Kruger National Park as Safari destination – Cost and Prices

Information and contact detail

The Kruger National Park (KNP), managed by SANParks, remains one of the most popular and affordable safari destinations in South Africa. It is easy for anyone to book his or her own safari. View the cost and prices to book your safari in the world-famous Kruger National Park. 

You have three options for going on safari – stay in a luxury lodge in a private game reserve or within the KNP and self-drive; or take an organised tour. A self-drive trip costs less with the freedom of planning each day according to experience and need.

Bookings can be done in several ways. SANParks’ real-time online bookings system via the official website www.sanparks.org would be the first option. By visiting https://www.sanparks.org/tourism/availability you can browse for available accommodation and mail a reservation request to [email protected] or create an account at www.sanparks.org/bookings in a few steps and build an itinerary, book and pay online.

For those not sure about their internet skills, a telephone call will also work: Central reservations in Pretoria can be reached on +27 (0)12 428 9111 or mobile: +27 (0)82 233 9111. Office hours of the call centre are (GMT+2) Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 17:00, Saturday and public holidays from 08:00 to 13:00.

Over the counter reservations can be done at the SANParks head office at 643 Leyds Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria (GPS coordinates S25 45.985 E28 12.137) or at satellite reservations offices in major cities.

When to do a booking

Bookings can be done from 11 months in advance. Online bookings open a day later than direct bookings at reservation offices, for example: Bookings for the period until 28 February 2021 opens on 2 March 2020 (offices) and 3 March 2020 (online).

Online reservations require immediate and full payment by credit card and are processed in South African rand at the prevailing exchange rates. Availability information is updated real-time, but accommodation seen as available cannot be guaranteed to still be available when a reservation is attempted due to a first come first served policy.

Cancelling a reservation made online could result in cancellation fees. Cancelling six days or less prior to arrival results in a 100% cancellation fee. Cancelling seven to 14 days before arrival results in a 50% cancellation fee and cancelling 15 to 30 days before arrival results in a 25% cancellation fee. Guests should thus rather consider postponing a reservation as alternative to cancellation.

Note that a community fund of 1% is added to the cost of all accommodation and activity reservations.

SANParks offers a wide range of activities, which can also be booked online beforehand, with all information available on the website. Day visitors to Kruger should also book their visit online, especially during busy periods.

Types and cost of accommodation

All online reservations receive a 5% discount on bookings for accommodation and camping, unless making use of any specific promotional or seasonal discounts advertised explicitly as being available to online reservations, when the latter will apply.

South African Senior Citizens can make use of specially reduced pensioner rates, but then need to use an alternative booking method to make or amend reservations. These rates and applicable periods are published on the website at https://www.sanparks.org/tourism/tariffs/pensioners_discount.php

A reservation is only guaranteed once you’ve received a confirmation e-mail from SANParks reservations.

Types of standard accommodation

Accommodation is provided in 12 main rest camps, five bushveld camps, two overnight hides and three bush lodges. Main camps Berg-en-Dal (with satellite Malelane), Crocodile Bridge, Letaba, Lower Sabie, Mopani (with satellite Tsendze), Olifants (with satellite Balule), Orpen (with satellites Maroela and Tamboti), Pretoriuskop, Punda Maria, Satara, Shingwedzi and Skukuza offers a variety of accommodation options ranging from campsites, safari tents, huts, bungalows and guest houses.

The price ranges for the different options at different seasons of the year is clearly stated on the website (https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/tourism/tariffs.php

Accommodation for two people varies from R695 per night for a budget hut with only basics at Pretoriuskop (guests to make use of communal ablution and kitchen facilities) to R1600 for a standard equipped bungalow with all amenities during low season. Camping at most main camps cost approximately between R300 and R400 per night for two people.

Bushveld Camps Bateleur, Biyamiti, Shimuwini, Sirheni and Talamati are more exclusive. No day visitors are allowed but camps generally have no shops, restaurants or other facilities. Accommodation costs in the region of R2180 for four guests during low season and goes up to R2825 in high season.

