Ultimate Guide to Kruger National Park

 

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Kruger National Park is in the northeast of South Africa in the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. The park borders Mozambique (and the Limpopo National Park) on the east and Zimbabwe in the north. The current size is 19.000 sq km making it the 7th largest nature reserve in Africa, making it larger than the Serengeti and is comparable in size to Etosha.

Kruger is only a 5-hour drive from OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg making Kruger National Park fairly easy to reach, you can see a lot of game if you're there for just 1 day but will still enjoy yourself when you're there for a week, you don't need a 4x4, there are well-stocked shops but you don't have to cook if you don't want to and you can make it as expensive as you want when it comes to the accommodation. Making Kruger National Park a great location for your first safari and ideal when you’re on a budget.

Kruger is home to a large number of predators. According to the latest estimates, there are 2.000 lions, 950 leopards, 225 cheetahs, 2000 spotted hyenas and 350 wild dogs. But it also has a large population of white (3500) white and black (300) rhino, over 30.000 wildebeest, 16.000 buffalo, 23.000 zebra, 12.000 elephants and 7.000 giraffes. As well as large herds of impala and other antelopes like kudu, waterbuck and steenboks. And you won’t be able to miss the birds of prey, reptiles, rodents and hippos.

In this post, we will give you all the information you need to organise your own self-drive safari to Kruger National Park. From when to visit, how to plan your stay and booking your accommodation to what to expect from the moment you enter the park based on multiple visits to Kruger National Park.

2 rhino's - Kruger National Park by TravelTaale

Getting to Kruger National Park


Kruger National Park is in the northeast of South Africa and it takes about 5 to 6 hours to drive from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, the capital of South Africa, to get to the Paul Kruger Gate. This gate will give you access to the southwestern side of the park. Officially Numbi is the closest to the airport but the road is often closed.

Next to Paul Kruger Gate, you can also access the park via any of the 10 other gates. These gates are spread over the park, with 5 of them being in the south. The more north you come the fewer gates and fewer camps and you can also enter the park from the east if you’re coming from Mozambique.

The first couple of times we would drive in about 5.15 hours from Johannesburg via Nelspruit on the N4 (now Mbombela), to turn off at the R40 to Hazyview towards the Paul Kruger Gate. But especially this last part of the trip is very slow as you're not on the motorway anymore. So because we're always cutting it fine in regards to arriving before gate closing time due to the time our night flight arrives, the last time we decided to get into the park via Malelane Gate (4.50 hours from Johannesburg) and this was a great solution. Because you're staying on the N4 the whole time you're saving time vs driving to Hazyview and you get to skip the town centre of Nelspruit.

You can also fly to Kruger from O.R Tambo if you don’t want to take the long drive as there is an airport at Skukuza, but this flight only goes 2x a day so it will depend on your arrival time if this is a good option. You can find more information about these flights here.

Always check the gate and camp opening times as they change throughout the year depending on sunrise and sunset. This is important for both the general park entrance and the gates within the park to get into the camps. So be sure to take this into consideration on the day that you're entering the park because you don't only need to be on time to enter the park but also the camp.

Giraffe close to Timbavati picnic site - Kruger National Park
Waterbok close to Timbavati picnic site - Kruger National Park

Best time to visit Kruger National Park


You can visit South Africa and this park throughout the year and each season will have its own charm so it depends on what you're looking for. The best period for game viewing is during the dry season (May to September) where the animals will need to go to the waterholes to drink and the bushes are less lush so it’s easier to spot them.

The rains are in the summer period, which is between October and April, with most of it falling between December and March. When there has been enough rain the park looks completely different with its green grass and lush bushes. But this also makes sightings a bit more tricky.

The temperature rises in November and December and often is above 30C. Animals are on the move during the night and when it is cool in the morning, but are often find laying underneath trees as soon as it gets warm. This is also the start of the rainy season with heavy rainstorms. And December and January are also the peak season due to school holidays.

The temperatures start to drop from April (below 30C) and drop to about 25C during the dry season in June and July. The nights can be cool but it does not often freeze at night. The driest months are between July and September and the sightings are good as it brings the animals to the waterholes.

We have been to Kruger in September, November and December and have never been disappointed. Each year is of course a bit different and the rain is not always that heavy. The pictures above are from a trip in November and there is still a lot of yellow grass and we had 1 rain shower during the day and 1 at night. While in 2021 there have been very heavy rains causing camps, roads and bridges to flood and some sections of the park had to be closed. I think it’s just good to remember there are no guarantees to what you can see no matter which season you go.

