Country Living in Southern Africa

From the three border posts (Ressano Garcia, Pafuri and Giriyondo we have used to travel between Mozambique and South Africa, this could possibly be my favourite and I will discuss the reasons below. It might not be the best route for everyone and it definitely isn’t the shortest, but it is gorgeous.

The Route

To travel through Giriyondo Border post, you need to drive through Krugerpark and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier park. Park fees are payable on both the South African side (SANparks) and the Mozambican side (Parque Nacional do Limpopo). I will discuss the basic fees for persons travelling through/visiting the park and provide links or documents with any other fees or exceptions.

To drive through the Giriyondo Border Post a minimum of one night stay needs to be booked either in Parque Nacional do Limpopo or in the Kruger National Park.

South Africa (Kruger National Park)

Accommodation:

Logistically speaking the easiest two options for staying over would be Letaba Rest Camp (camping possible) or Mopani Rest Camp (camping not possible).

Alternative Kruger National Park options with no camping will be Olifants camp, Shimuwini Bush Camp, Boulders Bushveld Camp. Alternative options with camping or only camping will be, rustic Tzendze (no electricity), or Balule (no electricity). The smaller camps might be somewhat impractical, as you need time to check in at Main camps before driving to the smaller camps. Rates and availability for staying over in Kruger National Park can be checked on SANParks.

Conservation fees South Africa (Fees are subject to change as per SANParks communication) :

For driving through Kruger National Park, you will need to pay conservations fees per person in the vehicle.

For South Africans travelling through the park the fees will be R115 per adult (12 years and older) and R57 per child (2-11 years)

For SADC nationals with passport these fees will be R230 per adult and R115 per child (2-11).

For any other nationalities R460 per adult and R230 per child (2-11)

Fuel

You will need to fill up before you are crossing the border from South African side. Either fill up before entering the park or make sure ahead of time if you can fill up at the Kruger camp of your choice. On Mozambique’s side, there are petrol stations at Massingir, Chibuto and Chokwe. Rather fill up when you can, as things can change fast in Mozambique.

The Border

As for crossing the border, there is nothing strange here. You will however need proof of your accommodation booking within the park in either Mozambique or South African side.

Furthermore need anything you will need at any other border post and you need to keep within the legal requirements.

You can also relate to this previous article Tips for travelling in Mozambique between Lebombo and the Save river for more Mozambican border tips.

Giriyondo is not a commercial border post and you are advised to travel with a 4X4 vehicle, stretches of the road is once again becoming more corrugated, always check forums and social media groups if possible for latest travelling conditions.

Mozambique

Accommodation

According to my knowledge the accommodation options on the Mozambique side are as follows:

Covane Community Lodge at Massingir, please take note that the chalets are supplied with electricity by generator from 18h00 to 22h00 only.

Massingir Safaris We have never stayed over here, but they seem to be getting good reviews and reports on social media.

Parque de Limpopo Accommodation: There are accommodation options available in the park, but I struggle to find any recent reviews on them. If you have camped or stayed in any of them, please comment on this blogpost and share your experience. I will include a rate card below for the accommodation in the park.

Accommodation in Parque National do Limpopo can be booked through pnlimpopo@gmail.com or +258 843 011 719.

Conservation fees are also payable for Parque Nacional do Limpopo.

Adults older than 13 from SADC countries pay 600 Meticais per person

All other nationalities pay 900 Meticais per person.

Please note, as seen in the image below, there are different rates for the type of vehicle you are driving and if you are towing something.

Travel time

Kruger National Park

If you allow time for game viewing, travel time between Phalaborwa gate and Giriyondo border gate takes approximately 3h40. It is a total of 91 km of which the last 25 min is dirt road. You are permitted 50km per hour on dirt roads and 40km per hour on dirt roads. So you could technically do it in 2 hours, but who would want to miss a leopard in a tree or a pack of wild dogs if the opportunity arises. Remember to check SANPark’s website for the relevant gate open and closing times when planning your trip.

Giriyondo

The Giriyondo Border Post Official open and closing times are 08:00 until 16:00 (October – March) and from 08:00 until 15:00 (April – September)

With this border post, I would rather arrive early than late, because you will need enough travel time on both sides to get to your overnight accommodation before gate closing times. Travelling in the dark in Mozambique is never advised.

Parque National do Limpopo

Traveltime from Giriyondo border post to the turn-off at Chongoene on the EN1 (we drive past Chibuto) will roughly take 6 hours. So you can work on an estimated travel time of 50km per hour. The first part of the Transfrontier park is still very wild, so once again, you might want to allow time for game viewing, especially for the first 50kms past the border, after that, you will be driving through villages with cattle, goats and pedestrians. Sections of the Mozambique side is also corrugated which might slow you down.

Please don’t throw or give kids sweets. You are causing a situation where young kids who have barely learned to walk, go to the road unattended, which puts their lives in danger. If you would like to give, take the time to construct meaningful ways in which to do so without degrading people by throwing food out of a window at them. Find a project to contribute to or plan to take educational supplies to a school.

The Giriyondo Border post is an alternative route, but not a faster route. It is a lifestyle choice. If you want to travel faster, this is not the route you should consider. If you choose this border post, take the time to enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Have you travelled this route? Please comment any valuable information which I might have missed or travelling tips for prospective travelers. Or feel free to e-mail me updates at lizambooks@gmail.com

And lastly, if you regularly travel through Kruger with your family, you will love my Kruger books for kids! We are going to Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger National Park Activities and Journal