In the Kruger region, there are plenty of accommodation choices, some regional centres, an international airport and of course Greater Kruger National Park.
The Kruger National Park region, roughly speaking, is anything near the wildlife reserve.
Airports
If you’re thinking of flying to Kruger National Park, the biggest nearby airport is Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. The airport isn’t actually in Kruger Park, but in the Kruger surrounds, between Nelspruit and White River.
The closest Kruger National Park gate to the airport is Numbi Gate, 40km (25 miles) away.
Accommodation Near Kruger Park
Let’s have a look now at popular accommodation around Kruger Park. These places are all in Mpumalanga Province, which is around the south-western part of the park:
| Accommodation | Closest Kruger Park gate | Closest town |
| Grand Kruger Lodge | Crocodile Bridge Gate 22km (14 miles) | Hectorspruit 23km (14 miles) |
| Kruger Park Lodge | Phabeni Gate 10km (6 miles) | in Hazyview |
| Kruger View Lodge | Crocodile Bridge Gate 11km (6.8 miles) | in Komatipoort |
| Malelane Sun Hotel | Malelane Gate 4km (2.5 miles) | Malelane 16km (10 miles) |
| Pestana Kruger Lodge | Malelane Gate 1km (.6 miles) | Malelane 6km (3.7 miles) |
| Protea Hotel Kruger Gate | Paul Kruger Gate 100m (110yds) | Hazyview 35km (22 miles) |
| Royal Kruger Lodge | Crocodile Bridge Gate 23km (14 miles) | Komatipoort 28km (17 miles) |
Regional Towns
There are a number of small towns in the Kruger National Park area. Many of them are useful to note as they can be a convenient place to fill up your car with petrol or buy groceries before entering the park.
Although you can get both these things in the park, the grocery selection is definitely better at supermarkets than at the general stores in the park. They’re just not big enough to have the same range that a supermarket has.
Two popular regional centres near the park are:
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- Hazyview, which is in the province of Mpumalanga. It’s a small farming town with a big banana industry.It’s 398km (247 miles) from Johannesburg. If you’re travelling to Paul Kruger Gate which is a further 35km (22 miles), you’ll pass through Hazyview. There’s also a good chance you’ll travel through Hazyview if you’re going to one of the private game reserves.
- Phalaborwa, a mining town just over the border in Limpopo Province. It’s a good place from which to access Kruger National Park if you’re planning to enter at its central region.Phalaborwa is 496km (308 miles) from Johannesburg and Phalaborwa Gate to Kruger National Park is another 2km (1.2 miles) along.
Greater Kruger National Park
Next to Kruger National Park lie a number of private game reserves. Collectively, they’re known as Greater Kruger National Park and this area’s filled with luxury safari lodges.
Kruger To Canyons Biosphere
On top of this is the UNESCO Kruger to Canyons Biosphere incorporating part of the Kruger region.
A biosphere is a special area where internationally important ecosystems and protected areas are right next to developed areas. Biospheres are designated to help find solutions to balance conservation and sustainability.