Practical Guide to visiting Kruger National Park for the first time

Like many (probably?), when I thought about going on a ‘safari’ in Africa, I had always pictured being in the Serengeti and the Masaai Mara in Tanzania and Kenya or watching the Great Wildebeest Migration from a hot-air balloon. It was all aspirational, and I certainly expected it all to be well out of my price range. I definitely didn’t have a visit to Kruger National Park on my radar.

In fact, I kind of stumbled my way into Kruger while researching must-do things in South Africa. And do I ever agree!! A visit to Kruger National Park is an absolute MUST while in South Africa and can be a reasonably priced way to have an incredible safari experience. Given I didn’t even have Kruger on my radar, I had to start doing a lot more research to figure out… how.

How do you realistically visit Kruger National PArk for the first time in a budget-friendly way?

I sifted through so many blogs trying to sort out the best way to visit Kruger National Park. Is it doable on a modest budget? How long should I spend there? What should I expect from the experience? Is it better to do it this or that way? By the time I finished all my research I had decided on a game plan but I was still kind of confused about the whole thing and a bit apprehensive.

The entire time I was just wishing I would find a one-stop shop with all the practical information I actually wanted to know. So I am writing my own comprehensive guide to visiting Kruger National Park in South Africa for the first time, in a realistic and practical way. In this guide, I’ll share all the things I wanted clear answers to and what I figured out along the way. I’m going to apologize in advance that this is so long but I genuinely want to share all the details I wished I could find.

I’ve included all the information I believe will be helpful to make informed decisions about planning a first-time visit to Kruger National Park, without telling you every single thing about this massive park. I am not a Kruger expert, just a traveller who wanted something like this.

I am confident you will have the time of your life with jaw-dropping animal encounters if you choose to follow my recommendations in this realistic guide to visiting Kruger National Park for the first time.

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Getting to Kruger National Park

Kruger is incredibly expansive and you can access the park from many different points and can have different experiences depending on what area find yourself in. From my understanding, the Southern section of the park is one of the best areas for the classic Big 5 game drive safari experience and is also conveniently the section closest to all of South Africa’s big cities which is where travellers will most likely be coming from. To get to Kruger National Park you have a couple of options.

Ways to get there

If you are keeping to a modest budget while visiting Kruger National Park, it is unlikely that you will be staying in the lush lodges located within the park that include a private pick-up, and therefore it is unlikely you will fly directly into the park via Skukuza Airport. Although this is an option some like the airfares are a lot more expensive and you have considerably fewer choices upon your arrival. I would only do this if you have a lodge that is arranging everything for you.

The more realistic access point for Kruger, and my recommendation, is to fly into Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) and rent a car from there. This airport serves the city of Mbombela (sometimes also comes up under its former name Nelspruit), around 1.5 hours away from the park but based on the rhino statue on the edge of the tarmac, it definitely serves visitors to Kruger. From this airport, there are many affordable car rental options from reputable international companies.

Other options

These are your other options. You could choose to drive to the park from anywhere else in the country… but this is not going to be the most convenient or time-efficient option. What you save in airfare you’ll pay for in gas and longer car rental costs.

Another approach would be to arrange private transfers from the airport or even all the way from Johannesburg. This will certainly increase costs and significantly limit your flexibility.

Renting a car

I spent a lot of time contemplating if we should rent a car and what it would be like driving in South Africa. We ultimately decided to rent one because figuring out other options was starting to feel too complex. Now that I’ve done it I seriously recommend visiting Kruger National Park with a car you drive yourself and I would go as far as saying it’s not really possible to visit Kruger in an actually practical and affordable way without one…

From Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport there are lots of reputable international car rental companies where you can rent good, modern cars at very affordable rates. Check rentalcars for the most affordable rates.

Having a car allows you to make choices about how you spend your days while in Kruger. You can save money by staying in Marloth Park, the quaint bush community just outside of the park, you can choose where and when you dine, and best of all, you can do incredible self-drives through the park. I cannot emphasize enough how much freedom and flexibility having a car will grant you.

Driving in South Africa

OK, you’re convinced renting a car is the way to go but driving in South Africa may seem incredibly daunting I get it. You have to drive on the other side of the road (at least for some of us), you’ve been warned about all these carjacking horror stories, and you don’t know what kind of roads you’ll be driving on. Here’s what to expect.

