is the South African spring and early summer months, which marks the start of the rainy season. The rivers may still be quite low, but flash rainfall is likely to mean the bush will be very green and quite thick. This makes it harder to spot animals. Daytime temperatures can push up to 40c and nighttime is cooler, but definitely not cold. We went in November and experienced gloriously hot and sunny days, with cool and pleasant evenings. We also experienced an extreme tropical storm one evening that lasted about two hours and was easily some of the heaviest rain I’ve seen in my life.
- Summer: Whilst the rest of South Africa is warming up and experiencing long and sunny days, Kruger is experiencing heavy rains. However, the landscape comes alive with stunning colours, from the vivid green of the bush to the deep blue of the rivers and lakes. Prices are lowest for lodges and camps at this time.
- End of Rainy Season (April): I’ve also been at the very end of April, experiencing the very end of the rainy season. The days and evenings were very warm, with only a little rain.
The late dry season (August to October) sees herds gather at water sources, whereas the rains (November to March) see large mammals disperse but are excellent for birdlife, including a major influx of Afro-Palearctic migrants. In truth, there is no bad time to visit.
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How Long to Spend in Kruger
Well, of course this comes down to what you’re looking for and the time you have. For most travellers from Europe or the US for example, it’s unlikely you’ll have this long to spare. Nor do you necessarily want to spend this long in a national park - there is such a thing as too much of a good time!
The animals are most active early morning and late in the evening, so sunrise and sunset drives are popular. However, this means early rises (in the summer months, this can be as early as 2.45am!) and late returns. As you can imagine, this can become quite exhausting. Having three or four days for safari in Kruger National Park (or longer), really means you can make the most of the drives but also enjoy some much needed downtime.
We spent three days in Kruger, which was great but I would have liked one extra day. You’ll be surprised how much wildlife you see just from your poolside or your lodge/tent too!
Getting to Kruger National Park
The most expensive and most convenient way is to fly into Kruger. Depending on where your lodge is within the park, it’s likely that one of the three main airports will work for you.
These are:
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- Nelspruit (the biggest airport by far)
- Hoedspruit
- The tiny airstrip at Skukuza (my favourite airport ever)
The main air route between these is from Johannesburg, however, if you happen to go to Livingstone in Zambia (for Victoria Falls), then you might find the route from here to Nelspruit very convenient!
The least expensive (and slowest way) is to drive from Johannesburg. Google Maps says the drive is around 5-6 hours to Kruger, but some people do find it takes longer. The road conditions aren’t excellent and there are often a lot of dangerous crashes or incidents. However, it does of course afford you a lot of flexibility if you drive yourself.
Choosing an Area to Visit
Which area in Kruger to visit? For me, the was one of the hardest things to work out. Many of these are located near Skukuza in the southern-central part of Kruger.
We were coming from Zambia, so when I realised there was a very convenient direct flight from Livingstone to Nelspruit, it made most sense to find a location to go in the southern part of Kruger. It wasn’t an easy task and I ended up picking an area called Marloth Park, near to the Crocodile Bridge gate entrance. We ended up loving this location and exploring the southern part of Kruger.
The southern region of Kruger is as mentioned, also home to Skukuza airport and the Skukuza rest camp. This is the biggest camp in Kruger with a great number of activities and facilities, therefore making it a great base.
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Up in the northern part of Kruger, game viewing is considered slightly less, but it’s quieter in general and makes for a very relaxing stay. Whilst it is often acknowledged that the southern portion of Kruger has the best chance of seeing the Big 5, if you visit the northern portion, you can also do the epic Blyde River Canyon drive.
Staying Inside vs. Outside Kruger
The other thing to factor is whether to stay in Kruger, or just outside of it. Where possible, I would recommend staying in Kruger or as close as possible to the gates.
For example, if you fly into Nelspruit and opt to stay in one of the towns near here like Hazyview or White River, not only are they a bit industrial, but you’re not really sleeping amongst the wildlife. Kruger National Park really varies from north to south, from weather and wildlife, to flora and fauna.
Assuming you’re doing your drives with a ranger, you’re unlikely to have to be too concerned about gate entrance opening and closing times. But it’s worth noting that each gate opens just before sunrise and closes around sunset. Whilst they don’t physically lock you inside the park if you’re late to go back to the gate, you can be given a hefty fine.
Park Entrance Fees
Again, if you do drives in the park with official SANpark game rangers, the entry fees will be included in the cost of your drive. If you join an independent guide for a drive, or self-drive, you’ll have to pay the Kruger Park entrance fees.
International visitors: R535 per adult per day, and R267 per child per day. You can buy these at the gate by visiting the small adjacent hut and filling in some forms. The SANParks site here has further information on entry fees and other formalities.
As you can see, a safari in Kruger National Park can add up over several days - but it is so worth it!
Kruger National Park vs. Private Game Reserves
Kruger is a national park, run by government organisation SANparks. Animals are completely wild and run freely in Kruger. A private game reserve is located on land owned privately, and often have fenced boundaries.
The private reserves have all the same animals, but they’ve been brought into the area. The numbers of animals in a private reserve are typically far less, but as the ground surface area is less, you can actually have a higher chance of seeing animals. For example, at Sabi Sands, famous for its close-up leopard sightings, you may actually see less packs or herds of animals moving around.
So this definitely comes to personal preference and what you’re looking for. In a private game reserves, all drives are guided, but in Kruger NP it’s both self-driving and guided drives.
