Review about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve by Tjeerd de Wit
Great Park
Quite big
Lots of game, also big 5, many rhino.
Kruger National Park - The best place on earth
Kruger National Park, South Africa.
We have visited Kruger many times and can only report positive about the park and the facilities. But you have to comply with a few traits to enjoy this park, (and any other nature reserve). You have to love: nature, a peaceful environment, absence of city life, no traffic lights, tranquillity and spotting and observing animals (including birds).
The park is large, about 400km long by 60km wide and is dotted with many so called rest camps for the lower budget travellers and lodges for the more upmarket visitors. All camps are fenced, so one can freely walk around. Most camps have a shop where one can buy groceries and other goodies as well as a restaurant. The restaurants used to be mediocre, but this has greatly improved lately now that Kruger no longer operates most of them, but rather commercial restaurant chains. Also most camps have a swimming pool. At various locations in the Park you will find picnic spots (also at every camp) where you can even hire a gas bottle and pan to prepare your own breakfast.
Accommodation in the camps varies from camping to chalets completely fitted with all requirements with various options in between like permanent tents, basic huts (with communal ablution) and more advanced huts. We only encountered neat and clean accommodation.
The occurrence of games varies, but Kruger is well stocked and there are also various waterholes where one can leave the vehicle and wait for the animals to come. The big five are there of course.
In case you go with a tour operator everything is organized for you. But if you want to do it on your own, here some tips:
Book in advance via this website http://www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations/
One can drive by car (about 400km from Johannesburg airport, excellent road) or fly directly into Kruger to Skukuza airport with daily Airlink flights (from Johannesburg and CapeTown) and rent a car on arrival. (Avis) http://flyairlink.com/
There is a daily entry fee for Kruger of R280 for foreigners, which at the current exchange rate is about USD18, which you pay when entering the Park. If you go many nights you can buy a Wildcard making it cheaper. At the gate staff can advise you.
Don’t forget to buy a Kruger map at the gate where you enter, makes travelling so much easier.
Don’t forget your binocular and that long lens in case you like photography.
Every camp has one or more communal kitchens where you can cook a meal in case you want to skip the restaurants and stay in a tent or hut without kitchen.
Search for the Facebook page “Kruger National park – Best Place on Earth” if you want to see and read how others experience Kruger.
And once in Kruger you can follow other people’s sightings on your tablet at https://www.facebook.com/latestsightingskruger/
Kruger is large and the max speed 50km/hour, so don’t book one night in the South and the next in the far North, you won’t make it.
The southern part of Kruger is busiest as far as cars and people are concerned. The camps in the far North, like Punda Maria, Mopanie and Shingwedzi for example are much quieter.
In every camp you can book a game drive with an experienced game ranger, during the day or the evening. They mostly know where the animals are by talking to their colleges via radio.
All in all, Kruger is a fantastic place, it’s a place that missed most that we call progress !
And finally, having been in Kenya as well with its hectic traffic, corrupt policemen and parks costing USD70-UDS90 a day just to get in we can only conclude that Kruger is a visitors paradise.
Tjeerd en Diny de WIt
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Lake Mburo National Park by David Thompson
Its down as it does not have the big cats & elephant, its up because location location. Giraffe is a big plus
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
3-day safari in Mikumi NP
We booked a 3-day budget safari to Mikumi NP. We are really satisfied about the Safari and our guide Juma. The only thing we didn't like was that it said that we were staying inside the park but we were not and the last day it was just a drive passing the park on the highway and we didnt have a safari car it was a normal car.
There are no cheetahs or rhinos in the park but we saw all the other cool animals.
Recommended!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best chance at seeing a rhino
The crater is a must-see destination for it's overall beauty and number of animals in such a compact location. But more importantly, it is your best chance at seeing the black rhino in the wild. We saw two of the 20+ rhinos that reside in the crater. Compared to the Serengeti, where we saw none, this is your best chance. Another interesting surprise is the Maasai herding cattle in the crater. It is quite a contrast to see the wild herd animals aside the cattle.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tsavo West National Park by MARK R
Plenty of wildlife to see here still with great sightings and lodges.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Shimba Hills National Reserve by MARK R
Again just one day in this park super scenery and wildlife again.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Three Days to Remember.
Having visited Tsavo East National Park in 1992 I always vowed to bring my wife to the park and experience the wildlife, scenery and hospitality that the staff at the lodges offer. We were not disappointed all the lodges we stayed in were superb and our guide who we booked with JT Safaris was exceptional.
CA
Exceeded my expectations with the variety of wildlife, including jaguar, lions, rhinos, & hippos
I went on two game drives--one in the evening and another early in the morning. If you have a choice I would recommend the morning drive as you are much more likely to see a pride or two. The guides were both humorous and knowledgeable (and well connected with others around the park who had spotted other wildlife) and the transportation comfortable, with a stop for bio-breaks, food, & souvenir shopping midway through the drive. As expected, we encountered many elephants, rhinos, hippos, gazelle, etc. But I was delighted to encounter the lions and to spot two jaguar. An unforgettable and strongly recommended day trip from the strange colony that is Sun City.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Kenya by MARK R
If you are patience and are prepared to get up early in the mornings you will boast you chances of spotting wildlife.