The longest and shortest drives between Kruger National Park camps

Driving between rest camps in Kruger National Park can take anything from just over an hour to most of a day, depending on where you are staying.

The park’s vast size means visitors need to consider distances carefully when planning an itinerary, particularly if they intend to move between camps during a short holiday.

The following figures are taken from SANParks’ published distances chart. Journey times are estimates that allow for slower driving and game viewing, rather than uninterrupted travel at the maximum speed limit.

Route between camps	Approximate distance	Estimated driving time
Longest: Punda Maria to Berg-en-Dal	415km	16 hours 35 minutes
Berg-en-Dal to Shingwedzi	344km	13 hours 45 minutes
Punda Maria to Skukuza	342km	13 hours 40 minutes
Shingwedzi to Berg-en-Dal	344km	13 hours 45 minutes
Punda Maria to Lower Sabie	342km	13 hours 40 minutes
Skukuza to Lower Sabie	43km	1 hour 45 minutes
Satara to Orpen	48km	1 hour 55 minutes
Skukuza to Pretoriuskop	49km	2 hours
Satara to Olifants	54km	2 hours 10 minutes
Letaba to Satara	69km	2 hours 45 minutes
Shortest: Olifants to Letaba	32km	1 hour 20 minutes

Why do drives take so long in Kruger NATIONAL PARK?

Kruger National Park has strict speed limits to protect wildlife and visitors. SANParks lists maximum speeds of 50km/h on tarred roads and 40km/h on gravel roads.

Actual driving times can be longer because of:

• Wildlife sightings: Animals on or beside the road often cause vehicles to slow down or stop.
• Road surfaces: Gravel roads and certain routes can take longer to negotiate than tarred roads.
• Stops along the way: Visitors may want to visit picnic sites, viewpoints or waterholes.
• Route choice: The shortest route is not necessarily the most rewarding for wildlife viewing.

SANParks’ published distances chart uses an average speed of 25km/h when estimating journey times, taking game viewing into account.

Some tips for planning drives between camps

Visitors should avoid planning an itinerary around distances alone. A route of 50km may take considerably longer than expected if there are good wildlife sightings along the way.

It is also important to remember that visitors must reach their booked camp or exit gate before the applicable closing time. Plan to arrive with a comfortable margin rather than relying on the estimated journey time.

For longer journeys, consider booking overnight accommodation at an intermediate camp. This can make a trip more relaxed and leave more time for game viewing.

Before setting off, check the latest SANParks travel times and Kruger maps, and confirm whether any road closures or other restrictions affect your route.