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Melcher Groenendijk
Very nice scenery, a lot of wildlife, good guides, knowledge of the guide, nice people
Something everyone should try to experience at least once in your lifetime.
Having lived in SA since 1975 it was high time that I visited the Kruger National Park. This was a good time of the year as it was not so hot, and the grass is quite low making it easier to spot the game. One of the great experiences was going on a night drive, during which we were lucky to see 3 male lions at very close range, as well as a pack of hyenas. Another highlight was hearing the lions roaring at night close to our camp.
My only disappointment was that there aren't any hides from which I could take close-up photos of the animals.
Grazerin/Dorli B.
US
Visited:
July 2015
Reviewed: Jul 31, 2015
Email Grazerin/Dorli B. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Experience of a life time
On our self drive in Kruger National Park we saw the "big
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five" within an hour in the Skukuza area. The most thrilling adventure was observing a leopard ambushing and killing an impala at a water hole and a giraffe challenging the leopard as it was dragging the dead impala off into the bush.
lem888
US
Visited:
June 2015
Reviewed: Jul 20, 2015
Email lem888 | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Animal Kingdom Equivalent of the Grand Canyon
For Americans, the feel of the park is somewhat like Yellowstone. A grand, old park with lots of tourists driving around and stopping at every movement in the grass. Nonetheless, the wildlife are the real show and I saw a lot fewer tourists doing stupid things (like getting too close to
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wild animals) at Kruger than I've seen at Yellowstone. Kruger is fairly well-developed and you certainly aren't going to feel like you're roughing it in the bush, but it is a great way to see the animals that define Africa.The area outside the park was pretty bleak, but once you enter the park that is all forgotten and you could spend days taking in the action just from the main roads. I would have loved the opportunity to get even closer, but time did not permit more adventurous outings.
The one dark spot on visiting Kruger was the hassle with South African immigration officers. I was traveling with my 17 year old son without my wife and S.A. had just instituted some new requirements that included carrying an original copy of his birth certificate (no abridged versions accepted) and a notarized letter from my wife saying it was OK for him to travel with me. Each time we went through passport control, there seemed to be some new requirement and threats to either detain us or refuse entry. Hopefully, those problems will sort themselves out as the new requirements get formalized, but for now I'd suggest you bring the original birth certificate, the notarized statement from the spouse and a notarized copy of the spouse's passport. Also, make sure all the names match exactly on each of those documents and be sure to circle the correct "I/We" statements on the South African official form of the permission letter (seriously, one of the immigration guys gave me grief about that).
Despite the sketchy experiences with immigration officers, it was the trip of a lifetime. I don't know what other parks or reserves are like, but I would return to Kruger in a heartbeat.
Robert Styppa
DE
Visited:
May 2015
Reviewed: Jul 19, 2015
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Once in a lifetime you have to go there. Stay away from the tar roads and do not go there in high season (!)
Marcel Span
NL
Visited:
June 2015
Reviewed: Jul 18, 2015
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The real bush.
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
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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.
Laura T
GB
Visited:
May 2015
Reviewed: Jul 18, 2015
Email Laura T | under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A safari experience that will stay with me for a life time.
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.
awatkinson69
GB
Visited:
March 2014
Reviewed: Jul 12, 2015
Email awatkinson69 | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Kruger National Park - still the jewel in the SanParks crown
There are many reasons the Park keeps luring me back; not least for its wildlife. In terms of variety and volume of game, Kruger wins hands down for me. Even in these dark times of poaching, large herds of buffalo and elephant are pretty much an everyday occurrence in Kruger. And I've never once been to the Park and not seen cats - either lion, leopard or cheetah (and on the odd trip, all three in just a few short days). Although not a keen birder myself, the birdlife is incredible and certainly helps to keep things ticking along on hot days when you've seen nothing but an impala or two for hours on end.
But it's the Park itself that's the biggest draw. The network and variety of roads means no two days
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need ever be the same. And with some breathtaking new picnic sites and lookout points, it's possible to just sit and watch the wildlife world go by while you enjoy your breakfast. The scenery is also hard to beat. Do yourself a favour and take time to travel from the top of the Park to the bottom. It's an unforgettable experience and one in which you truly get to appreciate the Park's diverse and ever-changing scenery.However, the Parks popularity is also it's downfall. For me, at times there are too simply many visitors in the Park. Lion sightings in particular resemble rugby scrums - with networks of cars blocking the cats into corners. It's very very sad. It isn't the resident visitors that cause the overcrowding - but the number of day visitors who are also allowed in. At peak times of the year, if you're unfortunate to be in a camp anywhere near a main gate, forget about having a slow peaceful drive to look for game. It's like a freeway in rush hour.
But the worst culprits are the safaris concessions - the guys that drive visitors into the Park for a few short hours and tear around in radio contact from one sighting to the next. They drive too fast and too close to the game - scaring sightings off and disturbing the wildlife in general. They are a law unto themselves, intent on showing their guests the best possible sightings to snare a bigger tip. Look I get it - everyone wants to see the magnificent wildlife - but there has to be some sort of common sense and courtesy.
That said, a trip to South Africa would be unthinkable without a trip to the Kruger. The pros far outweigh the cons and the spirit and ambience of the bush is simply magical. Being able to drive yourself through the majestic Park and mix with it's wild inhabitants is one of the greatest privileges on earth.
If you get the chance to go - do. The memories will stay with you forever.
Sin Yew
SG
Visited:
September 2013
Reviewed: Jul 7, 2015
Email Sin Yew | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The highlight of our South Africa Trip, extraordinary!
Me and my wife stayed at Inyati Game Private Game Lodge for 3D2N. The lodge is located near Sabi Sand where chances of Leopards sighting is known to be high. It is next to a river where we could see elephants strolling near the water in the comfort of the lodge cafe. The rangers and staffs were friendly and make you feel safe although the place was quite open to wilderness where animals were free to roam the ground. Our open top safari Jeep was ideal for us as it was easy for me to turn my 300mm telephoto lens mounted on a monopod toward any directions. Lions, leopards, Cheetahs, Hippos, buffalos, Giraffes, were among some of the animals sighted. Daylight was bright so I could get sharp close up images even for amateur like me. Highlight of our safari was watching a family of cheetahs in action hunting on Kudos in a wide open plain. Definitely in my bucket lists to come back again!
quineh
ZA
Visited:
April 2015
Reviewed: Jul 6, 2015
Email quineh | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Absolutely fantastic, very exciting and interesting.
Wildlife is plentiful and in good condition,the weather is lovely and warm. The accommodation and food was of a very high standard catering for all cultures and people. Transportation is very well organized catering for the persons who just want to view the wildlife as well as for the photographer such as myself. The game guides are well spoken and really now what they are doing. The other highlights are the restaurants that have been refurbished and planned for the visitor's needs, so are the curio shops in the park.