About All ToursFrom Johannesburg ToursSafari ToursMulti-Day Tours3-Day ToursWildlife ToursPrivate Tours Directions Hours & Fees Guides
Find Tours 
Explore the African bush at your own pace with a dedicated vehicle and personal guide. Track the Big Five, cheetahs, and wild dogs across open savannas on safaris ranging from five hours to seven days.
Free Cancellation Private nine-hour open-vehicle safaris for up to 10 people, departing from Hazyview or Kruger’s western gates.
Free Cancellation Private safari tours for groups of up to eight people in an open vehicle with a FGASA-registered guide.
Free Cancellation Private six-hour morning safaris in open vehicles for up to 10 people, departing from Hazyview or Kruger gates.
Free Cancellation Five-hour afternoon safari in an open vehicle tracking the Big Five through Kruger National Park.
Free Cancellation A private guide takes your group through Kruger National Park for a half-day in an open safari vehicle.
Free Cancellation Track wildlife from an elevated open-air vehicle on this full-day tour including breakfast and lunch.
Free Cancellation Nine-person open vehicles enter Kruger National Park before sunrise to track wildlife from high, tiered seats.
Free Cancellation Track the Big Five on an extended South African safari with extra sunrise drives.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Kruger National Park — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Open-sided 4x4 vehicles track 140 mammal species across 19,623 square kilometers of savanna and riverine forest. Private tours mean your group dictates the pace. You spend an hour at a waterhole or skip the lions to find wild dogs.
Vehicles enter the park at 05:30. Elevated seating puts you above the tall grass to spot leopards in the scrub.
Hippos, crocodiles, and buffalo congregate at this roadside waterhole near Lower Sabie Rest Camp. You watch them right from the vehicle.
The museum displays the massive tusks of the Magnificent Seven. Interpretive exhibits cover decades of elephant biology.
Two armed field guides lead groups of eight on foot. You track rhino spoor and learn bush survival skills over three hours.
No glass blocks your sightline. You catch the scent of the bush and hear breaking branches before seeing the elephants.
A guided walk takes you to an Iron Age stone-walled royal site above the Luvuvhu River. The 16th-century ruins reveal ancient trade history.
Book your private vehicle weeks ahead if you want a June or July slot. The dry winter months sell out fast.
Operators run half-day (5-7 hours), full-day (9-11 hours), and multi-day private safaris. You get the entire vehicle for your group of up to 10 people.
Most private tours exclude the daily SANParks conservation fee. International visitors pay R602 per adult and R300 per child directly at the gate.
Drivers collect guests from lodges within 15 km of Hazyview or at Phabeni and Numbi gates. Pickups from Skukuza or Kruger Gate Hotel carry a $20 cash surcharge.
Pre-dawn drives are freezing, even in summer. Bring a heavy jacket, and pack a buff or scarf to block dust on the dirt roads.
Children must be accompanied by adults. Some operators ban children under three years old from open safari vehicles.
Most operators offer a full refund if canceled at least 24 hours before departure. Check your specific ticket terms.
The park sits in a malaria zone. Risk peaks during the wet summer months from November to April.
Swipe to see more
| Private Half-Day Sunrise Safari | Private Full-Day Safari | Private Afternoon Safari | 7-Day Private Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 6.5 - 7 hours | 9 - 11 hours | 5 hours | 7 days |
| Best for | Families with restless children | Serious wildlife watchers | Late risers | Patient travelers seeking rare predators |
| Includes | Private vehicle, guide, bottled water | Private vehicle, guide, water | Private vehicle, guide, water | Vehicle, guide, accommodation transfers |
| Price from | $182 | $186 | $146 | $1807 |
Swipe to see more
Gates open at 05:30 in January, February, March, October, November, and December. From April to September, they open at 06:00.
Closing times range from 17:30 in mid-winter to 18:30 in summer. Arriving at an exit gate late results in a fine.
Drive 390-420 km from Johannesburg to Malelane or Phabeni gates in about 4.5 to 5.5 hours. The N4 is a toll route.
Airlink flies directly from OR Tambo to Skukuza Airport inside the park. Private shuttles run from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to the Numbi Gate area.
May to September brings dry weather and thin vegetation. Animals gather at rivers and waterholes.
November to March brings heavy rain, dense brush, high heat, and peak malaria risk. Skip December and January due to school holiday crowds.
The Buffelsfontein Visitors Centre provides disabled parking, accessible toilets, and wheelchair ramps. Many rest camps feature short, level paved paths.
Most wildlife viewing happens from vehicles, suiting elderly visitors without requiring long walks.
Rest camps offer shops, restaurants, gas stations, and swimming pools. Skukuza, Berg-en-Dal, and Lower Sabie run seasonal children's educational programs.
Cell phone reception works in camps and at gates but drops out on the roads.
International visitors pay a daily conservation fee of R602 per adult and R300 per child. South African citizens pay R134 per adult.
Most private tour prices cover the vehicle and guide, but exclude the SANParks conservation fee. You pay this fee at the gate.
Pack neutral colors like khaki, beige, or olive. Bring a heavy jacket for freezing pre-dawn starts, plus a scarf to cover your face on dusty dirt roads.
Operators typically collect guests from lodges within 15 km of Hazyview. Pickups further out, like Skukuza or Kruger Gate Hotel, often require a $20 cash surcharge.
Yes. The park falls within a malaria zone. Risk is highest during the wet summer months from November to April.
No. Drones are strictly illegal in all South African national parks. Using one results in confiscation and fines.
The park holds roughly 1,500 lions, 17,000 elephants, 48,000 buffalo, and 1,000 leopards. You can also spot about 148 mammal species and 546 bird species.
