News

South African National Parks (SANParks) would like to remind day visitors planning to visit the Kruger National Park (KNP) during the coming festive season that gate quotas will be in place. Visitors are advised to book online ahead of their visit. Special attention is also drawn to operational times as it pertains to the gate quotas:

• Time slot 1: 05.30 to 08:00
• Time slot 2: 08:00 to 10:00
• Time slot 3: 10:00 onwards

The Day Visitor Quota for the Park is a management tool to prevent overcrowding on the roads and facilities; it is applied throughout the year, although we mostly reach carrying capacity during long weekends and school holidays. Please take note:

• 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); please ensure you are in possession of one of these documents and have them ready.
• Pre-booking is crucial for day visitors, as it allows them to secure up to 80% of the Day Visitor Quota per gate. This can be done via SANParks Reservations offices at 012 428 9111 and online at www.sanparks.org.
• Day Visitor pre-bookings are subject to a non-refundable booking fee of R56 per adult and R28 per child, which must be paid in advance. This fee ensures 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 Zimbabwe and Mocambique nationals (passport required to prove this) is R128 per adult and R64 per child (between ages 2 – 11). For nationals of Eswatini and other SADC countries, the conservation fees are R257 per adult and R128 per child. The standard conservation fees of R535 for adults and R257 for children apply to all other guests.

• Pre-booked day visitors are prioritised at the gate but must arrive within their booked time slots. Late arrivals will be treated as non-booked and will not receive preference. It’s also important to note that Wild Card members are not exempt from the pre-booking fee.
• Once the daily quota has been reached, only people who made pre-bookings are allowed to enter. The rest will have to queue and rely on the people moving out of the park to create space for them; this situation does not affect overnight guests.
• Guests are reminded of the secure and convenient cash-free payment system at the gates (Paul Kruger, Phabeni, Numbi, Malelane and Crocodile Bridge) and fuel stations in the southern part of the park. This system ensures a smooth and hassle-free entry and exit from the park.

Vehicles without licence plates will not be allowed to enter/exit the park at the entrance gates; any vehicle found inside the park without front and rear licence plates will be impounded, and the driver will be charged under the NEMPA ACT and fined. Ranger services, SANDF, and Protection Services will be full force to ensure compliance and prevent poaching. The upgraded camera technology will assist them, vigilant law enforcers, and the public, who have shared information to assist in numerous arrests.

Visitors are urged to observe the park’s rules, which are primarily intended to ensure safe and pleasant experiences. By respecting these rules, visitors contribute to the preservation of the park’s natural beauty and the safety of all its inhabitants. They are further urged to plan their trips and allow sufficient time to enjoy the bush, relax, and arrive safely at their destination.

KNP has the following entrance gates: Crocodile Bridge, Malelane, Numbi, Phabeni, Paul Kruger, Orpen, Phalaborwa, Punda Maria, Pafuri, and Giriyondo Port of Entry.