The greater Kruger area is one of the largest wildlife areas in Africa, encompassing the Limpopo Transfrontier Park which has protected a huge area overlapping three countries (South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe). The Kruger has great wildlife density and offers some amazing opportunities, however it is important to select the right area in order to meet and exceed your expectations. The Kruger is absolutely perfect for some and most certainly not for others, for those after an authentic ‘out of Africa” experience this is not the place, for those looking for an intro to safari or a few more modern comforts while on safari this offers the best value options in Africa. Below is just a brief overview of a few areas and our thoughts.
When we talk about the Kruger we are generally not talking about the national park itself but rather much of the unfenced private concessions surrounding the park, this is not to say there are not some good spots inside the park or indeed some private areas inside, however, much of the national park itself consists of tarmac or well made roads and can be accessed easily in normal 2 wheel drive cars, this has led to a fairly mass tourism type of affair and is something that can be easily avoided, so we do…
A Private Reserve that borders the Kruger National Park offers, in our opinion, a far better safari experience than much of what is available within the national park itself. There are difference within each of these areas, of course, and the Sabi Sands is one of the stand out reserves in the whole of the country, it is made up of a number of concessions, each owned by a company with only their vehicles having access to their area making for a very exclusive experience in contrast the main park. With a great chance to see the Big 5 and exceptional Leopard sightings combined with great accommodation options this really is hard to beat for those looking to get up close to wildlife and maintain certain levels of luxury and comfort.
Similar to Sabi Sands this is an unfenced reserve that borders the Kruger national park, it has a really good range of accommodation and some of the best value properties in the Greater Kruger area. The game density in this area is possibly not quite as high as in the Sabi Sands but it is a larger area with fewer properties and does have a very wild feeling to it. Those looking for a great value Big 5 experience can certainly find it in the Timbavati Private Reserve.
There are a lot of reserves and concessions in the Greater Kruger, some of which are home to fantastic properties and great game viewing. If you are considering a safari in South Africa then get in touch with us and we can help to talk through the best options for based on what will make your safari perfect.
The Kruger has a very different climate to Cape Town but this is not a surprise when the scale of the country is taken into consideration. The best time to visit the Kruger is during the winter dry season from June to October, the evenings and mornings are cool but days are generally warm with lovely blue skies, this is also the best time for game viewing when the bush is thin and wildlife relies on permanent water sources.
As you would expect South Africa has an extensive internal flight network that operates really good schedules. There are a number of airports in the Greater Kruger and which is better will depend on where you are staying as getting the wrong one can result in a very long day in a vehicle. The most frequently used are Hoedspruit and Phalborwa in the north and Mpumalanga and Skukuza in the souther sector.
Game driving and walking safaris are the main activities in the Kruger, however, this is South Africa and there is simply a huge variety of activities in the surrounding area, from mountain biking and rafting to wildlife sanctuaries and bungee jumps..
Top Kruger area properties
Leadwood Lodge
Sabi Sands, Kruger, South Africa
Perfect for luxury on safari, South Africa is known for its luxury lodges and this is one of the best in this category…on top of the accommodation the safari is pretty amazing too!
Garonga
Makalali Reserve, South Africa
Perfect for amazing value and very high standard safari in a private reserve close to Kruger National Park, this is in our opinion one of the best value safari options in South Africa.
Dulini
Sabi Sands, Kruger, South Africa
Perfect for affordable luxury. In any other country Dulini would be a top end luxury lodge but because this is South Africa it sits comfortably in the middle and offers fantastic value.
Arathusa
Sabi Sands, Kruger, South Africa
Perfect for one of the best priced properties in the famous Sabi Sands private concession adjoining the Kruger National Park.
Top South Africa itineraries
Classic Safari
Duration: 7 nights
Guide price: £2,650