Driving on the Left

If you’re from a country that drives on the right, swapping to the left can be tricky at the beginning… But you know how to drive and you know how to follow traffic around you. Honestly, the hardest part will just be getting out of the airport parking lot. Just repeat the mantra “Stay. Left. Stay. Left”. and the rest should be smooth sailing.

Don’t get cocky, even if you know how to drive standard just pay the few extra dollars to rent an automatic car because it will remove that extra step to think about and adjust to while you make sure you stay on the correct side of the road.

Carjacking horror stories

There is a risk of crime in South Africa, as there is in many parts of the world. It’s important to be aware of potential risks but it’s also good to understand these warning stories can get a bit inflated. As soon as you get there and actually see how typical the driving is in South Africa you will realize how extreme the warnings seem from the people back home claiming nobody ever stops at red lights for fear of carjacking.

You can help protect yourself from the risk by keeping your doors locked when you are driving, not stopping for strangers on the road, not leaving valuables visible in your car, and sticking to main routes. Let’s also be realistic – driving on the very common route to Kruger National Park, one of the most popular attractions in the country (or on other touristed routes like the Garden Route), is generally not where you’re going to get yourself into trouble.

Road quality

OK yes technically you are heading out into the bush but you are not going to be doing much driving on dusty, dirt roads (mostly). You do not need a 4×4 or any all-terrain-type vehicle to get to or from Kruger, nor do you need one for in the park.

For the majority of your drive, you will be on a main road, the N4 Highway, that takes you from the airport to the Southern section of Kruger. It is a nicely maintained paved two-lane highway through the surrounding farmland. The roads to the park gates, and even the main road in Kruger National Park are also paved and well-signed.

The only stretch of road that is a gravel road is the first road that leads to Marloth Park and the side roads in that community – however, if you would prefer to avoid the gravel altogether there is a second road to Marloth Park just a few kilometres further that is paved the whole way.

Where to stay

You can either stay inside or outside the national park and your budget will probably dictate where you ultimately choose to stay. There are accommodations at varying degrees of luxury and price points, including luxurious lodges ($$$), the park’s basic rest camps ($$), or comfortable cottages in Marloth Park ($).

Staying inside kruger

This is supposed to be a realistic and budget-friendly guide to visiting Kruger so I am going to be realistic about your budget and say it’s probably unlikely you’re staying in one of the luxury private lodges within the park where the going rate is upwards of a thousand dollars per night… and if I’m wrong and you are living luxuriously, well then I am jealous.

Just check out some of these gorg lodges. We can dream…

Kruger Gate Hotel

Jock Safari Lodge

Kruger Shalati

The more accessibly priced alternative if you wish to stay in the park is to stay at one of the rest camps like Lower Sabie or Crocodile Bridge. These are bush camps operated and booked through the South African National Parks Service. These vary from open campsites or safari tents with shared facilities to little bungalows with a kitchenette.

The park rest camps have only basic amenities but generally will have the things you’d need, like food, gas, a general store, cellphone reception (but no wifi), ATMs, and some even have swimming pools. Most of these amenities are also available to day visitors in the park until the main gates close and all the day trippers have to leave.

Information about all the different rest camps across the park and their respective amenities can be found on the SAN Parks website. All rest camp bookings should be made through the SAN Parks website and should be reserved well in advance, especially during the school holiday season (Dec/Jan). Note that the nightly rate does not include the daily conservation fee for all visitors to the park.

Staying outside kruger

The most affordable accommodation choice for a visit to Kruger National Park is to stay in the little community of Marloth Park, which is a 20-minute drive from the nearest park entrance, the Crocodile Bridge gate.

The Crocodile River separates Marloth Park from the southern border of Kruger National Park, so if you go for a walk along the river in town, you can look into Kruger and watch the hippos bathe. Animals don’t understand the lines we draw in the sand, so even from Marloth Park, you will have the chance to see warthogs, zebras, impalas, giraffes, and hornbills wander and fly right through town, including into your backyard.

There are some lovely places to stay in Marloth Park, and some pretty genuine hosts to welcome you. We loved how much we got to learn about the area and the visiting species from the owners of our accommodation at Kiburi Cottage. Check out some of these lovely stays in Marloth Park.

Kiburi Cottage

Marloth Athule House

Ibhubesi house

Peace Kruger

FOMO?

I desperately wanted to know if I stay outside of Kruger am I going to seriously miss out on participating in activities? No, your opportunities to participate will not be limited by staying in Marloth Park. You can still visit all the public areas of the rest camps as a day visitor in the park, and you can also participate in the SAN Parks organized game drives even if they begin before the park is officially open or end after the gates close.

