How to make the most of your time in the Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park bridges the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces in north-eastern South Africa. As the country’s largest unbroken wilderness area, this game reserve offers a premier experience and is a favourite amongst both local and foreign visitors. It offers unparalleled game viewing, and there is that intangible quality about being in the bush that offers rest for the soul.
After being privileged to have spent a fair bit of time in the Kruger National Park, we’ve put together a list of our seven best tips to help you make the most of your experience.
Map of the Kruger National Park
1. Set your alarm by the birds.
Animals are most active in the early and late hours of the day and tend to avoid the peak midday heat by hiding out in the shade. This is especially true of predators like lions and leopards. The most rewarding game viewing times are therefore before 10 am or after 3 pm. You might be on holiday, but set that alarm clock for an early morning start and you won’t be disappointed!
On that note, we really recommend overnighting in the park if possible. Even if your accommodation outside the park is close to a gate, there are still delays associated with travel time and the gate entry process that cut into your best viewing hours. There are plenty of well-equipped camps throughout the length of the Kruger National Park, offering accommodation that ranges from camping to luxurious lodges – and even a wealth of restaurants – so there is something to suit everyone’s taste.
2. Go with a guide.
Just being inside a game reserve is a great experience. We’ve found, though, that this is greatly enhanced by having a guide show you around. In fact, this is one of our favourite things to do when we’re in a game reserve. Someone who knows the bush intimately will be able to point out things you’d never have noticed on your own. This could range from animals that are well-camouflaged and easy to miss, to fascinating insights about insects, or how the different faunal and floral elements of the bush interact with one another.
Some of our favourite sightings have been with a guide – from the scratch marks a leopard leaves on a tree while preparing for its evening hunt, to how dung beetles count their steps and navigate using the sun, to rare bird sightings. Whatever it is, you’ll end up seeing and learning far more, and leave with a deeper appreciation of the bush.
Although there are plenty of private companies operating in the Kruger National Park offering guided safaris for day visitors, we recommend booking a guided experience with the park rangers. These include guided bush walks (not suitable for young children) and game drives, which can be booked at camp receptions.
3. Get out on foot.
Following on from the point above, a guided bush walk is a great way to experience the Kruger National Park. These walks generally coincide with peak animal activity times – early morning or late afternoon. Although the idea of being on foot amongst wild animals might sound a little daunting, that’s exactly why you should do it! Viewing game from a vehicle removes an animal’s ‘wildness’ – you can drive right up to a lion because you’re safely enclosed. On the other hand, coming across an elephant on foot will make you really appreciate its size!
In a vehicle, you also miss out on the sounds and smells of the bush. There are countless incredible smaller sights that are impossible to see at 40 km/h. When you’re on foot, your senses are heightened, and your adrenalin levels rise. Being in the same environment as the animals you’re viewing is a completely unique experience.
For obvious reasons, bush walks are only available as guided experiences, with guests escorted by an armed game guard. Although armed, these rangers rely primarily on their trained instincts and knowledge of animal behaviour to manage encounters, ensuring both human and animal are kept safe. Bush walks are not suitable for young children due to the potential for encounters with dangerous game – when you’re out in the wild, size matters!
4. Change your attitude!
It’s not all about the Big Five! While these animals are iconic and always a treat to spot, they make up only a small part of what the bush has to offer. If you open yourself up to the beauty and value of the smaller wonders, your time in the bush will be truly transformative.
For example, take time to watch an antelope or giraffe browse. Notice how they move upwind as they feed? That’s because the trees they’re browsing release chemical compounds to make their leaves bitter and unpalatable. Trees downwind detect this signal and also begin to ‘arm’ themselves. By moving upwind, browsers outwit the trees’ chemical defence strategies and get a tastier meal.
Next time you’re in the Kruger, why not come prepared? Read up ahead of time on some endemic plants or rare birds that might be in the area, and make a game of spotting these natural gems.
5. Be prepared.
Make sure you pack some game-viewing essentials. Unless you’re really lucky, chances are the game you see will be some distance from the road. Binoculars top our list of day-visit necessities.
Guide books are also invaluable – especially if you’re doing a self-drive. We always keep a bird book handy, and a book on animal spoor is fun for something different if you’re using dirt roads.
Because you’ll spend several hours in your vehicle, don’t forget water and snacks – especially if you’ve followed our advice and set off early. There can be a long stretch between breakfast and lunch, and no one wants to cut a drive short because your stomach is growling louder than the lion outside your window!
While Kruger has plenty of restaurants within its rest camps, why not pack a picnic and stop at one of the picnic sites instead? It’s a great way to avoid the crowds and immerse yourself in nature – far more rewarding than tiled floors and plastic chairs. Just one note of caution: watch out for scavenging monkeys and baboons at these sites, especially if you have small children. Never feed them, and be responsible with your rubbish – use monkey-proof bins, or take it with you if none are available.
6. Take a hint.
Trying to find animals in a wilderness area of almost 20,000 km² – about the size of Wales – and narrowing it down to animals visible from the road really comes down to luck. Luck, and being in the right place at the right time.
You can improve your chances of being in the right place by checking the sightings boards at any of the Kruger rest camps. These boards are updated daily and record recent sightings. Because animals tend to stay in the same general area, a sighting in the morning could still be nearby later in the day.
These days, visitors also share real-time sightings online. Follow @LatestKruger on X for up-to-date sightings. That said, tech can interrupt your connection with the bush. It can also be disheartening to know others saw something you didn’t. Sometimes it’s best to focus on your own experience – the one you’re living in that moment.
7. Buy a Wild Card.
Like many of South Africa’s game reserves, the Kruger National Park is managed by SANParks (South African National Parks). To make park access more affordable for frequent visitors, SANParks offers the Wild Card. For an annual membership fee, Wild Card holders get free entry into participating national parks.
You can buy a Wild Card for specific park clusters or for all SANParks reserves. It’s definitely a worthwhile investment if you plan on spending time in the bush – and it makes a fantastic gift for nature-loving friends or family!
Share your best tips!
We hope this list helps you get more out of your time in the Kruger National Park. If you think we’ve left anything out, share your tips in the comments below! The Kruger is just one of South Africa’s truly incredible game reserves – and we hope you get to experience it for yourself!