To ensure a safe and pleasant stay in the park, SANParks urges visitors to the Kruger National Park (KNP) to book in advance and observe the rules during the festive season, from now until January 16.

According to the KNP’s spokesperson, Ike Phaahla, day visitors are reminded that daily quotas will once again apply at all entrance gates, and that there are three time slots for pre-bookings. “For busy periods such as the festive season, we aim to better manage the volumes we expect as well as our visitors’ expectations.

The three different time slots are aimed at improving the spread of vehicles and preventing unnecessary waiting periods at the gates. The day visitor quota for the park is a management tool to prevent overcrowding the roads and facilities, and is usually applied throughout the year.

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“However, carrying capacity is soon reached during long weekends and school holidays, resulting in us having to turn visitors away,” said Phaahla.
He also said pre-booked day visitors will receive preference over non-booked guests at the gate, but those who made bookings must ensure they arrive within their booked time slots. Arriving outside the booked time slot will be regarded as non-booked and could result in being turned away. If need be, these bookings can be changed through SANParks’ reservations offices.

According to Phaahla, the park has planned for increased visibility of both traffic officials and visitor management personnel to monitor speeding, after-hours travelling and general road behaviour. Visitors are reminded that no liquor is allowed within public park areas, a permanent rule which is strictly enforced at all times.

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The park management urges visitors to co-operate with officials who will be on duty and to report unbecoming behaviour to the gate officials, or to call the emergency call centre number on 012 428 9111.

Phaahla requested visitors to help keep the park clean by disposing of any litter at designated areas, not getting out from their vehicles in undesignated areas, to not speed and to adhere to all rules and regulations as stipulated on the gate permit. Visitors are urged to be courteous and co-operative at sightings to avoid inconveniencing other road users.

Visitors are advised to plan their trip carefully, allowing sufficient time to enjoy the bush and to get to destinations. Gate operating hours will be from 05:30 to 18:30 during December and January.

Visitors can choose these visiting time slots to pre-book:
• Time slot 1: 05:30 to 07:30
• Time slot 2: 07:30 to 09:30
• Time slot 3: 09:30 onwards.

Important information for visitors to the Kruger National Park (KNP):

• Visitors will be able to pre-book up to 80% of the day visitor quota per gate via the SANParks reservations offices on 012 428 9111 and online at www.sanparks.org.
• Day visitor pre-bookings are subject to a non-refundable booking fee of R53 per adult and R26 per child, to be paid in advance and is meant to ensure their space as part of the daily quota.
• Day visitors who have pre-booked will still be required to pay conservation fees or use a valid Wild Card to enter the KNP. The conservation fee for SA residents, as well as Zimbabwe and Mozambique nationals (a passport is required to prove this) is R122 per adult and R60 per child between ages 2 and 11. For nationals of eSwatini and other SADC countries, the conservation fees are R246 per adult and R122 per child. For all other guests, the standard conservation fees of R486 for adults and R243 for children apply.
• Guests planning to use Wild Cards are requested to ensure their membership is valid before arrival at www.sanparks.org/wild.
• The number and profile of persons (adults and children) on the booking and actual persons arriving should correspond.
• All guests (drivers and passengers) will be required to identify themselves upon admission by producing a valid SA driver’s license, identity document or passport, which should at all times be kept handy.
• Gate quotas will be strictly adhered to and guests without pre-bookings could be denied entry if quotas had been filled to capacity.
• Guests are reminded of the cash-free payment system at the Paul Kruger, Phabeni, Numbi, Malelane and Crocodile Bridge gates, and fuel stations in the southern part of the KNP.