Kruger National Park Travel Forum

Hi, we will be leaving Kruger, so sad, and flying into Johanasburg Airport. We will have six hours before our flight home...any ideas on stuff to do near the airport?

When did Kruger National Park become independent fo rthe first time? Where did they gain the independence from?

KRUGER GATE LODGE IS IT A GOOD ACCOMODATION ? IS THERE THE POSSIBILITY OF LOT GAME VIEW AROUND THE LODGE ? IS IT TRUE THAT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE GAME DRIVE INTO SABI SAND PRIVATE RESERVE FROM PROTEA KRUGER LODGE?

Does anybody know if a Visa is required for USA citizens visiting South Africa. We are flying into Johannasburg and staying at Kruger National Park. If Visa is required, how do we get it?
Thanks!

I haven't been to Kruger in 10 years, and only visited in the winter. Want to take my son, we can go Oct - Feb. I was thinking I wanted to see it when everything was green and lush, perhaps when the young are born in Dec. But what is the weather like? Is it generally constant rain? I want to get good pictures.

And second, has anyone tried to take large camera lenses on long flights? I have an 800mm I'd like to bring...

I have been offered a reasonably priced package from Joburg with 3 nights at this lodge, 2 full days in Kruger Park. Does anyone know anything about the place? Should I go for this, or for a camping and lodge trip in the park? Our party is 2 adults and one 9-year-old child. We will be there during the winter school holidays, so bookings in the park are a little tight.

Hello all,

Just a quick question ...

I have made a booking with Ele Plains for next April 08.

They requested credit card details to charge a deposit (25%). However, they also require me to photocopy and fax my passport and credit card. Is this usual? Seems a bit over the top and insecure?

Having said that, I did give them the usual details (passport number, credit card details).

Just wondering...

Regards,

SM

Thanks for your previous replies. Just a couple more questions... I just arranged a night drive and bush walk at the Oliphant camp and I was wondering what is the proper tip amount? Do you tip other services? If so, what amount. Do you tip at the restaurants? Lastly, what can I expect to pay for food (lunch/dinner). Thanks in advance for your reply.

Hi, MY HUSBAND AND I WILL BE GOING TO KRUGER NEXT JUNE, 2008 AND STAYING AT THE OLIPHANT REST CAMP. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME ADIVSE ON HOW TO GET TO THE PHALABORWA GATE AT KRUGER FROM THE PHALABORA AIRPORT. WE ARE RENTING A CAR AT THE AIRPORT. ALSO, ANY TIPS ON WHAT TO DO AND SEE AND WHAT TO PACK FOR THAT TIME OF YEAR WOULD BE GREAT!! OH, LASTLY...DOES THE KRUGER PARK ACCEPT VISA TO PAY FOR THE DAILY CONSERVATION FEES?

Hi,
I intend buying a SIM card for my mobile phone when I arrive in Cape Town where we are staying for 5 days. We are then going onto the Kruger, will I have to purchase another SIM card to use in the Kruger or will the one I purchase in Cape Town work? From the Kruger we are going to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe, does anyone know if we will again have to purchase another SIM card for here? I will post the Vic Falls question in the Vic Falls forum as well.
Many thanks for all your help.

Hello,
My boyfriend and I are planning to go by car from Maputo to KNP next weekend.

I am quite lost because I don't have much info about the park and this one is quiet new for me. Could you please give me some advise? Where could we stay? Do you know any nice accommodation? I imagine should'nt be very far as we go for 2 nights and then back to Maputo.
The accommodations are inside the park or outside? Could we book wherever we stay the game drives? I imagine it is better doing it with guides who knows more than ourselves in the car (no idea if that is possible)

Any other suggestion welcome, sorry I am a bit lost and I am trying to prepare it:-)

Thanks!!!

Hello,
My husband and some friends have a trip planned to Kruger National Park in January. We will be renting a car and travelling either from Johannesburg or Nelspruit towards Hazyview and then the park. Some of our travelling companions have become quite concerned about the possibility of being criminally attacked en route because of the repeated warnings of extreme violence throughout South Africa (on various government's websites). Although the information provided focuses mainly on Capetown and Johannesburg, the warning stands for throughout South Africa. I am wondering if anyone can tell us of their experience in and around Nelspruit, Hazyview and in that area of Kruger Park? Did you feel nervous and unsafe in these areas or while on the road in transit? Your feedback would be appreciated.

