Kruger Gate Times & Fees 2026 (New Prices 1 Nov)
Gates open 05:30 to 06:00 and close 17:30 to 18:30, by month. Daily fee from 1 Nov 2026: R140 per SA adult, R692 international. Every gate, every month.
Every Kruger trip runs on two clocks: the time the gate opens and the time it closes. Get the first one right and you're on the road in the best hour of the day, while the predators are still moving. Get the second one wrong and you're racing a lion sighting against a gate that won't wait for you.
This guide has Kruger's gate times for every month of 2026, the daily conservation fees (including the new prices that start on 1 November 2026), how day visitor bookings and gate quotas work, and whether a Wild Card will save you money. It's written for self-drivers, but the times and fees apply to everyone who enters the park.
The short answer
Entrance gates open at 05:30 from October to March and at 06:00 from April to September.
All gates close at 18:30 from November to February, 18:00 in March, April and August to October, and 17:30 from May to July.
Rest camp gates open earlier than entrance gates in midsummer: 04:30 from November to January.
Daily conservation fee for South Africans (until 31 October 2026): R134 per adult and R67 per child. From 1 November 2026: R140 and R70.
International visitors pay R602 per adult per day until 31 October 2026, and R692 from 1 November 2026.
Wild Card holders don't pay daily conservation fees.
Always confirm with SANParks before you travel, as times and fees can change.
Kruger gate times 2026, month by month
Kruger has two kinds of gates. Entrance gates are where you drive into the park from outside. Camp gates are the gates of the rest camps inside the park. All gates close at the same time, but in midsummer the camp gates open an hour before the entrance gates, which gives overnight guests a head start on day visitors.
January
Camp gates open: 04:30
Entrance gates open: 05:30
All gates close: 18:30
February
Camp gates open: 05:30
Entrance gates open: 05:30
All gates close: 18:30
March
Camp gates open: 05:30
Entrance gates open: 05:30
All gates close: 18:00
April
Camp gates open: 06:00
Entrance gates open: 06:00
All gates close: 18:00
May, June and July
Camp gates open: 06:00
Entrance gates open: 06:00
All gates close: 17:30
These are the shortest days in the park, and the coldest gate openings of the year. Dress warmly for that first hour with the window down.
August and September
Camp gates open: 06:00
Entrance gates open: 06:00
All gates close: 18:00
October
Camp gates open: 05:30
Entrance gates open: 05:30
All gates close: 18:00
November and December
Camp gates open: 04:30
Entrance gates open: 05:30
All gates close: 18:30
With the 04:30 camp gate opening, summer is the season for very early starts. If you're staying inside the park, you can be several kilometers down the road before the first day visitors are through an entrance gate.
Kruger entrance fees 2026: daily conservation fees
Kruger doesn't charge a separate vehicle entry fee for private cars. What you pay is the daily conservation fee, per person, for every day you spend in the park. Day visitors pay it at the entrance gate. Overnight guests pay it with their booking or at reception, and either way you keep the receipt, because you'll need it to exit.
SANParks sets new fees every year on 1 November, so a trip that straddles the end of October can fall under two different rates. Children are 2 to 11 years old; children under 2 enter free.
Until 31 October 2026
South African citizens and residents (with a valid ID): R134 per adult, R67 per child
SADC nationals (with a passport): R275 per adult, R137 per child
International visitors: R602 per adult, R300 per child
From 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027
South African citizens and residents: R140 per adult, R70 per child
SADC nationals: R296 per adult, R147 per child
International visitors: R692 per adult, R345 per child
Bring your ID or passport for everyone in the car. If you can't show proof that you qualify for the South African or SADC rate, you can be charged the international rate.
What a day in Kruger costs
For a South African family of two adults and two children, the conservation fee for one day comes to R402 until the end of October 2026, and R420 from 1 November. A couple pays R268 now and R280 from November. Fuel, food and any guided activities come on top.
