When I started planning my trip to South Africa, I only knew one thing for sure: I wanted to go on safari.
No surprise, considering that the country – or, rather, much of the African continent – is known by tourists as a great place to see lions, elephants and other animals in their habitats natural.
Due to its proximity to Johannesburg, my friend and I chose to visit Kruger Park, one of the most famous in the region.
I confess that I had no idea how this type of activity worked. I didn't know how much time was needed, if needed be done with a guide, whether any type of special vehicle had to be used and several other questions.
I even searched for parks and prices, but I found the official websites a little confusing and without a step-by-step guide. where to go, how to get, how to get around, etc. The person who really saved this part of the trip was my friend, who had countless friends who had already done this trip and explained to us how to proceed.
Fortunately, after we got there, I realized that going on safari in Kruger is relatively simple. After you understand how does it work, it’s just a matter of arranging transportation and accommodation. O "problem” was that I just learned all this after to be there.
So that you don't have to go through this, I wrote a very detailed guide explaining everything you need to know about going on safari in South Africa, with lots of tips about Kruger Park. I talked about the best accommodation, where to find the animals and I even included a guide with suggested routes through the park.
If you are planning your trip to the country, also read the post with the itinerary for Cape Town!
Safari in South Africa – Everything you need to know
What I had no idea about safari in South Africa is that you can drive yourself and make your own route within the reserves! In most places it is not necessary to hire guides, and you will not accurate be accompanied throughout the day.
In general, you start your safari as soon as you pass through the parks entrance gate. This is because, unlike zoos, the animals are not kept in delimited areas, but rather roam freely.
The best way to enjoy it is by renting a car and taking a self drive, that is, driving the roads yourself and following your own route.
My recommendation is to rent a car with Rentcars. Besides the best price guarantee and the possibility of paying in reais, without IOF and in installments, the company also offers km unlimited, something difficult to find directly at rental companies in South Africa. As your safari can last days, the free kilometers make a big difference.
You can start driving as soon as the gates open – both those to the park itself and those to the campgrounds. All visitors must be within campings or outside the reserve after a certain time, usually late afternoon, as driving without a guide at night is not permitted.
In most places it is not even allowed to get out of the car, after all, the reserves are home to several dangerous animals, and traveling alone is risky. Areas like campgrounds are fenced off so visitors can roam freely.
Most reserves also offer guided tours if you go without a car, as well as night drives or morning walks. You can book these activities via the website or at reception upon arrival.
If you want to visit the same park for more than one day, it's worth checking if there is accommodation available there.. Comfort levels can range from tents to luxury accommodation, and reservations must be made on the official website. If you want to save money (or find something better for the same price), It's worth taking a look at Booking at hotels around the entrance gates or nearby cities.
The price varies depending on the reservation, but generally a daily fee per person is charged. If you are going to stay in the park for more than a day, control is carried out at the campings and on the day of your departure.
In short, this is what you need to know about safaris in South Africa! You go to the park, go through the entrance gate and drive around looking for the animals until it's time to leave or go to a camping. Very simple and free! 🙂
Kruger National Park – What you need to know
As I mentioned in another paragraph, our choice for Kruger Park it was mainly due to its proximity to Johannesburg, where our flight back to Brazil departed from. That is, however, not the only reason to visit it.
Kruger is the largest reserve in South Africa, and also the most famous. It is almost 20.000km² in length, larger than even some European countries, such as Malta. Due to its size, it is possible to observe a wide variety of animals, making this one of the main places to see animals. Big five – lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos.
Furthermore, as it is the most well-known and visited park by tourists, the structure is bem complete. There are accommodation options (I've included details below) for all budgets, and many campings they have restaurants, shops, swimming pools and entertainment options. In the larger ones you can even sign up to go on trails or car rides with park guides, if you don't have your own vehicle or want to see the animals at night.
In short, the size, location and wide variety of animals are what make this reserve one of the best for safari in South Africa!
How long to stay in Kruger Park
My itinerary was four days and three nights inside the park. It was a good time, as we arrived at one of the southernmost gates and managed to pass through several areas. Our last camp was Balule Satellite Camp, almost 200km away from where we entered!
If you have less time, I recommend two nights in the region. This way you have enough time to follow the maps showing where the animals have been sighted and try to find the most exciting ones, such as lions and leopards. This amount of time also allows you to move around without being in a rush, as well as being able to rest and even go on a night safari!
How to get to Kruger Park
As I mentioned above, the best way to arrive and move around Kruger is with your own vehicle. I recommend renting with Rentcars, which in addition to the best price guarantee and being able to pay in reais, without IOF and in installments, also offers unlimited kilometers, something difficult to find in the region if you rent with the rental companies themselves.
