Kruger National Park
THE SYMBOL OF SOUTH AFRICAN PRIDE
We normally don't steer our travellers down the well-trodden path and you'd be forgiven for thinking Kruger is exactly that because it's probably the only national park in Africa you might've heard of. But fear not, this place is vast. To the extent of two million hectares - larger than Wales to put it bluntly. And what that ensures is that in addition to easily finding the Big Five here, your search can be conducted in relative solitude and privacy. If you only have a few days in which to fit your animal safari, and ticking off the Big Five is the priority, make Kruger your destination.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - 5 DAYS
Day 1&2 - Your Kruger NP safari starts in the park's southwestern corner where you'll visit the celebrated Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Famous for its exclusivity and leopard sightings, the park is also home to two perennial rivers being the Sabi and the Sand, both of which sustain a strong population all members of the Big Five. Another differentiating feature of Sabi Sand is that night drives are permitted - one of the reasons you can expect to encounter that most elusive of cat species, the leopard. Whilst in Sabi Sand, you'll be staying in genuinely historic accommodation nestled in lush riverine landscape of the Sand River.
Day 3-5 - After your luxurious stay in the Sabi Sand, you'll move north to Kruger Park itself for three days in rugged natural beauty at Ngala Safari Lodge. An ideal place for families, days at Ngala are spent doing pretty much anything you can conceive. From dedicated photographic days to private game walks to participating in the darting of a rhino for research, Ngala really delivers. As home to large numbers of all members of the Big Five, your safari to Kruger promises much and you can expect to leave having seen your fill of elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo and wild dog to name a few.
alternate self-drive itinerary - 6 days
Day 1-3 - Given its proximity to Johannesburg and sophisticated infrastructure, Kruger is the perfect location for a self-drive safari. Don't be daunted - we'll book the vehicle, arrange the route and book your accommodation in the park for you. That will then give you the freedom to be your own tour guide and tick off the species on your respective bird and mammal lists. The first three days of your self-drive safari will focus on the southern part of Kruger, famed for its abundance of white and black rhinos. They're under constant threat however and Kruger is a bizarre combination of rhino haven and anti-poaching front-line because of its border with Mozambique. If you'd like to know more before your trip, visit the home of rhino conservation.
Day 4-6 - From the game-rich (and sometimes people-rich) south, we'll direct you north to Kruger at its wild and rugged best. You might not get the same concentrations of animals here, but you'll find the animals all the same and your wildlife spectacles will be memorable for the fact that you will enjoy them in peaceful solitude. Equally as enticing is the change in scenery that you'll witness as you traverse northward. The terrain becomes more arid and the golden evening vistas somehow more enchanting. Once you've checked in to your desired camp in the north, you'll be able to book a guided bush walk with a qualified guide - an activity that is thoroughly worth your time. If you have the time and a passion for the wilderness, its flora and fauna and hiking, we can also arrange an extended wilderness walking trail for you.
