Day Trip
East of Hazyview

There is something very, very large to the east of Hazyview.
Its size is 2 million hectares.
It is the world renowned Kruger National Park.

Getting There
Total Distance: 13km (to Phabeni entrance gate)
Time Required:  All day
 
The closest entrance gate to the KNP is the Phabeni Gate (14km from Hazyview). From the centre of Hazyview take the R536 east, towards the main Kruger Gate.  Then turn off to the right after 11km to the Phabeni Gate (the turnoff is well signposted). 

Please don't drive over our dung.
 You are killing my relatives!

 
Recommended Routes from Hazyview

Southern Kruger
(Hazyview ~ Phabeni Gate ~ Skukuza ~ Lower Sabie ~ Crocodile Bridge ~ Berg-en-Dal ~ Pretoriuskop ~ Phabeni Gate ~ Hazyview.)

Enter at the Phabeni Gate and drop in at Nyamundwa Dam (10km along the S1 road towards Skukuza). Drop in at Lake Panic Hide (S42 turnoff just before Skukuza). Consider having breakfast at Skukuza Rest Camp.

Continue with the H4-1 road towards Lower Sabie and pull into the Nkuhlu Picnic Spot (25km from Skukuza). Stop at the Sunset Dam, just before Lower Sabie (this rest camp is another good spot for a breakfast). Continue on the H4-2 road towards Crocodile Bridge and turn off after 6km on the S28 gravel road - stop after 7km at the Ntandanyathi Bird Hide. Travel on the S137 gravel road (for 9km) back to the H4-2 tarred road and proceed towards Crocodile Bridge. Stop at the Gasanftombi Dam just before Crocodile Bridge.

Turn off on the S25 gravel road towards Berg-en-Dal. Turn off on the S119 and stop at the Gardenia Bird Hide. Continue with the S119 and S114 gravel roads towards the H3 tarred road. Turn off on the S110 road to Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp (good spot to have lunch).

Drive back on the S110 to the H3 tarred road and head north towards Skukuza. Stop at the Afsaal Picnic Spot (31km from Berg-en-Dal). Turn off on the H1-1 tarred road towards Pretoriuskop Rest Camp. Visit the Transport and Shitlhave Dams before reaching Pretoriuskop. Continue on the H1-1 road towards Numbi Gate for 5km and turn off on the S7 and then the S3 gravel roads. Head for the S1 tarred road and turn left towards Phabeni Gate and onwards back to Hazyview.

Southern-Central Kruger
(Hazyview ~ Phabeni Gate ~ Skukuza ~ Tshokwane ~ Satara ~ Skukuza ~ Kruger Gate ~ Hazyview)
Enter at the Phabeni Gate and drop in at Nyamundwa Dam (10km along the S1 road towards Skukuza). Drop in at Lake Panic Hide (S42 turnoff just before Skukuza). Consider having breakfast at Skukuza Rest Camp.

From Skukuza take the H1-2 road to Tshokwane.  Visit the Mantimahle, N'watindlopfu and Silolweni Dams on the way. Tshokwane is a great spot for a picnic breakfast. Take the H10 road for 1km and then turn off on the S32 gravel road to visit the Orpen Dam viewpoint. Continue with the S32 to the H1-3 tarred road and drive north towards Satara. Drop in on the Mazithi Dam and visit the southern-most Boabab tree on the way (25km from Tshokwane). Satara Rest Camp can also be considered for a late breakfast.

From Satara drive back on the H1-3 road for 5km and turn off on the H6 road. The Sweni Bird Hide is 22km along this road. Head back to Tshokwane, either along the H6 and H1-3 tarred roads, or with the S37 gravel road. Drive from Tshokwane back to Skuza and exit at the Kruger Gate before returning to Hazyview.  (Be cautious on the Kruger Gate / Hazyview road, especially at dusk. Be on the lookout for goats, cattle, taxis and pedestrians).