How long to stay

How long does one really need in Kruger… really? More than a day, that’s for sure. You don’t simply go to Kruger for a day – especially if you are not a local… you’ve flown all the way to the bottom of Africa and you’re just going to give it a day??? Come on! Be for real!!

Kruger National Park is so expansive and every single day you have the chance to have unimaginable animal encounters that will have you pinching yourself! Two full days in the park should really be the bare minimum, which means booking 3 nights at your accommodation to allow for the drive from the airport.

We spent those 2 days in the park, doing self-drives in the downtime around the guided game drives and I EASILY would have spent another full day in the park, if not more. To really maximize on the activities and the unique experiences, I can confidently recommend that you plan your stay to include 3 park days/4 nights.

What is Marloth Park Like?

Marloth Park is a little holiday community with nice comfortable cottages, a half-dozen restaurants/bars, a couple of modest grocery (the SPAR has more stock) and liquor stores, and a few gas stations. You are still out in the bush so that’s about all, but it has everything you could need for a pleasant stay.

When you get to the edge of town you will arrive at a barrier gate with some security guards. They will check you in at your first entry, asking for your name and details about your stay. After that, you will be able to enter and exit freely with just a smile and a wave. There is only one main paved road through the community with gates at either end, and the rest is a (navigable) maze of bumpy dirt roads.

Most of the restaurants in town are along the main road and will generally serve similar menus. I really enjoyed the classic breakfast at the Tin Shack Restaurant. A stellar way to dine while animal spotting is to enjoy a meal at the Amazing Kruger View Restaurant. This restaurant is perched above the river and so we watched impalas graze and crocodiles swim by while sipping on our morning brew.

The draw into Kruger can be magnetic, but if you’re in Marloth Park it is worth spending a bit of time in your own backyard, literally. Your accommodation will almost certainly have a deck or yard with some comfy chairs, and maybe a pool, where you can do some backyard bird watching. It is worth rising early to enjoy a peaceful morning with the wildlife. I was awake at 6 AM and watched a small herd of zebras cross right through the bush in front of me. I could not believe my eyes… I thought I was still dreaming?!

A lot of your time at Kruger will be spent sitting in vehicles, so it is a nice change of pace to stretch your legs and walk along the river. Marloth Park is separated from Kruger National Park by the Crocodile River (and a few wires of fencing) so you can walk from viewpoint to viewpoint along the river, watching for hippos lounging in the sun or elephants walking on the river banks. The walk is lovely, but be sure to watch your back… you never know what you might come across on your side of the fence.

Best to avoid the river walk as the sun is setting… or any walk after sundown. Even if you’re just headed down the road it is advised not to walk around the community after the sun has set. If you’re going out, just take your car.

Kruger National Park and therefore Marloth Park is in a malaria zone so it is best to come prepared with a good bug repellent and light clothing that covers exposed skin. You can talk with a doctor about anti-malarial tablets before leaving home.

Drinking tap water in Marloth Park is not advisable, so be sure to purchase bottled water (which is available at the grocery stores), boil water before drinking, or bring a water filter.

Inside Kruger National Park

Entering the park

The park gates open between 5:30 and 6:00 AM depending on the time of year. After your 20-minute drive to Crocodile Bridge from Marloth Park you will have to park and go inside the visitor centre to pay your daily conservation fee and collect your day visitor permit (you must keep these papers to show as you exit the park). Note, SAN Parks is moving to cash-free payment methods so come prepared with your credit card. This is where you would present your Wild Card if you are a member.

Use this time to get anything you might need from the trunk of your car and use the washroom since you will not be able to exit your vehicle while in the park, except at rest camps.

Once you have your papers you’re cleared to pass the gatehouse. A park ranger will make sure you are not carrying any firearms or alcohol and then you’re cleared and ready to drive on in. Make sure to keep your papers to show as you exit the park.

Is the wild card worth it?

The Wild Card is an annual membership that gives you unlimited access to 80+ parks across the country. I have a whole post to help you decide if the Wild Card is worth it – if you’re planning to visit other National Parks in South Africa (like Boulders Beach or the Cape of Good Hope) I highly recommend giving it a read because I walk through all the details to help you make the right decision for your trip.

