What routes for Kruger?

Hi everyone again 🙂

I was thinking of continuing the questions from my first post, but since the title was changed... I’m starting a new thread

The plane should land on Saturday around 11 AM. After collecting luggage and the car, I think we’ll leave the airport between 1 and 2 PM. Question #1: Where should we stop along the way, allowing some buffer time so we don’t end up driving at night if the flight is delayed? (The idea isn’t to sightsee but just to take a break while making progress toward Kruger.)

We’ll spend part of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (a little over 4 days) in Kruger. Questions #2 and beyond: What route should we take? I’ve considered two options: either enter from the south (Malelane Gate?) and head north up to the Olifants area to exit at Orpen Gate. How many accommodations should we book in this case, and where? Or enter at Orpen Gate and exit near Hazyview (or the other way around, and near Hazyview, should it be Paul Kruger Gate or Phabeni?). In this case, it would allow us to spend 2 nights in one place and 2 in another, but we’d skip the south (or is it possible to visit it in a day?) Well, for accommodations (accessible by sedan), all suggestions are welcome… but I’ve checked October availability, and there aren’t many left 😕 I plan to spend Thursday in the park and exit before it closes to sleep outside, which would save time the next day for the drive to the airport. I was thinking of Hazyview (again, no sightseeing since we already visited the area in 2009), but do you have another/better idea?

For clarity, here’s a summary of the Kruger part: Day 1: Arrival in Johannesburg and drive to ? Day 2: Enter Kruger (likely late morning or early afternoon) Days 3, 4, and 5: Kruger with exit at the end of Day 5 Day 6: Drive to the airport for the Cape Town and surrounds portion

Regarding Kruger bookings, it seems (I lost my old notes when my hard drive crashed—I backed up work documents but not vacation ones, what a mess!) that you can monitor reservations, and if a preferred accommodation becomes available, you can book it and cancel the old one. Is that still the case? (And is it easy to do?)

Thanks in advance for your answers. I’m off to reread travel journals about Cape Town and will probably be back with more questions (the accommodation availability issue seems less urgent there, so less of a priority).

Hello,

If your flight lands on Saturday, I strongly recommend keeping an eye on SANParks updates due to the floods, if you haven’t already. Here’s this morning’s update:

Kruger Floods Update – 19 January 2026, 08:00 Access to *Skukuza Rest Camp* is recommended via Paul Kruger Gate. Phabeni Gate is currently closed due to a washed-away bridge (Ingwe Donga between Phabeni Gate and Kruger Gate road). Access to *Malalane Satellite Camp* and *Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp* is via Malalane Gate. *NO* access to *Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp* and *Lower Sabie Rest Camp* as Crocodile Bridge Gate is flooded; the gate will remain closed. Currently *NO* access from *Skukuza to Lower Sabie, Tshokwane, and Satara*. The Sabie Low Water Bridge and detours are flooded. *NO* access between Lower Sabie and Tshokwane due to the H10 being closed. Access to *Orpen Rest Camp* and *Satara Rest Camp* is via Orpen Gate. Currently, there is *NO* access to *Olifants Rest Camp*, and the camp is temporarily cut off from Letaba and Satara. Water levels across the roads are being closely monitored, and guests will be allowed to leave Olifants Rest Camp and travel to Phalaborwa Gate as soon as the water subsides. *NO* access to the north of the park, and the situation remains unchanged. *Pafuri Gate* and *Punda Maria Gate* remain closed and are not accessible. Day visitors are allowed to enter the park via accessible gates. Daily quotas have been implemented to better manage visitors while the north and some southern areas of the park remain inaccessible.

Have a great day! :)

Thanks for the info (which can always come in handy). It's true I didn’t specify again, but the trip will be in October... so, no flood risk, apparently.

Thanks for the info (which can always come in handy). True, I didn’t specify again, but the trip will be in October... no risk of flooding, apparently...

