Phabeni Gate

About Phabeni Gate

Phabeni Gate is the closest entrance into the Kruger from Hazyview – just 10 kilometres. For those travelling to Kruger from Nelspruit for the day, Phabeni gate makes the already easy journey even simpler – you're in the magnificent Kruger in just over an hour and a quarter.

Did you know? Phabeni means 'shelter' in Sotho.

The gate was built as recently as 2002 to try and give those travelling from Johannesburg or Pretoria into the southern parts of the Kruger National Park, via Hazyview, easy access.

Phabeni is a pretty, modern gate and worth entering just to catch sight of the three indigenously themed rondavels that greet you at the gate – a really interesting contrast to the rather traditional brick and thatch buildings through the rest of the park.

"Phabeni" is the name of the stream over which you cross a little later. Entering the park at Phabeni means you have access to game almost immediately after leaving Hazyview, rather than driving the rather tedious roads to Skukuza or Pretoriuskop entrance gates.

Kruger promises good game viewing right from the gate because of a geological island of basalt-like gabbro (dark, coarse-grained rocks that are the chemical equivalent to basalt) in the area that support sweeter grass than in the sourveld. This attracts grazers and browsers, despite the sparser vegetation.

Be aware that once in the gates of the Kruger you will only be able to travel an average 40 km an hour. If you intend reaching Skukuza via Sabie River Road factor in a further two hours along a road best avoided during heavy rains. Doispane Road to Skukuza will take an hour and a half. Pretoriuskop, from Phabeni gate, is an hour's drive along Albasini Road with some good lowveld views en route.