South Africa/Zimbabwe: New tourism-only border crossing links Kruger National Park and Gonarezhou National Park!

update 17 April 2026 

As of now, there has been no official confirmation that the tourism-only border crossing between Kruger National Park (South Africa) and Gonarezhou National Park (Zimbabwe) will reopen for the 2026 season starting on 01 May 2026.

The facility, located at the Pafuri–Sengwe access point through the Sengwe–Tshipise Corridor, operated only as a pilot project from 01 May to 30 November 2025 to assess feasibility and demand for cross-border tourism within the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA). That pilot was approved jointly by the Home Affairs ministries of South Africa and Zimbabwe, the South African Border Management Authority (BMA), and ZimParks.

Authorities had planned to evaluate the 2025 trial after November to decide whether to extend or make it permanent. As of mid-April 2026, no update or reopening announcement has been released publicly by SANParks, ZimParks, or the GLTFCA Joint Management Board.

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For the first time ever, travellers will be able to journey seamlessly between South Africa and Zimbabwe through a scheduled, tourism-only border crossing right in the heart of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA). This exciting new development officially connects Kruger National Park and Gonarezhou National Park, offering an extraordinary opportunity to experience one of Africa’s most iconic wilderness areas across national borders.

The new access point will operate seasonally between 01 May and 30 November 2025, via the Pafuri–Sengwe crossing along the Sengwe-Tshipise Corridor. The initiative, approved by the Ministers of Home Affairs of both South Africa and Zimbabwe, is a pilot project aimed at enhancing transboundary eco-tourism while supporting conservation and local communities. It marks a significant milestone in the long-term vision of GLTFCA, which aims to allow free wildlife movement and joint tourism operations between South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

This will not be an open border post in the traditional sense. Access is strictly limited to pre-approved, scheduled crossings—no more than twice a week—and is reserved for 4×4 vehicles only. Crossings will only take place between 11:00 and 15:00, and all travellers must follow a minimum 4-night itinerary, which includes at least two nights in the Makuleke region of Kruger National Park (or other approved accommodations like Awelani Lodge) and additional nights in Gonarezhou National Park or surrounding lodges in Zimbabwe. The initiative is carefully designed to support low-impact, high-value tourism that respects the environment and uplifts surrounding communities.

To use the crossing, travellers must register their travel with both South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) at least 14 days in advance. Immigration exemption forms must be completed and submitted before the journey, and identification, health, and vehicle checks will be carried out at Pafuri Gate on the South African side and a designated point in Zimbabwe. Visa requirements remain in place and must be met according to each country’s regulations.

It’s important to note that this is a tourism-only crossing. The movement of commercial goods is prohibited, as is the transport of large quantities of personal medication, plant or animal products, or any non-prescribed substances. Travellers are expected to comply fully with biosecurity rules and to travel in a manner that aligns with responsible tourism practices - this includes staying on designated roads, disposing of waste properly, and respecting wildlife and local cultures.

Located in one of Africa’s most ecologically diverse and culturally rich landscapes, the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) spans the borders of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. This pilot tourism corridor offers a rare and immersive way to explore the vast wilderness of southern Africa across two iconic national parks. Whether tracking elephant herds through ancient baobab forests in Gonarezhou National Park or listening to the call of fish eagles along the Luvuvhu River in  Kruger National Park's far north, this cross-border experience promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime journey.

For nature lovers, conservation enthusiasts, and intrepid safari-goers, the opening of the Pafuri–Sengwe crossing represents a unique and historic opportunity to witness the future of transboundary tourism in Africa—where borders fade and the wild takes centre stage.

