How to Self-Drive Kruger National Park in One Week

Kruger National Park is South Africa’s most iconic game reserve – a vast wilderness where elephants roam the riverbanks, lions doze in the shade, and sunsets glow over the savannah. Spanning nearly 20,000 km², it’s a destination that begs to be explored at your own pace. That’s why we think a one-week self-drive itinerary is the best way for travellers to experience Kruger’s diverse habitats and wildlife-rich regions – from the southern grasslands to the mopane-dotted north.

We’ve poured our own experiences into this practical guide that takes you on a northbound journey through the park, staying at key rest camps: Lower Sabie, Skukuza, Letaba, Shingwedzi, and Punda Maria. Whether you hire a sedan, hatchback, or fully equipped 4×4, here’s how to make the most of your self-drive safari in Kruger National Park.

Your 7-Day Kruger Self-Drive Itinerary

Lower Sabie is known for its prolific wildlife | Photo: Deborah Varrie via Unsplash

Day 1 – 2: Lower Sabie Rest Camp

Start your journey in the south, entering through Crocodile Bridge Gate and driving to Lower Sabie Rest Camp. It should take you around five hours to reach the gate by road from Johannesburg. If you’re travelling from Cape Town, you’ll need to plan an overnight rest stop on your way to Mpumalanga.

Located on the banks of the Sabie River, this camp is one of the park’s most scenic, with excellent game viewing right from the deck. It’s particularly famed for its resident leopards, as well as Sunset Dam, a small body of water just outside the camp gates filled with crocodiles and wading birds.

Accommodation Options:

• Riverside bungalows with en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning
• Safari tents for a more rustic experience
• Campsites with communal ablutions and kitchen facilities

Lower Sabie is known for its prolific wildlife. The nearby H4-1 tar road is one of the best routes in the park for spotting the Big Five – especially lions and leopards, which favour the riverine vegetation.

Day 3: Skukuza Rest Camp

A short drive from Lower Sabie along the Sabie River takes you to Skukuza, the park’s largest and most developed rest camp. It has a shop, restaurant, post office, fuel station, and even an ATM – making it a good place to restock and recharge.

Famously, Skukuza is home to the Skukuza Golf Club. Visitors often observe wildlife gracing the perfectly-manicured greens. If you’re lucky, you might even witness a hunt between rounds!

Accommodation Options:

• Luxury guest cottages and family units
• Chalets and bungalows
• Shaded campsites with power points
• Kruger Shalati – The Train on the Bridge (5-star hotel)

While larger and busier, Skukuza offers superb game viewing. Don’t miss the Doispane Road (S1) and River Road (H4-1) for high concentrations of predators, especially wild dogs and cheetahs.

Day 4: Letaba Rest Camp

Heading north, you’ll pass through the central plains before arriving at Letaba Rest Camp, overlooking the Letaba River. The camp is shaded by tall trees and is a favourite among birders and elephant lovers.

Accommodation Options:

• Bungalows and huts
• Guest cottages
• Campsites near the river

Letaba is also home to the Elephant Hall, a small museum dedicated to the park’s legendary tuskers – iconic elephants remembered for their impressive tusks. Game drives around Letaba often yield sightings of large elephant herds, waterbuck, hippos, and crocodiles.

Day 5 – 6: Shingwedzi Rest Camp

Mopane woodland dominates the landscape of the northern Kruger | Photo: Marlin Clark via Unsplash

Now you’re entering the less-visited northern section of Kruger, where mopane woodland dominates the landscape. Shingwedzi Rest Camp, situated on a seasonal river, offers a peaceful and remote atmosphere, with rivers populated with hippos and banks teeming with bee-eaters and other colourful birds.

Accommodation options:

• Thatched bungalows
• Campsites with excellent shade
• Guest cottages with river views

This region is excellent for seeing large herds of buffalo and elephants. Keep your eyes open for elusive species like tsessebe, sable antelope, and crested guinea fowl. The Kanniedood Dam loop (S50) is a highlight for morning drives.

Day 7: Punda Maria Rest Camp

Your final stop is Punda Maria, the park’s northernmost main rest camp. The vegetation here transitions into sandveld and fever tree forest, creating ideal conditions for rare antelope and birdlife.