If you’re only visiting Kruger National Park your calculations will be much more simple. A single conservation fee to enter Kruger is R535 ($30 USD) per person, per day. Depending on how many days you are spending in Kruger, and how many of you are visiting, it could be worth it to get a Wild Card.

The current Wild Card rates for International visitors are: Individual: R4,160 ($230 USD) –– Couple: R6,495 ($360 USD) –– Family: R7,770 ($430 USD). To make the Wild Card expense worth it, a single person would need to spend more than 1 week visiting Kruger National Park, whereas a couple needs to spend 6 days for it to be worth becoming a Wild Card holder.

I walk through all the Wild Card benefits and calculations in my guide to decide if the Wild Card is worth it –– be sure to check it out if you’re planning to visit other National Parks in South Africa!

Keep in mind that the Wild Card covers daily conservation fees for parks in South Africa, but it does not cover your accommodation if you stay at rest camps or any supplementary activities you book like guided game drives.

Activities in Kruger National Park

While in Kruger you’ll likely be doing one of two things: a guided game drive or a self-drive – both are extremely worthwhile! For a first visit, this is likely all you’ll be doing, but if you’re feeling adventurous or have lots of time, you can arrange other activities like guided walks, bush braais, or even multi-day backpacking treks. The SAN Parks website has info for all activities available all across the park.

Depending on where you decide to stay will determine the specifics of which activities you book. If your accommodation is outside of the park you can book the game drives on the SAN Parks website here, and if you’re staying at one of the rest camps inside Kruger then you have the option to add similar activities to your reservation or in person at the rest camp reception.

Guided Game Drives

The guided game drive is exactly as you would hope and imagine a classic safari to be – driving around in a big all-terrain truck with open sides so you can get up close and personal with the sights, sounds, and smells of the bush.

You can book a shared game drive through the National Parks service for a reasonable price ($30 USD), but if you would like a private or more tailored experience you can arrange with private companies. Make sure you book the SAN Parks game drives ahead of time because there are only limited spots available (approx. 20 people) and will likely fill up, especially in the busy period during the South African school holidays (Dec/Jan).

The SAN Parks game drives are approx. 3 hours each and are led by incredibly experienced guides. They have an amazing ability to spot animals you might not even know were around you and they share tons of info about the wildlife that lives in Kruger National Park. I could hear the genuine excitement in our guide Rodney’s voice as he told us about Blondie, Zaza, and Zozo, the 3 male lions that we came upon 10 minutes into our Sunrise drive. He shared that Blondie had not been seen for a few months so he was so relieved to see him and told us all about him and his pride.

If you are on a tight budget doing only self-drives will save you a bit of money but it is worth considering the modest investment ($30 USD) to get unmatched access and up-close encounters that you might only get with an experienced guide – like finally seeing Blondie again, or witnessing two lions protecting a fresh wildebeest kill from a committee of vultures.

IMPORTANT! For all game drive activities, you are expected to be present 10-15 minutes before your scheduled departure with the documents you collected and filled out at reception prior. You must visit the reception ahead of time to find out your exact departure time and collect your documentation before your activity. You can do this confirmation process for all your upcoming activity bookings at once to make your life easier.

Sunrise

Starting before the sun rises and before the park officially opens, you will have exclusive first access to Kruger National Park to see the animals after their undisturbed night. You get to enjoy the tranquility of the park waking up as the first light of day begins to illuminate the bush.

As the first vehicle on the road that morning we came upon 3 male lions snoozing in the middle of the road – this was Blondie, Zaza, and Zozo.

If you are staying in Marloth Park book the External Sunrise Drive (ESRD) from Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp. Although the park gate is technically closed until the park officially opens after sunrise, there will be a guard there who will let you into the parking lot at the visitor centre so that you can make your excursion. Make a mental note that you will have to wake up even earlier to make the 20-minute drive to the park gate and that you will be driving in the dark of the night (like spooky 4 AM vibes) and there could be giant wild animals wandering or grazing on the road. Give yourself enough time to make that drive carefully to arrive on time. I say this warning from experience… just us and a giant giraffe on the road.

!! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT !! You must visit the reception at the visitors centre during the park’s open hours to confirm the exact departure time and collect the documentation needed to present to the park ranger for your game drive. If the sunrise game drive is your first entry into Kruger you must go to the park reception the day before to get these papers – you will not be able to do this on the morning of since reception will still be closed.

