A Complete Guide to Visiting Kruger National Park, South Africa

South Africa ended up on my list of places to visit because of Shark Week – seeing great whites breach was awesome – but it became so much more. We split our time between Cape Town and Kruger and it was perfect. We got to see some of the city before heading on safari in hopes of spotting the big 5 safari animals (spoiler: we did!). South Africa was the first time I experience homesickness for a place after I got home. It is truly a magical place that I recommended everyone visit. So, without further delay – here’s my guide to visiting Kruger National Park, South Africa.

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Where is Kruger National Park located?

Kruger covers about 20,000 square kilometers of land in the northeastern corner of South Africa. It’s five hours east of Johannesburg and about an hour from the border of Swaziland. Google Maps sometimes describes Kruger as an “enormous game reserve” so that is how big it is. 

Fun Fact: Kruger National Park is larger than the entire country of Belgium! Talk about taking up space.

How do you get to Kruger National Park?

There are two ways to reach Kruger National Park: by air or by land.

If you want to fly into Kruger, your best bet is to arrive via Johannesburg. Johannesburg has direct flights to Kruger from all over the world, including the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, and more.

Many safari packages include time in Cape Town and transportation to Kruger. 

However, if you have plenty of time, you can make a road trip of it! The drive from Johannesburg to Kruger is 4.5 hours long through the Panorama Route. It’s a beautiful drive through Blyde River Canyon. 

When is the best time to visit Kruger National Park? 

Always one of the top questions I’m asked. In all honesty, it’s a year-round destination. Each season has different experiences. I visited in mid/late May which is spring in South Africa and we had incredible weather. While we were warned about the mosquitos, with our mosquito bracelets and bug spray, I don’t believe I saw one. 

The summer season, which is also the rainy season, runs from November to April, when temperatures average between 15°C and 25°C. During this time, rainfall averages between 100mm and 150mm per month. The landscape has plenty of green, but it can be difficult to spot game. 

The winter season runs from May to October. It’s also the dry season in South Africa. Temperatures tend to be mild both during the day and night. The lack of rain will push animals towards watering holes and rivers, setting you up for a jawdropping game viewing safari. 

The Layout of Kruger National Park

There are three general sections of the park – Northern, Central, and Southern Sections. The northern section is the least popular. There are fewer camps and less game up here. However, it IS home to incredible bird watching. The central section has more camps, like Olifants, Satara and Letaba Camp. There’s a lot of grassy plains here, which means more sightings of herd animals (zebra, buffalo, and antelope) and their predators (lions!). The Southern section is easily accessible from Johannesburg and is the most popular area. It has the shortest distances between picnic sites and rest camps. Over half of Kruger’s entrance gates are here. The majority of luxury private game reserves also border this section (more on this later). Your chances of seeing the big 5 safari animals are greatest in the southern section. 

What is the Entrance Fee for Kruger Park?

If you’re on a guided safari, this is usually included in your safari price. Otherwise, the entrance fee (daily conservation fee) is paid each day you enter the park. If you’re staying IN the park, you can pay it online once before you get there. For non-South African residents the fee is about 400 Rand ($30 USD) for adults and 200 Rand ($15 USD) for children.

What are the amenities inside Kruger Park? 

There are a number of main rest camps in the park. These camps have shops, restaurants, ATMs, and gas stations. They also have basic groceries, snacks, and souvenirs. Since we were on a guided tour, we did not visit a rest camp. There are also picnic sites around the park that are great for taking a break or watching game at watering holes. 

Is there Malaria in Kruger National Park?

Yes. Simple. Malaria prophylaxis (aka malaria pills) medications are recommended before visiting South Africa. We chose to risk it due to the side effects of the medications. It’s a personal decision based on your comfort and health or personal situation, so please discuss it with a medical professional. 

It can also depend on when you travel. Our Kruger safari mid-May before the wet season. I loaded up on these mosquito bracelets (on both wrists and ankles) and plenty of insect repellent with DEET. I think we saw maybe two mosquitos in total. 

How many days should I spend in Kruger National Park?

Honestly, this is the million-dollar question. Kruger was the first place I felt homesick for after I left. I’m sure some people would say to spend weeks tracking and photographing wildlife and nature in its beauty, but most of us don’t have that much time off. 

I think four days is enough time to see the big 5! That’s a total of 8 drives which gives you a lot of opportunity for animal spotting. I will say by day 3-4 you aren’t AS excited about impala as you were on day 1. Which is why I think four days is a great amount. 

Where can I stay near Kruger National Park?

There’s a variety of accommodation available. Government-run campgrounds. Private (read: more expensive) lodges inside the park, or hotels near the gates. I’ll be doing an in-depth review of our time with Lion Sands Sabi Sands soon!

Can I stay at a campground inside Kruger National Park?

Yes! While this isn’t what we did, there are plenty of places to stay inside the park. (Keep an eye out for my in-depth review of Sabi Sands Lion Sands Game Reserve)    There are a few different types of camps and campgrounds. Some have a pool and laundry facilities. All campgrounds have a main store and even a restaurant.    Camping – Where you bring your own tent Safari Tent – 2 or 4 beds tents with a small fridge. Communal camp kitchen and bathroom Huts – One single room. Communal camp kitchen and bathroom Bungalow – A single room unit with a fridge. Amenities can vary – some have a kitchenette or small sitting area.  Cottage – Can be single or multiple room units with a sitting area and fully equipped kitchens.   Prices vary throughout the year and the amenities you want. You can book through their online forms. Here is a list of all of the concession lodges in Kruger National Park as well. 

Can I get a guided tour of Kruger NP?

Absolutely! We did an entire guided safari, but it is possible to pick and choose your own tours. Depending on the amount of time that you have – you can customize your tour. From a full-day private safari with pickup, to just a morning safari, to a two-day safari from Johannesburg – make your own trip perfect!

As you probably already know – I love Viator. Many of their tours are guided by locals and give back to the local economy – you can find everything from a half-day tour to overnight with them! Check out these two:

Should I visit Cape Town, South Africa as well?

Absolutely! We did 4 days in Cape Town and 4 days in Kruger Park and it was great! South Africa has so much to offer that while you’re visiting make the most of it. You can visit the iconic Table Mountain or where Nelson Mandela was jailed or released. 

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