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OWN.

Pretty much get into 5th gear without revving the engine and let the engines idle speed drag the car around. (Obviously with the low engine speed, I have to work my way through all the gears.) Uphill, I have to change down to 2nd or third gear depending on gradient and length of hill. Downhill, I throw out the anchor with chain, pull up the handbrake and put my foot on he brakes.

This is my standard driving technique when I drive in the park.

When approaching a sighting with other vehicles stopped, I will slow down even more and aproach without the engine running if possible. If it is necessary to use the engine, I will kill it as soon as practical.

If we are in dense bush, I will usually slow down a bit and try to listen more than looking for game.

We were once en route from Lower Sabie to Skuks and I heard a branch (large stick) break in the bush. I immediately stopped, switched off the engine and just waited. Ended up being a large herd of Buffs and we were smack in the middle of it. They crossed the road in front of and behind my car. Within 15 minutes they had disappeared with little sign of there ever being there.

Driving and game viewing in any park is more by luck than science. Right place, right time. On the other hand, if one stops at a water hole and spends most of the day there, then the chances are good that you will see everything when the animals come down to drink.

Mostly though my speed is pretty constant. Unless I have to speed up for gate closing or to get somewhere for some reason.

I do try to keep the speed down though because driving fast hurts my ears and I try to never exceed the speed limit.

HAving been in the Kruger cowboy category, slower is defintely better.

Am I a very slow driver?
On Saturday I drove P'kop to Afsaal and back, via Fayi loop, Voortrekker Road, Afsaal-Skukuza road and Napi Road. It took over 6 hours.

On Sunday I drove P'kop to Skukuza via Phabeni and the Sabie River road, back along Doispane road. This also took around 6 hours.

For most of it I was travelling around 20-25km/h and stopping often for bird parties.

Last trip I travelled a day trip from Tshokwane around Munyiwini road to Lugmag dam to N'waswitsontso loop to Trichardt road to Lindanda road and back to the starting point - around 108 km took 11 hours including stops of about 2 hours . With regular stops to listen I seldom exceed 25 km/h .

Yep agree . I saw a forum member's visiting dates something like Skukuza one day and the next Shipandani . That would need a trip of about 200 kilometers .
Too much for me in one day !

The distance is about 150 km tar road . That is 6 hrs at average 25 km/h . Have brekkie at Tsokwane and lunch at Satara .

I've done that drive several times, Terry, and I always make it comfortably, although I don't allow my average speed to drop below 20 km/h. I stop when I need, but make sure I'm travelling when I don't need to stop. Sounds silly, but every km closer is a few minutes less time spent driving! And, that way, I make sure I have ample time for sightings.

We have also found that 20-25 km is the ideal speed by which we should travel in Kruger. In our experience if a person drives faster than that a lot is missed along the way. We would rather go for shorter drives than try to do many km’s in one day.

We have done the drive from Berg en Dal to Mopani a few times but then we drive 35 to 40 and dont stop to long. Or from Mopani to pafuri and back during summer months when the gates are open 14h a day.

We usually stick to 20 KM/h and we always take our secret weapon - my uncle. He is colour blind and he says that the inside of animals ears hurt his eyes when he sees them. So its kinda like fishing with dynamite. We always see so many animals with him.

Definitely true, Grantmissy! Nobody can convince me that driving fast yields an equal number of sightings to driving slowly.

Dr. Phil, like Grantmissy, I've moved away from driving too far, as this results in us being too tired to enjoy Kruger to the full. However, sometimes a long, scenic trip is worthwhile - the problem with being too far from camp, though, is what happens when you see a truly special sighting and haven't the time to savour it?

K-4S, that's indeed strange: the ears of animals hurt his eyes!? But, sounds like he sees more than most.

I couldn't resist so here's what our dance card looks like.... both 5 week trips

2010....90% dirt, slow...10% tar....slow
4-Cheetah, 3 sightings
8-Leopard, 6 sightings....2 cubs
58-Lion

2011.....90% tar, at speed limit.....10% dirt...slow
28-Cheetah, 19 sightings
15-Leopard, 12 sightings....3 cubs
153-Lion, including 44 kittens and cubs in five prides

.....and of course many other species, but we love the cats

For us, distance seems to count. Camps, same as 2012 below but did not include Punda Maria or Berg-en-dal

Long days though....4:30 AM- 11:am and 3:PM to 6:PM on average

2011 was a great year.....looking forward to this year, only six more weeks

Fascinating stats, ekoppen. I suppose driving too slowly is as bad as driving too quickly. A healthy 20-30 km/h works for us.

The speed varies.
When I dive alone and I reach a dirt road, I literally drift forwards in first gear without touching the accelerator! Giving me enough time to look left and right. Extremely slowly when the bush is dense!

But with other passengers, 20-30 is fine

Ekoppen -- Certainly amazing statistics
I like figures , and therefore also like to analyse it .

If we break this down , then it appears that in a 35 day period you went say from south to north and back . Now KNP has a total of about 850 km of tarred road , and I estimate that you probably travelled around ( at least ) 5000 km during the 35 days ( say 150 km per day ) . And 90 % on tar at max speed allowed , means an average max driving time of say 3 hours per day .
Hmmm... - very interesting , and great spotting

I think if you drive like a normal person, you can observe a lot. We have seen cars racing pass us, and the next minute a Hyena, Lion or anything will cross the road behind the hell drivers. People should be more "alert".
One day not so long ago, we were traveling in a "paradise" far far away an observed 63 "unmentionables" like Heksie calls them. Why? Because the racers were not interest to be alert.

Cheetah2111, i like your driving. Do the same