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Just turn left when you get to the T-junction at the end of the airport road.
Keep straight on to the end of that road and turn left on to the N4.
Keep straight on to Malelane and do your shopping there at Pick and Pay or Spar.

However you are probably best time-wise to enter at Crocodile Bridge gate - keep on the N4 through Hectorspruit to Komatipoort where you turn left at a Sasol garage, go through Komati (there is a Spar at the first stop street if you prefer to do shopping there - choice a little more limited than Malelane, but still good). Keep on through the town and past sugar cane fields and you find yourself at CB gate in about 8km.
Then you could take the S28 or other route to LS if time allows, or use the tar road which will be quicker if needed.
But gate closes at 6.30pm now so you should have no problems.

Detour a little into Hoedspruit - good supermarket on the R40 and you can park right outside it. Much closer to Orpen than Lydenburg!

And if you do shop at Riverside, park underneath the centre!
From the airport turn left at the traffic lights below the centre, then keep straight at the next lights and ignore the first parking entrance (for the casino), take the next turning (if you get to the circle just double back!) and keep to the left to go underneath.
At least you park in shade, and are near the management office, so probably a little safer too.
Woolies is roughly in the middle of the centre.
Pick and Pay at the airport end, and Checkers near Woolies.
There is now a new (and huge!) Spar opposite the centre - and parking there is free too!
Excellent selection of groceries, bakery, and salads, etc.

We shopped the Phalaborwa gate Spar in September, and found it well stocked and more reasonably priced than the Park stores. Great selection of Veggies and meats. We bought charcoal and supplies for Brai and lots of snack items for our daily drives. Hope you enjoy your Kruger visit!

When making a shopping trip out to Phalaborwa and re-entering the park again, is it necessary to get an exit permit or do you just tell them at the gate what you want to do?

You just tell them that you're going out to shop (or whatever) and roughly what time you expect to return. Very simple!

Just another word of advice when buying boerewors .
Boerewors needs to conform to certain minimum standards in order for it to be called BOEREWORS . Therefore , if the label does not state " boerewors " , but something like " braaiwors " or " oom Gertjie se lekker plaaswors " then it probably contains much more fat and bone and gristle than that allowed in genuine " boerewors " .

In Phalaborwa you must ask for the Laeveld Slaghuis. They sell great meat and wors there. It's right in the centre of town just behind Woolworths.

The wonderfully funky Phalaborwa airport is about 2km from Phalaborwa gate.
At the intersection where you turn left from the airport road into the road to the gate, there is a Spar which should supply everything that you need.
And right next door to the Spar is a Tops bottle store for your liquid refreshments

Sprocky is spot on. In the city Woolies tend to be more expensive than Spar outlets, but that specific Spar in Phalaborwa is mostly a bit too expensive.

When I am in Phalaborwa I buy at:

Woolies for groceries and fresh food - they have great quality foods.
Lowveld butchery for meat - they haven't been the longest surviving butchery in town for nothing.

Shops in Malelane will be open normal Sunday times. The town is about 10km from the gate.

Hi Mizeet,

My Kruger partner is also lactose intolerant and only drinks soy or rice milk.

We havent seen it for sale in any of the shops (but that doesn't mean it is not available in cartons) and I would be most surprised if it was offered in any of the restaurants, though someone may correct me on that.

You will be glad to know that soya milk IS available in South African supermarkets, including those near the park gates (I have seen it at the supermarkets in Phalaborwa and Hazyview - I am sure Nelspruit is the same). They are however 1 litre tetra-pak cartons which are a bit unwiedly once opened.

We were able to buy smaller cartons (200ml i think) from a local health food shop before leaving, which were very useful indeed (especially as they had screw top lids) and that's what I would recommend.

Regards

Jeff

I arrive in Jo'burg on Sunday morning (16 Jan) at 10:30am and will drive to Skukuza from there.
I had planned to pack very lightly for the trip in favor of bringing more photographic equipment.
My intention was to stop in Nelspruit to pick up supplies (sunscreen, DEET, ice chest, etc.), a few articles of clothing (appropriate shirts and shorts) and anything else I might need. (I will largely self-cater in the camps.)
I have read, however, that Sunday opening hours end at 3 p.m. and it is doubtful that I will arrive by then (accounting for time to claim luggage and hire car).

I know that I can get most anything I might need in a camp store, but I think that I would prefer the selection and pricing in a larger and more competitive marketplace.

What are the Nelspruit Sunday opening hours at the various stores and shops (e.g. Riverside Mall, the "new" mall, Pick 'n Pay, etc.)?
What other shopping places might I find along the N4 that will be safe and easy for a tired traveler from the States?

Why not shop at Witbank?
The N4 passes right through Witbank and there is a large shopping centre just off the N4 right next to the casino and another just a bit further up that same road.
If you leave at 10:30 you should reach this by no later than 12:30, and the shops will still be open.

Hi MarcSF....if you say you arrive at 10:30, does that mean that is the time you land?
If so, I think you would be better off going straight to the East Rand Mall, which is a little detour from the highway....lots of shops and you will be able to get everything you need there. ...just check the time as you would need to leave by latest 1.30pm to make the gate closing time at Skukuza.