Greater Kruger National Park

What is the difference between Kruger National Park & Greater Kruger Park?

Many visitors ask themselves what the difference is between Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger National Park. The answer is quite simple! One is South Africa's oldest and largest national park, and the other combines private game reserves to form a massive wildlife area that surrounds the Kruger National Park.

Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger Region represent one of Africa's most beautiful and diverse habitats. This vast wilderness area is the heart of the Kruger 2 Canyon (K2C) and Vembe UNESCO Human and Biosphere Areas, as well as the Greater Reserve of the Limpopo Borderlands (GLTP Treaty, 2002).

The Main Difference Between National Parks and Private Reserves

The main difference between Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger National Park is that the former is a national park which is governed by the local authorities. Greater Kruger, on the other hand is made up of a group of private wildlife reserves managed by affiliates, the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) that help private land owners with the administration and the conservation process.

Greater Kruger is an umbrella brand for the various members of APNR that make up the open-ended nature reserve adjacent to Kruger Park. The latter was established to act as a unified interest group coordinating the interests of its members and working with government agencies to oversee conservation activities and ecotourism in the region.

Kruger Park is the largest and oldest of South Africa's 21 national parks managed and managed by South African National Parks (SANParks). The only private facilities in Kruger National Park are the luxurious safari lodges on private land.

Unrestricted and Restricted Access

The old fence separating Greater Kruger Private Reserve and Kruger National Park was removed in 1993 to allow wildlife to roam freely between his two natural areas. it was done. Kapama Private Game Reserve is a member of her APNR but has chosen not to remove the fence.

Wildlife roams freely between two sanctuaries. Because Greater Kruger and Kruger Park operate as two separate ecotourism destinations, travel between the two regions is restricted for human hikers.

Guests staying in private reserves in the wider Kruger area are free to visit Kruger Park (a small entrance fee applies). However, the reverse does not apply. Access to the Greater Kruger Private Reserve is restricted to paying guests only.

Where is Kruger National Park?

Kruger National Park is located in the far northeast of South Africa, in the Mpumalanga province, also known as the Lowveld. Mozambique is on the eastern border and Zimbabwe is on the northernmost border.

Out in the middle of the dry riverbed of Crooks Corner, at the top of the national park where the Rubuvu and Limpopo rivers meet, you find yourself at the crossroads of South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The closest towns to the main entrance to Kruger Park are Nelspruit, White River, Hazyview and Malelane. You can fly from Johannesburg to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Nelspruit and take a shuttle transfer to Kruger National Park, or fly direct to Skukuza Airport (inside Kruger Park). The drive from Johannesburg to the most accessible entrances in the southern section takes between 5-6 hours, with a refreshment stop along the way.

Private concessions in the Kruger National Park
The private concessions in the Kruger National Park are areas of land that have been allocated by SANParks as restricted-access conservation tracts and private entities operate under government license. Each concession is several thousand hectares in size and is unfenced so game can roam freely across the vast wilderness areas.

Access to the private concessions in Kruger Park is restricted to paying guests, but the safari operators in the private concessions have unrestricted access to the public roads of the Park. Your game ranger is allowed to drive off-road for wildlife sightings on their private land but this is forbidden in the rest of Kruger.

Singita Private Concession
Singita Lebombo
Singita Sweni

Mluwati Private Concession
Imbali Safari Lodge
Hoya-Hoya Safari Lodge
Hamiltons Tented Camp

Jock of the Bushveld Private Concession
Jock Safari Lodge
Fitzpatrick’s at Jock

Lukimbi Private Concession
Lukimbi Safari Lodge

Tinga Private Concession
Tinga Safari Lodge
Narina Safari Lodge

Mutlumuvi Concession
Plains Camp; home of the Rhino Walking Safaris
Rhino Post Safari Lodge

Other private lodges in the Kruger National Park

Southern Kruger
Shishangeni Camp
Camp Shawu
Camp Shonga

Northern Kruger
Pafuri Camp
The Outpost

Private reserves of Greater Kruger
Greater Kruger is made up of private game reserves that are members of Associated Private Nature Reserve (APNR). All except Kapama Private Game Reserve are unfenced and game can roam freely across the vast protected wilderness area.

Balule Private Game Reserve: 40 000 hectares
Greater Olifants River Conservancy
Olifants West Game Reserve
Olifants North Game Reserve
York Game Reserve
Parsons Game Reserve
Grietjie Game Reserve
Mohlabetsi South Nature Reserve (include Jejane Private Nature Reserve)
Mohlabetsi River Nature Reserve

Timbavati Game Reserve: 14 000 hectares
Motswari Game Reserve
Ngale Game Reserve
Tanda Tula Game Reserve
Umlani Game Reserve

Sabi Sand Game Reserve: 65 000 hectares

MalaMala Game Reserve
Djuma Game Reserve
Lion Sands Game Reserve
Sabi Sabi Game Reserve
Londolozi Game Reserve
Singita Game Reserve
Ulusaba Game Reserve

Umbabat Private Game Reserve
Ntsiri Game Reserve
Ndlopfu Game Reserve
Ingwelala Game Reserve
Kapama Game Reserve: 50 000 hectares

Klaserie Private Game Reserve: 60 000 hectares

Thornybush Private Game Reserve: 11 500 hectares

Manyeleti Private Game Reserve: 23 000 hectares

Where is Greater Kruger?