It is freezing before the sun comes up, even in summer. Open vehicles have no windows to block the wind.
Children are allowed but must be accompanied by an adult. Some operators restrict children under three years old from joining open vehicle drives.
Gate times are strictly enforced. Arriving at an exit gate after the seasonal closing time results in a fine.
Browse verified tours with free cancellation and instant confirmation.
Find Tours
Nine-hour safaris in open vehicles track the Big Five, cheetahs, and wild dogs through the Kruger bush. The rate covers a private group of up to 10 people. You're looking for 140 mammal species and 500 types of birds. No glass blocks the view. It's cold at 06:00. Pack a jacket even in summer. Pickups run from Hazyview lodges or the Numbi and Phabeni gates. From October to March, the day starts at 05:30 and ends at 15:30; winter hours shift to 06:00 until 16:00. You pay park entry fees directly at the gate. International adults pay R424, while South African citizens pay R105. Kids under 12 pay half. Carry your physical ID or passport. Without it, the rangers will charge you the highest rate.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Your group of up to eight people gets the entire open safari vehicle to yourselves. There are no strangers on these drives. This allows you to dictate the pace—spend an hour at a waterhole or skip the lions if you've already seen them. You'll avoid the rigid schedules of shared tours. Every trip is led by a FGASA-registered guide. These drivers have spent years driving open vehicles through the bush. Families can bring everyone along, from infants to seniors. We’ve hosted passengers ranging from 10 months to 89 years old. An adult must supervise the youngest children. Pack a jacket for the morning wind; those open sides get cold before the sun hits.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Morning safaris last six hours and use open-sided vehicles to track Kruger’s 140 mammal species. You’ll spend the morning looking for the Big Five along with cheetahs and African wild dogs among the park’s 500 bird species. The open seating gives you 360-degree views and lets you catch the scent of the bushveld before the midday heat hits. One booking covers a private vehicle for up to 10 people. It’s the best setup for families who want to set their own pace without sharing space with strangers. Pickups begin at 05:30 between October and March, moving to 06:00 from April to September. We collect from any lodge in Hazyview or meet at the Numbi and Phabeni gates. Park entry fees aren't included in the tour rate—you'll pay those directly at the gate. International visitors pay R424 per adult and R212 per child, while South African citizens pay R105 and R52 respectively. Bring your physical ID or passport. If you forget your documents, the gate staff will charge you the maximum international rate regardless of your nationality.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
This five-hour safari tracks the Big Five alongside cheetahs and wild dogs through the southern bush of Kruger National Park. Expect unobstructed views of the park's 140 mammal and 500 bird species from the open-sided vehicle. Drivers pick up from any lodge in Hazyview or meet you at the Numbi and Phabeni gates. It’s a focused way to see the park without a full-day commitment. The schedule changes to match the sun. Between October and March, the drive runs from 13:30 to 18:30. In the cooler months from April to September, you'll head back between 17:00 and 17:30. Bring a windbreaker. Even on hot days, the air turns cold quickly in an open-sided truck once the sun hits the horizon. Rates are charged per vehicle for groups of up to 10, but you'll pay entry fees separately at the gate. International adults pay R424, while children under 12 pay R212. South African citizens pay R105 and R52 respectively. You must have a physical ID or passport on hand to clear the gate—digital copies won't cut it.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
You'll spend four hours in Kruger National Park in an open safari vehicle reserved entirely for your group. There's no sharing rows with strangers. This means you can stop for photos or move on from a sighting whenever you like. It's the right choice for families with children who might get restless on a full-day drive. It works. Your guide handles the navigation and animal tracking while you sit in tiered seating for a clear view over the brush. Expect wind and dust in the open-sided car—bring a jacket even if it's hot at the gate. If the kids need a break, the guide can pivot the route toward a rest camp with facilities. Book the morning slot for the best chance of seeing predators before the heat sends them into the shade.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Open-sided safari vehicles provide the height needed to see over Kruger's tall grass and thickets. You'll sit significantly higher than in a standard car, which helps for spotting leopards in trees or lions in the scrub. It's a dusty, loud way to travel. Bring a buff or scarf to cover your face when the wind picks up. Guides pack a breakfast box for the morning and stop at a fenced picnic site for lunch. Because the savanna is cold before dawn and scorching by noon, the vehicle includes heavy ponchos and beanbags for camera stability. Use the ponchos early on. The wind chill at 40 km/h is biting even during the summer months. Expect to be out for about eight hours. Families with toddlers should skip the full-day tour and opt for a shorter private drive to avoid mid-day meltdowns. Pack a hat with a chin strap so it doesn't blow away.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Open-sided vehicles enter Kruger National Park before dawn to catch predators while they're still active. The elevated seating puts you above the brush. This makes it easier to spot leopards or rhinos in thick cover. You'll share the space with up to eight other people. It's freezing before the sun comes up. Bring a windbreaker and a warm hat, even in summer. The route follows riverbeds and high ridges where wildlife congregates. Your guide handles the navigation and tracking while you watch the bush. Mid-morning, you'll stop at a rest camp to eat your own breakfast packs. There's a later stop for lunch where you can buy a meal or snacks at the park shop. Skip the back row if you want a smoother ride; the rear axle hits bumps hard. The day ends with a direct drop-off at your Hoedspruit accommodation.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Extra days on this South African route increase sightings of lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo. You'll have better odds of spotting predators in the thicket because you aren't rushing to the next camp. It's for the patient traveler. The schedule adds two extra sunrise drives when predators are most active. You'll hear baboon alarm calls and feel the wind in an open-top Land Cruiser. Longer routes mean more time on unpaved roads. Bring a scarf for the dust. Pack a warm jacket for the 5:00 AM departures.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English