The longest and shortest drives between Kruger National Park camps

Driving between rest camps in Kruger National Park can take anything from just over an hour to most of a day, depending on where you are staying.

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The park’s vast size means visitors need to consider distances carefully when planning an itinerary, particularly if they intend to move between camps during a short holiday.

The following figures are taken from SANParks’ published distances chart. Journey times are estimates that allow for slower driving and game viewing, rather than uninterrupted travel at the maximum speed limit.

Route between campsApproximate distanceEstimated driving timeLongest: Punda Maria to Berg-en-Dal415km16 hours 35 minutesBerg-en-Dal to Shingwedzi344km13 hours 45 minutesPunda Maria to Skukuza342km13 hours 40 minutesShingwedzi to Berg-en-Dal344km13 hours 45 minutesPunda Maria to Lower Sabie342km13 hours 40 minutesSkukuza to Lower Sabie43km1 hour 45 minutesSatara to Orpen48km1 hour 55 minutesSkukuza to Pretoriuskop49km2 hoursSatara to Olifants54km2 hours 10 minutesLetaba to Satara69km2 hours 45 minutesShortest: Olifants to Letaba32km1 hour 20 minutes

Why do drives take so long in Kruger NATIONAL PARK?

Kruger National Park has strict speed limits to protect wildlife and visitors. SANParks lists maximum speeds of 50km/h on tarred roads and 40km/h on gravel roads.

Actual driving times can be longer because of:

• Wildlife sightings: Animals on or beside the road often cause vehicles to slow down or stop.
• Road surfaces: Gravel roads and certain routes can take longer to negotiate than tarred roads.
• Stops along the way: Visitors may want to visit picnic sites, viewpoints or waterholes.
• Route choice: The shortest route is not necessarily the most rewarding for wildlife viewing.

SANParks’ published distances chart uses an average speed of 25km/h when estimating journey times, taking game viewing into account.

Some tips for planning drives between camps

Visitors should avoid planning an itinerary around distances alone. A route of 50km may take considerably longer than expected if there are good wildlife sightings along the way.

It is also important to remember that visitors must reach their booked camp or exit gate before the applicable closing time. Plan to arrive with a comfortable margin rather than relying on the estimated journey time.

For longer journeys, consider booking overnight accommodation at an intermediate camp. This can make a trip more relaxed and leave more time for game viewing.

Before setting off, check the latest SANParks travel times and Kruger maps, and confirm whether any road closures or other restrictions affect your route.

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