Discounts for pensioners
SANParks offers South African senior citizens (60 and older) discounts of up to 40% on accommodation and camping at selected parks and camps, on selected dates. The discount doesn't apply to conservation fees, it excludes Fridays, Saturdays and long weekends, and it has to be booked by phone with SANParks rather than online. Bring proof of age when you check in.
Is a Wild Card worth it for Kruger?
The Wild Card is SANParks' annual pass. Members don't pay daily conservation fees at Kruger or at any other national park in their cluster, for a full year from the date of purchase.
Until 31 October 2026, the South African SANParks cluster card costs R895 for an individual, R1,450 for a couple and R1,735 for a family. Compare that to the daily fees, and the break-even point comes quickly:
Individual: about 7 days in national parks a year
Couple: about 6 days
Family of two adults and two children: about 5 days
One long weekend in Kruger plus a couple of day trips elsewhere, and the card has paid for itself. Wild Card prices are also reviewed each year, so check the current price before you buy. International visitors can buy a Wild Card too; it's worth it for longer trips that cover several parks.
Day visitors: booking and gate quotas
If you're staying outside the park and driving in for the day, a few rules matter more for you than for overnight guests.
Gates have daily quotas. Each entrance gate admits a limited number of day visitors. On a normal weekday that's rarely a problem. On long weekends, Easter and the December holidays, popular gates in the south can fill early.
You can pre-book online. SANParks lets day visitors book entry ahead of time on its website, for a non-refundable booking fee (R59 per adult and R29 per child over the 2025/26 festive season). The conservation fee is still paid at the gate.
In peak periods, book an arrival slot. Over the last festive season, pre-booked visitors chose a time slot (05:30 to 08:00, 08:00 to 10:00, or 10:00 onwards) and lost their priority if they arrived late.
Wild Card holders still pay the booking fee when they pre-book, even though they don't pay the conservation fee.
Overnight guests aren't affected by the day visitor quota, as long as they have a confirmed booking.
If your dates fall over a school holiday, pre-book. If you can't, aim to be in the queue well before the gate opens.
Which Kruger gate should you use?
Kruger is about 350 km from north to south, so the right gate depends on where you're headed. Driving times below are approximate, from Johannesburg, without stops.
Southern gates
Malelane: the closest gate to Gauteng, around 4.5 hours from Johannesburg via the N4. Good for Berg-en-Dal and the southwestern roads.
Crocodile Bridge: the southeastern corner, near Komatipoort. Good for Lower Sabie and the busy, rewarding roads along the Sabie River.
Numbi and Phabeni: near Hazyview and White River. Good for Pretoriuskop and the Skukuza area.
Paul Kruger Gate: the closest gate to Skukuza, about 12 km away.
Central gates
Orpen: west of Satara, around 6 hours from Johannesburg. Good for the open plains around Satara, some of the park's best lion and cheetah country.
Phalaborwa: on the edge of the town of Phalaborwa, around 6 hours from Johannesburg. Good for Letaba and the Olifants River.
Northern gates
Punda Maria and Pafuri: the far north, 6.5 hours or more from Johannesburg. Quiet roads, baobabs and some of the best birding in South Africa.
The southern gates are the busiest. If you're arriving on a holiday weekend, an alternative gate a little further away can save you an hour in a queue.
At the gate: what to expect
Arrive early. In peak season, cars start queuing well before opening time. Being near the front of the line gets you onto empty roads in the first, best hour of the day.
Have documents ready: ID or passport for everyone in the car, your booking confirmation or Wild Card, and your vehicle registration.
You'll get an entry permit. Fill in the form, keep the permit with you for the whole visit, and hand it in on the way out. You need it to exit.
Expect a vehicle check for things like firearms, which must be declared.
Don't get caught by the closing gate
This is the gate rule that catches the most people out. If you aren't through your camp gate or exit gate by closing time, you can be fined, and you'll have broken one of the park's most strictly enforced rules.
