Numerous visitors to the Kruger National Park (KNP) see this game reserve as the ultimate African adventure.
As the biggest national park in South Africa, visitors can revel in an abundance of wildlife sightings, a variety of accommodation options and the best African bushveld setting.
KNP offers an exciting assortment of activities tailored to bringing people closer to nature. Visitors can enjoy a private self-drive vacation or rely on experienced, professional guides to introduce the stunning environment to them during an exclusive luxury safari.
This article explores some options how to experience the Kruger National Park.
A modern day ‘African safari’ entails an adventure excursion or tour that takes you into nature to spend some time enjoying game drives in an awesome place like the Kruger National Park, so iIf you had been dreaming of an African adventure, a tour with The Kruger Safari Company into the world-renowned Kruger National Park should be included on your next holiday itinerary.
Such a safari can involve several activities like walking through the wilderness or driving in custom-built game drive vehicles which allow you to get intimate with the landscape and scenery. Kruger National Park offers several wilderness trails, game drives, guided walks, 4×4 mountain biking, backpacking trails, eco-trails, birding and even golf.
The accommodation on safaris vary depending on the kind of trip, ranging from basic tents through to deluxe tented camps and a luxury lodge or hotel with en suite bathrooms. The choice will depend on whether you prefer a self-catering, family-friendly stay with evenings around your own campfire or an all-inclusive holiday with catered boma dinners under the stars.
Competitively Priced and Tailored Tours to Meet Every Budget
The Kruger Safari Company offers budget, mid-range and luxury Kruger safaris, as well as classic Kruger safaris and combo Kruger safaris that include private game reserves in Greater Kruger.
The game fencing that separated adjacent private game reserves from the official Kruger National Park were removed in 1993 for wild animals to move freely between the two wilderness areas, forming the Greater Kruger conservation area.
While game roams freely between the two protected wildlife regions, human movement between the two is restricted since Greater Kruger and Kruger National Park operate as two independent ecotourism destinations. Guests staying at private reserves in Greater Kruger can freely visit the Kruger Park for a nominal entrance fee, but access to the private reserves of Greater Kruger is restricted to booked guests.
Kruger National Parks offers accommodation in several rest camps, each with its own unique selection of accommodation types.
Visitors can book and pay online for accommodation, by phoning the relevant reservation offices or through a tour agent like The Kruger Safari Company.
Currently bedding is supplied in all accommodation types except for camping and cooking utensils and refrigeration are provided in most accommodation units too.
Camping – sites are provided for caravans or tents, most with power except some of the rustic cams. Some sites have designated boundaries and own water taps, and at some camps one can now specifically book a perimeter site.
Huts – Some camps provide single room units with communal kitchen and communal ablution facilities.
Safari Tents – Several camps provide permanent canvas tent bedrooms. Some have communal kitchens and communal ablutions, while others are fully equipped for more luxury.
Bungalows- Most camps provide single bedroom units with a bathroom, some with own kitchenettes with basic kitchen equipment and others have access to communal kitchens. Some bungalows have perimeter or river views, and some have been upgraded to luxury status.
Cottage – At most camps some single bedroom units with living room, bathroom and kitchen, are available.
Family Cottages – Camps cater for families with specific multiple bedroom units with a living room, bathroom and kitchen.
Guest Cottages – These cottages have fully equipped kitchens, and multiple bedrooms with at least 2 bathrooms of which one is usually en suite.
Guest Houses – These multiple bedroom and bathroom units with lounge areas and often a bar facility and exclusive view, provides the ultimate classic accommodation for families at an affordable price.
Within the boundaries of KNP are some exclusive private lodges, each with a unique style and atmosphere and luxury as the norm. Indulgence and comfort await visitors at concession lodges like Imbali Safari Lodges, Jock Safari Lodge, Lukimbi Safari Lodge, Rhino Walking Safaris, Shishangeni Private Lodge, Singita Lebombo Private Game Lodge, Singita Sweni Lodge, Lion Sands Kruger National Park, Pafuri Camp and The Outpost.
The recently established Skukuza Safari Lodge boasts 128 units, including 87 standard rooms, 20 family rooms and 13 universal rooms with easy access for wheelchairs. The standard rooms offer room either a king-sized bed or two singles.
Definitely the most exciting new offering in the iconic Kruger National Park is the Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge where Africa’s breath-taking natural splendour is combined with unbridled luxury aboard a refurbished train stationed on the historical Selati Bridge.
Private Game Reserves offer discerning travellers, wildlife photographers and nature lovers even wider choices of all-inclusive holidays. The Kruger Safari Company’s offers Budget, Mid-range and Luxury Kruger Safaris, as well as Classic Kruger Safaris and Combo Kruger Safaris with itineraries that may include Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Kapama Game Reserve, Thornybush Game Reserve, Timbavati Game Reserve, Klaserie Game Reserve, Balule Game Reserve, Karongwe Game Reserve and Manyeleti Game Reserve.