How to plan your stay in Kruger National Park


Your itinerary will depend on from which gate you will arrive, how many nights you have, what your budget is and the type of accommodation you like.

DISTANCES IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Kruger National Park is about 350 km long and 60 km wide and covers 19.485 sq km which makes it larger than the Serengeti and comparable in size to Etosha but there are a lot more roads and camps. So you always need to consider the distances in between the camps, especially when you want to visit both the north and southern area.

Kruger is divided into 4 main regions: the Southern region, the Central region, the Northern region, and the Far Northern region.

If you want to stay in the south:
The Southern region covers everything south from Skukuza. This is the busiest part of the park with most of the large main camps as this is also the area that has the most rainfall and therefore a greater chance of seeing animal. If you only have 1 to 3 days in the park, this is the area you want to stay in.

  • Skukuza to Crocodile Bridge // 87km and 3.15 hours

  • Skukuza to Lower Sabie // 47km and 1.50 hours

  • Skukuza to Berg-en-Dal // 72km and 2.55 hours

  • Skukuza to Pretoriuskop // 50km and 2.00 hours

Baby elephant on top of fallen tree - Kruger National Park

If you want to cover the southern and central region:
This runs from the south to the Olifants River and camp. As we mentioned everything in the south to Skukuza above, here we’ll cover the distances from Skukuza. As you can see the distances are becoming larger when you want to visit the central region. On our last trip, we travelled from Crocodile bridge to Maroela (Camp close to Orpen) which was 175km and 7.00 hours but we had to stay on the main tarred roads and had to be conscious of the time the whole day. A better option would have been to stay in Skukuza instead of Crocodile bridge as this will reduce the trip from 7 to 5 hours.

  • Skukuza to Satara // 99km and 4.00 hours

  • Skukuza to Orpen // 145km and 5.30 hours

  • Skukuza to Olifants // 156km and 6.15 hours

If you want to cover the central and northern region:
This runs from Olifants River to the Tropic of Capricorn. Here we’ll cover the distances from Olifants Camp. From Satara, you will notice that there are fewer roads and fewer people on the roads.

  • Olifants to Letaba // 34km and 1.20 hours

  • Olifants to Mopani // 84km and 3.20 hours

  • Olifants to Phalaborwa Gate // 84km and 3.20 hours

If you want to cover the northern and far northern regions:
This runs from the Tropic of Capricorn to the border of Zimbabwe. Here we’ll cover the distances from Mopani Camp. There are even fewer people here and this is a perfect region for bird watching.

  • Mopani to Shingwedzi // 60km and 2.25 hours

  • Mopani to Punda Maria // 130km and 5.10 hours

GATES IN Kruger NATIONAL PARK

You can enter the park from 10 entrance gates. These gates are spread over the park, with 5 of them being in the south. The more north you come the fewer gates and fewercamps and you can also enter the park from the east if you’re coming from Mozambique.

If you want to go to Limpopo National Park you can enter through the Giriyondo Border post, located 25 km from the road between Letaba and Mopani. To cross the border you will need your passport and car registration. You will need to pay for your visa if you did not get one before travelling and the conservation fee for Limpopo National Park. You could also enter Mozambique through the Pafuri Border in the north, which is 200km north of the Giriyondo Border. An overnight stay in either Kruger National Park or Limpopo National Park is needed to be able to cross.

Park gates are open from 5.30 to 18.30, 5.30 to 18.00, 6.00 to 18.00 or 6.00 to 17.30 depending on the month. When you enter the park at Paul Kruger Gate, Numbi, Malelane, Crocodile Bridge or Punda Maria and don't have enough time to drive to one of the other camps you can stay at the camps that are close to these gates. Camp gates go open an hour early in November to January.

