Phalaborwa Gate will launch you into central Kruger National Park and all it has to offer. Set off on the 4×4 Malopeni Eco-Trail, explore the Masorini Iron Age archaeological site and carry on to the heart of the central region on a guided game drive.
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If you’re planning to be based at the town of Phalaborwa, getting to Kruger National Park will only take a moment. The gate is on the edge of town, a mere 2km (1.2 miles) from the centre (but a sizable 498km (309 miles) from Johannesburg!).
There’s a decent selection of accommodation in Phalaborwa. The following map from Booking.com shows places, prices and distance to the gate.
Booking.comIf you’re catching a plane to Phalaborwa’s Kruger Park Gateway Airport, the distance between it and the park gate is only a stone’s throw away at 3km (1.9 miles).
Once you’re at the gate, you’ll need to pay the Kruger Park entrance fee.
If you need some refreshments, there’s a little souvenir and coffee shop in a round thatched hut just before the gate.
The nearest main rest camp to the gate it Letaba, 51km (32 miles) away to the east.
Malopeni Eco-Trail
This 4×4 route starts at the gate. It’s an overnight trail which heads north-east of the gate and follows the Letaba River.
The adventure trail is self-drive, but you’ll need to follow the ranger’s vehicle.
Game Drives
Park and Ride game drives leave from the gate. They run in the morning and afternoon. They’re a good option for a taste of Kruger National Park if you want to try a tour by a Kruger Park ranger.
Masorini Iron Age Site
This archaeological site is 12km (7.5 miles) from the gate as you head towards Letaba Rest Camp.
The Ba-Phalaborwa people lived there during the 1800s. The site is famous for the iron mining and smelting industry the people developed. Some of the site has been reconstructed at the museum there.
There are lots of interesting options available from this gate and convenient routes further north.