Elephant Shrew

Rhino Beetle

Red-billed Buffalo-weaver

Leopard Tortoise

Ant Lion

Kruger National Park (Southern)
Hazyview, located close to the Kruger National Park (KNP), is the ideal springboard for day visits to the southern KNP.  Most of the Lodges and Guest Houses will gladly pack you a breakfast hamper for an early start. Drive there in your own vehicle or experience the thrill of a game drive in open Safari Land Rovers.

The KNP - located in the north-eastern corner of South Africa on the border with Mozambique - represents one of the most distinctive ecosystem-orientated national parks in the world because of its:

• large size,
• pristine ecosystems, and
• large biodiversity

Size
The KNP covers an area of 20,000 km²  (2 million hectares) and stretches over 350 km from north to south. The southern section of the KNP is 80km wide from east to west, but the central and northern sections are only about 45km wide.  A number of large, unfenced private game reserves are located on the western boundary of the KNP. The Limpopo National Park in Mozambique borders the KNP in the north-east. Together this forms the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park - a combined area of about 55,0000 km². 

Topography
The greater part of the KNP is a more or less flat area with occasional rocky outcrops. The terrain slopes gently from the west to the Lebombo mountains in the east.  Height above sea level varies between 840m near the Malelane gate to 440m at Punda Maria in the extreme north.  The central part is about 260m in altitude and the lowest point (at 122m) is at the Sabie River Gorge where this river enters Mozambique.

Geology
The KNP is roughly bisected from north to south by a sandstone ridge. The western half consists mainly of granite and its products of erosion as well as outcrops of dolerite.  The eastern half consists mainly of basaltic formations. Soils vary from heavy clays to deep sands.

Rainfall
The rainy season in the KNP starts in September/October and lasts until March/April, followed by a period of very little or no rainfall.  About 80% of the precipitation occurs in the form of quick but erratic thunderstorms. In the south-west (around Pretoriuskop rest camp) the rainfall is as high as 760mm/annum, but this drops to as little as 210mm in the north-east (near Pafuri). 

Temperatures
Average daily maximum temperatures in the KNP varies between 30°C (in January) to 23°C (in July), but can be as high as 47°C in January and 35°C in July.  Average night minimums varies from 18°C (in January) to 8°C (in July), but can be as low as 7°C in January and -4°C in July.  Occasional light frost occurs, mostly in low-lying areas.

Vegetation
According to Acocks' classification (Acocks 1975) the KNP comprises of three major vegetation zones: 

• Lowveld, comprising the southern area from the Crocodile river in the south to Tshokwane in the north,
• Arid Lowveld, in the central area from Tshokwane in the south to the Olifants river in the north, and
• Mopane Veld, comprising almost the entire remaining area of the KNP north of the Olifants river.

Elephant (±12,000)

Rhinoceros (±5,000)

Buffalo (±2,500)

 Leopard (±1,000)

Lion (±1,500)

Rest Camps
The Kruger National Parks offers camp-run accommodation to tourists. Each camp has its own unique selection of accommodation types, ranging from camping to luxury lodges.

All accommodation, ablution and kitchen facilities are serviced by cleaning staff on a daily basis. Bedding is supplied in all accommodation units (except camping). Cooking utensils and refrigeration are provided in most units.

The KNP also caters for the day visitor with day-visitor areas, picnic spots, bird hides, restaurants, curio shops, wild-life displays, museums, game drives, and swimming pools.

Experience the African Bushveld at it's very best!

 

Statue of President Paul Kruger
at the Kruger Gate

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

Pretoriuskop Rest Camp
GPS: 25° 10' 00" S | 31° 15' 57" E
 
Pretoriuskop, situated in the south-western corner of the Kruger, is the oldest rest camp, and exotic flowering plants were allowed to stay (as an exception to the general rule prevailing at other rest camps), to enhance the strong sense of the past.

