Wildlife Safaris in Kruger & Mpumalanga: 10 That Justify the Spend

1.Kruger National Park Full Day Private safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 799 reviews · from $158Our pick

Leave Hazyview at 5:30 am for a private, full-day Kruger safari with a professional guide. Your guide may be Senzo, Didi, or Patrick, all praised for clear explanations and friendly service. Look for the Big Five, cheetahs, African wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, elephants, and hundreds of bird species.

“Didi proved to be quite an awesome guide—he was very knowledgeable about so many things in the park, and was able to answer all of our questions. He also got us up close and personal with white rhinos, elephants, leapards, zebras, giraffes, and countless other small gaRead more”

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2.Kruger National Park – Private full day Safari trip.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 347 reviews · from $166

Spend about 10 hours exploring Kruger National Park from Hazyview with a private driver-guide such as Gerri Smith or Keegan. You’ll enter through Pabeni Gate, search for wildlife, birds, and plants, and return the same day. Water and private transport are included, but the SANParks entry fee is extra.

“Excellent communication before and during the safari. Very knowledgeable on the park and the animals. Has clear passion for the job, which translates into an amazing customer experience. Will recommend to anyone visiting Kruger, and I will book again if I find myself at Kruger in the future.”

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3.From Hazyview: Kruger National Park Full-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 205 reviews · 10 hours · from $105

Start before sunrise from Hazyview and enter Kruger through Phabeni Gate in an open safari vehicle. Your English-speaking guide, including often-praised guides such as Stephen, Bradley, Sipho, Remember, and Bhefika, helps spot lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, leopards, cheetahs, and smaller wildlife. Breakfast and lunch are bought separately.

“The guide Thabo picked us up on time, he was very pleasant and friendly. After some queuing at the gate, we started our safari ca. 1 hour after the pick-up. The guide drove us through the park and was very knowledgeable, telling us about the animals we spotted. We managed to see four out of "big five" and four out of "ugly five" even before breakfast. After breakfast, it was rainy and we didn't see many new animals, but overall, we were pleased to spot that many animals despite the rain season. The guide also offered us blankets to warm up, raincoats and water. Thank you for the great experience!”

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4.Kruger National Park sunrise Morning Private safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 185 reviews · from $131

You leave Hazyview at 5:30 am for a private morning drive into Kruger National Park. An open safari vehicle, guide, fuel, and bottled water are included. Guides such as Abraham N, Patrick, and Evenick have been praised for sharp animal spotting and strong wildlife knowledge. Bring food, and budget separately for park conservation fees.

“We loved the guide, his knowledge and how to find all big 5. Very clean vehicle and Covid safe and all protocols fulfilled.”

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5.3-Day Budget Tent Kruger Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 163 reviews · 3 days · from $653

This three-day small-group safari takes you from Johannesburg to Balule and Kruger National Park, with sunset and night drives, a full day in an open Gameviewer, a guided bush walk, BBQ dinners, and the Three Rondavels. English-speaking guides such as Quinten, Raymond, Vic, Andy, and Ray lead groups of up to nine.

“The activity was great overall 😊 I would say that not all guides are equal meaning some provided more information about the fauna and flora than others. My game drive guide (in Kruger) was on the "not so much information" side which is a pity. I would have liked to learn more about the amazing animals. Also it would be nice if the final bush walk were longer. It was very interesting but way too short.”

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6.Kruger National Park: Full-Day Game Drive with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 136 reviews · 1 day · from $109

Start before sunrise for a full day in Kruger National Park with an English-speaking guide such as Jerry or Advocate. You will ride in an open safari vehicle, search gravel roads for the Big Five and smaller wildlife, stop for breakfast and lunch, and return to your pickup point. Food and the park fee cost extra.

“We had the absolute privilege of exploring Kruger National Park with Jerry as our guide, and it was hands down one of the most incredible experiences we've ever had. From the moment we set off, it was clear we were in expert hands. Jerry’s knowledge of the park, its wildlife, and ecosystems is outstanding—not just the Big 5, but the birds, trees, and even the small insects that make Kruger so special. What really sets Jerry apart is his passion and deep respect for nature. His storytelling brought every moment to life, and his tracking skills were nothing short of magical. We saw more than we ever imagined. Jerry was…”

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7.Kruger National Park: Full-Day Private Safari With Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 122 reviews · 10 hours

Start early for a private, full-day Kruger safari from Hazyview, Kruger Gate Hotel, or selected park gates. Your English-speaking guide drives an open game-viewing vehicle through the southern park, sharing animal and plant facts while searching for lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, and more. The vehicle holds up to 10 people.

“Amazing tour in the Kruger Park, seeing the big 5 and many other beautiful animals!”

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8.Marloth Park: Kruger National Park Safari Game Drives

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 115 reviews · 6 hours · from $61Best value

Start before sunrise from your Marloth Park lodge and enter Kruger through Crocodile Bridge. Over six hours, you may see elephants, lions, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, and the rest of the Big Five from a high, open safari vehicle. Guides such as Jerry, Lucky, Max, and Advocate explain the animals, trees, and park roads in English.

“Our tour guide Jerry was an awesome guide and even greater person! it was a pity it was a hot day so we didn't get to see many animals, Jerry was very knowledgeable and made sure to make our safari the best as possible! everybody knew Jerry and he was friendly with everyone! I would definitely recommend!”

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9.Kruger National Park – Private Sunrise Half day Safari trip.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 97 reviews · from $163

Start before dawn from Hazyview and enter Kruger through Phabeni Gate in a private open safari vehicle. Your driver-guide, potentially Gerrie, helps you search for lions, elephants, giraffes, antelopes, and smaller species. The seven-hour trip includes bottled water and transport, but breakfast and the SANParks fee cost extra.

“the tour with Gerrie was incredible. He seems very knowledgeable. Most importantly he had a newer car with much better suspension which makes a big difference. Highly recommend.”

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10.Full Day Private Kruger Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · from $143

Start before sunrise on a private, 10-hour Kruger safari with an open-top 4x4 and a qualified guide such as Heine. Search for lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and birds. Breakfast, snacks, soft drinks, and water are included, while park fees and lunch are extra.

“Our guide Heine was fabulous and made sure our day was a success at seeing many animals. Heine was very knowledgable and caring, provided great snacks throughout our day, and made sure we were safe while seeing the animRead more”

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