Coronavirus pandemic: TAZARA has released an update on its passenger train services in Tanzania & Zambia! [update]

update (06 August 2020): TAZARA's cross-border passenger trains between Tanzania and Zambia remain suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, until further notice. 

update (20 July 2020): TAZARA's cross-border passenger trains between Tanzania and Zambia remain suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, until further notice.

update (30 May 2020): The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has repaired the track formation that got damaged at KM32 in Mwakanga (32 kilometres south-west of Dar es Salaam), following a landslide that occurred on 30 April 2020 and resulted in the track being rendered impassable. Train operations have now resumed.

update (25 May 2020): The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has announced the resumption of services in Zambia. Following the easing of the lockdown in the city of Nakonde, Passenger Train operations between New Kapiri Mposhi and Nakonde have been resumed.
The Mukuba Express Train will, from 26 May 2020, run on the usual timetable, departing New Kapiri Mposhi at 16:00 and return from Nakonde on Saturday 30 May at 16:47. The cross-border passenger trains between Tanzania and Zambia remain suspended until further notice.

update (23 May 2020): The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is frantically working on restoring train operations following a disruption occasioned by a landslide that occurred on 30 April 2020 around the Mwakanga area, 32 kilometres south-west of Dar es Salaam. The landslide was caused by heavy and persistent rainfall in the area, which weakened 35 metres of the track formation, rendering the railroad impassable.

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has relased a update on its passenger train services. According to TAZARA, the passenger train service between Tanzania and Zambia will remain suspended until further notice due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Mukuba Passenger Train for Zambia (Kapiri Mposhi <> Nakonde) also remains suspended until further notice, due to the lockdown in Nakonde. The Kilimanjaro Passenger Train for Tanzania is also not operating, due to technical reasons, until further notice. Only the Udzungwa Shuttle Train (Kidatu <> Makambako) and the Dar es Salaam Commuter Train (Dar es Salaam <> Mwakanga) are currently running on schedule.
The TAZARA Railway, operated by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), is a railroad in East Africa linking the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with the town of New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province.

Tanzania / Zambia: TAZARA suspends border crossing for passenger trains!

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has announced that both the Mukuba Passenger Train and Kilimanjaro Passenger Train will no longer cross the border between Tanzania and Zambia with effect from 30 March 2020 until further notice due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The trains will instead continue to run within the respective boundaries of the two countries. This adjustment in passenger train operations is inline with the measures taken by the Government of Tanzania and the Government of Zambia in the effort to control the spread of the virus. However, freight train operations are not affected by this change.

The new operational schedules for the two passenger trains will be as follows:

Mukuba Passenger Train:

• The Mukuba Passenger Train will depart New Kapiri Mposhi as it normally does on Tuesday, but terminate and u-turn at Nakonde on Wednesday, arriving at New Kapiri Mposhi on Thursday. The train will run again on Friday from New Kapiri Mposhi to Nakonde, u-turning at Nakonde on Saturday and arriving in New Kapiri Mposhi on Sunday.

Kilimanjaro  Passenger Train:

• The Kilimanjaro Passenger Train will depart Dar es Salaam as it normally does on Tuesday, but terminate and u-turn at Mbeya on Wednesday, arriving at Dar es Salaam on Friday, early in the morning. The train will run again on the same Friday from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya, u-turning at Mbeya on Saturday and arriving in Dar es Salaam in the early hours of Monday.

The TAZARA Railway, operated by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), is a railroad in East Africa linking the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with the town of New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province.

Kruger National Park to introduce new border gate crossing regulations

Visitors who travel through the Kruger National Park (KNP) using its northern border gates, like Pafuri or Giriyondo, as ports of entry or exit through to the neighbouring countries such as Mozambique will be required to produce a valid overnight booking in either Kruger National Park or Limpopo National Park, effectively from 01 December 2011.
To allow visitors who have already planned their holiday schedule in Mozambique but have not secured accommodation booking yet, an additional fee of R150 per person will be charged to allow one to travel via the Park; however one should still provide valid proof that no accommodation is available in either of the two National Parks and possess the required travel documents. This option will only be available for a period of six months, effectively from 01 December 2011.
Essentially, without a confirmed booking and confirmation that all facilities are fully booked, such travellers will be refused admission and they would need to use other routes outside the Park leading to their destination.
The new control measures were introduced to reduce and eventually eliminate the number of vehicles using the gates as a drive through basis only, which is having a negative impact on the park as well as on its regular visitors (heavy laden, un-roadworthy vehicles, speeding, road kills etc.).
According to SANPark's HOD: Public Relations, William Mabasa, the routes for the border gates are classified as tourists roads only and do therefore not allow for any commercial traffic.