3-Day Kruger Camping Safari from Johannesburg

Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park is the largest and most famous wildlife reserve in South Africa, stretching about three hundred and fifty kilometres along the Mozambique border and covering an area close to two million hectares. Protected since 1898, it holds the full cast of African wildlife: elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo, along with giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile, cheetah, wild dog and hundreds of bird species. Its network of tarred and gravel roads, rest camps and picnic sites makes it one of the easiest parks on the continent to explore.

A Kruger safari from Johannesburg is a long drive, around five to six hours each way, which is why three days is the shortest sensible format. This camping safari concentrates on the southern section of the park, where animal densities are highest and the rivers draw game all year. The best time to visit Kruger is the dry winter from May to September, when visibility is good and animals gather at water, though summer brings lush bush and newborn animals.

The road from Johannesburg to the Lowveld

Day one is partly a journey in itself. From Johannesburg the highway crosses the open grasslands of the Highveld, passing the coal fields and farms of Mpumalanga, before the land suddenly drops away at the escarpment. The descent into the Lowveld brings a change of climate within an hour: warmer air, granite hills, mango and citrus orchards and the first sightings of baobab-like trees and thatched villages. We stop for lunch and a stretch along the way.

The drive takes most of the day, and by the time the vehicle reaches the area around the park's southern gates in the afternoon the atmosphere is unmistakably bush. Arriving in daylight leaves time to check into the tented camp and set out on the first game drive before sunset.

The tented camp near the park

Accommodation on this safari is in a tented camp just outside Kruger, close to the southern entrance gates. The tents are set up on fixed bases with proper beds and bedding, so you are not sleeping on the ground, and shared facilities, a dining area and a fire circle are a short walk away. It is a simple, friendly style of camp that puts the money into the game drives rather than the room, which is exactly why this three-day Kruger safari is so good value.

Evenings are spent around the fire listening to the sounds of the bush, with dinner and breakfast included each day. Nights can be cold between June and August, so bring warm layers, and hot in summer, when a light sleeping shirt and insect repellent are more useful. The camp is in a malaria area, so speak to your doctor before travelling.

Sunset game drive

The first safari activity is a sunset game drive in an open vehicle, usually on the afternoon of arrival. The late light is the most beautiful of the day: the heat eases, herds of impala and zebra move out of the shade, elephants come down to the rivers and the predators begin to stir. The guide uses the last hour of daylight to position the vehicle where lion or leopard are most likely, and the drive returns after dark with a spotlight.

Night-time is when the bush reveals a different cast: bush babies, genets, civets, owls and, with luck, hyena on the move. It is a short drive of two to three hours, but for many guests it is the moment the trip turns from a road journey into a real safari.

A full day in southern Kruger

Day two is the heart of the safari: a full day inside Kruger National Park, entering at one of the southern gates as they open and staying until late afternoon. The southern region between the Crocodile and Sabie rivers has the highest concentration of wildlife in the park, with good roads along the riverbanks where elephant, buffalo, hippo and crocodile are common and lion and leopard are seen regularly. The guide chooses the route according to the latest sightings and the season.

Lunch is taken at one of the park's rest camps or picnic sites, where you can buy a meal at your own cost. Expect long stretches of slow driving with the engine off at sightings and frequent stops for giraffe, kudu, warthog and birds. Sightings are never guaranteed, but a full day with a knowledgeable guide gives the best chance of ticking off the Big Five.

Early-morning bush walk

On the final morning you leave the vehicle behind for a guided bush walk led by an armed, qualified guide. Walking through the bush at dawn is a completely different experience from driving: you learn to read tracks and droppings, identify the trees and insects, listen for alarm calls and understand how the ecosystem fits together. Large animals are approached only at a safe distance and under the guide's strict instructions.

The walk lasts around two to three hours and is suitable for anyone with reasonable fitness, including older children who can follow instructions. Back at camp there is breakfast and time to pack before the drive back to Johannesburg, arriving at your hotel or the airport in the late afternoon or early evening.