SANParks.org Forums

hello,

this is my first time to Kruger.
I was going through the website and saw there are many types of accommodation such as rest camp, bushveld camp, bush lodge etc.
How are these different from each other? How would I know what is good for me?

Any hints???

appreciate your time and help.

Welcome to the forums!

There are rather large differences between them, but mostly it comes down to budget or size.

Main rest camps are larger camps, with many different sorts of accommodation.
Bushveld camps are smaller, more intimate camps, with less choice in accommodation types.
Overnight hides are just that.

And then there are the bush lodges. Those are 5 star hotels, with drives arranged and pampering galore, but with a pricetag many can not afford.

If you look at the availability pages you'll see a lot of options, with a little photo behind it. If you see something you do like budgetwise just click the photo and you'll be transferred to a page with photos and description of the acommodation, like this one (Bungalow (BG3) at Olifants in this case).

Pleasure sia, Is the R7000 including vehicle rental or excluding?
Do you intend on eating at the restaurants while their?

Dear Duques,

Thank you for the reply.

I checked the link. Its useful.

I have 2 questions if you could answer them please.

1. In addition to the accommodation, I will have to book game drives / walks / other activites of my choice, right?

2. Does the park offer pickup and drop service from Jobur airport / city?

Many thanks and regards,
Sia

Hi sia, and a warm welcome from me as well.

With regards your last post,

No, the park does not do pick ups and the best thing for you to do, will be to rent a vehicle so you can be free to self drive yourselves around when and where your prefer, other than the daily game drives from camps which are usually only 3 hours max.

If you are worried about driving in from Jhb at all, you can also take a short flight into KMIA which is then only a short hop from the park.
Otherwise Directions from JHB Int. Airport to Kruger

As you mentioned you will not be doing your own cooking, you would then have to book at one of the main camps as the bush camps do not have restaurants.

Correct. You can however do that while you are in camp.
That is usually the better way to do it.
You could book them now, but you have no idea how tired you will be that particular day.
Or it might be raining cats & dogs, or you want to go back to that recent kill with the lions, or...

Nope. You will have to rent a car, but you are going to need one anyway.
Kruger is essentially selfdrive.
You can book for instance a sunset drive, but that is more because it continues into the dark, so you can see the nocturnal animals too.

Have a look in the Travel Tales forum to see what the days entail, and check out the FAQ which might answer a lot of questions.

Agreed with Lower Sabie and Skukuza, but if you don't want to cook yourself, I would go for Skukuza as they have a verry good restaurant (Selati Train Restaurant) and the food in Lower Sabie is the worst in the entire park (since Satara improved a bit).

For the accomodation I would also choose for Skukuza. The acc in Lower Sabie is not always very good, it's old. But they have new bungalows, but you need to know what to book and they are always fully booked.

The reason to go to Lower Sabie is the area. There is a lot of game in that area. Skukuza is also a very nice place but is a bit more bussy in the weekend with dayvisitors.

Good luck with your choices.

Hello everyone

We (family of four adults including two seniors) will be travelling to KNP for the first time from 3-8 September, staying at Letaba, Mopani and Shimuwini.

We have read the advice posted here with interest and would welcome any tips on catering for ourselves -- and the current opinion on the camp restaurants.

Are there any special facilities or deals for seniors (over 80s)?

We're thinking about packing our bags now -- if anyone has any thoughts on useful things to bring, please let us know!

Thank you and looking forward to meeting the yellow ribbon brigade

Welcome to the forum, mintcake!!

It is advisable to cater at a supermarket before entering the Park for two reasons:
Prices and choice.
Remember a cooler box and ice ( you will find ice in the park shops and all the accommodations with kitchen facilities have a freezer).
If you want to braai (barbecue) also get wood or charcoal and a double grill with handles ( the ones where you put the meat or whatever and close the other half ( hope it makes sense ) a grill glove and fork. Remember the matches and firelighters (I thinks they are called the squares made of "petrol" to make it easy to make the fire going)


The restaurants at the moment do not have the best of reputations

No facilities for seniors

If you want further info just ask!

At which gate are you entering?

Thank you for your reply, Micetta!
We are entering KNP via Phalaborwa Gate driving from Tzaneen.

Another query that we have just come up with is about the Wildcard system as there are 4 of us travelling in the park for 6 nights it seems that it may be a good idea?

In Phalaborwa you'll will find both a "Spar" (or picn'pay) and a Wollworth, I think.



Family
(max 7: two adults & 5 children) Cost = R2.620

Question of interpretation I'd say Try to ask here in the Wild Card topics.

I would suggest an adapter for the power point SA has the round 3pin system and being an oldie myself don't forget meds
I even took spare spectacles

Hello mintcake, welcome to the forums.

I'm pretty sure you will need a Couples card x 2. Families have to be 2 adults and up to x children under 18 but the children must be the offspring of the adults i.e. cannot be used for grandchildren.

For 6 nights in the park you will more or less break even on the cost of the Wild Card vs Conservation Fees, and if you are visiting other parts of South Africa or Swaziland then you can use it to get free entry into some of the other parks you might be near.

Enjoy your trip and I hope you'll come and tell us all about it?

My wife and I have been going to Kruger for the last 9 years, but it is only in the last 2 yrs that we have decided to braai.
This is due mainly to the high cost and low quality ( sometimes ) of the catering within the Park.
We now take 2 fold away 20 ltr coolboxes with us, packed into our luggage, and purchase freezer blocks at one of the supermarkets prior to entry.
We then leave the blocks behind as they are too heavy, but relatively cheap to leave behind.
We then use braai at one on the picnic sites, or visitor areas, where we can hire their gas skottles, (basically a gas bottle with a 2foot pipe/stem that holds a burner which you cover with a large shallow wok type plate. This works well for us, and currently only costs about 20rand for a half hour.
We then normally have a couple of sandwiches or rolls with cold fillings of an evening.
Good advice about getting at least one of the plug adapters.
You might consider taking a 10 foot or so extension lead as some of the plugs are at the height of the (free) air conditioners
As saraf said, you will need 2 x International Couples Wild Cards.
We enquired 2 years ago when we took my parents.
You can either pay online, or when you get to your first entrance gate or camp

Any more questions, just fire em at us and we will do our best (forum members) to reply

Mike and Trish Goss

My wife and I have been going to the Kruger for a number of years.
We are going for our 7 th time in September.
We make sure we buy drinks b4 we enter the park.
As far as eating we use the restaurants - can't be bothered with cooking.
Yes Buy an adapter or 2 in the supermarket b4 you enter the park.
Don't forget to take your binoculars and camera.
Buy an identification book on animals and birds.
Don't rush around looking for animals take your time they will come to you.
You just have to be in the right place at the right time-and who knows where or when that is.
I will guarantee that you will enjoy the experience.
Have a great time