North to South or South to North

[Mels26]

Hi guys . We still planning the trip it maybe 16 days in the park now. But we asking which way North to South or South to North. We will be hiring a car At Johannesburg airport.
Thank you in advance.

[Melaka]

It depends largely on what you intend to do outside the park and how your visit ties in with visiting KNP. The direction of travel will make no difference to the game you will see. There's a small advantage light-wise travelling north to south as you will have the sun behind you for much of the day. We always enter at Malelane or Phabeni then drive north before retracing our steps. You get the best of both worlds that way!

[kitkat1953]

I agree about travelling north to south especially in winter as the sun is at a lower angle at that time of year.

[Mels26]

Many thanks guys. I must admit I never thought about the Sun. We were just considering the drive from airport. We have a maximum of 24 day including travel from Spain.

[FinMari]

One more for north to south

I would stay first night after overnight flight in Polokwane or Tzaneen and do shopping there
If Polokwane, you could enter KNP also from Pafuri gate. We drove last year from Musina to Pafuri gate and that road was in good condition

[Mels26]

Many thanks. We thought about stopping in Louis Trichardt. Do you think that would be feasible.?

[FinMari]

I have found better shops in Polokwane. But you can find nowadays almost everything from Park's Shops at the rest camps. They are usually well stocked

It takes usually about two hours after landing that we are on the road with rental car. Immigration is always the question - we have been on line from 5 minutes up to 1,5 hours

[Melaka]

Perhaps I should have asked this question earlier. Why are you asking which is the best way to drive?

Unless you have a reason to be there it is pointless to drive north outside the park just to drive south when you are in it. You would do better to enter at Phabeni or Malelane and do all your driving in the park. Provided your flight arrives no later than mid morning you will have time to drive to Berg-en-Dal. If you get held up and miss gate closing time you will be allowed to drive to BND either on your own or with an escort so long as you give the gate some notice.

Alternatively if you enter at Phabeni you can overnight in Hazyview as we often do.