South Africa’s Kruger National Park has it all – from the Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo) to more than 147 species of mammals and 508 species of birds, thus making it the ideal destination for a family safari.
The Kruger National Park is 19,633 km² big and was first proclaimed in 1898 as the Sabie Game Reserve. It opened to tourism in 1927. Skukuza is the “capital” of Kruger and one of the popular camps for families to visit.
With South Africa being one of the most family-friendly countries in Africa, a safari experience is one of the best ways to top any family vacation off and will create memories that will last for a lifetime.
Kruger is possibly the best place in Africa to do a self-drive safari, which is ideal when travelling with children as you can remain in the comfort of your own car and travel at your own pace.
A self-drive safari will also significantly lower the cost of a safari.
Apart from the self-drive experience, there are still plenty of guided safaris and small-group trips to participate in, especially if it is your first time on safari, or you just want to sit back and relax.
Most rest camps offer beautiful family accommodation, and some offer kids’ clubs or some other form of childcare.
Although it always is a challenge to keep children entertained during long game drives, the exciting thing about a Kruger holiday is that you never know what you may spot on a game drive, which in itself provides an opportunity for exciting family fun like “treasure hunts”.
Children can compete with parents to spot elusive animals, while learning more about what they come across, like bird and tree species, the names of watering holes, and points of interest. While the game element keep children entertained, it will also teach them a lot about the natural heritage and history of the country.
Preparing and packing the right stuff for your Kruger safari is essential to save you lots of heartache later. While international flights have a high luggage allowance, many smaller planes and safari vehicles limit the amount of luggage. For first timers, here is a guide to what you need for a safari in the Kruger National Park.
Deciding what to wear on safari is easier said than done. The weather in Kruger is usually warm to unbearably hot, but winter mornings and evenings can get quite cold.
The best time to visit Kruger National Park is at the beginning or end of the region’s dry season, which falls between April and September.
During the dry season, temperatures are mostly pleasant, vegetation is sparse and water levels are low due to the lack of rain, which gives visitors a better chance of spotting animals.
The rainy season (from October to March) may bring subtropical rainstorms and with many safari vehicles being open to the elements, bush walks and game drives may be a bit uncomfortable.
In the rainy season foliage can make it difficult to see animals, but the park’s landscape will be beautiful to photograph.
Mosquitoes are also more prevalent during wet periods.
Yes, children are allowed in the Kruger National Park. The south of Kruger National Park is more child-friendly than the north because the distances are not so far between points where one may alight from your vehicle, and the game is more plentiful.
Most rest camps provide a child-friendly safari environment with large family accommodation, pools and well-stocked shops, and picnic spots are good to stop for lunch and to use the facilities if you are self-driving. Families can either prepare their own food or buy it from convenient shops and takeaway restaurants.
Parents must take note that children under the age of 6 are not permitted to take part in official game drives or bush walks offered by the Kruger National Park, for their own safety.
Some private game reserves may allow children on game drives but may prefer that a family book a private drive, on a vehicle exclusively reserved for them. You have the advantage that you can return to camp whenever the children have had enough but it can be quite pricy. Some’s policies also restrict how close guides with young passengers may go to predators, especially in open vehicles, which means your viewing of the big cats and other unpredictable game like buffalo may be very distant.
Yes, although it is unusual to take babies and toddlers on safari, you can take a baby on safari to the Kruger National Park. There are, however, a lot of factors you have to consider:
Some lodges and camps have age restrictions, which means your choice of accommodation will be restricted to those that do cater for smaller children. Many private lodges and camps are unfenced, which allows wildlife including predators to wander through, which will also restrict where you can stay.
Babies may not be able to take malaria prophylactics.
While camps have safari shops for souvenirs and basic needs, it may not include stocks of baby items and you will have to take sufficient stocks of everything with you.
Make sure your kids are dressed appropriately on safari, with light and loose-fitting clothes.
Washing facilities may be lacking, so pack enough of their favourite outfits.
Light, cotton clothing in light neutral tones works best in a hot climate. Avoid bright colours like red which attracts animals. Have swimming gear handy, as most of the rest camps and some of the picnic spots have swimming pools.
Yes, it is safe to travel to South Africa with a baby, on condition of course that the baby has a valid passport and visa (if necessary) in order to travel to another country.
It is now easier to travel to South Africa with small children. Previously, South Africa required that all children entering the country have an unabridged birth certificate with them, but that policy changed in November 2019.
As of that date children travelling on passports of visa-exempt countries will only require a valid passport to enter and exit South Africa, as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
Further, if you as parent respect local wildlife laws and follow park regulations and advice from wardens, your baby will be perfectly safe, even in wilderness areas.