Leaving Johannesburg, just follow the N12 and then the N4 until you reach Malelane Gate, the closest gate to the city. It's approximately four and a half hours on the road.
If you go on your own and are going to sleep inside the park, it is important to leave time on the route to get to your camping. All visitors must be inside the camps by a certain time, and are not allowed to roam freely until the gates open the next day. You can check the times at this link.
If you don't want or can't drive, the best option is to hire a tour that takes you to the park and spend a few hours or even days there. Most pick up at any address in Johannesburg and Pretoria, and drop them off at the end of the tour. Get Your Guide has great options, from just one day, two or even five days sleeping inside Kruger!
How much does it cost to go on safari in Kruger
The conservation fee for each visitor is R372 per day, a little less than R$100 at the current rate. As we stayed inside the park, we paid each night at check-in at the camping. At the end, to leave, just show your payment receipts.
Accommodations are paid online at the time of booking. Prices vary depending on the type of accommodation and location. A night for two people in a Hut in Lower Sabie, for example, costs around R750 (R$200).
Furthermore, you need to include the price of gasoline in your budget if you have your own vehicle and food. Os campings larger ones have restaurants and shops where you can buy food to cook. Even the cheapest accommodations have communal kitchens or at least utensils so you can prepare a meal. Some do not have cutlery or plates, so be careful not to mess up! In case you forget, these items are sold in stores.
Where to stay in Kruger
When going on a safari in South Africa in Kruger Park, you can choose to stay inside the reserve or outside. I think it's cooler to stay inside campings, so the safari starts practically as soon as you wake up. So as not to waste time returning In the same way, the suggestion is to reserve different places for each night.
There are several types of camps in the park, but my suggestion is to stay in the Main Camps. They have several types of accommodation, as well as a store, restaurants, gas station, electricity and other amenities. There you can go from camping – the cheapest option – to staying in a Bugalow or Guest House. Me and my friend stayed in hey in Lower Sabie and Skukuza and both had air conditioning and a minibar, as well as a communal kitchen and bathroom.
Satellite Camps are camps close to the main ones, but with fewer accommodation options and no shops or restaurants, just kitchens and barbecues for those who want to cook.. If your itinerary is to stay in the southern part for a day, for example, and the main camps are full, it's worth taking a look at this type of accommodation. Please note that check-in is usually done at one of the larger campsites (we made a mistake there!), and some satellite camps, like Balule, doesn't even have electricity.
Reservations inside the park must be made through the official website.
You can also find accommodation on the outskirts of Kruger, often cheaper than inside the reserve.. If you want to save money (or want something better for the same price), it's worth taking a look.
One of the best areas in the region is Marlot Park – another park, near the Crocodile Bridge Gate in the southern part of Kruger. The best accommodation options there are:
- Jackalberry Ridge: Luxury tents (reminds me of Harry Potter's giant tent!) with full kitchen and bathrooms, as well as an outdoor pool. Fantastic review on Booking with a rating of 9,3.
- Imbube Safari Lodge: with air-conditioned rooms, private bathroom and breakfast included in the daily rate. As it is inside a park, it is possible to see zebras and kudus on the property! Booking score: 9,4.
The region near Skukuza also has great hotels, from where you can enter Kruger through the Paul Kruger Gate. Some of the best hotels there are:
- Sabie River Bush Lodge: Offers everything from luxury tents to rooms overlooking the Sabie River. It has a swimming pool and air conditioning, as well as a restaurant on the property. Booking score: 9,0.
- Protea Hotel by Marriott Kruger Gate: Perfect for those who like comfort, with a privileged view of Kruger. It has a restaurant and even a spa, in addition to an exclusive Treehouse. Assessment fabulous on Booking with a rating of 8,7.
When in doubt, divide your time between the two regions to explore more areas of the park.
Best places to see animals in Kruger Park
The fun of going on a safari in South Africa is seeing the animals, right? But because it is such a large reserve, not all parts of Kruger are as interesting.
The best region to see lions, for example, is near Skukuza. Heading towards Satara, further north of the park, via highways H1-2, H1-3, there are great chances of seeing the King of the jungle. It's almost 100km from one camp to the other, so be prepared to spend a morning or afternoon on this path.
Leopards are also commonly seen in the Skukuza region, but this time heading south towards Lower Sabie. Drive along H4-1 and if you want to see birds, don't forget to stop at Sunset Dam.
At the main campsites there is a map updated daily with pins where the animals have been seen. Take a look before you head out on the road and throughout the day when you stop for lunch. If you see a large number of cars stopped, approach and ask which animal is being observed. (that's how we saw lions!).
Safari itinerary in Kruger Park
As the Skukuza, Lower Sabie and Satara regions are the best for seeing the animals of the Big five, my recommendation is to create a route focused on the roads that lead to these campings.