Sunset

Similar to the sunrise drives, during a Sunset game drive you will have some exclusive access to Kruger National Park after all personal vehicles have returned to camp or left the park. The sunset game drive departs in the late afternoon so you can watch as the bush changes from day to dusk to night. Night animals emerge and predators start their nightly hunts.

Having access to the park past sunset offers the chance to roll right up on a pride of 10 lions laying in the grass as darkness creeps in. With the darkness comes the hyenas as they circle and laugh…

If you are staying at Marloth Park you can book the External Sunset Drive (ESSD) from Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp. The game drive ends after the park officially closes so you will have to do a sign out process with a guard to ensure you are not just a day visitor who did not exit the park at the appropriate gate time.

If visiting the park in the dark is your thing, you can also book a Late Night Drive which is an entirely spot-lit drive that begins and ends after dark. Spooky!

PRivate

If you want to have guided game drives in smaller trucks exclusively for you and your party or drives that last all day, you can arrange custom itineraries with private companies. Check out the variety of private game drives available on Get Your Guide.

Self Drives

Before getting to Kruger National Park I did not know what to expect from a self-drive and frankly, I was a little freaked out. I was here picturing a big rhino charging at our little car… That was all I could picture until we actually got out there and my worries were put to rest. As it turns out, it is far more peaceful than that nightmare scenario – still, be careful not to force your way too close or disturb the wildlife, or that could still happen.

Self-driving gives you the absolute freedom to move at your own pace and spend as long as you want with different animals. I would encourage spending all the time around your guided game drives exploring the park on your own self-drives.

If you are on a tight budget doing only self-drives will save you a bit of money but it is still really worth considering the modest investment ($30 USD), at least once, to get unmatched access and up-close encounters that you might only get with an experienced guide – like witnessing two lions protecting a fresh kill from a committee of vultures.

The guided game drives are not to be missed and give you some unmatched and up close experiences, but generally, the guides are trying to track down what most people really want to see which is typically the elusive animals and big game like leopards and lions. They will always stop, but will generally move on quicker past some of the more ‘common’ animals like giraffes or elephants or muddy little warthogs. But for a Canadian like me, giraffes, elephants, and the muddy little warthogs are all unique animals worth spending a while with. So the benefit of doing a self-drive means that if you spot them you can spend as much time as you want admiring them.

A few self drive tips:

Drive slow – the main roads that run through Kruger National Park are paved (50 km/h limit) and even if you choose to only stick to them you can get some pretty splendid wildlife sightings. If you want to venture further into the bush there are also gravel roads (40 km/h limit) that you can self-drive on – just watch for signage because there are some tracks that are exclusive to park officials.

Always watch out for wildlife darting in front of your car and look out for cars stopped on the road or others driving very slowly. They likely have seen something in the bush that you haven’t. The slower you go the better your chances of spotting something are!

Keep your distance – I am no expert in animal behaviour and I don’t have the hearing of an elephant so I don’t know what is lurking around. You may feel big and mighty in your vehicle but make sure you leave some distance between you and the wildlife to keep yourself out of harm’s way. Don’t spook or taunt the animals, don’t get between a momma and her baby, and don’t feed the animals.

Share the space – if you arrive at a busy spot with a bunch of cars don’t force your way in. Try to identify what everyone is looking at and from what area you’ll be able to see it best and then wait for a clearer view to open up. If you’re among the first at the attraction and can see lots of cars waiting to get a good view consider how long you spend and maybe move on or move back to allow others in. If it gets so busy that cars are filling up the entire road, make sure you move for park vehicles or other cars trying to pass.

Check the apps – by far the best way to spot animals is by having your eyes on the bush, but if there is something you are really interested in seeing it might be worth checking a few apps with updated daily sightings to see where they were most recently spotted. I used the free version of Latest Sightings – Wildlife but there are a few on the app stores. Ultimately none of our sightings were actually by the pins on the app, but it was still fun to go searching.

Day 1

Fly to MQP and drive yourself to Marloth Park. Once in town grab some groceries and then check into your accommodation. Have a quick snack so that you can make the 20-minute drive over to the Kruger Crocodile Bridge visitors centre/reception and check in for your upcoming game drives, but don’t actually head into the park that day. Head back to Marloth Park and check out the river walk before the sunsets and then grab some dinner. Head home for an early night so that you’re ready and rested for the next day.

