Day trips from Marloth Park
Kruger is the day trip most people take from here. With a spare day, Mozambique and Eswatini are both close, and the Panorama Route works if you don't mind a long drive.
Mozambique's Lebombo border is about 32 km from Marloth Park, and Maputo is 1 h 50-2 h 15 min away by car before you add the border. Eswatini's Jeppe's Reef border is 67-78 km away. The Panorama Route is the long one: God's Window is about 196 km each way, and the full loop is about 7 h 20 min of driving. The closest day out of all is Kruger, so see our Kruger day trip guide too.
Which trip suits you
- Go to Mozambique if you'd like lunch in another country. Maputo is a realistic goal for a day, and the beaches need at least one night.
- Go to Eswatini for mountain roads and waterfalls. The Piggs Peak area fits into a day, but Mbabane is a stretch.
- Do the Panorama Route if you're happy to spend most of the day in the car. If you can, add a night in Graskop or Hazyview.
Crossing a border for the day
Mozambique and Eswatini both need a passport for everyone in the car, children included. An ID book or card won't get you across. If a child is travelling with only one parent, carry a consent affidavit from the other parent, because South African border officials can ask for one. The government's guide to travelling with children explains the rules.
Bring the car's registration papers. A financed car needs a letter from the bank, and a hired car needs a letter from the rental company saying you may cross. Ask the rental company about this before you book the car.
The borders close at night, and the queues are longest over Easter and the December holidays. Leave early with some padkos in the car, and give yourself plenty of time to get back. Each country's page has the border hours.
