Driving in Kruger National Park, South Africa

• By: Editor
• On: 10/Oct/2007
• In: South Africa Travel Tips

Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa and is located in the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Although more of the park lies in Limpopo, much of the tourism is based in the Mpumalanga area. This is because the park area within the Mpumalanga Province has more vegetation, animals and camps for staying overnight. Kruger is the flagship park in the SANPark group.

What to see in the Kruger National Park area?

Kruger National Park is a great place for any visitor to South Africa to get to see their favourite savannah animals. The area is an absolute treasure and is home to a whole host of plant, animal and marine species. There are a number of activities on offer that can enhance your wildlife experience.

There are a number of 3-day Wilderness Trails you can take part in, each with its own unique merits (different animals and different landscapes) so you should give it a go. Groups set out into the wild on foot with a pair of rangers and returning each evening to your base camp for a well-deserved dinner.

Though the public aren't allowed to drive at night, you can take one of the Night Drives with a park ranger and get a chance to see the nocturnal hunters, such as the leopards and hyenas, at work.

One of the most fun things to do is to visit the Crocodile River View Point, here you will leave the car behind and take a river boat with a park ranger and meet crocs and hippos as they wallow in the water just a few metres away.

If you can’t leave home without your golf clubs, why not bring them and try your hand at the 9-hole Skukuza course?

Why not hire a car?

The main access point for the park by road is from the city of Nelspruit on the R40 and in through the Numbi Gate. If you're flying, the closest airport is Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), which will get you to within 40km of the Numbi Gate.

However you arrive, the best way to see the park is definitely by car as you get to spend as long as you wish observing the animals. The roads in the park are decent enough for any vehicle, though sometimes a 4x4 can be handy for the raised sitting position, and are more comfortable on sidetracks. Just remember that you won’t be allowed to drive at night.

So, just pick up your car rental and off you go exploring the 2 million hectares of Kruger National Park.

If you have any queries about car hire in Kruger Mpumalanga Airport or have any travel tips for Kruger National Park, just drop us a line in the comment box below.