Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is South Africa's premier safari destination. At over 2 million hectares in size it is the largest national park in South Africa, and one of the most accessible yet unspoilt wilderness areas in Africa. Adjacent to the Kruger National Park are a number of private game reserves which share unfenced boundaries with the park. Examples of these are the Timbavati and Sabi Sand Game Reserves, which are home to a variety of private game lodges. The whole conservation area is known as the greater Kruger National Park.

Kruger National Park Highlights

South Africa's top safari destination

Big Five game viewing

Self-drive or guided safaris are possible

Large choice of accommodation options to suit different budgets

Open all year round

5 Hours driving or 1 hour flight from Johannesburg

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The Kruger National Park was first opened to the public in 1927. During that year three vehicles entered the park. Today well over a million visitors per year visit the Kruger National Park. There are a variety of different camps to choose from, each one with accommodation options ranging from camp sites to luxury guesthouses. The most popular standard accommodation consists of comfortable thatched bungalows with air-conditioning and en-suite bathroom.

Some camps overlook a river or waterhole, where wildlife can often be seen drinking. The most popular camps in the park are Skukuza camp, Lower Sabie camp and Satara camp. These are the three largest camps in the park, all situated in the Southern half of the reserve where the game viewing is best. Each camp is safely fenced with an electric fence, and most of the larger camps have a good quality restaurant, shop, fast food deli and a petrol station.

The camps in Kruger are connected with a network of well-maintained roads which are open to the public. No off-road driving is allowed. The main roads are tarred, but the majority of the roads are good quality dirt roads. You do not need a 4x4 vehicle to negotiate the roads in the Kruger National Park. Game drives in your own vehicle are only permitted between sunrise and sunset. The South African National Parks Board offers guided game drives in open safari trucks, which depart in the morning, early evening and at night. The sunset drives and night drives are conducted with spotlights, in search of the more elusive nocturnal animals.

The wildlife in the Kruger National Park is very diverse, and the park boasts the largest variety of mammals of any national park in the world. On an average day, you can expect to see most of the following animals elephants, buffalo, rhino, lions, hyena, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest (gnu), kudu, waterbuck, impala, warthog, baboons, monkeys, hippopotamus, crocodile, and various smaller antelopes. If you are lucky can also see leopard, cheetah, wild dogs, sable antelope, hartebeest, and other rare species. Add to that over 500 different species of birds, over 300 reptile species, and of course the rich plant and insect life, and it becomes clear why the Kruger National Park is such a popular destination among nature lovers.

There are basically three ways in which you can experience the Kruger National Park as a first time visitor

1. We can help you arrange a self-drive safari, with accommodation based at one of the Sanparks camps.  A self-drive safari package includes your rental car, entrance fees and pre-booked accommodation. We will also provide a map book and safari guide, game viewing tips, driving directions and general information you will find useful. Meals are for your own account. You can either self-cater or make use of the restaurants and fast food outlets within the camps. This is the most affordable option to experience Kruger.
2. You can join one of our guided Kruger National Park safaris. This is a popular and affordable way to see the Kruger National Park, in the company of a qualified and experienced guide. All game drives are included in the cost and conducted on a specially designed open safari vehicle (seating up to 9 people). Accommodation is included on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Entrance fees are also included, and you get a complimentary map book of the Kruger Park. The benefit of this option is being able to view the wildlife from an open safari vehicle (rather than a standard rental car), and having a knowledgeable guide with you who can help you to spot the animals and share many fascinating facts and stories about the bush and the wildlife.
3. Another option is to stay at one of the luxury all-inclusive safari lodges, either inside the Kruger National Park or in one of the adjacent game reserves (which share an unfenced boundary with the Kruger Park). There are many different safari lodges to choose from, to suit different budgets. The advantage of a safari at a private game lodge is that the land rovers are able to go off-road to get closer to the animals. This gives you the best chance of close-up encounters with Africa’s big cats, like lions and leopards. At most safari lodges the rate includes all meals and game drives, and in some cases drinks as well. This is the most expensive option for experiencing Kruger, but worth the extra cost.

Allow us to arrange a Kruger National Park safari that is perfect for you, whether you opt for self-drive, a guided safari or a stay at a private game lodge. All our consultants have personally visited the Kruger National Park and will be happy to share their indepth knowledge of the park with you.