Kruger park
Tips for a safe and enjoyable stay
Visiting the Kruger Park is a once in a lifetime experience! Breathtaking landscapes, unforgettable animal encounters and an unrivaled atmosphere are some of the reasons I love the Kruger Park. To make the best of your visit and ensure you have an enjoyable and successful trip, there are rules and regulations you need to adhere to. They have been implemented to ensure the safety of visitors and nature alike and to preserve this wonderful piece of nature for generations to come.
Enjoying a quiet moment at the Nkumbe viewpoint on the H10 between Tshokwane and Lower Sabie.
General rules & regulations
RESPECT THE WILDLIFE
The Kruger Park is home to hundreds of plant and animal species. Never do anything that might cause harm or distress to the wildlife.KRUGER IS A GUN-FREE ZONE
To combat poaching and to prevent harm to the wildlife, visitors aren’t allowed to carry firearms within the Kruger Park. Should you have a firearm with you, it has to be registered and sealed upon arrival at the entry gate and be presented in a sealed state when leaving the Kruger Park. Should the seal be broken, you will face a hefty fine and/or criminal charges.KRUGER IS A PET-FREE ZONE
Visitors aren’t allowed to bring pets of any kind into the Kruger Park. Not only can pets such as cats and dogs harm small animals such as rodents and birds, but also carry diseases that wild animals aren’t immune to and might kill them.KRUGER IS A SMOKE- AND FIRE-FREE ZONE
To prevent wildfires, you are only allowed to smoke and build a fire in designated areas such as picknick spots or within the restcamps. Should you smoke in the car while driving, dispose of the stump in the vehicle. Don’t throw stumps out of the window as it will be considered as littering and a stump that hasn’t been properly extinguished can easily start a wildfire.KRUGER IS A NO-DRONE ZONE
Although drone footage are always spectacular and allows you to see landscapes in a different perspective, it is unfortunately not allowed to fly your drone anywhere in the park. Animals are much more sensitive towards noise and easily disturbed by drones.DON’T LITTER
Littering is strictly forbidden! Not only does it ruin the landscape but might cause harm to animals that view thrown away paper, plastic bags and cans as food. Even scraps of food might cause harm when animals eat something that isn’t meant for their digestive system! Discarded glass can also cause massive damage, especially during dry season, when concentrated sunlight might start wildfire.DON’T REMOVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS FROM KRUGER
No matter how pretty the shrub is or how cute the butterfly is, it’s forbidden to remove any plant or animal from its natural habitat and from the park. If you want to obtain plants for your garden at home, you can legally do so at the Skukuza nursery. The nursery stocks a wide variety of indigenous shrubs, succulents and trees. All seeds and plants are sourced locally and are used for sale and for research.
Rules regarding wildlife
ANIMALS ALWAYS HAVE RIGHT OF WAY
Animals freely roam the park and you will most likely find an elphant blocking the way or a heard of impalas crossing the road at some point during your visit. Always allow animals to clear the road before you continue on your way. Never push past them or honk at them to get them to move on.DON’T FEED THE ANIMALS!
Yes, the squirrel, monkey and bird begging for a morsel of your sandwich are cute, but feeding them is strictly forbidden! By giving them food, you essentially sign their death warrant. Small animals such as birds or squirrels become dependant on humans for food and don’t learn to forage for themselves. Larger animals such as hyenas, honey badgers and baboons become dangerous pests that will have to be put down if they become aggressive towards humans.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR FOOD UNATTENDED!
Baboons are crafty thieves that will stop at almost nothing to get their paws on something tasty to eat. When fed by humans, they quickly loose their fear towards people and venture close to huts. Any unattended food (or any interesting-looking objects) will be snatched up as soon as your back is turned.
To avoid loss and damage of property and confrontation with these potentially dangerous animals, it’s best to keep food in your hut or in the lock-up cupboards on the veranda.
Rules regarding driving in the Kruger Park
GENERAL RULES OF THE ROAD APPLY
Only people with a valid driver’s liscense are allowed to drive in the Kruger Park. Keep to the left of the road and pass on the right. Driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly forbidden and punishable under the law.STICK TO THE SPEED LIMIT
Speed limits in the park vary, depending on the type of road. The speed limit on tarred roads is 50 km/h, where as the speed limit on dirt and gravel roads is 40 km/h. Rangers and traffic police take the speed limit very seriously, and if you don’t adhere to them, it might result in a hefty fine. Travelling at a slower speed avoids collisions with animals crossing the road.STICK TO DESIGNATED ROADS
Visitors are not allowed to drive off-road or on roads marked with a no-entry sign. Know the limitations of your car and your driving skills to avoid getting stuck. Because of their size and weight caravans, camper vans and busses carrying 25 passangers or more, are only allowed to travel on tarred roads.STAY INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE
Visitors have to remain in their vehicles and keep the doors closed at all times, unless at a designated get-out point. These points include certain view-points, certain bridges or picknick sites. It is also not allowed to climb out of sun roofs or to protrude from windows too far.NO MOTORCYCLES AND CONVERTIBLES ALLOWED
For safety reasons, motorcyles and open convertible cars aren’t allowed in the Kruger Park.
Adhere to general road rules, stay in your vehicle and only get out of your vehicle at designated view points.
RULES REGARDING REST CAMPS
STAYING OVERNIGHT
Overnight visitors are only allowed to stay at booked and recognized overnight facilities. Visitors must report to reception before moving into their accomodation or camp site.ACCOMODATION TIMES
Accomodation and camp sites can usually be occupied from 14:00 (2 pm) and must be cleared by 10:00 (10 am) on the day of departure.STICK TO THE GATE OPENING AND CLOSING TIMES
Like the park entry gates, camp gates also have opening and closing times. Check your permit or the signs at the gate for opening times. Make sure to be back in camp before closing time to avoid fines.NO ROLLERSKATES, SKATEBOARDS OR BICYCLES ALLOWED
It isn’t allowed to use rollerskates or skateboard or ride bicycles around camp, as it might cause noise and disturb other visitors.KEEP NOISE-LEVELS DOWN
Most visitors come to the Kruger Park to get away from hectic day-to-day life and enjoy the peace and quiet nature offers. Therefore, be considerate of your fellow visitors and keep noise levels to a minimum. Avoid playing loud music, talking too loudly on your mobile phone or yelling around. Most camps enforce a noise restriction time between 21:30 (9:30 pm) and 06:00 (6 am).
