Going on a Kruger Safari Tour is an unforgettable experience that allows you to get up close and personal with some of Africa’s most amazing wildlife. Located in South Africa, Kruger NP is Kruger Safari is unique because it offers a rare opportunity to witness the Big Five game animals, along with hundreds of other wildlife species, in their natural habitat.
The vast wilderness of Kruger National Park, combined with expert guides and comfortable accommodations, make it one of the most popular and sought-after safari destinations in the world in a park that spans over 19,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest game reserves on the continent.
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The best Kruger Safari Tours
Price of Kruger Safari Tours?
The price of a Kruger Safari Tour can vary widely depending on a number of factors, such as the length of the tour, the level of luxury desired, the travel season, and the number of people in the group. Generally, tours range from start at around $100 per day per person and luxury tours costing upwards of $1,000 per day per person.
Budget tours typically involve camping or basic accommodations, shared facilities, and simple meals. Mid-range tours offer comfortable lodges, private bathrooms, and more amenities such as swimming pools and air conditioning. Luxury tours provide high-end accommodations, gourmet meals, and exclusive experiences such as private game drives and spa treatments.
In addition to the tour cost, visitors should also factor in additional expenses such as transportation to and from the park, park fees, and optional activities such as hot air balloon rides or cultural tours.
Tour breakdown for Kruger safari tours
Safari tour highlights
- The largest game reserve in Africa
- See the Big Five including the lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and a thriving population of leopards, the most elusive big cat
- Over 500 species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians as well as cultural experience tours learning about the traditions of the local communities living around the park.
- Private tour guide in English and other languages
- Luxury lodges and world-renowned hospitality
- All-inclusive tours including lodging, entrance fees, meals, and transport
- Game drives in comfortable, open top safari vehicles across 6 different ecosystems
- Optional activity add-ons including hot air balloon safaris
Tour inclusions
The following details typical tour inclusions and exclusions on the best Kruger Safari Tour packages:
| Tour inclusions | Tour exclusions |
|---|---|
| Game drives per the itinerary as well as pick-up and drop-off | Visa fees, laundry services, drinks including mineral water at the hotels |
| Experienced english-speaking guide and driver | International/domestic flights |
| Transport and park entrance fees | Activity add-ons |
| Accommodation (full-board safaris) | Tips to the driver guides, waiters and porters |
| Park fees | |
| Breakfast, lunch, dinner and bottled water | |
| Government taxes |
Safari essentials and information
How many days is recommended for a Kruger safari tour?
The recommended duration for a Kruger Safari Tour largely depends on your interests and budget. However, a minimum of 3-4 days is recommended to fully experience and enjoy the park. This allows for multiple game drives to different areas of the park, increasing the chances of spotting a variety of wildlife.
A longer tour of 5-7 days or more provides a more in-depth experience, allowing for additional activities such as cultural tours, bush walks, and night drives. It also provides ample time to relax and take in the beauty of the park.
Each day consists of an early morning game drive and a late afternoon game drive, certainly sufficient time to view the big 5 and incredible scenery. On a safari trip, you can even break up the drive to or from Kruger with an overnight stay at the Mala Mala Game Reserve or the famous Lion Sands Game Reserve.
Accommodation offered on a Kruger safari tour?
After a long day surveying the incredible South African landscape and wildlife on offer, guests can look forward to the very best safari accommodation the Kruger has to offer. The accommodation here is excellent with numerous options from tented camps, luxury lodges to camping grounds.
More than a dozen rest camps offer the choice of camping or staying in a comfortable self-catering bungalow. Some safaris stay outside the park, at one of several lodges that lie close to an entrance gate. These accommodation options include simple backpacker lodges, smart chain hotels and owner-managed boutique properties.
Of particular note are luxury lodges where you can see wildlife as they come down to the waterhole to drink. From the comfort of your own African themed accommodation, sip an evening cocktail from your wooden veranda or relax in a massive bathtub before an incredible culinary evening experience.
Animals on a Kruger safari tour?
You’ll find just about everything in Kruger! The massive expanse of the Kruger National Park is home to over 147 species of mammals, 114 reptile species, 51 snake species, 49 fish species and a massive 508 species of birds, a number unrivaled anywhere else in South Africa.
The reserve is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo) and visitors will also find spotted hyenas as well as numerous hippos and leopards.
Kruger is an important stronghold for both rhino species: the larger and more placid white rhino is common and very likely to be seen over the course of 5 days, but you would be very lucky to see the more scarce and secretive black rhino.
All the big cats are found and lions, in particular, are frequently seen in the south of the park. This combination gives you a reasonable chance of seeing all the Big Five in a short time.
Fly or drive to Kruger?
On a 5 day safari, flying and driving to the Kruger are both viable options, with flying bringing obvious time savings (approximately 55 minutes from all three locations of Johannesburg, Gauteng and O.R. Tambo International Airport) and incredible views of the wildlife and landscape.
Flying of course comes with a higher price tag however they do typically include top-end accommodation and all of your activities. The drive to the Kruger from Johannesburg takes 4-5 hours with the quickest route via the N12 and N4, a 245 mile drive.
Driving is generally cheaper, and you will see some interesting countryside en route. And, with an early start, you’ll be in Kruger for lunch. Kruger is further from seaside destinations such as Durban, Cape Town or the Garden Route, so traveling overland isn’t a realistic option unless you’ve enough spare days to treat it as a road trip.
If you decide to fly, different airports service Kruger, and your best choice will be influenced by where you’ll be staying. The busiest flight hub is Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, which lies outside the national park, but offers good access to southern Kruger via Numbi Gate (40km/25mi) or Phabeni Gate (60km/36mi).
Alternatives include Skukuza Airport, which stands inside the park close to Skukuza Rest Camp, and Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, which is near central Kruger’s Orpen Gate.
FAQs
How much spending money do I need for a 5 day Kruger safari tour?
Visitors should budget for approximately $320 for a Kruger safari per person per day, including food and accommodation.
What animals will I see on a Kruger safari tour?
Visitors on a Kruger safari will see the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo), hyenas, wildebeest, giraffes, cheetah, zebras, endangered black rhinos, hippos, crocodiles and much more.
What is the best time to go on a Kruger safari tour?
The best time to go on a Kruger safari tour is the dry winter season from May to October when the bushveld is more open, allowing for better visibility. To avoid crowds, avoid the public area south of the Sabie River and long weekends or local school holidays.