I did the following route:
| Day | road map |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Entrance via Crocodile Bridge Gate, drive on H4-2 to Lower Sabie Camp and end the night. |
| Day 2 | Drive the H4-1 to Skukuza Rest Camp, have lunch, drive around the area and then end the day at Skukuza with a night drive. |
| Day 3 | Drive along H1-2 to Satara Camp, drive through the region and end at Balule Satellite Camp. |
| Day 4 | Drive in the region, exit through Orpen Gate via H7. |
This way we were able to cover a large part of the park, see different animals and even pass through several camps.
If you are only going to spend two nights in the park, my suggestion is:
| Day | road map |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive early on the first day and do the area around Skukuza, ending the day in Lower Sabie and doing the night drive over there. |
| Day 2 | Leave early camping the next day, drive through the Skukuza region again and then head to Satara Camp and stay there overnight. |
| Day 3 | Drive to the exit gate. |
If you are going back to Johannesburg, the best option is to exit through a gate further south. My friend and I chose to go further west, through the Orpen Gate, as our next stop was Blyde River Canyon.
On the third day we caught Muffins at the Skukuza cafeteria and skipped lunch, in our room we ate the remains of the pizza we had bought in Satara. This way, by taking food with us, we don't need to divert to one of the main camps for lunch.
On two days we drove very slowly and were afraid we wouldn't get to the train station in time. camp, so I recommend keeping an eye on the time. As the animals roam free in the park, the maximum speed is 50 km/h, and at this rate it is impossible to see any animals.
We also didn't make a very detailed itinerary, and we took several detours looking to see other animals. The highways with the name H are the main ones and where, in theory, you can see the most, but that doesn't mean that the other roads don't have something to offer.
Lastly, follow the signs and if possible, buy a paper map (yes, you read that). On more than one occasion, especially near Satara, we had no cell signal and the Google Maps did not work!
Other places to go on Safari in South Africa
Kruger is undoubtedly the most famous park when it comes to this type of activity, but due to its location, it may be difficult to fit it into your itinerary.
If you are looking for reservations that are easier to get to, I suggest reading the blog post Viagens que Sonhamos, which talks about the experience at Addo Elephant Park, the third largest park in the country. It is close to Port Elizabeth and is a great option if you are going to do the Garden Route!
If you are looking for a safari near Cape Town, the Chicas Lokas blog has a post telling you What was the experience of going on safari for a day at Western Cape Cheetah Conservation, less than two hours from the city.
And that's everything you need to know to go on safari in South Africa!
The experience is unforgettable and it’s even cooler in a large reserve! The animals are incredible and it's very exciting to see them up close!
Do you have any questions? Just leave a comment and I'll try to help! 🙂
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Good afternoon, Alyssa…very cool, I really liked your tips…I'm going on safari in June…I have 5 days and 4 nights! I'm researching and I liked your 4-day itinerary… could I adapt it with a full-day game drive from guestyourguide? and on the way back, at the end of the trip, is the panoramic view better than at the beginning?
Hi Rafael! I think you can do it, but I would do the tour with Get Your Guide first, so you already know the best spots and can come back calmly later. I did the Panoramic Route in South Africa After Kruger I thought it was great, I was looking forward to seeing the animals soon, lol!
Hi Alyssa! I'm going to South Africa next year and I intend to stay 2 nights in Kruger... I'm really unsure about which rest camps to stay at! I thought about your suggestion of Lowe Sabie on the 1st night and Satara on the 2nd, but I saw comments that these 2 are very far apart and that it would take 7 hours between them… is that right? Do you think there would be time to leave Lower Sabie in the morning and arrive at Satara in time for a sunset drive? And which gates should I enter and exit? I'm going from Johannesburg and returning there... I thought about taking the Panoramic Route on the way back, but I don't know which gate I should exit through to take this route.
Hi, Manoela!
It's just two hours from Lower Sabie to Satara, you can easily cover this distance in one day! At least that's what I saw on Google Maps and what I remember too, it wasn't seven o'clock! But the Lower Sabie region has the highest concentration of the Big Five, meaning if you're going on a sunset drive it's best to do it there as you have a better chance of seeing lions!
And about the Panoramic Route There is a complete post here on the blog with tips on which gate to exit and all other tips. I just won't tell you here which gate it was because I don't remember the name off the top of my head hehe But it's very quiet and closer to Satara, so I would actually do your itinerary: lower sabie – satara – exit to Panoramic Route!! Kisses
Hi Alyssa, I've been looking for content like this for a few months!
My wife and I are going in October 2019 and we were very lost about the safari, exactly as you mentioned at the beginning of the post.
Thank you very much, it really reassured me!
Hi Luiz!
Happy to help 🙂