Kruger gate times in January
Gate times for a day in Kruger from Marloth Park in January 2027. It's the wettest month of the year, and the school holidays end on 12 January.
In January, Kruger's entrance gates open at 05:30 and every gate closes at 18:30, Crocodile Bridge included. If you're sleeping inside the park, the camp gates open earlier, at 04:30.
January gate times
| Gate | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance gatesCrocodile Bridge, Malelane and every other gate | 05:30 | 18:30 |
| Camp gatesFor guests staying inside Kruger | 04:30 | 18:30 |
Last checked 26 October 2026
January is the last of the three months when the camp gates open an hour before the entrance gates. Coming in from Marloth Park, the earliest you can be on a Kruger road is 05:30.
Sunrise and sunset in Marloth Park
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | 05:06 | 18:47 |
| 31 January 2027 | 05:28 | 18:44 |
Last checked 26 October 2026
The sun beats the gate all month. On New Year's Day it's up about 25 minutes before opening, and by the end of January the gap is down to a couple of minutes. Sunset comes after closing time, so you drive out of the park in daylight.
Holidays in January 2027
New Year's Day is Friday 1 January. The school holidays run 10 December 2026 to 12 January 2027, and schools reopen on 13 January.
The first 12 days are still festive season, when the gates most often reach their daily limit for day visitors. Kruger asked day visitors to pre-book last festive season. This season's dates hadn't been announced by 26 October 2026, so read quotas and pre-booking before you go. Once schools are back, the wait at Crocodile Bridge is much shorter.
What January is like in the park
January is the middle of the rainy season. At Skukuza in Kruger the average high is 33 °C and the average low 20 °C, and about 111 mm of rain falls, more than in any other month. Expect thunderstorms. With water lying everywhere, the animals spread out instead of gathering at the rivers and dams. Lesser spotted eagles arrive, and the marula trees start to fruit.
Heavy rain can close roads and gates. In January 2026 the Crocodile River flooded, and Crocodile Bridge gate was closed to day visitors from 14 January until it reopened on 22 January. For a few days all day visits were stopped. From 18 January day visitors could use Malelane gate again, with a cap on numbers, while Crocodile Bridge stayed shut until 22 January. After a big storm, check which gates are open before you leave home.
When to leave Marloth
Crocodile Bridge is about 20-30 min from Marloth Park. Leave by 05:00 and you'll be at the gate when it opens.
Lower Sabie is 34 km from the gate. Plan on an average of 30 km/h and that's a little over an hour, so leave Lower Sabie by 17:15 to be through Crocodile Bridge before 18:30.
The day fee from 1 November 2026 is R140 for a South African adult. See Kruger fees for everyone else.
Other months: December, February or the whole year.