When you go to a private game reserve, you’re not technically in Kruger. You’re in the area considered as Greater Kruger National Park, which is the title given to all the reserves adjacent to the national park, as well as the ones within.
Private game reserves often only have high end accommodation lodges, but public game reserves will have a variety to cater to a wider range of visitors.
Accommodation Options in Kruger
The mothership of South Africa’s parks, Kruger is more organised and has more variety of accommodation than any other park. It also has a HUGE number of animals with the Big Five and every other kind of five you can think of rustling around in the bush.
Kruger’s accommodation options are brilliant and very affordable if you go self-catering, with lots of facilities like cafes, shops and barbeque areas, and the game is abundant and very habituated.
Here are some of the most popular options:
Rest Camps
These are the government run camping grounds located with fenced off areas within Kruger Park. These are popular with South African families, groups or couples looking for a budget-friendly accommodation option in the heart of the action.
I would say less foreign tourists stay in these, partly due to the fact that you’d mostly need your own car to get to them or to arrange a transfer. One such camp is Lower Sabie Rest Camp, for example. This is one of the bigger rest camps with Kruger, offering camping spots, spaces for caravans and motorhomes, safari tents, and small rondavels (a type of hut), with varying amenities.
There are around 10 or so of these camps throughout Kruger. They all have electricity, a first-aid centre, a supplies shop, braai-ing areas (BBQs) and communal kitchen facilities. There is often a laundromat/laundry and a restaurant and a cafeteria. You might also find a petrol station. It’s good to know also that many of these cater to disabled tourists too.
Private Lodges
By far the most expensive option, staying in a private lodge is the most luxurious way to stay in Kruger. It is definitely the bucket list-worthy option, for sure!
These lodges give you the full and complete safari experience. Not only are the lodges themselves beautiful, often with thatched roofs and private pools, but you’re also likely to stay on a full board basis. This means three fine meals a day, and your game drives included.
You can expect fancy linen and toiletries, air conditioning, butlers, luxury open air showers and even gyms. Some even have beautiful spas too. And with this, you can often expect to pay in excess of £1,000 per night.
Affordable Lodges/Hotels Outside Kruger
So the final option is to stay in a far more affordable lodge or hotel outside of Kruger. These are often located near the gates or within a 20-30 minute drive. Then to be on a B&B basis, with lunch, dinner and other activities all arranged as add-ons.
These kinds of hotels and lodges generally offer the best value for money, and still a wonderful authentic safari experience.
Needles Lodge: A Case Study
After much research and deliberation, we decided upon Needles Lodge located by the southernmost gate of Kruger. This area was called Marloth Park and I’ve written a full and detailed guide to staying at Needles Lodge here.
Location wise, the lodge was just 1 hour from Nelspruit airport, and around 3 hours from Skukuza airport. From the lodge to the nearest gate (Crocodile Bridge), it was around a 25 minute drive. Our lodge was absolutely beautiful, like staying at a large family home.
There was a delightful pool, sunloungers, a telescope, a huge lounge area with a TV, books and boardgames and lots of spaces to relax in. We also loved our room, which was huge with beautiful art and wooden furniture. I couldn’t recommend staying here more, especially for a more affordable stay.
We also found the food to be excellent, and included lunch and dinner in our stay. The team cooked us up some wonderful dishes which we ate alongside our fellow lodgers. Just fantastic!
Services and Facilities Inside Kruger
Inside the park, there are many services and facilities to help tourists. After all, some people come here for weeks at a time!
- Petrol stations: Inside the park, you’ll find several petrol/gas stations. There are also some at the entry gates.
- ATM/Banks: There are only a couple of ATMs inside, and mostly at the larger rest camps like Skukuza or Letaba.
- Shops: There are many shops throughout the park selling Kruger themed gifts and things like carved animals etc.
What to Wear and Pack for a Kruger Safari
Dressing for safari is definitely a thing. If you’re doing guided drives, it matters less what colour you wear as you’re strictly not allowed to get out the jeep. However, I definitely felt more the part wearing my cream, khaki and sand coloured clothes!
For a safari in Kruger National Park, you may need several layers if you’re starting your game drive early in the morning, especially in the winter months (May-September). A large jacket and long trousers, and lighter clothes to peel off to as the temperature rises.
For evening game drives (or night drives), you’ll definitely need long sleeves to protect yourself against bugs. Most jeeps or lodges will have warm ponchos or blankets to wrap around yourself too. When the jeep gets going, the wind can really whip up and surprise you with how chilly it can feel!
In terms of other things to take on safari, I’d definitely recommend a good camera with a good zoom if you want to capture good animal shots. iPhones are unlikely to always cut it, especially if the animal is quite far away. You could bring your own binoculars but your lodge or driver may have these, as well as high beam torches.
Otherwise, you actually don’t need to take too much else!
Health and Safety
There is a risk of malaria whilst on safari in Kruger National Park, and it is advisable to take malaria tablets for any length trip. Bite prevention is highly recommend, and most lodges have mosquito nets too. Bring lots of bug spray!
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Game Drives: Guided vs. Self-Drive
For most overseas travellers to Kruger, it is most likely you’ll want a guided game drive. This means not only do you not have to worry about the driving part, and can fully focus your energy on spotting wildlife, but you’ll also enjoy the benefit of an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Of course, some people will still prefer to pick up their own hire car and self drive Kruger National Park.
