To ensure a safe and pleasant stay in the Kruger National Park, SANParks urged visitors to book in advance and to observe the rules of the park over the holidays from April 27 until May 1.
Day visitors are reminded that daily quotas will once again apply at the entrance gates and there are three time slots for pre-bookings to be made prior to arrival, which they can choose from as follows:
- Time slot 1: 06.00 to 08:00
- Time slot 2: 08:00 to 10:00
- Time slot 3: 10:00 onwards
“For busy periods such as the holidays we aim to better manage the volumes that we expect, as well as our visitors’ expectations. We realise some people might extend the Freedom Day holiday to a long weekend, thereby merging it with Workers’ Day.
“The three different time slots are aimed at improving the spread of vehicles and, as far as possible, prevent unnecessary waiting periods at entrance gates,” said the KNP’s spokesperson, Isaac Phaahla.
Pre-booked day visitors will get preference over non-booked day visitors at the gate, but must ensure that they arrive within their booked time slots. Arriving outside the booked time slot will be regarded as non-booked and you will therefore not receive preference and could be turned away. These bookings can be changed through SANParks reservations offices if need be.
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“The park has made plans for increased visibility of both traffic officials and visitor management personnel to monitor speeding, after-hours travelling and general behaviour on the roads.
“Day visitors are also reminded to not bring liquor with them as the alcohol ban on public areas in the park is a permanent rule which is enforced at all times. Management is urging visitors to co-operate with officials who will be on duty and to report unbecoming behaviour to the gate officials or call the emergency call centre number on the entry permits,” advised Phaahla.
Visitors are also urged to help keep the park clean by disposing of their litter at designated areas, not exit vehicles on undesignated areas, not speed, and adhere to all rules and regulations as stipulated on the gate permit.
Visitors are further urged to be courteous and co-operative at sightings to avoid inconveniencing other road users. The park requested that trips be carefully planned, allowing sufficient time to enjoy the bush and to get to the destination.
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Entrance gate operating hours will be from 06:00 to 18:00 for April and from 06:00 to 17:30 for May.
Visitors should also take note of the following important information:
- Visitors will be able to book up to 80% of day visitor quota per gate via SANParks Reservations offices on 012 428 9111 and online at www.sanparks.org.
- Day visitor pre-bookings are subject to a non-refundable booking fee of R50 per adult and R25 per child, which must be paid in advance and is meant to ensure their space because they would have been counted in the number that made the daily quota.
- Day visitors who have pre-booked will still be required to pay conservation fees or use a valid Wild Card to enter the park. The conservation fee for SA residents as well as Zimbabwean and Mozambican nationals (passport required to prove this) is R115 per adult and R57 per child (between ages two and 11). For nationals of Eswatini and other SADC countries the conservation fees are R230 per adult and R115 per child. For all other guests the standard conservation fees of R460 for adults and R230 for children applies.
- Guests planning to use Wild Cards are requested to ensure membership is valid before arrival and this can best be done online at www.sanparks.org/wild
- The number and profile of persons (adults and children) on the reservation and actual persons arriving should correspond.
- All guests (drivers and passengers) will be required to identify themselves upon admission (by producing a South African driver’s license, identity document or passport); ensure they are in possession of one of these documents and have them ready.
- Gate quotas will be strictly applied and guests without pre-bookings could be denied entry if quotas are full.
There are a few gravel roads that are still closed in the south of the park due to flooding. The main road between Skukuza and Lower Sabie remains closed until further notice.