Hi!

We are planning to go on a safari around March, April or May.
Which is the best place to go to; Kruger or Serengeti and when?

Can anyone recommend a good and reliable travel agent? And a good place to stay in the park?

Kristina

Hi, Would someone know if Siyabona are reliable operators or not? I need to book a tour to Kruger soon and they seem to be the cheapest at R9000 for 4 days 3 nights for 2 people.
If anyone knows a cheaper option, please let me know.
Thanks

Hey Guys,

My girlfriend and I are planning to stay in Kruger over Xmas - and after A LOT of research, it's basically come down to a choice between 3 lodges.

- Sediba Game Lodge
- Kambaku Game Lodge (formally Akeru)
- Motswari Game Lodge

I've found a few helpful reviews regarding Kambaku and Motswari but literally NOTHING on Sediba. Any help/input/comments would be great,

Kind Regards,

Luke

Hello all,
My 2 girlfriends and i are travelling to the Kruger after a weeks horse riding in the Vaalwater area in the north, we were then recommended to stay at the Madikwe game reserve but found out you cannot see the Big 5 at the garongo reserve which we were looking to stay at and also that it wasn't located in the Kruger..we want to spend about 3000 rnd pppn and to stay for about 3 nights, we do not want to stay at a huge camp with lots of other people but do want to be around as much wildlife as possible, we are going to be driven to the kruger so didn't want to be travelling more than about 4 hours.. could anybody recommend somewhere special in the northern kruger or the Madikwe area as we really liked some of the accomodation there but worried we wouldn't see lots of animals.
Kind regards
Annee

My husband & I will be taking our 1st trip to Africa in July 2008 with the goal to see bunches of hippos (which I love) for my 50th birthday.

The 18-day itinerary includes Chobe, Caprivi, Okavango Delta, Hwange, and Victoria Falls.

There are options for a three night pre-trip to Kruger National Park and for a four-day post-trip to Capetown.

We pretty much have decided to go to Capetown but are undecided on Kruger because we heard it is like Disneyland with blacktop roads and vehicles lined up to view the animals.

Soooo, Kruger or no Kruger???
Thanks!

I am looking to plan a safari trip to South Africa including a stay at the Kruger National Park in December 2008.

Can anyone provide any advice on the where I can get the best flight deals from along with where we fly to etc.

I note om the KNP website that I can book our accommodation directly with them
so if anyone has any hints or tips on this I would apreciate hearing from you.

Finally,is there anywhere else I should look to visit whilst in this area.

Many Thanks.

We are staying in the following rest camps:

Pretoriuskop Rest Camp
Skukuza Camp
Satara Camp

The accommodation we have for each rest camp are bungalows. I can't imagine what these will look like or the setup...can anyone give me an insight what to expect, in fact any information at all would be appreciated.

We leave the Kruger via Orpen gate and drive to Perry's Bridge Hollow Hotel, Hazyview for overnight stay. Does anyone know how far this is and has anyone stayed at this hotel? Your views would be appreciated.

The following day we leave here and make our way to KMIA airport to connect with schedule flight to Vic Falls. Our flight departure time is 07:40, how long will it take us to drive from Hazyview to the airport (making sure we get there in good time). Any information at all would be gratefully appreciated. Many thanks, Lynne

Hi.My query is as follows. We are travelling to South Africa to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary in October 2007 and during this trip we are staying 5 nights in Capetown, 3 days in the Kruger National Park and then onto Victoria Falls for 3 nights.

I have been informed by my itinerary (South African Airways) that the flights CPT/MQP (Kruger)have a baggage limitation of 15kgs per person.

Has anyone out there had the same query...what do we do with our remaining luggage i.e. the luggage that we brought from our UK airport?? Am I making sense??

My flight itinerary states Depart CPT at 10:55, arrives Kruger 13:10 (the same day). Has anyone out there done this route before?? Does anyone know that when we depart from CPT, does the flight land at JNB then onto the Kruger because my South African Travel agent suggested we leave our remaining luggage at JNB airport??

Very very confused, can anyone advise me.
Many thanks

Sorry,

We have 1 additional question to our last post. Does anyone know if car rentals are available at the Nelspruit or Krguer Mpumalanga airports, as this could make a difference as to where we would land?

Thank-you.

