Pafuri - short cut in the Kruger National Park

We entered the Kruger National Park at the Pafuri gate, the most northern gate to the park. The 30 km along the Levuvhu and Limpopo rivers to the border post on the north-eastern side, was in sharp contrast to the dry western parts of our tour up to now that we got used to. The northern parts of the park received rains.The trees and grasses are green, the gravel roads are firm and dust-free, the birds and animals are in good shape.

The Pafuri border post is one of two gates that provides access between Mozambique and South Africa via the Kruger National Park. This is also a link for the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park which was established after the multi-national treaty was signed by presidents Joachim Chissano (Mozambique), Thabo Mbeki (South Africa) and Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) on 9 December 2002.

The border post is quiet with mostly tourists and locals making up the 200 to 300 people crossing per day. No commercial traffic (trucks) are allowed here. The infrastructure in terms of buildings is surprisingly big and resemble earlier police and military presence in the area. The border post was closed after the Limpopo floods of January 2013 and only re-opened on 12 September.   

People entering South Africa at this post need to prove accommodation reservations in the Kruger National Park of at least one night. It is not well enforced and the numerous people from Mozambique that we saw entering, were clearly not wild life enthusiasts. This could lead to the Kruger National Park becoming an undesirable access route.

Pafuri Gate, north-western entrance gate to Kruger National Park

Pafuri border post on the north-eastern border of Kruger National Park