NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The real bush.
I have been to Kruger a good number of times now, but I still remember my first time in 2006. The main thing that stuck with me of that trip was a bit of disappointment. As a kid I always watched nature documenteries on Discovery channel because of that, I kind of expected Kruger to look more like the Serengeti plains, or the Okavango. This fault was purely my own due to a lack of preparation and I would tell this to first-timers. This initial thought might have been a bit negative but it was quickly turned around by all the wildlife we saw. Nothing beats the sense of awe of seeing your first elephant walking next to the car. It became addictive in a way and I have returned many times.
Kruger is the Bush. I have been to other parks but none of them had the same Bush vibe. It can get very crowded in the south of Kruger though. This means car pile-ups and sometimes fighting for a spot to see things. The positive of a lot of cars means a lot of eyes spotting for animals. I have seen many a lion that we probably would have missed if it was just our own car driving. If the south is too crowded, there is always the middle of Kruger. You can easily see the Big Five (hate that name) there in a day if you are lucky, with a few legendary 'cat' roads. Or go to the north, near Shingwedzi or Punda Maria. Beautiful landscape and if you spot an animal, it often is yours as there aren't many other cars around.
About the subject of self-drive tourists: this is definitely a positive to me. I like driving our own car, at our own pace, doing our own thing. Sure, in a gameviewer you are higher up, the drivers have radio communication for good sightings and they get to drive at times when regular tourists can't. It is more of a safari feel for sure, but as an amateur photographer, I prefer to have an own car. Early morning or at night, I won't be able to take good photos anyway. Don't get me wrong, it is fun and a great experience to drive in a gameviewer, but in the end, self-drive has my preference.
The accomodations in Kruger are great. From simple camping sites and tented camps to nice rondavel cottages, and high-end accomodation (which I have never used). There is something for everyone. All camps have some similarities but also their own vibe. There are (expensive) shops, which are great for souvenirs but food is expensive, so bring your own if you can.
Kruger National Park is a big park, and a great one. You can go there on a budget in your own car, with a small tent or you can go with your own decked-out SUV and stay at the luxury housings. You can go to the north for a bit of the 'old-Kruger' feel or go to the south with high densities of animals. Go wherever you want, whenever you want. Go for a quick weekend-trip when you happen to be in the area or stay there for a week, travelling from camp to camp. A holiday within a holiday. Go in the winter when everything is dry for easy viewing, especially at the waterholes, or go in early summer, when everything looks fresh and green, with lots of baby animals running around. Any time of year is a good time to be in Kruger, because you will be in Kruger.
under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A safari experience that will stay with me for a life time.
I visited Kruger National Park with a college group as part of a wildlife study tour. When I originally heard that we would be visiting the park I thought we would only be seeing animals from a distance. The first day at Kruger I was blown away with the scenery and the amount of different animal species that we got up close to. We had close encounters with elephants, giraffes, white rhino, buffalo, hyena, zebra and many others. The second day we where lucky enough to see a pride of lions and on the third day we saw a cheetah up close. Seeing these animals in there natural habitat was one of the things that made the experience surreal, nothing else will compare.
My experience at Kruger National Park was made complete by the raw beauty of the scenery. This was the first time I had visited South Africa so I didn't know what to truly expect, but what I saw I fell completely in love with. Ever though it was going into winter when I visited, the landscape was still stunning.
The accommodation we stayed at was amazing, complete with a pool and excellent food facilities. Around the fence of the accommodation wild animals could be seen, even hyenas in the early hours of the morning which was really exciting.
Overall I feel like I have left a little piece of my heart there and I hope to return soon.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Safari, great safari company
We enjoyed it tremendously. It was great to be in the midst of nature surrounded by all different animals. We are extremely satisfied with all the planning, accommodation and the safari guide we had. We would like to thank Swift Travel & Tour Management for putting together our fantastic holiday, we thoroughly enjoyed everything!
Karumuna safaris
Omg murchison national park has got varieties of animal species barbon giraffes lion's i cant name it even lots of birds of different kinds it was really amazing traveling with karumuna safaris . I wish i can come again to have more most at night on camp fire
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic service!
Had a wonderful experience, would recommend this company to family and friends. Everyone was lovely, and well informed about the parks etc.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nature on your door step.
Very good experience oveall. Karibu operator was very good and the guide (Mark) was superb.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The greatest experience in my life so far
Tanzania is a breathtaking beautiful country. The nature there is incomparable and varies from woods, rain forests to grass land. There are so many animals to See in the parks and all the parks were very well looked after. We stayed in Arusha.
Arusha is a very international city and we had a great tour guide from African Chitah- a travel organization I can highly recommend.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Nice, but too touristic.
I do not like it as drivers call each other during the safari. Whem one of them spots something, other drivers drive like crazy through the park ending with ten of cars at the animals the one driver spotted. This does not give me a safari feeling.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful piece of Tanzania. Must see!
During our safari, Lake Manyara NP was our 1st destination. We heard about lions on trees, thousands flamingos over the lake, but nobody told us that it contains wonderful landscapes! We were sad we cannot visit the lake from near, our guide said it is forbidden to go outside streets and go closer to the lake.
We were happy there weren't too many tourits around there, it was really quiet and peaceful.
Absolutely recommended!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Majestic and Magical
We choose to safari in Kenya based on some feedback from friends and family, and someone who had just visited the Masai Mara National Park. Their descriptions were so beautiful we looked into it. It was truly magnificent. We were able to fly direct from NY to Nairobi (a huge plus for us!) and experience five national parks. The landscape at each one was unique and different. We saw an abundance of the big 5 and more. The people, places we stayed, everyone we interacted with were just wonderful. We are telling everyone we know - it is a trip of a lifetime.