How much fuel do you need for a trip through Kruger National Park?

A self-drive safari in the Kruger National Park can involve several hours behind the wheel, particularly for visitors planning to explore different parts of the reserve.

While there are petrol stations inside the park, visitors should still plan their fuel stops carefully. Distances between camps and gates can be considerable, and game drives often involve travelling slowly, stopping frequently and taking detours along smaller roads.

So, there is no single amount of fuel that every visitor needs for a Kruger trip. The total depends on the vehicle, its fuel consumption, the routes you drive, and how many days you spend exploring the park.

Where can you fill up with fuel in Kruger?

Visitors do not have to leave the park to refuel. According to South African National Parks (SANParks), you can refuel with petrol and diesel at all major Kruger National Park rest camps.

These include:

• Berg-en-Dal
• Crocodile Bridge
• Letaba
• Lower Sabie
• Mopani
• Olifants
• Orpen
• Pretoriuskop
• Punda Maria
• Satara
• Shingwedzi
• Skukuza

The availability of fuel at the main camps makes it possible to plan a self-drive trip without carrying extra fuel in containers.

However, visitors staying at smaller bushveld or satellite camps should remember that these facilities do not necessarily have their own petrol stations. It is important to check the location of the nearest main camp before setting off.

How much fuel should you budget for?

The best way to estimate your fuel requirements is to work out the distance you expect to drive and use your vehicle’s average fuel consumption.

For example, a vehicle that uses 8 litres per 100km would need approximately 8 litres to cover 100km. A vehicle using 10 litres per 100km would need about 10 litres for the same distance.

Distance driven	At 8L/100km	At 10L/100km
50km	4 litres	5 litres
100km	8 litres	10 litres
150km	12 litres	15 litres
200km	16 litres	20 litres
250km	20 litres	25 litres

These figures are estimates based on the stated fuel consumption. Actual use may be higher in the park, where vehicles spend time idling, accelerating slowly, stopping for sightings and travelling over gravel roads.

Visitors should therefore allow a reasonable buffer rather than calculating fuel requirements to the last litre.

Why you may use more fuel than expected

A drive through Kruger National Park is very different from travelling at a steady speed on a highway.

The park recommends an average speed of around 30km/h on its tourist roads to allow for safe driving and better game viewing. The speed limit is 50km/h on tar roads and 40km/h on gravel roads.

Visitors may also spend considerable time waiting for animals to cross the road or stopping to watch wildlife. Longer routes, detours and repeated drives around a particular sighting can add to the distance travelled.

The type of vehicle also matters. Larger SUVs and 4x4s may use more fuel than smaller passenger cars, while air-conditioning, vehicle load and road conditions can affect consumption.

Some tips

It’s definitely worth filling up before entering the park, particularly if you are arriving with a low tank.

Once inside, avoid waiting until the fuel warning light comes on before looking for a petrol station. Top up when you reach a main camp if your tank is getting low, especially before travelling to a more remote part of the reserve.

Visitors should also plan their daily routes around their overnight camp. Trying to cover too much ground in one day can mean unnecessary driving and fuel use.

SANParks recommends taking a slower approach to game viewing rather than attempting to cover excessive distances.

Most visitors also should not need to carry additional fuel, given that petrol and diesel are available at the major rest camps.

But if you are considering transporting fuel in a separate container, check the park’s current rules and the relevant safety requirements with SANParks before travelling. Do not leave fuel containers exposed to heat or stored in an unsafe position inside a vehicle.