Automatically translated. This page was translated automatically from German and has not been reviewed by our editors.Show original
Route
Experience an intensive safari in Kruger National Park
14 days · 1,296 km · Round trip
This is the perfect route for you if you want to experience Kruger National Park in depth – and completely independently with your own hire car.
You drive through the dense forests and wide savannahs of South Africa’s largest wildlife reserve. With a bit of luck you’ll encounter herds of elephants, lions at dawn or rare migratory birds in the river valleys. The accommodation is set in the heart of nature and is still perfectly geared towards self-drivers.
The trip ends with a detour to the Panorama Route with views of the Blyde River Canyon – before you head back to Johannesburg. Ideal for anyone who wants to experience wildlife, wide open spaces and South African landscapes in an intensive way.
Best time to go: May – October
What to expect
- Watch elephants, lions and leopards from your own hire car – completely without a guide but with a big dose of wildlife encounters
- Stay in authentic rest camps in the middle of the national park – with shop, café and an evening campfire
- Take a day trip to the Blyde River Canyon with viewpoints, rainforest and highland roads
The route on the map
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
The stages
Stage 1: Arrival in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
After your arrival in Johannesburg you drive to Malelane – the gateway to Kruger National Park. The road is well developed and takes you through open landscapes to near the southern park entrance. In Malelane you can do some last-minute shopping, acclimatise and prepare the hire car for your safari days.
Getting there: 384 km, about 4.1 h drive
Stage 2: Malelane – easing into the savannah
Malelane · 2 nights
Use the day for a relaxed arrival in the Lowveld. Small guesthouses offer a good base before your first game drive in the park. The proximity to the southern gates makes Malelane the ideal springboard into Kruger – especially if you don’t want to miss sunrise in the park.
5 more stages in the app
The full route with every stage, place to stay and activity is available in the app with Wildful Stories+. There you can also copy it into your own plan.
Make this route your trip.
In the app you adjust stages, places to stay and activities, and have everything with you on the road.
