Kruger National Park Travel Forum

visiting Kruger park in June and staying at kruger park lodge--any opinionson the lodge and also what kind of clothes to pack?? should we take anti-malaria medicine before reaching or can we avoid it as what I hear June is a safer month?? I m travelling with kids

Hi, can anyone advice me whether its better (vis a vis costing, deals, less headache) to book a tour to the kruger private reserves or get a safari together yourself and book directly thru the resorts and hire a car to get there.

Hi,
In addition to my earlier question pl let me know if one can do a charter flight from kruger to Vic Falls and vice versa. What would be the cost of one way charter for, say 8 people.
Thx
Star

Hi. We are planning a kruger trip in august. We want to do a 4-5 night safari which includes rest camps/lodges and private game reserves. I want info on
1. which car would be best for rental for 6-8 people which would give good views to everyone. We dont want people leaning over others and missing out on good sightings.
2. I see that the bunglows/ guest houses in all southern rest camps are fully booked already except the huts & tents which have 'communal ablutions". Can anyone tell me where these toilets are located, are they close to the huts? and how many people are they shared between.
Thx
Star

Is anyone going on safari who would be prepared to buy something for me? On honeymoon my son bought a washbasin plug - pewter with a lizard or gekko design. When I stayed with him it got lost and I fell guilty in case it was me. If anyone is going and could get one from a craft shop on Kruger I would be so pleased! Thanks for reading this. Nanny.

We are going to rent a car in J'Burg to drive to Kruger the second week of April. Will an economy car be OK to drive around the park? Or should we get a bigger vehicle - like a truck or Jeep....

We are staying at PROTEA KRUGER GATE LODGE for a week, Can we do day trips to see things without a guide? And are there places to see on the drive from J'Burg to Kruger?

Any other suggestions are welcome - thanks a lot

Due to time restrains, I will only be able to travel to South Africa including Kruger and Garden Route and Cape town in early March 2009.

From what I read, March is a raining season, hard to see animals especially the Big 5, and all moutains are covered with ugly brown grass/trees. Is that true?

Anyone knows exactly how bad it'll be in early-mid March in Kruger and Garden Route? What's the chance to see all Big 5 and other animals?

Thank you!

Hi people.

Myself and a mate are gonna be arriving in Jo’burg on the 28th Nov. We will have 5 weeks in total in Africa. We have booked a flight from Jo’burg to Kruger Mpumalanga airport leaving on the same day. We booked this flight as a knee-jerk reaction after being told that it wasn’t safe to leave the airport in Jo’burg. In hindsight I think it was a mistake not to stay in Jo’burg for at least one night. I could do with some good advice from people that know what they’re talking about. I have some Q’s which I need help with.

Do we need a Visa for South Africa? We will only be there 5 weeks? 1 Irish citizen, 1 UK citizen. We have an onward flight booked.

We don’t have anything booked for Kruger as yet. Is it better to leave booking something till we get there, will we get better value doing so? Also, WILL we be able to book something when we get to Kruger? I’ve been told that many people book their trips when they arrive in Jo’burg, but we leave Jo’burg within a few hours of flying in there so won’t get a chance to explore that option. So we will basically be arriving at Kruger Mpumalanga airport and hoping to book a safari trip for the next day. Will this be possible?

Organised tour versus self-drive 4WD rental??? Opinions please. We will have about 8 days in Kruger. Is it feasible to do a self-drive rental? Or will we end up missing out on all the action? Is it safe to do a self-drive? And is it expensive to rent a 4WD? Can you go off the beaten tracks in Kruger, or must you stay on the roads?

Are there specified camp areas, or if you rent a 4WD with a roof-top tent can you set up camp anywhere?

We had planned on renting a 4WD and doing Kruger by ourselves and hoped to drop it off in Victoria where we had planned to join an Overland tour. Does anyone know if it’s possible to do a different place drop-off. Ideally we’d want to pick up at Kruger Mpumalanga airport and drop off at Vic Falls. Anyone know if this is possible? Is it a well beaten track? Someone else told me that it wouldn’t be same for us to drive this journey by ourselves. She said we would be “crazy”!!!

Oh and is Kruger Mpumalanga a town, a resort, or just an airport?

Sorry about all the questions folks, but I’ve spent the last 3 days online looking for information & it’s proving to be an arduous task. Any help much appreciated.

Brendan

I have an opportunity to go to Nelspruit for almost free, yuppers, almost free, this November. Is that an optimal time for wildlife viewing, particularly the Big 5?

I am sooooooooo jazzed!

thank you for any help...I've never been on safari before!

