South Africa

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Kruger National Park

South Africa's flagship safari park

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Kruger National Park Plan a trip around South Africa

Best time to visit: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Currency: ZAR
Time zone: UTC+2
Country: South Africa

Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

Kruger National Park is South Africa's largest and best-known wildlife reserve, covering nearly 20,000 km² of lowveld bush in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Visitors come to self-drive or join guided game drives in search of the Big Five and hundreds of other species.

Largest cities

Johannesburg
Cape Town
Durban
Pretoria
Port Elizabeth

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: South Africa
Capital: Bloemfontein
Region population: 418
Population of South Africa: 62M
Country area: 1,221,037 km²
Official language: South Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, and Tswana
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR) · 1 USD ≈ 16.54 ZAR
Time zone: UTC+2
Calling code: +27
Drives on the: Left
Elevation: 331 m
Plugs: C / M / N · 230V
Emergency numbers: 10111 (police) · 10177 (ambulance) · 112 (mobile emergency)
Best time to visit: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	31°	31°	31°	30°	28°	26°	26°	28°	30°	31°	32°	32°
Low	21°	22°	21°	18°	15°	13°	12°	14°	17°	18°	20°	21°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$75
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$195
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$620

Plan a trip to Kruger National Park

Top things to do

Free
Skukuza Rest Camp
The park's administrative headquarters and largest camp, with a shop, restaurant, fuel station and museum; a good base for southern game drives.
- Half day
- Southern Kruger (Skukuza, Berg-en-Dal, Crocodile Bridge)
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Sabie River Game Drive
Self-drive or guided loop along the Sabie River, where dense bush and water attract elephant, buffalo, lion and antelope; go early for the best sightings.
- Half day
- Southern Kruger (Skukuza, Berg-en-Dal, Crocodile Bridge)
- Good for kids
≈ $35
Sunset and Night Drive
A guided open-vehicle drive after gate closing, using spotlights to find nocturnal animals such as leopard, hyena and bushbabies; book at your rest camp.
- Half day
- Central Kruger (Satara, Olifants, Orpen)
- Good in the evening
Free
Satara Plains Drive
The open grasslands around Satara are known for lion, cheetah and large herds of zebra and wildebeest; the area is easy to explore on tar roads.
- Half day
- Central Kruger (Satara, Olifants, Orpen)
- Good for kids
Free
Olifants River Viewpoint
A lookout over the Olifants River gorge with wide views of hippo, crocodile and elephant below; a short stop that works well on an arrival afternoon.
- Half day
- Central Kruger (Satara, Olifants, Orpen)
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Letaba Elephant Hall
A small museum at Letaba Rest Camp displaying the tusks of the park's 'Magnificent Seven' elephants; a cool indoor break on a hot day.
- Half day
- Northern Kruger (Letaba, Mopani, Shingwedzi, Punda Maria)
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Pafuri Birding Drive
The far north is a birding paradise along the Levuvhu River, with species such as Pel's fishing owl and trumpeter hornbill; a 4x4 or guided drive is best.
- Half day
- Pafuri / Makuleke Triangle
- Good for kids
≈ $15
Panorama Route Day Trip
A full-day drive outside the park to Blyde River Canyon, God's Window and Bourke's Luck Potholes; start early from the southern gates and carry water.
- Full day
- Malelane and Komatipoort border towns
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many visitors, including British citizens, can enter South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business, while other nationalities may need a visa or must apply in advance; rules depend on nationality, so check before booking. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your departure date and have at least two blank pages, and travellers with children aged 17 and under face extra documentation requirements. From 1 July 2026 all travellers entering or leaving South Africa must submit an online traveller declaration before travelling, and yellow fever vaccination

Official website

From the airport

Most visitors fly into Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) near Mbombela, about 40–80 km from the southern gates, or take a small plane directly to Skukuza Airport inside the park. Driving from Johannesburg takes roughly 4–6 hours to the southern gates.

Getting around

A rental car is the most flexible way to move between camps and along the park's tar and gravel roads, though many luxury lodges include guided game drives and transfers.

Local tips

Gates and camps close strictly at sunset; plan your day so you are back before closing time or you risk a heavy fine.
Bring a hat, high-factor sunscreen and light long sleeves — summer days are hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms.
Carry some cash in rand for petrol stations, curio stalls and tips; card is widely accepted at camps but not at every gate.
Stay in your vehicle except at designated viewpoints and rest camps, and keep a safe distance from all wildlife.