Late Entry (Based on the latest information on Sanparks website)

Latecomers at entrance gates will be refused entry, whilst offenders at rest camps will be warned and fined if they are repeat offenders. Late entry escorts (at a fee of R500 per car) are available at the following gates for the camp in brackets only. This is only available until 21:00. Escorts depart every half hour until this time:

  • Paul Kruger Gate to Skukuza Camp

  • Numbi Gate to Pretoriuskop Camp

  • Malelane Gate to Berg-en-Dal and Malelane Camp

  • Crocodile Bridge Gate to Crocodile Bridge Camp

  • Punda Maria Gate to Punda Maria Camp

  • Orpen Gate to Orpen Camp

  • No late entry is possible at Phabeni, Phalaborwa and Pafuri

2 giraffes in front of tree - Kruger National Park

WHEN GOING FROM CAMP TO CAMP IN Kruger

When you're travelling in between the camps try to leave as soon as the gates open as you will have the chance to see lions, cheetahs and leopards still walking around or at the waterholes instead of laying underneath (or in) the trees which they will do when it becomes warmer.

During the day, you can plan your viewing along the routes of the waterholes, picnic sites, viewing points and hides.

Late in the day when it starts to cool down is also a great time to go past the waterholes. In the evening the floodlit waterholes at the camps are great for viewing the game.

IDEAL ITINERARY FOR Kruger NATIONAL PARK

We would advise staying at least 3 full days but you can easily spend a week in Kruger if you also include the central and northern area, which we would advise you to do. So thinking of an ideal itinerary for a week, assuming you’re coming from OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, and including a wide variety of camps this is what we would advise:

Day 1 - Enter through Malelane Gate. Stay at Malelane Satellite Camp (campsite and bungalow but no shops or restaurant) or Berg-en-Dal (campsite and bungalows with shop, restaurant, pool)

Day 2 - Drive around in the southern part of the park and stay at Skukuza. This is the largest camp with the most facilities and a large range of accommodation from campsite to safari tents and riverside bungalows // Driving time: 2.55 hours

Day 3 - Leave the southern region and drive to the central region and stay in Orphen or one of the satelite camps Maroela or Tamboti. Orphen is one of the main camps with bungalows and chalets but it is a smaller camp with only a small shop and takeaway. Maroela is a campsite and Tamboti is a camp with safari tents. (Camp close to Orpen) // Driving time: 5.30 hours

Day 4 - Stay in the central region and stay at Olifants or the satelite camp Balule. Olifants is one of the main camps where you can only stay in bungalows and overlooks the Olifants river. The restaurant has a great viewing deck overlooking the river. Balule is a campsite but also offers 6 huts. // Driving time: 4.05 hours

Day 5 - Visit the northern area while stay over in the central region at Satara. Because the drive to Satara is on 2.30 hours, this day is ideal to explore more of the northern part of the camp towards Mopani or the Sable Dam hide close to Phalaborwa gate without having to add an additional night. You will stay at Satara, which is one of the main camps that offers bungalows, cottages and a large camp site. // Driving time: 2.30 hours

Day 6 & 7 - While going on safari is our favourite thing to do, you are in your car all day driving around. So if you’re happy to go as far north as Olifants you can stay your last 2 nights at a bungalow in one of the camps in the south like Lower Sabie to make it easier to go back to the camp during the day. If you need to be able to exit the park early in the morning on your way back to the airport, Crocodile Bridge can be a good option.

Other options.
If you only have 1-3 days, it’s better to stay in the southern region and drive between Skukuza, Berg-en-dal, Lower Sabie and Corcodile Bridge Camp as this is the area with the most rainfall and your chances of spotting the Big 5 is the highest. If you have between 3 and 6 days keep taking of the camp that is most northern. If you have more time the main rest camp Mopani is a good option or Tsendze as a campsite.

Booking your accommodation for Kruger National Park


You can book your accommodation at the Sanparks website. Here you can find general information about the parks as to how to get there, where to stay and what to do as well as booking your accommodation and activities for all parks that are part of San Parcs (which stands for South African National Parcs)

San Parcs is also the only way to book your accommodation (either online or via their reservation department) if you want to stay inside the park and you want to book it yourself. You can book 11 months ahead of time and if you're travelling in South Africa's holiday season you want to book as far ahead as possible.

To book your accommodation online you can (this is based on the new booking tool):

  • Search by month to see which accommodation is still free in a specific rest camp. This option is great for booking a campsite as it will clearly state if there are spots available. But when booking huts or bungalows, at first instance you will only see the abbreviation of the accommodation type. So if you're not familiar with the abbreviations then it might be hard to find what you're looking for without clicking back and forth.

  • You can also use the filters option where you can select the type of accommodation. But if you don't know the difference between a bungalow, hut or cottage I would suggest using the option to book by accommodation type.