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

Lower Sabie Rest Camp
GPS: 25° 07' 09" S | 31° 54' 58" E
 
Lower Sabie is located on the banks of the Sabie River, one of the few perennial rivers to flow through the Park. Characteristic of the camp is it giant sycamore fig trees, which support prolific bird and insect species. These trees produce fruit at least twice a year and different trees produce fruit at different times, extending the fruiting season over many months. Game and bird watching from the elevated wooden deck overlooking the Sabie River is very rewarding.

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

 Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp
GPS: 25° 25' 10" S | 31° 27' 05" E
 
Berg-en-Dal is situated on the bank of the Matjulu watercourse with a view of undulating hills to the east. On the northern and southern sides dry riverbeds and a dam border the camp. Large trees are dotted along the streams and dry riverbeds. Special care has been taken to preserve the natural vegetation in the camp. Berg-en-Dal is also the only camp set in a rugged mountain environment and is built on the site of prehistoric settlements.

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

Skukuza Rest Camp
GPS: 24° 59' 41" S | 31° 35' 25" E
 
Skukuza is the KNP's largest camp and also the Kruger's administrative headquarters. It is situated on the southern banks of the Sabie River. The camp is well foliaged and there are some lofty trees along the river's edge.

Other facilities include a par 72, 9-hole Golf Course (available Sundays to Fridays), the Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library, Post Office, Bank, Internet Café, Swimming Pool, Cell phone reception, and the Skukuza Indigenous Nursery (5km outside camp. Open Monday - Thursday: 08:00 - 16:00).

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp
GPS: 25° 21' 30" S | 31°° 15' 31" E
 
A small camp, situated in the south-eastern corner of the Kruger, on the northern bank of the Crocodile River, which forms the southern boundary of the Kruger. The game viewing area is known as the 'Southern Circle' and is renowned for its concentration of numerous prides of lion. It is home to a larger percentage of the Kruger's total rhino population.

 

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

© SANParks.org 2004-2012
More info ..

Satara Rest Camp
GPS: 24° 23' 52" S | 31° 46' 42" E
 
Satara is a busy camp, and not without reason. It is situated in an excellent game viewing area, with the bush relatively open and the animals plentiful and diverse. The camp itself has a rustic charm, with the bulk of the accommodation set out in a series of circles. Satara is well wooded and the bird-life is prolific.

LIVE Web Cam at SATARA

Picnic Spots
Most of the main rest camps have an area set aside for picnics and day visitors.  In addition to these, there are a number of other picnic spots throughout the Kruger. Gas skottels (mobile frying pans on gas bottle stands) can be hired at most picnic sites for a nominal fee. Some of the larger picnic spots also have convenience shops.

• Afsaal
  GPS: 25° 16' 46" S | 31° 31' 40" E
  21km north of Malelane, next to the tarred road between Skukuza and Malelane.
   
• Nkuhlu
  GPS: 24° 59' 56" S | 31° 46' 00" E
  18km east of Skukuza on the southern bank of the Sabie River, between Skukuza and Lower Sabie.
   
• Mlondozi Dam
   GPS: 25° 02' 07" S | 31° 55' 56" E
  10km north-east of Lower Sabie. The picnic spot is in top of a hill to the south of the dam wall.
   
• Tshokwane
  GPS: 24° 46' 35" S | 31° 51' 21" E
  Midway between Skukuza and Satara, next to the N'waswitsontso Creek.
   
• Eileen Orpen
  GPS: 24° 47' 40" S | 31° 53' 56" E
  Picnic spot overlooking the Orpen Dam, 4.5km east of Tshokwane.

View from Nkumbe

Hippo Pool

Rabelais Hut

 

Albasini Ruins

Steven-Hamilton's Grave

Kruger Tablets

Orpen Dam

Ground Hornbill

Goliath Heron

Other Day Trips

Close to Hazyview  |  North of Hazyview  |  South of Hazyview  |  West of Hazyview

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