It happens because Kruger distances are bigger than they look. The speed limit is 50 km/h on tar roads and 40 km/h on gravel, and once you stop for animals and other traffic, your real average is far lower. A camp 30 km away is easily an hour's drive. Add one good sighting on the way back and you're out of time.
A few habits that keep you safe:
Know today's closing time before you leave camp in the afternoon. It moves by half an hour or more between seasons.
Turn back at the halfway point of your time, not of your distance. Assume the return leg will take longer, because it usually does.
Be strict in the last hour. The late afternoon is prime time for predators, which is exactly when it's tempting to stay "five more minutes."
This is where opspoor helps. The dashboard shows today's gate times for the park you're in and counts down to closing. As closing time gets near, it works out how far you are from the nearest gate and, if you're cutting it too fine to make it at game-viewing speed, tells you to head for that gate now. Gate times are saved on your phone, so the countdown keeps working after you lose signal, which in Kruger happens a lot (see No Signal in Kruger?).
Make the most of the hours between the gates
The gate times tell you how long your day is. What you see in it depends on where you spend it.
The first two hours after opening are the best of the day for predators: the air is cool, the cats are still active and the roads are empty. Have a route planned the night before so you're not deciding at the gate.
Midday is for resting animals: lions under a tree, elephants at the river, and a toasted sandwich at a picnic spot such as Tshokwane or Nkuhlu.
The last two hours before closing bring the animals moving again. Plan to spend them on roads close to your camp or exit gate.
On opspoor you can see recent sightings and the patterns behind them on the Kruger park page, and Log a Sighting anywhere in the park, even with no signal: it saves on your phone and syncs once you're back in range. For a full plan of your days, try the Trip Itinerary builder. Still choosing your dates? Read Best Time to Visit Kruger National Park.
Frequently asked questions
What time do Kruger gates open?
Entrance gates open at 05:30 from October to March and 06:00 from April to September. Rest camp gates open at 04:30 from November to January, 05:30 in February, March and October, and 06:00 from April to September.
What time do Kruger gates close?
All gates close at 18:30 from November to February, 18:00 in March and April, 17:30 from May to July, and 18:00 from August to October.
What are the Kruger gate times in October?
In October, both entrance and camp gates open at 05:30 and close at 18:00. From 1 November, camp gates open at 04:30, entrance gates at 05:30, and all gates close at 18:30.
How much is the Kruger entrance fee in 2026?
Until 31 October 2026, the daily conservation fee is R134 per adult and R67 per child for South Africans, R275 and R137 for SADC nationals, and R602 and R300 for international visitors. From 1 November 2026, it rises to R140 and R70, R296 and R147, and R692 and R345.
How much does a day visit to Kruger cost?
For a South African adult, R134 in conservation fees until the end of October 2026, and R140 from 1 November. If you pre-book entry online, there's also a non-refundable booking fee.
Do day visitors need to book for Kruger?
Not always, but it's recommended. Gates have daily quotas for day visitors, and on long weekends and over the December holidays pre-booked visitors get priority. Outside busy periods, you can usually just drive up.
Do pensioners get free entry to Kruger?
No. South African senior citizens can get discounts on SANParks accommodation and camping on selected dates, but not on conservation fees. Free entry for South Africans is offered during SANParks Week, which usually falls in September. A Wild Card is the best way to cut the cost of entry.
What happens if you're late for the gate in Kruger?
You can be fined. Gate closing times are strictly enforced, so turn back early, and allow for the fact that your average speed in the park will be far below the speed limit.
Is there a separate vehicle fee at Kruger?
Not for private cars. You only pay the daily conservation fee per person. Open safari vehicles pay a separate vehicle fee.
Before you go
Check the gate times for your travel month, work out which fee period your trip falls in, pre-book if you're a day visitor over a holiday, and do the Wild Card maths if you'll be back within the year. Then download opspoor before you leave home: it shows you today's gate times, warns you when the closing gate is getting too far away, and lets you log every sighting along the way, signal or not.
Gallery
