Kruger is one of Africa’s greatest national parks and the cornerstone of safari tourism in South Africa. Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres in the northeast of the country along the Mozambique border, the park supports enormous populations of the Big Five alongside hundreds of other species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. What makes Kruger different from many African parks is the level of infrastructure and the freedom to do self-drive safaris. You can rent a car, stay in one  of the park’s many rest camps at very reasonable rates, and drive your own game-viewing routes. This makes Kruger accessible to a much wider range of travellers than the more expensive fly-in reserves of East Africa. For those who prefer a guided experience, the private game reserves bordering Kruger, including Sabi Sands, Timbavati, and Thornybush, offer some of the most luxurious safari lodges on the continent. These areas have no fences with Kruger, so wildlife moves freely between them, and game drives here typically deliver exceptional leopard sightings in particular. The best time to visit Kruger is during the dry season from May to September, when vegetation is low and animals concentrate around waterholes. The park is accessible year-round, and the summer months from November to April bring lush green scenery and excellent birdwatching. Getting to Kruger from Johannesburg involves a drive of about five hours through Mpumalanga, or a short domestic flight to Hoedspruit or Phalaborwa airports. Kruger is a bucket-list destination for good reason, but its scale and infrastructure mean it is also one of the most practical safaris to organise.