Krugersdorp
Introduction
Krugersdorp is a mining city in the West Rand of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It was founded in 1887 by Marthinus Pretorius and Abner Cohen, after the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand created a need for a major town in the west of the reef. The government bought part of the Paardekraal farm and named the new town after the Transvaal president, Paul Kruger.
Krugersdorp no longer has its own municipal government; it was integrated into Mogale City Local Municipality along with surrounding towns, and it now serves as the seat of government for Mogale City.
Before you go
Krugersdorp sits in a mining district, and that fact shapes what you should expect before you arrive. Gold, manganese, iron, asbestos and lime are all extracted in the area, so the town's identity is industrial and working rather than resort-like. Plan your visit around that context rather than against it.
Getting there
By car, Krugersdorp is straightforward to reach from the surrounding cities. From Pretoria, follow the N14 west until it joins the R28 (Paardekraal Drive), then follow Paardekraal into town. From Johannesburg, take the M47/Gordon Road turnoff (exit 78/Roodepoort) from the N1 and follow Gordon Road for about a kilometre until it crosses Ontdekkers Road. Turn right into Ontdekkers and follow it until the name changes to Voortrekker Road, which carries you into Krugersdorp.
- From Pretoria: N14 west to the R28 (Paardekraal Drive), then Paardekraal into Krugersdorp.
- From Johannesburg: M47/Gordon Road (exit 78/Roodepoort) off the N1, then Gordon Road, Ontdekkers Road and Voortrekker Road.
Metrorail commuter trains run from central Johannesburg roughly every one to two hours, with a journey time of just under an hour; the trains have a reputation for being somewhat grubby and often overcrowded. Krugersdorp railway station is the stop in town. By air, the town is served by the Jack Taylor Airfield, easily accessible from Pretoria via the R28/N14 highway and more commonly via the N1. Lanseria International Airport on the R511 is used for travel to Pretoria, while OR Tambo International Airport, South Africa's main international airport, lies in Johannesburg.
Getting around
Krugersdorp is a sprawling mining city, so the easiest way to get around is by road. The main arteries are Paardekraal Drive (the R28) and Voortrekker Road, which continues from Ontdekkers Road if you are arriving from Johannesburg. From Pretoria, follow the N14 west until it joins the R28, then follow Paardekraal into town. Having a car gives you the most flexibility, particularly for reaching the game reserve, the heritage sites and the airport, and most day-to-day needs in the business centre and shopping malls are within reach by road.
Krugersdorp has a railway station connected to central Johannesburg by Metrorail commuter trains, which generally depart roughly every one to two hours and take just under an hour; the trains have a reputation for being grubby and overcrowded, so keep an eye on your belongings. There is no tram or metro-style network in the city itself. Minibus taxis are the mainstay of local public transport and connect Krugersdorp with Johannesburg, Pretoria and neighbouring towns — inexpensive and frequent, but confusing for first-time visitors, so it helps to know your destination and ask which rank or route to use. Ride-hailing apps are a convenient alternative for shorter trips around town, to the malls and business centre, and for avoiding taxi ranks. For airport transfers and day trips to the game reserve or heritage sites, a private transfer or hire car is generally the most straightforward option. Walking works for exploring the town centre, business district and malls once you are there, but the distances to the main attractions make it impractical for covering the city as a whole.
Where to stay
Most of Krugersdorp's accommodation clusters around the game reserves west of town along the R24, where you can sleep inside a reserve rather than simply visit one. Ngonyama Caravan Park offers caravan and tent sites with a convenience store, take-aways, a pool, laundry and an ablution block, while Ngonyama Lion Lodge in the same reserve has bed & breakfast rooms and self-catering chalets. The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve also has chalets if you would rather base yourself among the wildlife.
In town, Samia Guesthouse & Functions on Voortrekker Rd is a guesthouse with double en suite rooms and a full breakfast included. The Rabbit Hole Guest House & Restaurant on Viljoen Street has en suite rooms with private balconies, separate entrances and free wi-fi, plus large gardens, safe parking and an on-site restaurant; it sits a short walk from the shops and waterfront restaurants at the Key West Shopping Centre. Further out along the R24 towards Rustenburg, Big Creek Guest Lodge has double and family self-catering units, a fisher-man's log cabin and a more romantic log cabin, along with a residents-only games room and bar.
Food & drink
For a light meal, head to Ana-Paula's Coffee Shop on Sarel Oosthuizen Street in Monument, a small spot across the road from the Fort Harlech blockhouse that draws a local crowd with its food. Die Boomhuisie on Buiten Street, reached by taking Viljoen Street west from Key West Shopping Centre, is another option for eating out. The source lists no specific bars or drinking establishments for Krugersdorp, so plan your evening drinks around the restaurants and coffee shops above rather than expecting a dedicated nightlife strip.What to see and do
In Krugersdorp you can spend your time outdoors, among wildlife, or indoors at a casino complex. The Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens sits on the border with Roodepoort and offers a butterfly garden, walking trails of up to 4 km, and a waterfall in cliffs where eagles and peregrine falcons nest. History buffs can visit the Paardekraal Monument or Fort Harlech on Sarel Potgieter Street, a historic fort from the Anglo-Boer War. For wildlife, head to the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, a 1400-hectare reserve with hippo, rhino, giraffe, several species of buck, wildebeest, zebra, ostrich, lions and a bird aviary, with lion feeding on Sundays and a caravan park and lodge inside the park. The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve offers game drives, horse trails, an observatory, abseiling, a swimming pool and braai and picnic areas. Motorsport fans can catch the South African National Drag Racing Championships at Tarlton International Raceway. Silverstar Casino provides indoor and outdoor dining, a cinema, a lounge, laser tag and gambling, along with entertainment and conferences.Three days in Krugersdorp
Day one: Arrive in Krugersdorp, the administrative seat of Mogale City Local Municipality in the West Rand of Gauteng Province, South Africa. From Johannesburg, take Ontdekkers Road or Gordon Road through Roodepoort, or follow the Metrorail line; from Pretoria, approach via Paardekraal Drive. Minibus taxis and metered rides serve most local trips, though walking suits the central grid. Settle in and orient yourself around the town's gold-mining heritage, then take an evening drive to Jack Taylor Airfield to watch light aircraft come and go.
Day two: Trace the town's Voortrekker and republican roots. Paardekraal, where Marthinus Pretorius and Paul Kruger feature in the story of the Transvaal, is the anchor of any visit, and the Witwatersrand gold story shaped the settlement around it. Spend the afternoon in the Mogale City core, where Abner Cohen's name survives in local memory, and end with a slow loop past the old mining landscape on the West Rand.
Day three: Use the morning for the quieter edges of Krugersdorp. Ngonyama Caravan Park suits a relaxed stop if you are travelling with your own vehicle. If you are flying out, Lanseria International Airport, OR Tambo International Airport or Pretoria are your onward options; otherwise return to Johannesburg by road or rail. Plan your departure around the afternoon traffic on Ontdekkers and Voortrekker Road.