Oh yeah, you should be fine by then 🙂. We’re heading back in August 😎

For stops along the way, we really love the Panorama Route. Last time, we stayed at Africamps in Hazyview, and from there we visited Blyde River Canyon, the Three Rondavels, Lisbon Falls, Berlin Falls, God’s Window... really great. If you’re into birdwatching, you’re in for a treat too.

Here’s the link: https://africamps.com/farm/hazyview-africamps-mackers/

Hi Muriel,

I’d stay near Dullstroom or further north. The next day, enter through Phalaborwa Gate.

For the itinerary, 1 or 2 nights in the northern center: Olifant, Balule (rustic), or Letaba. 1 or 2 nights in the central area: Tamboti, Talamati, or Satara. 1 or 2 nights in the south (Biyamiti or Lower Sabie). 1 night at Berg-en-Dal to leave directly from this camp for the airport (you’re immediately on the main road, as the camp isn’t far from an exit). Unless you have an early afternoon flight, it works (flight at 18:00, leave Kruger at 09:30—5 hours of driving and 3.5 hours for check-in and returning the vehicle). If your flight is around noon, I’d stay near Middelburg or Machadodorp. (Actually, it’d be better to book a flight either around noon or 18:00, not in between...)

Ideal: 1 night at Olifant or Balule, 1 night at Talamati, 2 nights at Biyamiti.

Alternative if no availability: 1 night at Letaba, 1 night at Tamboti, 1 night at Pretoriuskop, 1 night at Lower Sabie.

For Kruger, it doesn’t seem to have changed: if you modify and it’s cheaper, you’ll get a penalty; if it’s the same price or more expensive, no penalty. Check here. It used to be easy to do, but I haven’t done it recently...

Happy planning! !

Thanks Agnès for your suggestions. I’ll take a closer look and book as soon as the flights are purchased.

So, have you made your choice yet?

Personally, I think going straight from Joburg to KNP or very close is a bit much. My stop is Dullstroom—see my previous message. Attila’s wife is a better advisor than me when it comes to the smaller camps. Phabeni for Berg en Dal... Either we stay in the south or head north. Personally, aside from Shingwedzi, which I really like but is way up north... it seems to me they’re all pretty similar. Letaba is well located, Mopani is worth it for the view but felt surprisingly old-fashioned to me. I prefer spending 2 nights per camp... Anyway, I didn’t help much... but if you’ve got any questions

Letaba is very well located,

From what point of view?

I prefer spending 2 nights per camp...

Me too (luggage, even when traveling light, packing and unpacking ...) but Agnès’s suggestion is more like 2-1-1 (or 1-1-2 or 1-2-1). For 2 camps in 4 nights, which ones would you pick?

(Actually, it’d be better to take a flight either around noon or around 6 PM, not in between...)

Oh, that’s exactly what I was thinking of doing 😎, a flight in the early afternoon so I don’t arrive too late in CT and can reach my accommodation before dark. Why not a stopover (overnight) somewhere between the Kruger exit and Dullstroom to adjust the drive time to the airport based on the flight time?

From Dullstroom, you're not far from Joburg

I’ve always loved the Letaba area. Choosing? Not easy. Berg en Dal, then head north to exit via Phalaborwa? With the fatigue, Berg en Dal again? Intermediate option 1. Final option 2.

I suggested Dullstroom for the outbound trip. The road is much nicer (scenery-wise) to reach Kruger.

On the way back, I had you exit via Malelane and take the main road for efficiency’s sake.

You leave Kruger as late as possible, head to your stop near the road in the late afternoon. Sleep. Then take the main road the next day to catch your flight. Pure road travel without frills to make the most of Kruger.

I think the two-night option is best booked at the nice bush camp where you’ll find space.

Tamboti is nice but not super well-located for two nights (too close to the exit, so fewer route and trail options).

Got it for the outbound trip 😉 And for the return, that matches exactly what I had in mind 🙂

Hi there! 🙂

As for the floods, you should be fine. However, the infrastructure has been severely affected (bridges, roads, accommodations...). They’re saying it could take up to 5 years to get everything back in shape, but they seem to be hard at work.