Hello,

My husband and myself have a reservation at Kruger Park Lodge in Jan. 08. I am wondering which smaller airport is better to land at- I originally thought Nelspruit but someone on the forum mentioned Kruger Mpumalanga airport? We are leaving from Canada and going through either Capetown or Johannesburg to get to Kruger.

Also, I am wondering how easy it is to book guided tours when staying at a time share. We are interested in doing foot and vehicle tours but it looks like you generally have to be staying at the particular accommodations in order to purchase these (the SA parks website even says that their guided tours are for guests staying at their lodging within the park). Does anyone have any advice or information on this matter? We are interested in Kruger Park, but we would also be interested in any of the private reserves (if they do tours for visitors not staying at their accomodations)?

Further to this, we are also interested in staying at a private game reserve for 1 or 2 additional nights, if we can find one that is affordable. We would prefer not to stay in tents. Does anyone have a recommendation?

My wife and I will be in Maputo in June and would like to visit Kruger Park and spend 2 nights there. Can anyone suggest the safest and easiest way to go from Maputo to one of the camps and then get back to Maputo? What camp would you recommend? In the camp, can we easily book safaries (day & night)? Thanks

What is the cost of the AM and PM game drives per person for the end of April? Ball park is fine --- I just have no idea and am trying to get an idea of what my trip will cost me. Staying at Kruger Park Lodge and Protea Kruger gate (both time share).

Hello, everyone! I'm set to go to South Africa in mid-May and part of the two week tour will take place in the Kruger National Park (for three nights). I'll be staying at the Pretoriuskop Rest Camp for all of them. I've read some postings and other sites about this camp. I'm sort of concerned that it is so close to the Nimbi gate and that I won't be able to see a wide variety of game in the area because of this. The tour includes three safari rides (in the morning and night) so I will be able to go on the roads/loops near the camp obviously. My question is: does it really matter where you stay in KNP as long as you will be able to drive through a region of the park? I assume the Brendan tour selected Pretoriuskop because it would be easy to enter and exit KNP (instead of being caught in traffic within the park) due to the tour schedule. Some of the criticism I've heard of the camp from books or postings is that most visitors want to go deeper into the park for the best safari experience and that the grass is really high around the camp area making it harder to pick out game. For somebody who might not be able to return soon, I'd like to see as much as I can in a short amount of time. I'm really excited about seeing Cheetahs, Leopards and Lions, but as I've read, it's really hit or miss (especially around Pretorioukop). Will staying at Pretoriuskop dampen my experience? Thanks ahead of time for any information one can give me about this camp. I put a higher priority on seeing the game/wildlife in their natural environment than I do on the actual accomodations. Please consider that in your answers. Thanks again!

My wife and I are going to Kruger via Joburg. What's the best way to do that? I know we could fly - any idea what the best value airlines are? Is the route driveable? Are there bus companies that travel that route or must we rent a car? We don't plan to self-drive in Kruger. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I am looking for a 4 day budget camping tour to Kruger in late June 07. There are a lot of companies pitching tours. With which companies have you had good experiences?

Hi

We are satying in Gomo Gomo for 4days/3 nights in June and read that walking safaris are offered in the afternoon....anyone been on these? What is the normal procedure?

Impression I get, is walking with tracker/armed guide through the bush, looking at all the fabulous wildlife, including flowers/birds and of course game. What happens if when 100's of metres away from the lodge you come face to face with aggressive game...be it hungry cats, or aggressive game protecting young...bad tempered black rhino etc. Has anyone eperiences, or stories to tell of what actually happens on the walks?

Thanks

I have booked a trip to stay at the Protea Kruger Park in October with my wife and 14 yr old son. In the UK we have started to read about the increase in crime in particular car jacking between JNB and Kruger Park and now having second thoughts. Can anyone comment on the situation and provide any information on policing etc. Thank you

Hi all

I am planning to stay in the above lodge ( Timbavati) in June/July and am undecided as to whether to book a thatched roof chalet or an "east african tent"...has anyone stayed here and could they advise which is best?. It appears the tents are on stilts and have a verranda with a deck/chill out area, whilst the chalets are secure structures with a "locked door" and no apparent area to sit.

Also what is the norm with reagrd to luggage, is it left in the tent. Is it secure enough? I am sooooo looking forward to this but would appreciate any feedback in relation to this/wildlife we are likely to see and the general atmosphere. We are looking forward to meeting people of all sways of life!...any advice would be gr8 PS Do the game come in at night???