Day 2

Wake up at 3:30 AM and drive to Crocodile Bridge for your sunrise game drive. Return to Marloth Park for a nice filling breakfast and coffee and then head back to Kruger to spend the rest of the day self-driving through the park. Alternatively, once back from your sunrise game drive head straight into the park and get breakfast at the restaurant at Lower Sabie rest camp. Spend the day in Kruger until close, and then have dinner and get some sleep.

Day 3

Sleep in a bit compared to your early start the day before, but do your best to wake up and get going as early as you can. Fill up on a big breakfast before you spend most of the day doing a self-drive in Kruger. Bring snacks in your car or stop to have a midday meal at one of the rest camps before you return to Crocodile Bridge in the late afternoon to join your sunset game drive. Afterwards, head back to Marloth Park and have a little backyard campfire/braai to cap off the evening.

Day 4

Choose your own adventure for your final day – spend some time in your backyard enjoying the wildlife around you, see what you can spot on the river walk again, or hit the park gate as soon as it opens. Spend your final day in Kruger National Park searching for all your favourite animals, or the elusive animal that you have yet to see. Have dinner back in Marloth Park and enjoy your last night in the bush.

The next morning (Day 5), pack up and drive back to MQP for your flight out. If you are tight on time you can follow the same itinerary but check out and drive back to the airport on Day 4 instead.

WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS

There is no way to plan for exactly what sightings you will have in Kruger National Park, but I can almost promise you that you will be blown away by all the unbelievable animals you come across. It is still best to come with an open mind and a dream for the animals to find you.

The Big Five

This is the classic crew – the most popular animals to see on a safari. The Big 5 include lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.

We didn’t see all five, but we had tremendous lion sightings on our game drives, as well as a tons of up close sightings of families of elephants on our self drives. The leopards, rhinos, and buffalo stayed hidden in the bush. That just leaves something on the table for next time!

Other animals

Along with the Big 5, there are some other top tier animals to be spotted in Kruger National Park, including giraffes, hippos, zebras, hyenas, cheetahs, wild dogs, and even lil warthogs. Along with them you will find many antelope species in Kruger, including impala and kudu and a huge, diverse bird population.

Packing list

Packing for a visit to Kruger National Park is actually quite simple and you don’t need any special gear for a regular visit. Here are the important things to think about when you are packing:

Neutral-coloured clothing: like khaki, green, brown, and beige. The natural colours will help you blend in with the bush around you. Find what you can in your closet but you do not need to go out and buy an entire safari-inspired wardrobe. As long as you don’t wear crazy neon colours, you won’t be denied entry if you’re not wearing khaki. It can be tempting to bring your cute animal print pants but it’s probably best to avoid looking like prey if you come across some big predators…

A light puffy jacket or heavy sweater: for early mornings and evenings. It can get quite cool as the game drive truck whips along at 5 AM looking for wildlife. Don’t make the mistake of just packing shorts and t-shirts, only to find out Africa can get cold and rainy.

Lightweight long shirts & pants: for sun and insect protection. It can get hot in the summer, but it is still important to protect your skin from the elements and the insects. Having long pants and shirts will also help you layer if it gets cool.

Insect Repellent: Kruger National Park is a malaria zone, so it is important to take preventative measures while visiting. Wearing the aforementioned long-sleeved shirts and long pants is good, but also having a good insect repellent with DEET will help prevent bites.

Swimwear: your accommodation might have a pool to hang out in! Just don’t plan on a dip in the Crocodile River!

The gear: if you have binoculars or a powerful flashlight or headlamp, this would be the time to bring them out, but you do not need to purchase any gear to enjoy your time in Kruger! I went with just my eyes and my iPhone camera and was still able to have an unbelievable time with my wildlife sightings.

Happy trip planning!

If you made it this far and are reading this, I applaud you. I know this was a really, really long one but I wanted to provide you with a thorough and practical guide to visiting Kruger National Park as a first-timer. From one traveller to another, I hope this guide was helpful for you as you make your plans and set out on your next adventure!

If you are still left with any questions about visiting Kruger or what to expect, fear not because I can still help! I have a personalized trip planning and advice service available to all Everywhere Travel Club readers. I’d love to chat for an hour with you and help answer any questions you’re working through, share fun ideas, and help bring your big trip into reality! For more info about the one one-on-one call for advice check out the details of my Personalized Travel Planning Sesh.

Let me know what you think about this practical guide to visiting Kruger online! You can find me everywhere on the Everywhere Travel Club Instagram, TikTok or Twitter!

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