A Kruger day trip from Marloth Park

When to leave

The gates open and close at different times through the year. These leave-by times give you about 30 minutes from Marloth Park to the gate. Coming back, they allow about 75 minutes from Lower Sabie to Crocodile Bridge at an average of 30 km/h, which is the speed to plan on.

Months	Gate opens	Leave Marloth by	Leave Lower Sabie by	Gate closes
November to January	05:30	05:00	17:15	18:30
February	05:30	05:00	17:15	18:30
March	05:30	05:00	16:45	18:00
April	06:00	05:30	16:45	18:00
May to July	06:00	05:30	16:15	17:30
August and September	06:00	05:30	16:45	18:00
October	05:30	05:00	16:45	18:00

See gate times for the full table and a page for each month. In school holidays and on long weekends, leave earlier and read up on quotas and pre-booking first.

From November to January, people staying inside the park can leave their camps at 04:30, an hour before you can get through Crocodile Bridge. If being out at first light matters most to you, spend a night or two at Lower Sabie or Crocodile Bridge camp. Marloth Park or inside Kruger weighs it up.

Routes from Crocodile Bridge

Lower Sabie on the H4-2

The H4-2 runs north from the gate to Lower Sabie camp on the Sabie River, tar all the way. It was the first road built in Kruger, and it's one of the best roads in the park for game. At Lower Sabie you can turn around or carry on along the river.

A loop back on the S28

The S28 (Nhlowa Road) is a gravel road across the grasslands near the Lebombo hills. It joins the H4-2, so you can drive up one road and come back on the other. Most of Kruger's gravel roads closed after the January 2026 floods, and many were still closed in July. Ask at the gate whether the S28 is open.

West along the Crocodile River

The S25 (Crocodile River Road) heads west from the gate along the river. Its first turn-off, the S27, goes to Hippo Pools. Hippo and crocodile are often there, and there are San rock paintings near the pool. The S25 gets busy, so start early. It's gravel, so check that it's open.

Further north on the H4-1

From Lower Sabie the H4-1 follows the Sabie River towards Skukuza. SANParks handed over the rebuilt flood-damaged culverts on this road in September 2026. It makes for a long day from Marloth, so work out your turn-around time from the closing time before you set off.

Where to stop

You may only get out of your car at camps, picnic sites and other places marked for it.

• Lower Sabie camp has a shop and a restaurant. A fire damaged the shop in April 2026. In October 2026 the restaurant was due to relaunch as the Sabie River Café, with temporary dining and limited menus while it's refurbished.
• Nkuhlu picnic site is on the bank of the Sabie River, on the H4-1 between Lower Sabie and Skukuza. It has a small shop with basic supplies.
• Mlondozi picnic site looks out over Mlondozi Dam, about 15 km from Lower Sabie off the S29 gravel road. It gets crowded in peak season.
• Crocodile Bridge camp, at the gate, has a small shop with takeaways and coffee.

While the shop and restaurant at Lower Sabie are being sorted out, pack padkos for the day and plenty of water.

What to take

• ID or passport for everyone, and your Wild Card if you have one.
• A bank card. Crocodile Bridge and Malelane are cash-free gates.
• Food and water for the whole day, and a bag for your rubbish.
• A full tank. The fuel station at Crocodile Bridge camp closed for maintenance in October 2025.
• Binoculars, and a hat for the stops.

From 1 November 2026 the day fee is R140 for a South African adult. Kruger fees has the rates for everyone else.

Rules on Kruger's roads

• The speed limit is 50 km/h on tar, 40 km/h on gravel and 20 km/h in camps. SANParks runs speed checks and fines offenders.
• Stay in your car except at camps, picnic sites and marked places. Keep the doors closed, and don't lean out of windows or sunroofs.
• Don't feed or disturb the animals. Litter counts as feeding, because animals eat it.
• Stay on the roads. Off-road driving and "no entry" roads are off limits.
• Be out of the gate before it closes.

Please don't share where you've seen rhino, online or in sightings groups.

A guided drive instead

If you'd rather not drive yourself, SANParks runs sunrise, sunset and night drives from Crocodile Bridge camp, and you can book them while staying in Marloth. For other options, see game drives.