Around 4.5 hours drive east of Johannesburg, the Kruger National Park (KNP, run by SANParks, sanparks.org) is one of the best places to experience wildlife in the world; the good news for travellers is that's its easily accessible and – with some planning ahead – very affordable to explore.
At 19,500 square kilometres (360km north to south, 65km east to west) the park is as big as Slovenia, so it's best to focus on exploring a limited area and not drive long distances – 20km/hr is the ideal pace for spotting wildlife anyway. Broadly speaking the Kruger Park can roughly be divided into three areas; the lower Kruger Park in Mpumalanga, the central Kruger Park which straddles Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and the northern Kruger where the mighty Limpopo river forms the northern boundary of the park along the border with Zimbabwe.
There are six perennial rivers that stretch across the reserve from east to west and the ecosystem of the Kruger is vitally dependent on these rivers. Many of the most popular river camps perch along the river banks offering excellent sightings of the Big Five such as elephants and buffalo. While the wildlife is the park’s main attraction, the wild and untamed scenery is also a major attraction.
WHEN TO GO
Kruger National Park’s climate is subtropical. The best times of the year to visit are June, July, August as these are the driest months. Many of the parks indigenous trees and shrubs lose their leaves during this time making it easier to see game through the bush and the drier months mean animals are often more concentrated around larger waterholes and rivers, while the many smaller streams and dams are dry. Albeit very hot, spring and summer have their own beauty and while the rains can make some smaller roads impassible, you are more likely to see baby animals during this time.
Where to stay
First-timers should consider spending at least two full days in the south of the park where sightings are usually the best. There are twelve main restcamps in the park, as well as a selection of more rustic bushcamps and satellite camps surrounding these offering basic ammenities.The park is designed with self-driving and self-catering in mind and every SANPark restcamp offers a variety of accommodation options ranging from campsites to modest chalets and bungalows or permanent canvas tents, with access to a communal kitchen or braai area, or sometimes with their own kitchenette , as well as a shop selling basics and a restaurant or cafe. If you are planning on self-catering throughout your trip we recommend buying your supplies before entering the park as prices can be higher and choices limited inside the park.
All official SANParks accommodation can be booked online via the SANParks website, where you can also book guided drives operated by SANParks. Register on the website and sign in to see all the available accommodation options for your chosen dates. Bear in mind that the gates to the Kruger Park close at night and if you arrive after dark and the gate is closed you will not be allowed to enter, so plan your drive to the park accordingly.
GUIDED TOURS
Visitors can drive around freely from sunrise to sunset; before and after that, SANParks' capable rangers offer - highly recommended - drives (morning, sunset or night) in open jeeps or trucks and at some camps guided morning walks through the bush. These can be booked online.
READING LIST
The forum on the SANParks website is a delight to read; helpful and experienced members have posted a wealth of information. The essential 25-page "Kruger Park Map" book (A. Tinker), available at all gates and camp shops, has clear maps, tips and pictures of the most common animals. For more detail and fascinating stories, get the 330-page "Exploring Kruger" book (B. Hilton-Barber & L. Berger). The popular ’Kruger Sightings' app can help you spot your desired animal, but may take away the fun of being in the bush. For a complete escape we suggest you log out and go wild.
DRIVING TO KRUGER
Although many visitors choose to visit Kruger as part of an organised package, rushing straight in and out of the park on an organised transfer, if you can we recommend that you rent a car, drive yourself and take your time to stop off along the way from Joburg – there’s even more to be enjoyed in this area than the hunt for the Big Five. A self-drive Kruger holiday will also usually work out cheaper than a packaged tour.
