Kruger National Park: Full-Day Private Safari & Big 5

Nine hours hunting the Big 5 in an open vehicle, with a guide who knows where they hide

You're picked up early from your Hazyview lodge, driven into Kruger in an open vehicle with a professional guide, and spend nine hours looking for the Big 5 and other wildlife across over 140 mammal and 500 bird species. You pay entry fees at the gate, buy your own lunch at a rest camp, and return mid-afternoon. The vehicle is private, so the guide's attention stays on your group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day private safari in Kruger Park

• Pick up from lodge or gate
• Collect breakfast pack from lodge
• Drive through Kruger National Park
• Stop at rest camp for breakfast
• Continue game drive seeking Big 5
• Stop at different rest camp for lunch
• Enjoy lunch at rest camp restaurant
• Resume game drive in afternoon
• Return to lodge or gate

The experience

Hands gripping binoculars as the vehicle slows near a pride of lions. That's the rhythm of a full-day Kruger safari: long stretches of watching, then sudden stops when the guide spots movement in the grass. You're picked up from your Hazyview lodge or at Numbi or Phabeni gate between 5:30am and 6:00am depending on the season, and you don't come back until mid-afternoon. The vehicle is open-sided, which means nothing between you and the sound of the bush, the heat, the dust on the road. Your guide is a professional who has spent years reading animal behavior, and finding the Big 5 is genuinely their goal. They know the water holes, the feeding patterns, the spots where cheetah and wild dogs move through. Over 140 mammal species live in the park, and more than 500 bird species, so even if a lion doesn't cross your path, you're seeing something.

Entry fees aren't included in the price. You pay them at the gate when you arrive, and the cost depends on your nationality and age. International visitors pay around R424 per person, children under 12 half that. South African citizens pay R105, children R52. Proof of identity is required. The guide stops at a rest camp for breakfast (bring a pack from your lodge) and at a different camp for lunch, which you buy yourself at the restaurant. Bottled water is provided, and the fuel surcharge is built into the rate. The whole thing is per vehicle, not per person, so if you're traveling with up to ten people, you split the cost among yourselves.

This setup works best if you're traveling with family, especially kids under eight who need the flexibility of a private vehicle, or if you're a serious photographer or bird watcher who wants the guide's attention on what you're tracking. The nine-hour day is long enough to cover real ground and hit different parts of the park, but it's also the pace that lets you actually see animals instead of just driving past them. A minimum of two people per booking, and children must be with an adult: infants sit on a lap. Not suitable if you have spinal issues, since the vehicle is open and the roads aren't smooth.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel or gate pickup, a professional guide for the full nine hours, bottled water throughout, and the fuel surcharge.
• You arrange your own breakfast pack from your lodge, pay entry fees at the gate upon arrival, and buy lunch at a rest camp restaurant.
• The vehicle is open-sided and private to your group.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 26 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Kurt Safari Company

Is this one for you?Right for families with young children or serious photographers and bird watchers who want a guide's full attention in a private vehicle. Plan for an early start (pickup is before dawn), and a full nine-hour day, which is what gives you real time to spot wildlife across the park.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What time does the safari start?

Pickup is between 5:30am and 6:00am from October to March, and 6:00am to 6:30am from April to September, depending on your lodge or gate location.

Are entry fees included?

No. You pay entry fees at the gate upon arrival. International visitors pay around R424 per person (children under 12 half price). South African citizens pay R105 (children R52). Proof of identity is required.

How long is the full day?

Nine hours total, from early morning pickup to mid-afternoon return.

Is lunch included?

No. The guide stops at a rest camp where you can buy lunch at the restaurant. Breakfast packs should be collected from your lodge before departure.

Can I book for just one person?

No. A minimum of two people per booking is required.

What's included in the price?

Professional guide, bottled water, and fuel surcharge. Entry fees and meals are separate.

Can the guide pick me up from my lodge?

Yes. Pickup is available from any lodge in and around Hazyview, as well as from Numbi and Phabeni gates. Confirm the time the day before with your lodge reception.

What if I have a spinal injury?

This tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, as the vehicle is open and roads are uneven.

How many people can fit in the vehicle?

Up to 10 people per vehicle. The rate is per vehicle, not per person, so larger groups share the cost.