Overnight Hides Sable (near Phalaborwa gate) and Shipandani (near Mopani) double serve as bird hides during the day and offer a unique pristine experience. Rates available and bookings done through central reservations.

Bush lodges Boulders, Pafuri Border and Roodewal offers the real pristine wild safari option while Luxury Lodges offer private suites furnished in understated luxury with magnificent hospitality, exceptional service and gastronomic excellence. Among these count Imbali Safari Lodge, Hamiltons Tented Camp, Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge, Jock Safari Lodge, Lukimbi Safari Lodge, Shishangeni Private Lodge, Camp Shawu, Camp Shonga, Singita Lebombo Private Game Lodge, Singita Sweni, Lion Sands Kruger and Pafuri Camp. Reservations at the luxury lodges can be done on +27 (0)12 426 5084/5 between 07:30 and 16:00 on Monday to Friday.

The webpage also gives information and the cost of outdoor activities such as game drives, walks and more.

Daily Conservation fees

All entrants to the KNP need to pay a daily conservation fee. For the period 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020 the standard fee is R400 per adult, per day and R200 per child, per day.

South African Citizens and Residents (with ID) pay R100 per adult, per day, and R50 per child, per day. SADC Nationals (with passport) pay R200 per adult, per day and R100 per child, per day.

Visiting often? Get a Wild Card

SANParks’ Wild Card membership gives one year’s unlimited entry to national parks, reserves and resorts around Southern Africa, depending on the type of cluster chosen. Membership is valid from date of purchase for 365 days and available for individuals, couples or family (being any two adults and up to five children younger than 18 years). International Wild Card membership is available for international guests. Local clusters are only available to South African and SADC Nationals. Foreigners may only purchase an International All Parks Cluster.

For the period from 1 November 2019 until 31 October 2020 a Wild Card costs R3105 for the International All Parks Cluster; a foreign couple pays R4 850 and foreign family R5800. A SADC or South African individual pays R685 for the All Parks Cluster and R655 for the SANParks Cluster. Couples pay R1130 and R1 065 respectively, while families pay R1 380 and R1280 for the two options.

Getting there

By road

Most visitors to Kruger are self-drive visitors, although many people (particularly internationals) choose to fly to the park’s periphery and then hire a vehicle.

To reach the Northern Region of the KNP Phalaborwa Gate is recommended. From Gauteng take the N1 toll-road to Polokwane, turn right onto the R71 and head for Tzaneen. After Tzaneen head towards Phalaborwa and the gate. Punda Maria Gate (far north) is reached via the N1 to Polokwane too. At Makhado link up with the R524 and follow this route for ±140 km to the gate.

Orpen Gate (middle section) is reached via the N4 and the R540 Belfast turn off. At Lydenburg turn left onto the R36 heading north. 30kms before Hoedspruit turn right onto the R531 and head to the gate. Gates to the Southern Region of the Kruger National Park include Malelane, Crocodile, Numbi, Phabeni and Paul Kruger gates. Take the N4 to Nelspruit and head through Nelspruit to Malelane. Then turn left at Kruger National Park sign just outside Malelane and head towards the gate or drive on to Komatipoort (about 110kms). Then turn left onto the R571 just after Komatipoort and head on to the gate.

To reach Numbi Gate take the N4 to Nelspruit and then the R40 to White River. Just outside White River take the R538 to the gate. To reach Paul Kruger Gate take the N4 to Nelspruit, then the R40 to White River, Hazyview via the R40. From Hazyview, take the R536 to the gate or turn right just after Hazyview to Phabeni Gate

By air

Airlink operates daily flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to the Skukuza Airport, Phalaborwa Airport, Hoedspruit Airport and the Kruger/Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) near Nelspruit and White River. KMIA receives daily flights from Durban and Cape Town, and there is a flight from Cape Town to Hoedspruit. Costs and schedules are available from https://www.flyairlink.com