GuideMpumalanga, South Africa10 min read
Kruger on Your Own: A Self-Drive Guide
Rest camps, routes and the rules of the road
Average rating 2.7 out of 5
2.73 reviews
Kruger is one of the few great parks you can explore in a rental car. Here is how to plan routes, book rest camps and find the Big Five yourself.
Why self-drive Kruger
Kruger National Park is the size of Wales and has a network of tarred and gravel roads, fenced rest camps with shops and fuel, and some of the best big-game viewing in Africa. That combination makes it ideal for a self-drive safari, and for many South Africans it is a family tradition.
The south of the park, between Skukuza, Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge, has the highest density of game and the most visitors. The H4-1 along the Sabie River and the S28 near Crocodile Bridge are classic leopard and lion roads. Further north, around Satara and Olifants, the open plains bring big lion prides and cheetah, and the far north around Punda Maria is quiet, wild and wonderful for birds.
Plan on driving no more than 150 kilometres a day. At the park speed limit of 50 km/h on tar, with stops for every sighting, that is a full day.
Rules of the road
- Gates open between 05:30 and 06:00 and close between 17:30 and 18:30 depending on the month.
- Stay in your vehicle except at marked picnic sites and hides.
- Never feed animals, including the baboons at Skukuza.
- Share sightings: check the camp sighting boards each evening.
Book SANParks early
About this story
Thabo NkosiAuthor
Wildside ExpeditionsPublisher
Reviews
Write a reviewAverage rating 2.7 out of 5
3 reviews
Priya Raman1 out of 5 stars29 SeptWe waited three days at the river and saw no crossing. The timing advice felt too confident.
- MTMichael Thompson2 out of 5 stars29 Sept
The camp recommended was lovely but far more expensive than the guide suggests.
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