SELF-DRIVE A BIT
You ought to self-drive a bit. But if you only manage to do a day trip, you will soon see why one day is not enough, and you are likely to be frustrated to boot.
LOTS OF GAME DRIVES
To get a very basic sense of the Kruger’s magic you need to experience at least one proper game drive, ideally off-road in a Private Reserve or in a concession where your Guides can track and follow the game.
GET OUT AFTER DARK
A night drive opens you up to a whole world of nocturnal bush activity. From the crepuscular animals who operate at dawn and dusk to the hunters active in the light of the full moon, you are missing out on half of the wonders around you if you do not do a night drive. Take time to look at the stars.
WALK
A bush walk is a must to get a totally different perspective. A bush braai (barbeque) under the stars gets your attention focused on your immediate surroundings for a couple of hours and is a mind-opening experience.
GET A GUIDE
Doing it yourself is great, but if you are new to safari, it is a spectacular false economy. Make sure that most of your activities are guided. You will see things (and many more of them) completely differently. Your safari becomes a rich interpreted experience like a real-time documentary and you will be amazed by what is going on around you and what clear signs are left behind. You will catch your guide’s passion.
SIT AT A WATERHOLE
You should go and sit at a waterhole for half a day, armed with binoculars, camera, a good book and some refreshment.
GO OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Head to where there are less people. These are elephants crossing the Limpopo river in Makuleke in the far north of the park. Go to places where you can feel the wilderness and solitude.
SIP ON A SUNDOWNER
The Kruger sundowner is an institution with some great imagination applied. Expect marvellous settings with views, whilst pausing for a break from your activities. Listen to the quiet broken by the rustling in the bush around you as the day shift is replaced by the creatures of the night.
TALL TALES AROUND THE FIRE
Sitting around a fire after a day in the bush epitomises the warmth and camaraderie of a good safari. We have our pick of the Kruger’s firepits…
SLEEP OUT
Sleeping out under the stars is a remarkable experience, on the ears as well as the eyes. You can be dropped in a safe location (with a guide nearby) to enjoy the peace and solitude of a view over a waterhole or river. Remarkable.
DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Go hot air ballooning, fly up the Blyde Canyon in a microlight, handle some snakes, go on a bobsled, swing over Graskop gorge, play some bush golf….
SPLURGE A BIT
Indulge yourself. You are on holiday. The Kruger has some of the finest and best located lodges and restaurants in the world.
STAY IN A RESTCAMP
Once you have got the hang of it, make time to stay at a government restcamp. They are all mostly well-located, clean, well-provisioned and great fun if you are in a group (cook your own steaks over the fire). They were the original Kruger experience and a worthwhile contrast to today’s gold standard Kruger found in the private lodges.
If all of this sounds difficult to organise, we’ll do it for you, departing from wherever you wish in South Africa. Or we can arrange for you to join an organised Group trip from a local centre. Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa and Nelspruit all have airports and are good starting points.
