Kruger National Park -....help with travel.
Replies: 7 - Last Post: Oct 16, 2012 3:00 AM Last Post By: LodgeTrackers
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Kruger National Park -....help with travel.
Hi all,I am a first time visitor to Kruger National Park and need as much help as possible as you can offer to plan my visit to the National Park. I have planned to visit it during first week of July with couple of my friends. I am not sure if the period is good enough as climatic condition and also to photograph wildlife and birds. After having done bit of research I found that South Kruger has best chance of viewing wildlife and hence have decided to stay in there. I need further help to decide the best but inexpensive place to stay and also good possibility to do photography and I do not mean exclusive but should have minimum tourists type of crowd in there.
The other thing is to decide how to reach southern Kruger from Johannesburg. I believe there are flights but, I am skeptical about it as to cost. Will someone brief me with surface travel to the nearest point of South Kruger National Park, where and who to hire a car (a reliable one) and what will be charge for to drop off? Will it be possible to reach Kruger in a day? Or is there a better option to save on time and cost other than a flight?
Kindly help me and thanks.
2
I'm a photographer and the dry months like July Are great for wildelife photography. You should hire a car where you're seated high to Get the best vantage point.Kruger is about 5 hours driving from Johannesburg, and you can easily hire a car at the airport. I use the Norwegian version of rentalcars.com and I've always found the cheapest deal there. Driving is a good option to flights, and it's a Nice drive.
Can't comment on accommodation as I usually stay in the neighbouring private reserves where you can drive off road (with guide)and Get really close to the animals.
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I was there 3 weeks ago (end Sept) and thought that was a great time to visit. Dry season, the animals gather at the lakes and rivers, so very easy to spot the "game".Accomodation booking through www.sanparks.org is very easy and I thought that the accomodation was of good value. I can recommend the "safari tents".
You can participate in (rather expensive) guided walks/drives, however I thought that driving around on your own (in your rented car) is also very much worth it.
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(rather expensive) guided walks/drives
Priced at R200-300 for up to 5 hours I think they're actually great value. On my last walk near Crocidile Bridge restcamp my small group with two excellent guides got to smoke elephant dung, and on foot saw 2 rhinos and some elephants up scarily close, plus a hunting lioness on the way back. Probably the best R300 I even spent.
7
Hi there Prakpow,Thanks for all of your questions. Please find my opinions below.
1. I have planned to visit it during first week of July with couple of my friends. I am not sure if the period is good enough as climatic condition and also to photograph wildlife and birds.
That is the perfect time! The bush is still lovely and dry, making animal spotting very easy for you - Pictures always turn out lovely too. Climate is a bit cooler than other months, but minimal (if any) rain. I would just suggest bringing lots of warm clothes to peel on and off like layers, as before 9am it is still very chilly, and again after 4pm.
2.I need further help to decide the best but inexpensive place to stay and also good possibility to do photography and I do not mean exclusive but should have minimum tourists type of crowd in there.
This is a frequent question, and for good reason - what exactly is your budget per person per night?
The other thing is to decide how to reach southern Kruger from Johannesburg.
Well, here you have a few options :-)
- Flying: As I see you are skeptical about the costs, I will not write too much here - costs for around R1200-R1600 one way from Johannesberg to Hoedspruit - Am not sure about to Nelspruit, as in terms of wildlife viewing, all areas of the Kruger have proven very fruitful for me. Your lodge that you decide to stay at can pick you up from the airport and transfer you to their accommodations. At some places this is included in the rate, at others you need to pay extra.
- Hiring a car: Hiring a car will only prove useful if you are going to be doing a self drive experience, as otherwise it will be a waste of money just sitting in the lodge car park. For photography, I would suggest staying at a lodge, as this includes 2 game drives a day, all meals, snacks, tea/coffee etc and sometimes bush walks and drinks too. It would be much better for you, as they can take you off road in proper safari vehicles to get closer to animals, plus there are never a lot of people as there are in the self drive areas.
- Getting a shuttle
Also, you can definitley get to Kruger in one day. It takes us around 6 hours to reach Hoedspruit from Joburg.
All the best!
Jacqui
