SANParks.org Forums

Hi everyone! After a three year hiatus, we will be returning to South Africa this July for a week long trip to Kruger after spending a week in Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls, Hwange NP). We had such a wonderful time to Cape Town, Karoo and Addo in 2010 we vowed to make it back as soon as we could and go to Kruger. All of our reservations are made and we have the following itinerary:

12 July - Fly back to Johannesburg from Victoria Falls
13 July - Drive to Blyde River Canyon for one night
14-15 July - Oliphants
16-17 July - Lower Sabie
18-19 July - Berg-En-Dal
20 July - Drive to Pretoriuskop then back to JNB for our evening flight home.

We have a morning bush walk scheduled the second day we are in each camp but could definitely use some advice on some recommended drives to take each afternoon we are in camp. I suspect that we'll eat lunch after the morning walk, relax a bit then head out for a good four hours or so before gate closing each afternoon. We could also use some advice on the routes I'm thinking of taking between each camp. Here's what I was thinking based on some reading I've been doing:

Johannesburg to Blyde River Canyon
1. N12 to N4
2. R539 to R532 stopping in Graskop for lunch
3. Take the Panoramic Route to the junction with the R36 through Strijdom Tunnel
4. Take the R527 to R531 to our hotel for the night (Blyde River Canyon Lodge)

Blyde River Canyon to Oliphants:
1. Depart after breakfast on the R531 to Orpen Gate (we're about 45 minutes from the gate)
2. H7 to S39 for a stop at Timbavati
3. Continue on S39 to S89
4. Pick up the S91 and follow it into Oliphants

Oliphants to Lower Sabie
1. Depart at first light on the S91 to S90 then S41 to the S100
2. Take the S100 into Satara for brunch
3. Take the H1-3 to the Tshokwane picnic area for a snack
4. Take the H10 to the S122 then S29 into Lower Sabie

Lower Sabie to Berg-en-Dal
1. Depart at first light on the H4-2 to Crocodile Bridge for breakfast
2. Take the S25 to the S114 to the S113 into Berg-en-Dal

Berg-en-Dal back to Johannesburg
1. Depart at first light on the S110 to the H3
2. Take the H3 to the H2-2 to Pretoriuskop for breakfast
3. Exit Numbi Gate then head back to JNB via the N4

So what do you all think? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers!

Joe

We are going to the Panorama Route then Olifants and Lower Sabie from 1-11 June and then onto Mozambique. I cant believe we have such a similar itinerary. I will stay in touch on the forum on our travels:)

jjames04 - your trip sounds great!
I'm sure you'll have a great time.
Your routes chosen between camps sound good.

In terms of the morning walks.
You are planning on doing 3 morning walks at each of the camps, right?
I would actually do a walk at one or max 2 camps, and maybe rather go for a sunrise drive with SANParks on the other occasion.
But that's just my opinion - and it all depends on what you like and dislike.
The walks are great - very informative, and you learn all about the "little" things in the bush.
You look at animal dung, spoor, trees, grasses and learn all about them.
If you are lucky, you see one or two animals.
On the drives, you go out more to see the animals.
They often also do talk about the flora etc, but you'll see much more animals on a drive than on a walk.
So if you want to make the most of animal sightings - go on more drives, less walks.
If it is the little things of the bush you appreciate, and just want to be out there, no matter if you see animals or not - so for the walks!

Hope that helps! Enjoy it!!!

Looks like you have done some great research jj04.

Sometimes speak to other visitors who might just give you current info.

Hmmm....... very well , strictly planned out routes , especially the drives within Kruger
Maybe you should have someone pre-post somewehere for the animals to read , so that they can be ready and available for you when you get there

Now go and enjoy yourselves

I think it's best to check the sightings board at the end of everyday, but even that will not guarantee u a sighting! Sometimes u will drive a road and see nothing, sometimes u will see the big five along that very same road. It's all about luck and timing.

An example, my SO and I watched a big male lion walk out te bush and into a dry river bed, we were the only car, u could not see him in the river bed but we knew he was there and about 10 cars drove past us not knowing there was a large male 3 meters off the road.

In my experience u can plan your route no problem, but time in the park is the best plan u can have, we drive in the park most of the day, stopping for lunch at one of the camps! Sometimes we go hours without seeing anything, literally not even an impala! So best thing for me if u want decent sightings is time in the park.

A couple of thoughts.....sorry if you know them already.

I agree with planning the routes it is virtually a waste of time but I always do it (for a 2 to 3 week trip aswell) but I never keep to them all. I consider where I am going to have breakfast or dinner, waterholes, hides and look out spots. Hides are well worth a visit and break up the driving.

Do a sunset drive, you will see things you don't see in the day and its more value for money.

If I was staying in Berg-en-dal and leaving that day I would have an early drive out for around 3-4 hours. Drive the biyamati weir area. Then return to camp for a bit of breakfast before leaving malalane at about 11-12 ish, depending on your flight.

Its better to give yourself extra time on the drive back, you don't want to be speeding.

Get out at gate opening times when you can...another reason for maybe only doing one morning walk.
They are nice but you don't see as much. You could still swap morning walks for sunset drives if you decided.

Sit for a while at waterholes, have a coffee and a sandwich, but just see what appears, you will be surprised.

Drive with your windows open........its cold in the morning but the bush sounds are what make it so beautiful.

I hope you have a great time.

John

Thanks Folks!

Thanks for the recommendations so far. Just to clarify a bit, we have only booked three total walks, one at each camp giving us a full day of driving followed by a morning walk then an afternoon of driving before repeating on the way to the next camp. We had thought about adding a couple of sunset drives into the mix but I read a number of mixed reviews on the drives but we're definitely open to adding one or two.

I'm looking forward to seeing what other suggestions come through and really can't wait for our trip to begin. The largest animals we get here in Florida are alligators but they aren't very exciting.

Cheers!

Sunset rides are a bit of a lottery. Some are ordinary, but others are WOW!

Hi jjames04

You have had some great advise already. I have 2 things to add:

1) Get out in the bush at gate opening times, your best chance of spotting predators and in general the animals to be active.
2) Stick to the tar roads in the morning as the heat of the concrete attracts the animals during the night. Don’t be surprised to see something lying in the middle of the road.

How Bush Baptist said the sunset drives are a bit of a lottery. Have you considered a night drive? This is also a lottery but you have a great chance to see nocturnal wild life which is seldom seen during the day. Gives one a total different view of the bush I find.