Frequently Asked Questions

Kruger National Park covers an area of 7,523 square miles (19,485 square km), measuring approximately 200 miles (320 km) long and 25 to 50 miles (40 to 80 km) wide.

Advanced bookings to enter SANPARKS can be made through any of the booking offices, no less than one day prior to the date of arrival at the Kruger National Park. Using this facility will come at a minimal and non-refundable cost of R20 per adult and R10 per child entering the park. This fee will be payable (in advance) by all who wish to make a day visitor booking in advance. Please note that this fee is separate from the normal conservation fee payable upon entrance of the park and Wild Card holders will also be required to book. Guests with day visitor bookings will also be expected to arrive at the booked gate by no later than 13:00 on the date of booking, after which time the booking lapses. Guests should ensure that they do not arrive at a different gate from the one they made advanced bookings at. 

Advanced day-visitor bookings will only constitute 60% of the gate’s day-visitor quota, with 40% being kept open for visitors to enter on a first-come first-served basis. The gate quotas are limits per gate on the number of day-visitors that the area and infrastructure adjacent to each gate can support to ensure a good visitor experience.

The hotel Safari Concierge desk at the Kruger Gate Hotel can assist hotel guests with their bookings and questions. They can be contacted via email: safari@krugergatehotel.com or telephone: +27 13 735 5671

The price of the accommodation in a Deluxe room starts from R3840.00 per room for one night during midweek. The rates are inclusive of Dinner Bed and Breakfast unless otherwise stated.

Rates are subject to change and accommodation is subject to availability. To check rates and availability book on our website for the best rates: www.krugergatehotel.com

The Kruger Gate Hotel offers an ala carte menu which includes delicious wood fired pizza’s, burgers, wraps and salads to name a few from our Pool bar & viewing deck, open daily from 07:00 – 22:00. There is also a grab and go takeaway offering from our Coffee Shop which is open from 5:00am until 19:00 daily. Read more about our African dining offering here: https://krugergatehotel.com/experience/african-dining-experience/
When guests are in the park, they can try stopping in at Kruger Station Restaurant or the Cattle Baron both located at the Skukuza rest camp.

The Kruger Gate Hotel offers half-board rates which includes dinner, bed, and breakfast. The hotel also offers an ala carte menu for meals at the Pool bar & viewing deck as well as an extensive in-room dining menu and a grab & go or sit down meals from the Coffee shop. Casual dining like toasted sandwiches and burgers start from around R100 per person. The hotel also offers kids meals and pizzas.

Hotel guests that are doing self-drives or have booked safaris with Kruger Gate Hotel can use their wild cards for entry into the Kruger National Park. Your wild card will give you access to the Kruger National Park and the conservation fee will not be payable on safari or self-drive safari. Please advise the hotel safari concierge desk or reservations team if you have a valid wild card when you make your booking to avoid a double charge.

Wild card membership gives you one year’s unlimited entry to 80+ National Parks, Reserves and Resorts around Southern Africa, depending on the type of cluster you choose.

Membership is valid from date of purchase for 365 days and is available for an individual, couple or family (family: any two adults and up to five children under the age of 18 years).

International wild card membership is also available for international guests. Membership may be purchased online – use the register for wild card button in the wild card block, or from applicable conservation partner gates or receptions. If you are travelling to the Parks, please ensure to check whether the required gate or reception currently sells membership.

The cost of entry to The Kruger National Park varies depending on your nationality and residency: South African citizens: R115 per adult/ per day. Non-South Africans: R460 per adult/ per day (approx. USD 25, AUD 40, GBP 22) Price is valid at the time of publishing (18 October 2023) Prices are subject to change, please contact SANPARKS for quotations and bookings.

Yes, safaris depart daily from the Kruger Gate Hotel, including public holidays and weekends.

Children are allowed on open safari vehicles and must be accompanied by an adult who takes full responsibility for them to ensure that they follow the rules of the park. Min. age for shared safaris is 6 years and min. age for private vehicle Safaris is 3 years old. Children under 12 years old qualify for a 50% saving on conservation fees.

Guests don’t need specialist equipment – just wear comfortable clothes and avoid bright colors. Autumnal hues are best – beiges, browns, greens. It can get cold on the back of the safari vehicle, so layers are good.

There is no bad time to visit the Kruger National Park. The dry season (June to September) is popularly known as the best time to go on safari because the bush is dry and open, temperatures are mild, and the animals tend to congregate at waterholes which makes for excellent sightings.

Shared safari game drives start at R1246 per person for a half day safari excluding conservation fees. View our full safari price list here: https://krugergatehotel.com/experience/game-drives/ or contact our safari concierge desk for more information, email them on safari@krugergatehotel.com or call them +27 13 735 5671 (Prices are correct at the time of publishing 18 October 2023, and are subject to change without notification).

Check-in time is 14:00pm. Check-out time is 11:00am. Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability. Extended check-out and/or early check-in will result in additional charges.

Yes, Kruger Gate Hotel offer guided safari game drives. View our full safari price list here: https://krugergatehotel.com/experience/game-drives/ or contact our safari concierge desk for more information, email them on safari@krugergatehotel.com or call them +27 13 735 5671 (Prices are correct at time of publishing 18 October 2023 and are subject to change without notification).

Kruger Gate Hotel offer a luxury high end 4* hotel experience including accommodation, food and beverage, safari game drives, Spa treatments and activities for the whole family, including 2 pools, putt putt, tennis, volleyball, giant chess, and a curio gift shop.