  • When using the option by accommodation type you get an overview of all the types in the rest camp including the price and for how many people this accommodation type can be used. You can hover over the circle with the I to see an image of the accommodation or click the orange button at the bottom of the page to expand accommodation descriptions. You will need to click on the name of the accommodation to see if there is any availability.

When looking for the price be aware that the price you see might not be the price you pay. Confusing right? The prices are based on a base rate (the price you see in the overview) but this base rate is based on a number of people. Let's take the campsite at Letaba as an example.

The base rate for this campsite is R390 and as you can see underneath Base Rate (no. people) this is based on 2 people. However, underneath the Max (no. beds/people) you can see that you can stay on one campsite with 6 people. But for every extra adult (above 2) you need to pay an additional R100 on top of the R390.

Most accommodation has a base rate for 2 people but there are huts for 1 and cottages and guest houses are often have a base rate for more than 2 people.

To book your accommodation for more than 1 camp you select Add & Continue at the bottom of the page. Once you have added all your overnight stays you will need to create an account on the website to make the payment.

Lion and lioness laying on the ground near Maroela Rest camp - Kruger National Park

the camps

Where you will stay will depend on through which gate you will enter, your arrival time in the park, how many days you will stay, what your budget is, your preference for the type of accommodation and through which gate you will leave.

When it comes to picking your accommodation, think about the following:

  • Do you want to cook in a kitchen - book chalets

  • Do you want to go out for diner - stay in the main camps

  • Do you want to camp but don't have your own tent - stay in the tented camps

  • Do you have your own tent - you can stay at almost all camps but check if they have electricity

Main rest camps:

This is where you have most of the accommodation with the choice between many different types of accommodation as well as campsites. These camps have well-stocked shops and restaurants or takeaways. They all have gas stations and most of them have a pool.

Satellite Camps

These camps are close to the main rest camps but are much smaller and don’t have a lot of facilities. There are some bungalows in these camps but they are mainly campsites or have safari tents like Tamboti.

Bushveld camps

Bush camps are remote camps that don’t have shops or restaurants but where you can stay in cottages instead of having to camp like in the satellite camps. Unlike with the main camps, these camps are only accessible when you have a reservation.

Campsite only

While most main camps offer camping and you have the satellite camps that are mainly camp sites, these are the only two camps in the park that only has a campsite and therefore does not have a reception. You can check in at the closest main camp. For Tsendze you need to do that at Mopani at least 1 hour before gate closing time. It has 30 spots and has communal bathrooms & showers and communal cooking facilities. Freshwater taps are shared per 3 campsites.

For Maroela you can check in at Orpen. It has 20 spots and has communal bathrooms & showers and communal cooking facilities. At the corner of the campsite is a viewing platform that looks out on the bank of the Timbavati River.

Bush Lodge

Bush lodges are private camps. So if you are with a group and what to have the camp to yourself, one of these bush lodges are ideal as the bungalows can accomodate up to 12 people.

luxury lodges

If you want to stay at luxury lodges you can also do that at these private lodges that lie within Kruger but the price tag is slightly different ;)

Waterbok next to bushes- Kruger National Park by TravelTaale
Kudu walking towards waterhole - Kruger National Park

What to expect when you're in Kruger National Park


ENTERING kruger NATIONAL PARK

You can enter the park through one of the 10 gates that all give access to different parts of Kruger. When arriving at the entrance gate you will need to check in at the reception. Just park your car and take your reservation confirmation with you. They will check the information and you will be asked to fill in some personal information as well as your licence plate. If you have not paid the conservation fee at the time of booking you will need to do this now. Once you've done this you will get a receipt that you will need to show each time you check in to your accommodation and for entering some of the camps (only if it's not one of the main camps that are open to everyone).

Always check the gate and camp opening times as they change throughout the year depending on sunrise and sunset. This is important for both the general park entrance and the gates within the park to get into the camps. So be sure to take this into consideration on the day that you're entering the park because you don't only need to be on time to enter the park but also to enter the rest camp.

You always need to check in at the camp reception, even if you're camping. Be sure to check where you need to check-in, as some of the smaller camps don't have their own reception and you need to add a bit of driving time. The main camps with the shops are accessible during the day for everyone but the smaller sites are only accessible from the moment you check in.

