South Africa safari maps
South Africa safari maps for practical trip planning
Understand the relationship between safari regions, gateway cities, Kruger gates and camps, domestic travel and practical route choices. These original maps are planning aids, not live navigation tools.
Choose the map that answers your route question
Use the national maps for broad trip structure, then move to the Kruger, Greater Kruger, Addo or KwaZulu-Natal maps for destination context. Confirm operational information with the responsible park, reserve, lodge, airline or transport provider before travel.
Planning map
South Africa Safari Regions and Gateways
A national orientation map connecting the main arrival cities with South Africa's major safari regions.
Map in words
- Cape Town sits in the southwest and connects by domestic flight to Johannesburg, Gqeberha and Lowveld safari gateways.
- Johannesburg is the principal inland gateway for Pilanesberg, Madikwe and onward travel to Kruger and Greater Kruger.
- Durban connects with Hluhluwe iMfolozi and the iSimangaliso wetland and coastal route.
- Gqeberha is the gateway for Addo and wider Eastern Cape safari planning, with the Garden Route extending west.
Map data and place relationships from © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open map data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL).
Operational labels checked against the responsible official sources on . The authorities and OpenStreetMap do not endorse this guide.
Planning map
Kruger Gates, Camps and Gateway Airports
A north-to-south orientation showing Kruger's nine public entrance gates, principal rest camps and main gateway airports.
Map in words
- Northern Kruger is oriented around Pafuri and Punda Maria gates, with Punda Maria and Shingwedzi as principal camp anchors.
- Central Kruger includes Phalaborwa and Orpen gates, with Mopani, Letaba, Olifants, Satara and Orpen camps.
- Southern Kruger includes Phabeni, Paul Kruger, Numbi, Malelane and Crocodile Bridge gates, with Skukuza, Pretoriuskop, Lower Sabie, Berg-en-Dal and Crocodile Bridge camps.
- Gateway airports shown are Phalaborwa, Hoedspruit, Skukuza and Kruger Mpumalanga International.
Map data and place relationships from © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open map data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL).
Operational labels checked against the responsible official sources on . The authorities and OpenStreetMap do not endorse this guide.
Planning map
Kruger Itinerary Planning
Three schematic planning structures for short, balanced and longer Kruger stays, without prescribing live driving routes.
Map in words
- A short trip should remain in southern Kruger around one compatible camp area.
- A balanced stay may connect southern and central Kruger using two camp anchors.
- A longer progression can move from southern through central toward northern Kruger only when enough nights and realistic move days are available.
Map data and place relationships from © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open map data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL).
Operational labels checked against the responsible official sources on . The authorities and OpenStreetMap do not endorse this guide.
Planning map
Greater Kruger Orientation
A broad orientation to Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand, Timbavati and the principal Lowveld gateways.
Map in words
- Kruger National Park forms the large eastern public-park context.
- Sabi Sand is shown broadly southwest of Kruger and Timbavati broadly west of central Kruger; boundaries are intentionally approximate.
- Mbombela and Hazyview support southern access, while Hoedspruit supports central Greater Kruger access. Skukuza sits within southern Kruger.
Map data and place relationships from © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open map data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL).
Operational labels checked against the responsible official sources on . The authorities and OpenStreetMap do not endorse this guide.
Planning map
Safari Options from Johannesburg
A route-choice map comparing north-west safari options with onward Lowveld and Kruger travel.
Map in words
- Pilanesberg lies northwest of Johannesburg and is the shorter road-access relationship shown.
- Madikwe lies farther northwest and is presented as a lodge-based destination requiring confirmed transfer planning.
- Kruger and Greater Kruger lie east of Johannesburg, reached by longer road travel or flights through Mbombela, Skukuza or Hoedspruit gateways.
Map data and place relationships from © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open map data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL).
Operational labels checked against the responsible official sources on . The authorities and OpenStreetMap do not endorse this guide.
Planning map
Cape Town and Safari Combinations
A national route map showing practical domestic-flight and road combinations between Cape Town and major safari gateways.
Map in words
- Cape Town can connect through Johannesburg or current domestic services to Lowveld gateways including Mbombela, Skukuza and Hoedspruit.
- Cape Town can also connect east by road through the Garden Route or by domestic flight to Gqeberha for Addo and Eastern Cape safari planning.
- Every combination requires a protected domestic travel day and separately confirmed airport-to-park or airport-to-lodge transfer.
Map data and place relationships from © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open map data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL).
Operational labels checked against the responsible official sources on . The authorities and OpenStreetMap do not endorse this guide.
Planning map
Addo and Eastern Cape Safari Planning
An orientation to Gqeberha, Addo's principal access areas, the Garden Route connection and wider Eastern Cape safari context.
Map in words
- Gqeberha is the principal city gateway shown south of Addo.
- Addo Main Entrance is shown north of the core orientation, while Colchester and Matyholweni provide the southern access context.
- The Garden Route continues west from Gqeberha, while the Eastern Cape private-reserve region is shown only as a broad planning area.
Map data and place relationships from © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open map data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL).
Operational labels checked against the responsible official sources on . The authorities and OpenStreetMap do not endorse this guide.
Planning map
KwaZulu-Natal Safari and Wetland Route
A north-coast orientation linking Durban and Richards Bay with St Lucia, Hluhluwe iMfolozi and iSimangaliso destinations.
Map in words
- The route progresses north from Durban through Richards Bay toward St Lucia.
- Hluhluwe iMfolozi lies inland from the St Lucia and iSimangaliso coastal context.
- uMkhuze, Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay continue the broader northward wetland and coastal sequence; protected-area boundaries are not shown precisely.
Map data and place relationships from © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open map data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL).
Operational labels checked against the responsible official sources on . The authorities and OpenStreetMap do not endorse this guide.