Kruger National Park

We were captivated by the pulse of the bush and variety of wildlife encountered.

We were very fortunate to see plenty of wildlife & had the awesome experience of coming across a pride of lions with their zebra kill at 4.30am very near our camp. The recent drought had taken its toll on the vegetation but the scenery was still interesting. We stayed at Satara & Lower Sabie Camps which were both very adequate & allowed us to self-cater breakfast & lunch & to either bbq or eat in the restaurant for dinners. I would recommend taking your own groceries as the choices at the camps we somewhat limited. We self-drove which was fantastic because it gave us flexibility in gaming times & when we could stop. We were on the road each day at 4.30, back at camp for lunch, swim & rest then out again late afternoon. I am a keen photographer and was like a kid in a candy store with all the photo opportunities that Kruger National Park presented but I am now keen to visit Sabi Sands and/or Okavango Delta where I understand the sightings are more frequent per kilometre travelled. This trip has certainly put the unique African bush & wildlife in our hearts & we can't wait to return in the near future.

Good views of Leopard, lion, elephants, many white rhino, honey badgers, wild dogs and the highlight was a cheetah and a fair number of birds although less than in Sabi Sands.
We stayed at Lukimbi in South Krüger. To sum things up: Friendly, good guide, good food, nice lodge with a nice room (number 9, without a nice view though), many mammals seen and some nice bird species such as Ground Hornbill and Secretary Bird.

Another fantastic safari in Kruger

This was our second visit to Kruger, and once again it did not disappoint. On our first day, we were treated to the sight of 4 male lions and one female at kill. One of the male lions walked right by our vehicle - amazing. Another highlight was a huge herd of 50-60 elephants crossing the road in front and behind our vehicle - essentially surrounding us. It was magical! During our four days at Kruger, we saw plenty of other animals, including hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, hyenas, wildebeest, buffalo, impala, kudus, warthogs, baboons, and vervet monkeys. On the last day, down near Pretoriaskop, we saw several rhinos - a good area to see these magnificent creatures.

We stayed in the rest camps inside Kruger. The first two nights were at Skukuza and the third night was at Pretoriaskop. In both camps, we stayed in rondavels (round huts), which were very comfortable, including air conditioning, private bathrooms, and outdoor kitchens. There are lots of facilities in both camps, Skukuza being the biggest of the two. There were nice views overlooking the Sabie River from Skukuza - we could see lots of elephants and hippos. The pool at Pretoriaskop - built into the rocks - is especially nice. My only minor complaint is that I found the food in the camps not quite as good as when I was last at Kruger in 2006, but it was still fine overall.

It's like being inside a nature documentary!

I could not believe the density and diversity of wildlife we saw in a single day's drive. My previous frame of reference remained confined to National Geographic, ZooBooks, and other popular media. I had always believed these professionals to have camped out for days and weeks on end, just to glimpse a few species here and there, and perhaps some do, just to capture the "perfect shot." However, as mere tourists, we were only too delighted to find ourselves immediately confronted with giraffe, families of elephants, baboons, myriad of antelope species, rhinos, and even hippos, something we did not expect to see in the dry season. Occasionally our spotter pointed out reclining leopards, cheetahs feasting on fresh kill, and lions tucked away in the shade, avoiding the heat. The acute vision of our eagle-eyed man could not be lauded more.

It may be the goal of some visitors to spot all Big Five, which our group succeeded in accomplishing, but it surely would not have been any less rich an experience if we had not. It is not every day we see an eland stand majestically around a bend in the road. It is not every day we see hyenas lurking in the shade. It is not every day that we see any fan of fauna traverse the bush-lined roads. We nearly missed a giraffe standing practically next to our truck because eight of us sat snapping shots of another creature on our right side. Every thirty seconds brought with it a new herd or species to admire or photograph. Absolutely one of the most surreal days of my life.

In the evening we stayed at Nsele Lodge, full of individual bungalows, each equipped with a gigantic shower, sink, and oscillating fan or two. Optional access to a centrally-located chlorine pool or cushioned camp fire paired superbly with our homemade, al fresco dinner, all set against a backdrop of palm trees and starry skies. We slept exceedingly well. Bonus: two to three chubby small dogs could be found trotting around!

