Location: The Kruger Gate Hotel is located outside Paul Kruger Gate, which is the main gate of Kruger National Park (map below).  It is approximately 1.5 hours from the Nelspruit Kruger Mpumulanga Airport (MQP) near Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit), or 5 hours from O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg.  From MQP, a shuttle can be arranged with the hotel.  There are also occasional flights into Skukuza airport (SZK) inside Kruger Park; this is only 40 minutes away and the hotel can arrange a transfer, but be aware that you will have to pay the Kruger access fee when you leave the park, currently ZAR 486 for international visitors.

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Driving: A rental car is convenient and the roads are good. The drive from either airport is scenic and generally pleasant, but it is advisable to drive during the day. To drive from JNB, just follow google maps along the N12/N4 to the R40 to the R536.  To drive from Nelspruit Airport, choose the option that takes you via the R40 -- do *not* go via the R538 (when it splits from the R40), even if google says it is a bit shorter.  We may try to organise some ride-sharing if those renting a car are amenable.

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Facilities: The Kruger Gate is a full-service resort.  Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style with ample choices, served in the hotel restaurant.  Dinner is also an extensive buffet in a striking open-air setting.  Generally there is something available for any dietary preference, but if you have particularly special requirements please contact the organisers. On-site there is a spa, a fitness room, two pools, a children's play area, and several bars, along with viewing decks over the Sabie River where big game can occasionally be seen.

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Game drives: We hope to start a bit late on Tuesday morning and end somewhat early on Wednesday afternoon so that folks can go on morning & sunset game drives if they choose.  The hotel can arrange the game drives, but it is significantly less expensive for the exact same drive to walk to Kruger Gate and organise it directly with SANParks; they will send their vehicle to the hotel to pick us up.  We will try to coordinate this closer to the time.  You are also welcome to self-drive through Kruger, open from 6AM to 6PM, but note that the park allows a limited number of vehicles per day.

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Wifi: The hotel has reasonably good wifi.  If you want local cellphone service and data, it is straightforward to buy a (e-)sim card at Johannesburg airport, but if you are flying directly into MQP it may be better to pre-purchase an e-sim.  Vodacom reportedly offers the best signal strength in the Kruger area.  Inside Kruger Park, connectivity is available at the large rest camps but not really anywhere else.

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Weather: Late winter temperatures typically reach 27 C (80 F) highs and 15 C (50 F) lows, and rain is very rare.  If you do a game drive it will be chilly in the open-air vehicle; the hotel can provide blankets.  The malaria risk is typically low in the winter season, but it is always wise to take appropriate precautions.

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Visas: Citizens of the US, UK, and most but not all EU countries can get a 90-day tourist visa for free upon entry.

Many other nationalities, however, will require visas.  Please check the requirements and allow ample time to obtain the required visa. Contact the organisers if you need a letter of invitation. No vaccinations are required for entry into South Africa, except those from yellow fever risk areas.

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