Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It is a four and a half hour drive (428 km) from O R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. Though a little far from Durban, many flights are available from both the airports to Skukuza Airport that is inside the park or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) that is 40km south of the park. There are many resorts in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces which are close to the national park. The staff at these resorts helps in booking the safaris. The park has nine different entrance gates but the Numbi gate in the southwest is one of the best entrances into the park. The park opens between 5:30-6:00 am and closes between 5:30-6:30pm through the year. The southern part of the park is the busiest because of the accessibility and the best game viewing oppurtunities. Every game drive vehicle has an experienced guide. Meals are available at the restaurants in the park. It is best to carry a DSLR to get photographs of the wildlife. The big five are seen here- lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros. One has to be really lucky to be able to spot all the big five on a single safari. The toughest to spot is the leopard and there are people who have been through Kruger multiple times but have still not spotted one. The best time to visit Kruger is between March and October. We visited the park in April. The weather was pleasant and we got good sightings.
