SANParks issues holiday bookings advice for Kruger National Park

SKUKUZA – To ensure a safe and pleasant stay in the Kruger National Park (KNP), South African National Parks (SANParks) urges visitors to book in advance and to observe the rules of the park over the coming festive season, starting from Thursday, December 15 until Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

Day visitors are reminded that daily quotas will once again apply at the entrance gates and there are three time slots for pre-bookings, as follows:

o Time slot 1: 05:30 to 07:30

o Time slot 2: 07:30 to 09:30

o Time slot 3: 09:30 onwards

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KNP’s spokesperson, Ike Phaahla, said, “For busy periods such as the festive season, we aim to better manage the volumes that we expect, as well as our visitors’ expectations. The three different time slots are aimed at improving the spread of vehicles and to prevent unnecessary waiting periods at gates.”

Pre-booked day visitors will get preference over non-booked day visitors at the gate, but must ensure that they arrive within their booked time slots. Arriving outside the booked time slot, will be regarded as non-booked and therefore will not receive preference and could be turned away. These bookings can be changed through SANParks Reservations offices, if need be.

Phaahla advised, “The park has made plans for increased visibility of both traffic officials and visitor management personnel to watch speeding, after-hours travelling and general behaviour on the roads.

“Day visitors are also reminded that the alcohol ban on public areas in the park is a permanent rule.”

Visitors are also urged to help keep the Park clean by disposing of their litter at designated areas, not alighting from vehicles at undesignated areas, not speeding, and adhering to all rules and regulations as stipulated on the gate permit.

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Entrance Gate operating hours will be from 05:30 to 18:30 during December and January.

Visitors should also take note of the following important information:

• Visitors will be able to book up to 80% of Day Visitor Quota per gate via 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 R50 per adult and R25 per child.

• Day visitors who have pre-booked will still be required to pay Conservation Fees or use a valid Wild Card to enter the Park. The Conservation Fee for SA residents as well as Zimbabwe and Mocambique nationals (passport required to prove this) is R115 per adult and R57 per child (between ages 2 – 11).

For nationals of Eswatini and other SADC countries, the conservation fees are R230 per adult and R115 per child. For all other guests, the standard conservation fees of R460 for adults and R230 for children applies.

Guests planning to use Wild Cards are requested to ensure membership is valid before arrival and this can best be done online at www.sanparks.org/wild

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The number and profile of persons (adults and children) on the reservation and actual persons arriving should correspond.

All guests (drivers and passengers) will be required to identify themselves upon admission by producing a South African driver’s license, identity document or passport.

Gate quotas will be strictly applied and guests without pre-bookings could be denied entry if quotas are full.