Species found in the Kruger Park
As you can read above the Kruger Park has impressive numbers to show. The park is roughly half the size of The Netherlands and has an incredible variety of species. Although most visitors will be on the “hunt” for the Big 5 (Leopard, Rhino, Lion, Buffalo and Elephant). What animal will you be looking for when on safari in the Kruger Park?
2024/2025 Opening Hours
The opening hours/gate times of the Kruger Park vary with the seasons as the daylight hours also change. To make it easy we have put an easy table together down below to see what the applicable hours for your visit will be.
| Gate Times | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance Gates Open | 05:30 | 05:30 | 05:30 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 05:30 | 05:30 | 05:30 |
| Camp Gates Open | 04:30 | 05:30 | 05:30 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 05:30 | 04:30 | 04:30 |
| All Gates Close | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:30 | 18:30 |
The 9 entrance gates to the Kruger Park
| Gate | Telephone |
|---|---|
| Crocodile Bridge | +27 (0)13 735 6012 |
| Malelane | +27 (0)13 735 6152 |
| Numbi | +27 (0)13 735 5133 |
| Orpen | +27 (0)13 735 0237/0238 |
| Pafuri | +27 (0)13 735 5574 |
| Paul Kruger | +27 (0)13 735 5107 |
| Phabeni | +27 (0)13 735 5890 |
| Phalaborwa | +27 (0)13 735 3547 |
| Punda Maria | +27 (0)13 735 6870 |
Note: Nomads Den is located in between Orpen and Phalaborwa gate. Both are a 45 minute drive from Hoedspruit.
Entrance Fees
The prices of entering Kruger Park depend on your nationality, residency and age. We’ve put a useful table together below with the entrance prices for the Kruger Park in 2023-2024. The fees can be paid by card upon arrival. Pro tip: already have the Kruger National Park Entry Form filled in before arrival. It will save you a lot of time. More hours for safari!
| 1 November 2024 – 31 October 2025 | Adults (12+ years) | Children (2 – 11 years) |
|---|---|---|
| South African Citizens and Residents | R128 | R64 |
| SADC Nationals | R257 | R128 |
| International (non-South African) Citizens | R535 | R267 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the Kruger Park?
The Kruger Park in South Africa is 19485 km2 big, which is roughly half the size of The Netherlands.
What gates or entrances are there to the Kruger Park?
| Gate | Telephone |
|---|---|
| Crocodile Bridge | +27 (0)13 735 6012 |
| Malelane | +27 (0)13 735 6152 |
| Numbi | +27 (0)13 735 5133 |
| Orpen | +27 (0)13 735 0237/0238 |
| Pafuri | +27 (0)13 735 5574 |
| Paul Kruger | +27 (0)13 735 5107 |
| Phabeni | +27 (0)13 735 5890 |
| Phalaborwa | +27 (0)13 735 3547 |
| Punda Maria | +27 (0)13 735 6870 |
Nomads Den is ± 45 minutes away from both Phalaborwa and Orpen gate.
Where can I overnight in the Kruger Park?
There is a number of places where you can overnight in the Kruger Park. This is a list of all camps in the Kruger Park:
Olifants, Letaba, Maroela, Orpen and Satara are the closest camps to Hoedspruit.
Is there Malaria in the Kruger Park?
Yes, there is presence of Malaria in the Kruger Park. The disease is transmitted through mosquito bites. It is advised to use prevention (anti insect spray, long clothes). Please consult your local medical practitioner for the availability of Malaria prophylactics in your country.
Can I drive myself in the Kruger Park?
Yes, you can ‘self-drive’ in the Kruger Park. That is one of the biggest advantages of the Kruger Park as you can fully make your own plan. Want to spend 30 minutes at sleeping lions? You could do it. Although it is common courtesy to make space for other visitors.
Can I book a guided daytrip to the Kruger Park?
Yes, there a guided day trips to the Kruger Park in South Africa. Most accommodations near Kruger Park are able to assist you with this.
Self-drive tips
You are ready to set out on your first self-drive safari in the Kruger Park but you are not sure about the safari-etiquette and the rules? We’ve got you! Here are the top 10 tips to have an enjoyable self-drive in the Kruger Park:
- Take it slow. The speed limit in Kruger Park is 50km/h on tar and 40km/h on gravel but we recommend to not go past 25km/h when looking for wildlife. The slower you go, the more time your eyes have to actually see an animal or bird.
- Don’t skip the little detours and loops. That lion can be behind every bush.
- See another vehicle stopped? Start looking for what they are looking for in advance. Perhaps your view of the animal is better.
- Don’t see the animal they are looking for? Politely have a conversation and inform about what they are seeing. Otherwise you wouldn’t be the first missing out on a leopard.
- The sightings boards in the camps are fun but very useless without context. Instead, have a chat with other visitors about what they have seen where. And also share your sightings.
And 5 more tips with a bonus
- The best times for safari are early morning and late afternoon (sunrise/sunset). The animals are most active and your photos will be the most beautiful.
- Switch off your engine when you are at a sighting. That way you and others can enjoy the sounds of nature in stead of a rumbling diesel.
- Watch out for small animals and poop on the roads. Elephant dung contains a lot of insects that play an important role in the eco-system so it is better to not squash them.
- Don’t miss out on the picnic sites in Kruger. They are located in the most beautiful spots of the park and you can even rent a ‘skottelbraai’ to make your bacon and eggs.
- Relax. Enjoy the scenery. Most people won’t see the whole of the big 5 in one self-drive.
- Bonus tip: spend time at the waterholes, especially in African winter. As it’s the ‘kitchen’ of all the animals, they will need water to stay alive.
Book a guided visit to the Kruger Park
We are very happy to help you get the most out of your visit to the Kruger Park. Keep an eye on this blog for more inside tips. Or book our accommodation close to Kruger Park where we can provide you with assistance or even book a guided safari to the Kruger Park.
