South Africa Map
Most visitors to Kruger National Park fly into South Africa at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), near Johannesburg. From Johannesburg, plenty of guided tours of various lengths run to the park. Kruger is also a popular and straightforward destination. Many visitors hire a car at the airport and drive directly to one of the park’s entrances. The closest is Numbi Gate, which is a 375km/233mi (4½ to 5 hours*) drive from Johannesburg.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Airlines & Ticket Prices
Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), and what tickets would cost.
Domestic Flights
Direct flights connect Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) to Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) and less frequently to Cape Town International Airport (CPT). Once at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), it is only 40km/25mi (50 minutes’ drive*) to Southern Kruger’s Numbi Gate.
There are also direct flights from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to Hoedspruit’s Eastgate Airport (HDS). This lies 70km/43mi from Central Kruger’s Orpen Gate and 90km/56mi from the more northerly Phalaborwa Gate (both about 1 hour’s drive*).
It is also possible to take a scheduled flight to Skukuza Airport (SZK) inside the park, and Federal Airlines offers scheduled flights to some of the lodges’ airstrips. Charter flights to Skukuza or any of the lodges’ airstrips are also available.
Scheduled domestic flights can be booked with several carriers:
- Airlink (Flies to Skukuza, Mbombela, Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa)
- CemAir (Flies to Hoedspruit)
- FlySafair (Flies to Hoedspruit)
- Federal Airlines (Flies to some lodges within Kruger)
Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements
Please check our How To Get to South Africa page to learn more about passport, visa and other entry requirements.