Please give us suggestions as to the best months to visit the Park. We live in Arizona so we would love to be gone during our hot months June-Sept. Thanks

Any suggestions for our South African stay would be appreciated. We were going to go either mid January, Feb, of early March. Best of those months?

My wife and I are planning to spend a couple of weeks in S.A. and tentatively I had this itinerary in mind. Fly into J’Burg and rent a car. We can stay at a one of several Time Share units at or near the entrance to Kruger National park. So we planned on a week stay to do some sort of Safari or day/night driving trips into the park to take pictures of the animals etc.

I also understand Driving trips to God's window, Mac Mac falls and pools, Pilgrim's Rest, Blyde River Canyon, Sudwala Caves are all nice to visit. Are they day trips? Any suggestions??

Then we planned to drive to Cape Town and stay at a Time Share that is north up the coast about 90 minutes for C’town. How long is the drive from Kruger to C’Town and is there a coast road versus cutting directly across? What is the driving distance? Direct or coastal? Or, should we fly from J’Burg to C’Town?

Is Vic Falls reachable by car from either C'town in a day? Any suggestions are welcome and greatly appreciated – maybe we should stay two weeks by Kruger?

We will have about 18 days in S.A. THANKS in advance for any help Richard and Deb

I'm planning a visit to the park in January with my 16 month old girl. I'm worried about malaria. Should I rather cancel and come in the winter?

Hi we are off to Kruger in 5weeks for the very 1st time, cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my question is we live in England and can ssomeone tell me what travel adaptor do we need to be able to charge up our camer batteries etc
and will our uk equipment be able to be charged in the Kruger

hope to hear from someone, this is also the first time I have ever used a forum

regards

Nikon Dave

am planning to arrive in Johannesburg in end sept for a 4 day safari tour.
as we don't drive,we need pick up transfers to Kruger.
we were reviewing a 4 day Kruger tour package from Wild Wings. Do any of you have any experience or comments about this agency?
do u have any other recommendations of other agencies or any other way we can go about transferring ourselves to Kruger and booking of rest camp accomodation??
will appreciate any advice!!
also, should I set aside perhaps 1 day for Sabi sands private reserve? Have read good reviews that game viewing is much better than in national park?
thanks!!

Hi everybody,

I will be travelling to Cape Town next January. From there I want to do a safari and Kruger was best recommended.

Do I have to fly to Johannesburg? How to get to Kruger from there?

Is it easy to buy a safari at Johannesgburg? Is there any better way to contract it? Do I have to book it in advance?

Thanks!

Tarsila

We will be in Johannesburg in Oct. 2008. We would like to take a 4 day safari to Kruger, not super luxury, but with aircondtioning in room or cottage at night. Can anyone recommend a tour company? Also any tips about Kruger would be appreciated. Thanks, Sharyn

Hi! All

I have some questions ( I hope they r not complicated ) since I am completely confused :

1) Is it better to stay in "anyone of the nature reserves" for 6/7 days ( since we are getting a resort at mabula nature reserve thru Times share ) and then visit nearby cites on some days Jo'burg etc ...( how's the transpotation in SA )

OR
Stay in one of the cities eg: Jo'burg or any suggestions ?.....and then visit any of the "nature reserves" for 1 or 2 day excursions eg: Kruger......

2) Is Mabula Nature reserve worth it ? Has anyone heard of Mabula and also "Sondela Nature reserve" ? I think it's in the same region as "Kruger". Somwhere near "Waterbath"

3) If we stay in Jo'burg...Is it possible to see Kruger( or any other nature reserves/game reserves ) in day trips or max 2 day trips and would it be worth it ?

4) How's the local transpotation....train networks, bus networks localy and within cities....

I know too many questions.....but much thanks in advance :))

take care
kaps

I need transport for 2 people from Kruger National Park Airport to Sanbonani Lodge in Kruger National Park on 12 Septemebr and the reverse direction on 24th September. How much should I have to pay for a reputable transport company

We have booked a two week holiday in South Africa for the end of August and the first week will be spent in the Kruger National Park. We are taking our five year old son and we are worried about the possibility of him catching malaria, particularly as it appears to be very dangerours to young children. Is anybody able to give me any kind of reassurance that we are doing the right thing? Obviously we will take all precautions available including anti malarial drugs and we will be staying in top class accommodation, but I am still worried.

I am planning a trip to Kruger for next August/September 2009. My current plan is to hire a car from Joburg, drive to Kruger, stay at 2 or 3 luxury hotels/lodges over a 7 day period and then back to Joburg (and then off to Mauritius).

I am interested in any recommendations for luxury hotels that would fit well with this plan. Also although I will obviously have a car I am interested in any good organised field trips run by the hotels.

Thanks.

John

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.