Greater Kruger lies alongside the Kruger National Park, on its western boundary adjacent to the central section of the Park. The closest access point that links Greater Kruger with Kruger Park is Orpen Gate. Sabi Sand Game Reserve shares a 50-kilometre unfenced boundary with the national park, and acts as a wild buffer between the national park and the unfenced private reserves of Greater Kruger.

The closest large town to Greater Kruger is Hoedspruit. It’s the central tourism hub of the region and you can fly there directly from Johannesburg to Eastgate (HDS) Airport. Most travelers drive to Greater Kruger; it’s a 5-7 hour drive depending on where you’re staying, with a refreshment stop along the way.

How big is Kruger National Park?

The Kruger National Park covers an area of 19 485 square kilometers (7 523 square miles), and stretches over the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It’s 360 kilometers (220 miles) from north to south, and 65 kilometers (40 miles) from east to west.

How big is Greater Kruger?

Collectively, the unfenced private reserves of Greater Kruger cover an area of 1 800 square kilometers (180 000 hectares/695 square miles) of land dedicated to conservation. The fences that prevented free movement of game between the private reserves of Greater Kruger and Kruger Park were removed in 1993.

Hoedspruit and a number of popular private game reserves in the area are often marketed as Greater Kruger destinations but they aren’t formally part of the protected APNR conservation area.

What’s the same?

Outstanding biodiversity

Greater Kruger and Kruger National Park are located in a protected wilderness region that is without doubt one of the most biologically diverse in the world. The region is core to the Kruger2Canyons (K2C) and Vhembe UNESCO Man and Biospheres.

K2C forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which is a peace park that links the Kruger Park with Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe and with Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.

Incredible wildlife sightings

The private reserves of Greater Kruger are unfenced and open to the Kruger Park. Game roams freely between the two protected wilderness areas. Visitors to both are guaranteed incredible wildlife and bird sightings. The most exciting are the famous Big 5 which includes elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard.

Dedication to conservation

Conservation of South Africa’s valuable resources is at the heart of the very existence of these two entities. A priority is to curb rampant wildlife poaching but there’s as much emphasis on protecting the rich ecosystems of the region.

Malaria area

The far north-eastern region is a medium-to-high risk malaria area. It’s highly recommended that visitors take anti-malaria tablets and other precautions to prevent being bitten by the malaria-carrying mosquito. It’s a life-threatening disease that can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.

What’s different?

Unrestricted vs restricted access

Everyone is welcome at Kruger Park, including day visitors. The private reserves of Greater Kruger are restricted to paying guests and the general public are not allowed to traverse the unfenced properties.

Greater Kruger safari operators have unrestricted access to the public roads of Kruger Park (pay an entry fee). Your ranger has to drive you to one of the Kruger Park entrance gates; there’s no short-cut road through the private reserves to Kruger Park.

Kruger Park is anything up to an hour’s drive from the private reserves of Greater Kruger. The closest access gate to Greater Kruger is Orpen Gate which takes you to central Kruger; from there you head south or north to explore the national park.

Inclusive versus exclusive

Kruger Park is affectionately known as the “People’s Park”. The national park caters for everyone’s budget and everyone is welcome (apart from the luxury safari lodges on private concessions); you pick the area you like and the accommodation you can afford.

Greater Kruger is the exclusive neighbor. The luxury safari lodges offer an intimate safari experience that’s tailored to discerning wildlife travelers. Many are award-winning establishments; all offer luxury accommodation and superb facilities in secluded bushveld surrounds.

Budget vs luxury accommodation

SANParks’ accommodation ranges from camping to traditional bungalows and family guest houses. Rates are priced to be as affordable as possible for the general public and are geared for self-catering holidays. Only the safari lodges in the Kruger Park private concessions offer an exclusive luxury safari experience.

Guests pay a premium to stay at a safari lodge in the Greater Kruger. The bulk of their guests are international tourists who benefit from the current exchange rate.

Self-drive vs open safari vehicles

The majority of visitors to the Kruger Park drive their own vehicles on daily game drives, apart from those that book private SANParks game drives in open safari vehicles.

The private reserves of Greater Kruger do not allow self-drive tours; guests are taken on game drives in open safari vehicles with a professional ranger and tracker.

Public roads versus Off-road driving

Kruger Park visitors are restricted to the public roads of the national park, unless they’re staying at a luxury lodge in a private concession.

In Greater Kruger, the game rangers are allowed to take the game vehicles off-road to get up close to wildlife sightings.

Day drives versus night drives

Kruger Park has strict open and closing times for the main gates and rest camp gates. Visitors are not allowed to drive around after the sun sets. Strict fines are imposed on visitors who don’t make it back in time to their rest camps in the evening.

The private reserves of Greater Kruger don’t impose strict times on game drives. Guests are taken out for late-afternoon game drives and often return well after dark.

Self-catering vs fine-dining

The Kruger Park restaurants typically offer more affordable meals to cater for families, overlanders and travellers on a tighter budget. Most local Kruger Park visitors book the self-catering units and prefer to braai (barbeque). You can stock up on provisions at the shops in the large rest camps.

The private game reserves of Greater Kruger are unapologetically marketed to the high-end traveler and as one would expect, offer their guests meals that are a cut above what you generally find in the Kruger Park. There are no shops in the private reserves, only boutique outlets selling gifts and convenience items.