Conservation fee & Community fund

When you have selected your accommodation you can select if you want to pay for your conservation fee on arrival in the park or now with your online booking. The fee will depend on how many days you're staying and if you're a:

  • South African Citizens or Residents

  • SADC Nationals

  • International Visitors

These fees can add up quite a bit and do change from year to year. I did a quick check to see how much the day rate had actually changed over the years for an international visitor:

  • On our second trip (2011) we paid R180 per person

  • On our third trip (2016) we paid R280 per person

  • And we paid R400 per person in 2019

  • At the time of writing in August 2021, it is R424 per person

You don't need to pay a fee when you have a Wild Card. The Wild Card gives you access to 80+ national parks in Southern Africa (so this is not just San Parks parks). But before buying a Wild Card, you need to make sure the fee actually makes sense. Just count how many days you’ll be in the parks and compare the cost of paying for each day individually vs. the Wild Card fee.

Next to the conservation fee, you will also need to pay a community fund of 1% that will be added to the cost of all accommodation and activities.

So now you know how to book your accommodation and what to expect when you arrive at Kruger National Park, let's dive into the rules you need to adhere to while you’re in the park.

Lions sleeping on a hill - Kruger National Park

RULES IN Kruger NATIONAL PARK

There are a couple of rules you need to follow when you're in the park. These have mostly to do with safety for yourself as well as the animals. So some of the rules are:

  • You need to stay in your car. Unless you're in an area that has signs that say you are allowed to leave the car like the picnic spots and toilets.

  • You need to keep to the speed limit of 50km/h on tar roads and 40km/h on dirt roads.

  • You can not drive through the park before sunset or after sunrise

  • You're not allowed to go off-road for better game viewing

  • You're not allowed to feed the animals. This sounds logical but on our last trip to Kruger National Park, we noticed that hyenas are being fed and are now walking the perimeter of the camp searching for scraps. This can make them more aggressive towards people.

  • You can not use your drone as it will disturb the animals

  • Give the animals their space when walking alongside the road or when they want to cross.

  • Take your litter with you

DRIVING IN kruger NATIONAL PARK

It is important to keep reminding yourself that you are watching wild animals. While it can almost feel like you’re going to a zoo when you’re on safari, you are in their world and they are the boss. So it’s up to you to follow the rules to make sure both you and the animals remain safe.

  • Be aware of the distances within the park as besides that there are speed limits (50km on tar roads and 40km on dirt roads) you will drive often drive slower to see as much game as possible, because there's an elephant on the road or just to make sure you won't hit anything that jumps on the road from one of the bushes, so you need to consider the camp closing times.

  • Besides that, general road rules apply. You need to stay on the road, so no driving off to see an animal better, you can not drive after dark and animals always go first when crossing the roads. So don't plan too long distances because you won't have enough time to just stop and watch. Or have lunch outside of your car at one of the picnic spots or stop at a dam or hide. I believe this is something you should really take advantage of in Kruger as you don’t find as many possibilities in Etosha or Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

  • Inside the park, you have tarred roads (H roads) and dirt roads (S roads). Where the main roads mostly go from camp to camp, the dirt roads are often loops or go past waterholes. The roads are generally quite good and we have rented a 4x4, like the one below, because we wanted to travel with the rooftop tent but we have also rented a mid-size car like the Hyundai iX35 and a normal sedan like a VW Polo. This makes Kruger a bit more affordable in terms of car rental vs Etosha or Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park where a 4x4 is needed.

  • If you come across other cars on the road (you can actually get into a traffic jam when there is a good sighting) make sure you leave enough room between you and the car in front to break or to get out of the cue. It is ok to move to the opposite side of the road if you have seen something but be courteous when there are a lot of cars and don’t block their car.

  • The noise and lights from cars can also disturb animals so don’t honk your horn (no joke, we have seen a car race in front of a large male elephant crossing the road and honking at it).

  • Don’t play music when you have your windows open and don’t forget to close them when around predators.

  • And if you’re going to be standing still for a while, turn off your engine.

  • Always keep in mind that they are wild animals and they can be unpredictable, especially when they feel they are threatened, which can happen when you’re too close, you’re blocking their path or when there are young animals involved. Animals always go first when crossing the road, you’re in their world so they go first.

  • On the other hand, you can also use animal behaviour to your benefit. When animals are at a waterhole and are all staring in the same direction it usually means a predator is in the area. See vultures circling? There probably is a kill close by and definitely worth checking out.