Your drives in the north will take you through dense forests, where nyalas and elephants lurk between ancient trees and thickets.

Accommodation options:

• Safari tents with decks and braai areas
• Bungalows
• Campsites with shared facilities

Don’t miss the Mahonie Loop (S99) for some of the park’s most rewarding sightings. Punda Maria is also the closest camp to Pafuri, a biodiversity hotspot and a must-visit for serious birders. Pafuri is also an official border crossing between South Africa and Mozambique.

Wildlife to Spot in Kruger National Park

Kruger is one of the most diverse destinations in Africa | Photo: Charl Durand via Unsplash

Kruger is home to 147 mammal species and over 500 bird species, making it one of the most biodiverse safari destinations in Africa.

The Big Five

• Lion – Often seen near rivers or resting under trees during the heat of the day.
• Leopard – Solitary and elusive; best spotted at dawn or dusk, especially around riverine areas.
• Elephant – Seen throughout the park; large herds are common near Letaba and Shingwedzi.
• Buffalo – Usually in large herds, especially around waterholes.
• Rhinoceros – Both black and white rhinos occur, though sightings are increasingly rare and special.

Other notable wildlife

• Cheetah, wild dog, hippos, giraffes, zebra, and a variety of antelope
• Birding highlights include lilac-breasted rollers, martial eagles, Pel’s fishing owls, and southern ground hornbills

Popular self-drive safari routes

• H4-1 (Lower Sabie to Skukuza) – Known for leopard and lion sightings
• S100 near Satara – Excellent for cheetah and lion
• S50 near Shingwedzi – Offers riverine views and birding opportunities
• S99 near Punda Maria – Dense bushveld and excellent biodiversity

Rules to Follow Inside Kruger National Park

Always stick to designated roads and tracks in the park | Photo: Simon Hurry via Unsplash

To ensure the safety of both visitors and wildlife, the park enforces several important rules:

• Stick to designated roads and tracks. Off-roading is strictly prohibited.
• Do not exit your vehicle except at designated areas.
• Adhere to gate times. Entry and exit gates open and close at specific times, which vary by season.
• Do not feed the animals. It’s harmful and illegal, and will likely result in human-animal conflict. In the worst cases, people may be hurt and wildlife will be put down.
• Keep noise to a minimum, especially near wildlife sightings and inside camps.
• Alcohol is permitted only in accommodation units. No open alcohol is allowed in public areas or vehicles.

What to Pack for a Self-Drive Safari

Binoculars are essential for game viewing | Photo: David Tomaseti via Unsplash

Packing the right gear can make or break your Kruger adventure. Here’s a quick checklist:

• Binoculars for game viewing
• Field guide or app to identify animals and birds
• Camera with zoom lens
• Cooler box for food and drinks
• Insect repellent (especially for summer months)
• Malaria prophylaxis, especially if you’re travelling to the park’s northerly regions
• Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
• Torch or headlamp for use in camp
• First aid kit
• Map of Kruger National Park
• Chargers and a power bank
• Comfortable clothing in neutral colours

Do You Need to Hire a 4×4 to Explore Kruger?

Most of Kruger’s roads are either tarred or well-maintained gravel, so a regular sedan or SUV is suitable for the majority of the park. However, certain areas – particularly private 4×4 eco-trails and more remote backcountry routes – are only accessible with a 4×4 vehicle.

For travellers wanting to go beyond the main routes, Drive South Africa offers fully equipped 4×4 vehicles with rooftop tents, fridges, and camping gear, ideal for multi-day wilderness routes or exploring adjacent reserves like the Lebombo Eco Trail or Malopeni Eco Trail.

Even if you’re sticking to rest camps, a 4×4 with camping equipment gives you more flexibility to explore off-the-beaten-track picnic spots and less-travelled roads, particularly in the north of the park.

Self-driving Kruger National Park is one of the most rewarding travel experiences in South Africa. With a bit of planning and the right vehicle, you can experience its full length – from the game-rich southern plains to the remote northern woodlands – in just one week.

Book your vehicle through Drive South Africa for peace of mind and the freedom to explore Kruger your way. Whether you’re camping under the stars or staying in comfortable chalets, a self-drive Kruger safari is the perfect blend of adventure and accessibility in South Africa’s premier wildlife destination.