Kruger National Park

Our first trip in January 2017 was so great we returned in June and are going back a third time.

When we moved to Swaziland we knew we'd be close to Kruger and we figured we'd make one or two trips before our time in this part of the world came to an end. What we didn't plan on was how much we enjoyed our first trip there (in January 2017). Because of this trip there was a second one in June, and another upcoming trip confirmed for December.

For the January trip, a three night stay, we opted to stay inside the park at Skukuza and we didn't regret this decision. The self-catering accommodation was comfortable, well built, located next to a river allowing for additional sightings of wild game, and secure. The weather was great for two of the days and a bit misty and rainy on the other, but that didn't slow us down. In fact, due to the recent history with the drought we enjoyed a bit of rain.

One distinct advantage of being inside the park is the ability to begin your touring earlier than those looking to come in from the outside. Despite having the option to join a guided tour we self-drove all weekend as it gave us flexibility and our own vehicle was better suited for my elderly father who accompanied us. One benefit of taking a guided tour is they know where the animals tend to hang out and they use radios to communicate.

Despite the fact we blindly drove around for two full days and half of a third we saw a large variety of animals and birds. People asked us, "Did you see the big five?", as if that was the goal. Our goal was to experience the park, see what we could see, and enjoy the memories that came along as a result. We saw four of the big five (missed a cheetah) but my lasting memory will be the two male kudus fighting for territory or a female on the other side of the river as we relaxed at the end of the day. A large herd of elephants crossing the same river the day before is also a lasting memory. On day two we had a young, solitary, bull elephant diplomatically tell us to back up was a bit of a wake up call that perhaps we shouldn't have lingered as long as we did taking his picture. I guess he didn't like paparazzi. These are the memories we went looking for and we found them.

I'm not much of a birder, but after you've photographed the big game, you start looking for something different. If you're a birder there's plenty there. The hornbill sifting through elephant feces remains my favorite from the first trip.

It's difficult for me to be enamored with the scenery at Kruger because I've been to places that are much more scenic. You don't really go to Kruger for the scenery, you go to see wildlife. The topography is unremarkable when compared to other parts of Mpumalanga Province.

Lastly, we had the opportunity to engage with other tourists and we found several who had a similar mindset and outlook about the pace as we did. In fact, everyone we spoke to was pleasant, relaxed, and willing to engage. You will meet people from all over the world there, and there's a reason for that, it's simply worth going to see.

Impressive

It is difficult for me to evaluate the Kruger Park alone because my trip is to spend two weeks including three other safaris.
The fact of traveling in 4x4 of 6-8 people is appreciable, the diversity and the landscapes there are an asset for who want to have fun with his camera. Indeed, we had the great chance to see the Big Five (Twice on two safaris .... incredible !!!).
What sets it apart is the immensity of the park as you can stay away from the wildlife by driving long distances, or take the cross-roads to get close to it. Each species takes ownership of its geographical area, you can also target the ones you want to see by contacting the Rangers who keep each other informed of their migrations, and their knowledge is a wealth of information.
If this is your first safari, this is the must-see park and it will be necessary to devote at least two days to fill up memories.

Balance sheet:
A true happiness, this park is immense, truly immense; so it all depends on how long you stayed there, or the luck you have.
Trust the Rangers to understand and learn.
This park is necessary for the preservation of wildlife.
Little more, the month of January is calmer.
One thing is for sure, I would go back someday.

too many cars to enjoy the quietness we expect when observing animals

Other parcs where more adventorous

The Kruger NP is one of the premier parks in the world for wildlife . This also applies to all the private concessions which abut the Kruger. It is an easy destination to get to (flying/car) and attracts around a million visitors a year. This is also reflected in the number of people visiting the private adjoin concessions, Hence the bush vibe which you get in some of the remoter parks and areas in southern Africa (eg Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Tanzania)) is not as pronounced. This may be different for some other South African areas

Have seen several lioness and a lion close to our car. That has been the highlight.
We have spent 2 days in that National Park but you can spend even more time because there is a lot to discover.

The most amazing and pleasant wild life experience

Being the largest game in SA, the beautiful land, which borders onto Mozambique offers a magnificent scenery, being situated in the warm par of SA, Mpumalanga, the weather is always great which is also favorable to all the wild animals hosted by the game reserve. There are many hotels and guest houses in and around the Kruger and the one we stayed in offered was rightly positioned on the border of the Krruger river and we could still see some animals wondering along the fence. Inside the game game reserve we was a host of wild animals, birds, vultures and reptiles. We were able to see 4 of the Big 5 animals, we didn't get to see the Rhinos. The food was delicious and the service was excellent.

The wildlife is great in Kruger and it was the only place where we saw the Lions and Giraffes. You can drive in Kruger for hours to see or don't see the animals as there is a thick vegetation and the terrain is flat. My advise take a game drive so you will have your views from a higher position and the rangers contact each other about the wildlife so you will see more on your trip.

Fortunate to have visited this region in time. Future of wildlife is in danger because climatchange

If you want to get the feeling of the wildlife and the region you must stay at least 3 to 4 days. Great to visit by own car, but certainly use the local organized sunset, sundown and night drive. We were lucky to spot the big five and the dangerous eight. Also many birds and small animals.
We stayed at Olifant rest camp. Great place to be with a spectacular view from the top of the hill. Good food, friendly people.
We visited SA self organized because as photographers it is very difficult to be part of a group. Be sure to get your bookings online long time before.

Unmatchable experience!

This was my first trip to Africa, and seeing so much wildlife, so close to our guide's truck, was breathtaking. Others have told me that they prefer other parks and game reserves because of the lack of greenery, but my group was very satisfied with our experience.

We were lucky enough to stay inside the park's borders, at Skukuza camp. We were glad to be able to do so, since having to leave the camp each evening and drive back in the morning would have minimized our morning/evening wildlife drive windows; most animals are more active during those hours.

It's impossible to predict what animals you will see on any given drive, and some of ours were disappointing. Others were stunning! After being told leopards are only rarely spotted in the park, we saw two on the same drive, one ambling across the road. On another occasion we hadn't seen anything particularly for the first hour or so, then stumbled across our first, huge herd of zebras.

There were plenty of other people around, both at Skukuza and driving around the park. It was impossible to forget the real world when you spotted other cars every five or ten minutes. Still, for someone who's previously only seen this kind of wildlife in zoos, it was a life-changing experience.