3 baby elephants in a row on the road - Kruger National Park

FACILITIES IN kruger NATIONAL PARK

  • The main camps have restaurants and a takeaway, which are open from 7:00 to 9.00, 12.00-14.00 and from 18.00-21.00. The restaurants are quite different in each camp, from the more casual Mugg & Bean Restaurant at Lower Sabie to a more fancy option like Cattle Baron Restaurant at Skukuza. From the takeaways you can get a range of muffins, pizza’s, burgers and sandwiches.

  • All main camps have shops and they are open from 7 am and close half an hour after gate closing time. When planning your trip be sure to check which camps don’t have shops so that you can include a stop during your day to stock up for diner and breakfast in one of the main camps. The size of the shops, and therefore the stock differ quite a bit but all shops have things like water, soda, beer, wine, lots of snacks like crisps, nuts and biltong, cookies, bread, ice cream, pasta, rice, meat, canned fruit and vegetables and souvenirs. You can also get cooking/braai utensils and wood or coal for the braai.

  • The fuel stations are in the main camps and are also open from sunrise to sunset. You can pay with VISA /Mastercard or cash.

  • The only two ATM’s are in Skukuza and Letaba. As Skukuza also houses the main administration you can also find a bank and a doctor here and you can post your mail. If you want to fly to Kruger, this is also where the airport is.

  • Cellphone reception is limited as well as wifi, however, some of the restaurants do have wifi.

  • In most main camps there is a swimming pool, the only exception is Crocodile Bridge. The pools are not for day visitors.

  • There are quite a few activities that you can book. Morning, afternoon and night drives can be arranged from most camps and some offer walking safari's. I would advise you to book them when you also book your accommodation as spots can be limited depending on from which camp you want to go. When you have a drive from one of the larger camps there is a large chance you will have your drive in a large truck which is something I personally am not a big fan of because the information that you get is very general and it is the same route every time because the can only stay on the main roads. Next to drives there are also mountain bike trails, 4x4 trails, sleepover hides and bush breakfast and braais.

  • The main camps will have a sightings boards from the day before and the current day where visitors leave magnets in different colours to show sightings of the big 5

  • There are 15 picnic spots in the park that are definitely worth adding to your route. It’s great to stretch your legs and enjoy the views which having lunch. There are also 2 spots where you can buy your lunch; Tshokwane (in between Skukuza and Satara where the H1-2, H10 and H1-3 meet) and Nkuhlu (Almost halfway between Skukuza and Lower Sabie on the H4-1)

Other tips for visiting Kruger National Park


  • Count for some early mornings and nights. We always love to get up early when it's not that warm yet and the animals are on the go and the light is beautiful. And we tend to be in camp around 5 to still have some daylight to set up camp and start cooking.

  • The park is located in a malaria region. So be sure to check with your doctor for precautionary measures. We always have Malarone when travelling to a malaria region but this is obviously a personal choice. Bring insect repellent and change into long sleeves when it gets dark and always pay attention when opening and closing the tent and the car door, just to be sure.

  • Be aware of baboons and vervet monkeys as they can steal your food. Not only while picnicking but we have also had them raid the kitchens in one of the camps we stayed in. We woke up in the middle of the night from loud noises and when we looked outside we saw it came from the monkeys as they tried to open the cabinets of the kitchen that was outside. The next morning we saw that everything that was not locked up was thrashed (our neighbours had left a box of cornflakes outside and it was spread over the ground) and bins that were open were emptied.

  • The main camps will have a sightings board from the day before and the current day where visitors leave magnets in different colours to show sightings of the big 5. And ask other visitors what they have seen while you are driving around.

  • Cellphone reception is limited as well as wifi, however, some of the restaurants do have wifi.

  • Ensure that your fireplace or braai is out before sleeping or leaving. Because it's so dry there is always a high risk of fire.

  • The days can get very hot so bring airy clothes, sunglasses, sun protection and a hat. After sundown, it can get a bit chilly and during the nights in the winter season, it can get quite cold so be sure to bring layers or a jacket/fleece for the evenings.

  • If you're camping bring a torch as it can be quite dark in the camps and you never know what might be crawling on the ground.

  • South Africa has their own type of plug so your international power plug might not work here (at least we have not found one that does).

And there you have it...

..our Ultimate Guide to Kruger National Park. We hope you enjoyed it and if you have any questions just leave your comments below. And if you are planning your own trip let us know below what your itinerary is.

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Ultimate guide Self-drive safari Kruger National Park by TravelTaale
Ultimate guide Self-drive safari Kruger National Park by TravelTaale
 

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