New Tourism-Only Border Opens Between Kruger and Gonarezhou

There’s exciting news for adventure travellers and safari enthusiasts: a new tourism-focused border crossing has officially opened between South Africa and Zimbabwe, creating a fresh connection between two incredible parks—Kruger and Gonarezhou.

Launched on 15 June 2025, this pilot crossing near the Pafuri region is designed for pre-approved and scheduled tourism groups. While it’s not yet open to everyday travellers or self-drive over-landers, it marks the beginning of what could become a game-changing overland route through Southern Africa.

At the moment, access is limited to licensed tour operators and planned safari convoys. But the long-term goal is to develop a broader eco-tourism route that links Kruger, Gonarezhou, and eventually Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park—laying the foundation for an epic 4x4 transfrontier journey.

The new crossing has been introduced to:

• Strengthen cross-border eco-tourism between South Africa and Zimbabwe

• Support collaborative conservation efforts between protected areas

• Offer travellers a richer wildlife experience across different ecosystems

• Help reduce travel time by bypassing the busy Beitbridge border

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille described the opening as a major step forward for sustainable tourism and regional development. The tourism sector has welcomed the move, seeing it as a strong push toward meaningful, low-impact tourism that benefits both people and the environment.

This may just be the start of a whole new way to explore Southern Africa’s wild spaces—watch this space.