← Johannesburg City Marathon·3 nights

Three Nights in Kruger: A Slow Safari After a Marathon

Three nights in Kruger after a rest day in Johannesburg, with the long drive to the park taken in daylight.

Duration3 nights
TransitRoad transfer from Johannesburg to the park, or a flight (check current schedules)
DepartsJohannesburg

After the Johannesburg City Marathon: Three Nights in Kruger

The Route: Johannesburg → Malelane Gate → Berg-en-Dal (1 night) → Lower Sabie (2 nights) → Johannesburg Logistics: SANParks puts the drive at roughly four to five hours to Malelane Gate, plus time inside the park. Book gate and camp access in advance. Marathon Month: March Duration: 3 nights

Johannesburg ──(road, 4 to 5 hours)──> Malelane Gate ──> Berg-en-Dal (night)
                                                                 │
Johannesburg <──(road)── Lower Sabie (2 nights) <────────────────┘

Treat this as a separate trip that begins after the race, not as the next leg of it. Rest in Johannesburg on the day of the marathon, then drive the next morning, or fly if the schedules suit. A long drive straight from the finish is a poor way to begin a holiday.

March in the Lowveld: the end of the rainy season, hot and humid, with thunderstorms. Gravel roads can be slow after rain. Malaria advice for Kruger depends on the area and the season, so get individual guidance from a travel clinic before you go. FCDO advises against the Numbi Gate approach, so check its current guidance before choosing your route.

Night One: Berg-en-Dal

Berg-en-Dal is the camp nearest to Malelane Gate. Check the gate closing times before you leave Johannesburg, because they limit how late you can arrive. Take the evening easy, and eat at the camp.

Nights Two and Three: Lower Sabie

Lower Sabie sits on the Sabie River, with a restaurant terrace that overlooks the water. Drives from a vehicle are the recovery plan: book an early morning drive, then rest through the heat of the day. Check what each camp includes and book rooms with air conditioning if the weather is hot.

Getting Home

Leave the camp early on the last day for the drive back, and allow a margin for traffic before an international flight from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). A night in Johannesburg before flying home is safer than a tight same-day connection.