Getting from Johannesburg to Kruger (and return)
Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa, a unique wildlife sanctuary and a very popular destination for those who visit South Africa.
If you are in Johannesburg and want to travel to Kruger, you have two options: by plane or by rental car . If you don’t have too much time on your hands, flying is the best option. It’s cheap and fast.
Flights from Johannesburg (airport code: JNB) to Kruger
There are three airports serving the park. Choosing the right one for you depends on which part of the park you want to visit (or get to first):
- Northern section: Phalaborwa airport
- Central section: Hoedspruit airport
- Southern section : Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Nelspruit)
>>read more about Cheap flights to Johannesburg
Flights from Johannesburg into Phalaborwa airport start at US$209 per person, one way (on South African Airways). The travel time is 1h 10 min. A flight into Hoedspruit airport also costs close to US$200 per person, one way, on the same airline.
It’s much cheaper to fly into Nelspruit (Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport). Airfare starts at US$64 per person, one way (also on South African Airways). The travel time is less than an hour.
But you also need to get to the park, as you are not planning this trip to see the airports, right? You can either choose a shuttle (but make sure to book your seat in advance) or rent a car and drive to the park.
Driving from Johannesburg to Kruger
If you prefer to explore the country at your own pace and don’t mind driving for a longer period, then rent a car and drive to Kruger. The drive time is about 7 hours, so do plan so stops along the way.
Read more about:
>>Make your own way to Kruger