The Land That Time Forgot
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater (actually a caldera, but let's not quibble) and enteri a cool and quiet world belonging to lions, rhinos, hippos, elephants wildebeest, zebras, hyenas, Thompson gazelles, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, jackals, and any number of birds and smaller creatures--just about everything but giraffes. Twenty kilometers in diameter and seemingly flat, the crater hides springs, lakes, and forests (and a few nice bathrooms) where you'll find the animals that don't usually roam the broad grasslands. Humans intrude in pop-top Land Cruisers, but our early-June visit found only a handful. Our guide, Peter, told us later visitors would find hundreds of vehicles and an occasional traffic jam near an especially interesting animal. Don't let that stop you. You'll be goggle-eyed focusing on the animals.
Photographers should take their longest telephoto lenses ((I used my 150-600mm zoom the most), but there are many occasions, as when a lion pride or elephant walks right in front of your vehicle, that a normal or wide angle lens is essential. The rhino is the rarest animal (we were very lucky to see seven) and keeps its distance. so even with a 600mm I couldn't fill a frame.
If possible find accommodations on the rim. Think hard before spending big bucks for a room view into the Crater, because it's often obscured by mist and clouds. We loved our stay at the Rhino Lodge--excellent food, comfortable, rustic rooms, attentive staff, and exceptional service. When we had three flats in our own Land Cruiser and needed assistance driving up from Serengeti, Rhino Lodge sent us a Land Cruiser and two guides to shepherd us up the last two hours after dark. (Cost? $25) The manager and his wife met us and kept our dinner warm.
Rhino Lodge also arranged a Land Cruiser, excellent box lunch and guide (Peter) for our day trip into the Crater, and it was a day all of us will treasure forever. Nothing like a knowledgable, friendly driver/guide, a pop-top for viewing and ten hours watching thousands of animals in a habitat they chose to live in.
Be prepared for very cool and damp weather on the rim and even in the Crater early and late--down sweater or Polartec and a rain jacket will do--and a light shirt for the warm, sunny days.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Serengeti National Park by Davide Manicardi
a very large National Park
possibility to rest in the park near the animals
possibility to see the Great Migration in a large part of the year (not in August, the animals were at Masai Mara National Park)
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Davide Manicardi
so big variety of animals in a limited zone.
so easy to see rare animals because the different guides coperate with each other
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Evocative sunset
We visited Lake Manyara National Park only in the afternoon because our plane was in late so we weren't able to visit all the park (organization of the guides is the most important requirement for this travels).
The park is very large and offer a good opportunity for the birdwatching. We were able to see storks, hornbills, flamingos, ibis, baboons, zebras, gnu, buffalo, hippos, gazelles, antelopes.
I know the park is a good place to see the leopards activity not only in the night but we unfortunately weren't able to see them. We visited the park until the sunset, the light is so warm and weak and all the photo we took have so nice colours. At the end of the day we covered the near hills so we could admire the Lake from the top of the hills...it is so long and suggestive.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Pilanesberg Game Reserve by awatkinson69
A little too commercial for my liking. But the surroundings are great.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park by awatkinson69
Never have I seen so many lion, leopard or cheetah than on my trip here. The wildlife was dramatically different to other Parks I'd visited - so a welcome change. But the roads are hellish - so take a 4x4.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Karoo National Park by awatkinson69
My trip was before lion were reintroduced and the Park re-stocked - so game viewing wasn't particularly great. However, the Park itself is beautiful with great accommodation that lifts your spirits.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve by awatkinson69
The Park is incredibly beautiful. But for its size, the network of roads is too small. The variety of game is there - but on the several times I've visited I've been disappointed by what I've spotted.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Augrabies Falls National Park by awatkinson69
Beautiful scenery and breathtaking surroundings, but little game to be seen.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Kruger National Park - still the jewel in the SanParks crown
I've been visiting the Kruger National Park for over thirty years now. In that time, there have been huge changes within the Park and although, in my opinion, the modern-day Kruger has it's problems, it is still the National Park to be beaten.
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 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.
