Kruger National Park: Important travel advisory for school holidays (28 June – 21 July 2025)!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has issued a travel advisory for Kruger National Park as the South African school holidays are currently underway, running from Saturday, 28 June to Monday, 21 July 2025. With a significant increase in visitor numbers already being experienced during this peak travel period, SANParks urges all guests to plan carefully, book online in advance, and strictly adhere to all park regulations.
Kruger National Park remains a popular destination for families looking to unwind in nature over the holidays. Due to expected high volumes, daily gate quotas will be strictly enforced. Visitors are advised to secure their entry permits in advance through SANParks’ online booking platform to avoid disappointment at the gates.

To manage traffic flow and ensure a smooth entry process, SANParks will implement staggered gate time slots:

• Time Slot 1: 06:00 – 08:00
• Time Slot 2: 08:00 – 10:00
• Time Slot 3: 10:00 onwards

Please ensure you arrive during your selected time slot to avoid delays.

To maintain safety and ensure compliance with park rules, SANParks will increase the presence of traffic officials and visitor management personnel throughout Kruger National Park. These teams will monitor:

• Speeding
• After-hours travel
• General road behaviour

All visitors are expected to cooperate with rangers and officials. Any incidents of rule-breaking or misconduct can be reported to gate reception staff or via the emergency call centre number listed on your permit.

Motorists with temporary vehicle registration plates must carry supporting documentation. Vehicles without number plates will be denied entry at all gates, and any vehicle found inside Kruger National Park without plates will be impounded. Offenders will be fined under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act No. 57 of 2003).

For a safe and enjoyable visit to Kruger National Park, visitors are reminded not to remove or tamper with "No Entry" signs, as this poses a serious safety risk to others. Travellers should allow ample time for their journeys - drive safely, relax, and take in the park’s natural beauty. 

Cape Nature: Free entry for kids during the school holidays (June/July 2018)!

CapeNature, the public institution with the statutory responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, is offering free entry for children aged 16 and younger to all its 25 nature reserves along the West Coast, in the Winelands, in Overberg, the Cape Karoo as well as along the Garden Route and the Little Karoo during the current school holidays (22 June 2018 - 16 July 2018) in South Africa. Normal conservation (entry) fees apply to parents.

Kruger National Park: Gate quotas in force during the coming school holidays (June/July 2018)!

South African National Parks (SANParks) will enforce daily quotas for day visitors at the entrance gates to Kruger National Park over the coming school holidays starting on 23 June 2018 (Saturday) until 16 July 2018 (Monday). Through the day visitor quota for Kruger National Park SANParks aims to better manage the expected volumes of visitors, as well as to improve the visitors' expectations. SANParks has introduced three time slots, of which day visitos can choose from. It is advised to book a time slot prior to arrival, as pre-booked day visitors will get preference over non-booked day visitors at Kruger National Park's entrance gates.

The times slots below will apply:

• Time slot 1: 06:00 to 08:00
• Time slot 2: 08:00 to 10:00
• Time slot 3: 10:00 onwards
  

Pre-booked day visitors must ensure that they arrive within the time slots, as per their reservation. Arriving outside the booked time slot, will be regarded as non-booked and therefore not preferential. These bookings can be changed through SANParks Reservations offices. Visitors will be able to book up to 80% of day visitor quota per gate.

Visitors should also take note of the following important information:

• Day visitor bookings are subject to a non-refundable booking fee of  R41 per adult and R21 per child.
• Day visitors who have pre-booked will still be required to pay conservation fees or use a valid Wild Card to enter Kruger National Park. The conservation fee for residents of South Africa is R83 per adult and R42 per child (between ages 2 – 11) and for international guests it is R331 per adult and R166 per child.
• Guests planning to use Wild Cards are requested to ensure membership is valid before arrival and this can best be done online at www.sanparks.org/wild
• The number and profile of persons (adults and children) on the reservation and actual persons arriving should correspond.
• All guests (drivers and passengers) may be required to identify themselves upon admission (SA driver's license, identity document or passport).
• Due to existing contractual arrangements with Open Safari Vehicles (OSVs), they are regarded as booked for all day visitor admissions.
• Gate quotas will be applied and un-booked guests could be denied entry.

School/public holidays in Botswana 2017!

The Government of Botswana has published the 2017 school calendar on their official facebook page. According to the post, school holidays in Botswana take place:

• 12 April 2017 - 01 May 2017
• 17 July 2017 - 31 July 2017
• 25 September 2017 - 02 October 2017
• 02 December 2017 - 08 January 2018

Public holidays in Botswana 2017:

• 01 January 2017 - New Year's Day
• 02 January 2017 - Public Holiday**
• 14 April 2017 - Good Friday
• 15 April 2017 - Public Holiday
• 17 April 2016 - Easter Monday
• 01 May 2017 - Labour Day
• 25 May 2017 - Ascension Day
• 01 July 2017 - Sir Seretse Khama Day
• 17 July 2017 - President's Day
• 18 July 2017 - Public Holiday
• 30 September 2017 - Botswana Day
• 02 October 2017 - Public Holiday**
• 25 December 2017 - Christmas Day
• 26 December 2017 - Boxing Day

** Whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following on it shall be a public holiday. If 2nd January, 1st October or Boxing Day falls on a Monday, the following Tuesday shall be observed as a public holiday. When Botswana Day falls on a Saturday, the next following Monday shall be observed as a public holiday. [src.]

School/public holidays in South Africa, Namibia & Botswana 2017 >>