Kruger National Park

For previous trips from 2018 to 2024 please refer to my blog edibiasutti.au.

I just returned from an exciting solo trip in South Africa. I had many people make me doubt my ability to continue travelling as I have done for the past several years. I feel I did more research than usual. I found one friend who has done safaris in all African countries with his wife, and self drove, who gave me the most support.  He understood my ability and I thank Arun for this support and advice.  I also accessed information on a highly informative FB page of  Solo Women Travellers Over 50 and asked the following specifically to local women in Johannesburg:  “Hi fellow travellers. I have everything booked for my drive from Joannesburg to Kruger as well as accommodation. Can local people provide tips on where I can stock up on what I should buy for the roadtrip. Thinking snacks, a food cooler etc. I am staying first night at the airport hotel. I normally use my phone GPS but been told not to have my pone in view. To leave my handbag in the trunk (boot – I’m aussie). I am aware of the high statistics of car jackings. What areas to avoid? Any other tips? Thanks in advance“.  

I knew there are 20,000 car jackings in South Africa per year so I needed to take care driving the 500km (300miles) from Johannesburg to Kruger.  

I arrived in Johannesburg airport at noon on 7 February 2025 and picked up my rental car at 1pm. I knew that I did not want to start a 6 hour drive and be driving through dusk or night so stayed at the  City Lodge Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport.  I felt very safe as I walked from disembarking the plane, to my hotel, to the car rental pickup, to restaurants and Woolworths all in the same building complex without going outside. I signed for my car rental with Europcar which I had booked with my usual broker billiger-mietwagen.de whom I use around the world. I always pay for the cheapest vehicle I require and almost always get an upgrade. This time I was given an upgrade to a Suziki Swift which was perfect. I would like anyone to see if they can get a better rate from any other company. I paid $165AUD for 8 days and that is including all full insurance.

After preparing my supplies for my roadtrip I left at 9am on 8 February 2025 to drive to my first lodge Kholiwe On Kruger Lodge & Safaris. There are so many places to stay inside and outside of Kruger National Park (KNP) as well as private reserves.  A lot of the private reserves have now joined Kruger so that the animals move across everywhere and there is only one big electric fence around Kruger. Kruger is 350 km (217miles) long and 60 km (37 miles) wide. Some reserves are still separated though. There is so much varied accommodation available from basic tent sites to 5 star lodges. You can find any type of accommodation you want and availability from the South Africa National parks website.  Although I just found my two from booking.com because I like the reviews which come with the site and I also get a decent discount because I have used them enough.

My drive to the first lodge had me take only one stop at Milly’s as everyone recommended this.  It’s a restaurant, fast food, fuel, truck stop which took me 2 hours.

2.5 hours later I arrived at the entrance to Marloth Park which is a wildlife sanctuary and shares a boundary with KNP.