The Best Honeymoon Imaginable

My husband and I spent two weeks in the Greater Kruger area while on honeymoon. We spent six days at Gomo Gomo and six days at Arathusa. Overall, our experience was amazing. The vast array of species left us in awe. In fact, on multiple occasions we experienced the Big Five in a single game drive.

Having stayed in the area during winter, we were able to avoid the pestering bugs and the bush that hides the wildlife. I would highly recommend this time of year. At each of the locations we enjoyed our guides and our accommodations. While Arathusa was certainly a more polished destination, you certainly pay for it. That being said, it was a better all around experience--in terms of food, guides, and scenery. Their watering hole was absolutely superb.

If I would make one change to our trip it would be our decision to drive from the OR Tambo to the park. Being from America, driving on the other side of the road was a difficult transition for my husband. Taking this stress out of the vacation would have been wise.

A Must See for Wildlife Lovers

Kruger is a wonderful National Park whether you are experiencing it with a tour or on your own. Roads are good and the accommodation is a welcome oasis after a day of game viewing. It's also the perfect place to meet up with other people and swap stories of the animal encounters of the day. Every day can bring something new from seeing a family of elephants enjoying the watering hole to following a lion on a hunt. A night drive is also a good way to see other animals that usually don't make an apperance during the day, such as a new hyena mother with her baby cubs enjoying the cool night air. Kruger National Park was a highlight of our travels through South Africa.

Always an amazing experience that keeps me coming back year after year

This was about my 20th holiday in the Kruger National park. In the space of 4 days we got close up and personal with the entire Big 5, and more, and experienced the true beauty of wild Africa at its best. This place never fails to impress me, Ive been coming here since I was a child, and will continue to return as often as I can for as long as I am able to do so.

The best place to see African wildlife by your own.

Kruger National Park is the best place for watching animals in a self-drive safari. You feel really in contact with the wildlife, very close to them literally. And there are a lot of animals, variety and density altogether. A paradise for a wildlife photographer, whether you are a pro or not. The scenery is awesome because you drive through all kinds of African landscape, beautiful ones, even if it is dry, wet, hot hot or chilly, at dawn or sunset. Accommodations in Kruger offer just what you need, you do not need anything else to enjoy the park. The fact of self-drive make this experience more adventurous, and the friendly other tourist you meet, instead of disturbing your solitude, help you to find animals in the bush. The food they offer is fine, but the possibility of cooking by yourself or braai makes it more enjoyable. I am spanish, I've been six times already in this park, and I spend all the time recommending this trip for holidays.

Awesome

If you are a wildlife and outdoor lover then the Kruger National Park is the place for you. We spent 4 nights in the southern parts of the Park and saw lots of animals (although this is not allways the case). We had an awesome sighting of 17 lions on a buffalo kill and came across rhinos 6 times, not to mention all the buffalo, giraffe, birds and other animals we saw.
Accommodation in the Park are mostly very basic, allthough private more expensive options are available.
If you are interested in photography then the hide, Lake Panic, near Skukuza is recommended.

Best place on earth

We have spent six weeks in the Kruger National Park and we enjoyed it immensely. There is no shortage of wildlife. You are more than likely to see the big five here than in any other national park. The infrastructure is excellent and all forms of accommodation are available from the luxury safari lodges to the simple hut or camping. All camps have restaurants and have well-stocked shops. Activities like guided bush drives, wilderness trails, bush walks, 4x4-trails and selfdrive make all part of the vast amount of possibilities to spend an unforgettable time in the Kruger National Park.

The northern half of the Kruger is less busy than the southern part. It's recommendable not to visit the park during South African holiday season as the it is also hughely popular with South African Citizens. As far as the climate goes, any time is possible. For game viewing winter is better, as the animals can't hide in the tall grass so well and they are likely to be seen at the waterholes because of the draught. If your stay is longer than a week or you want to visit other National Parks within your holidays, check if it's worth to buy the wildcard, which gives you deals and allows free entry to almost all of the parks in South Africa.

The reason why we return again and again is not just for the wildlife but also for the sheer beauty and size of the Park. Above all it's affordable, even for people on a shoestring budget.