The Kruger Gate Hotel offers uncapped internet to all hotel guests which is available in rooms and public areas. Cell phone reception inside the Kruger National Park is not perfect and there is no Wi-Fi. Guests are advised to use roaming data, however not all networks will have good reception inside the park.

The Kruger Gate Hotel is located on the outside of the park, 100 meters from the Kruger Gate entrance into the park. For your own safety, please avoid using the Numbi Gate. We recommend entering and exiting the park via the Paul Kruger, Malelane and Phabeni Gates.

For directions to Kruger Gate Hotel, visit our contact us page, where you’ll find detailed information on how to reach us conveniently.

The expanse of the Kruger National Park is home to over 147 species of mammals, 114 reptile species, 51 snake species, 49 fish species and 508 species of birds, a number unrivalled anywhere else in South Africa. It is possible to see all the classic African big game, including Elephant, black and white rhino, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog, and many antelope species. Large carnivores include lions, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, and spotted hyena. There are also many smaller mammals. Here is a checklist of the most visible species.

Cancellations made within 14 days prior to arrival will be charged a cancellation fee of 50% of the total cost of the reservation. No – shows will be charged 100% of the total of the reservation. During peak times of travel, the hotel reserves the right to close this window to 21 days. Read our full terms and conditions policy here

Mpumalanga is famous for the indigenous Ndebele tribes, with their bright multicolored arts and crafts. To see these arts and crafts you may consider a visit the following villages: Kwaggafontein, Matibifi and Waterval. The Kruger Gate Hotel does not currently offer tours of cultural experiences.

Spa treatments can be booked with the Spa directly or with the hotel reservations team. The full Spa menu can be viewed here. For bookings contact the Spa directly via email: bookings@deesafricanspa.co.za or call them on +27 13 735 5671 or +27 82 776 6210

The Kruger Gate Hotel supports conservation efforts through the sale of RELATE bracelets. RELATE is a not-for-profit social enterprise that supports various charities and creates work that provides income for hundreds of elderly and vulnerable women. To support this wonderful cause please consider purchasing a bracelet from our coffee shop before you depart.

The southern part is known for its high animal density and excellent game viewing because of the abundance of food. The landscape and vegetation are characterized by thorny thickets and some rocky granite outcrops. Game viewing along the riverbanks and dry riverbeds is usually very good.

Guests will be safe as long as they follow all the Park rules. Make sure you are at your accommodation before the gates close. Camps are closed and fenced off to safeguard against wildlife, guests can walk safely and freely within the boundaries of the property at night.

Please note that while you are at the Kruger National Park and its surrounds it is wild territory and guests accept full responsibility for their actions and safety. Read our full disclaimer of liability here: https://krugergatehotel.com/disclaimer-of-liability/

When travelling into the Kruger National Park, there are two times of the day that are considered the best times to go on a safari; the early morning or the late afternoon.

For some guests, the early morning adventure is right up there on the to-do list. Then there is the other group of guests, those who love an afternoon game drive and will plan their whole day around that trip. Morning safaris depart at 5:00am and afternoon safaris depart at 13:00pm. Read more about our unique safari experience and the full safari price list on our website

First and foremost, always listen to your guide. Respect the wildlife, never tease or corner wild animals. Never attempt to attract an animal’s attention. Don’t imitate animal sounds, clap your hands, pound, or throw objects. Never attempt to feed wild animals. Never attempt to approach any wild animal on foot.

Kruger Gate Hotel does not offer walking safaris at this time, but guests may research the activities offered by SANPARKS and make their own arrangements.

For self-drive Big 5 safaris around Kruger Gate Hotel, visitors need to pay conservation fees to Kruger National Park. These fees can be paid at different reservation offices.

Observe animals silently and with minimum disturbance to their natural activities. Loud talking on game drives can frighten the animals. Never attempt to attract an animal’s attention. Don’t imitate animal sounds, clap your hands, pound the vehicle, or throw objects from the vehicle.

Kruger Gate Hotel does not permit day visitors. Our facilities are exclusively for hotel guests attending conferences or those who have checked in.

The Kruger Gate Hotel offers Safari Game drives or self-drives into the Kruger National Park. The hotel also has a host of family-friendly activities including Spa, swimming pools, Putt Putt, tennis, volleyball, a modern gym, and giant chess.

Guests do not need to bring a mosquito net; all our rooms are airconditioned and we advise guests to keep their windows and doors closed at night. While you are on your African safari you can prevent insect bites as follows: Cover your arms and legs as the evening approaches. Use light colored clothing to cover exposed skin areas – especially around the ankles. Wear long sleeved shirts, long trousers, socks, and closed shoes. Apply insect repellent to exposed skin areas every 4-6 hours.

Summer temperatures average around 32 degrees Celsius during daytime and 20 degrees at night. Winter temperatures average around 26 degrees in the day and 9 degrees at night. For a full list of temperatures to expect visit the SANPARKS website.

The hotel offers something for everyone and is considerate of Koscher, Halal, Vegan, Vegetarian, and gluten free guests. Please note that non-kosher and non-halal foods are also prepared on the hotel premises but if you require strictly halal or Kocher meals this should be arranged well ahead of your stay to be brought in from caterers. Please speak to the Chef on duty at the hotel should you have any questions or special requests.

Yes, Kruger Gate Hotel provides swimming towels, which can be obtained from the Pool Bar and viewing deck.