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We have been coming to Kruger for the last six years spending a month in the park and just love it, but the time has come to widen our horizons. We have stayed in rondavels in all the major bush camps but now we are looking to see more. We are considering spending 60 to 75 days touring and photographing from mid October through November and December.

Now I would like to ask for some guidance.

We are considering traveling via self contained camper van and staying in campgrounds throughout our journey. Vehicle recommendations and rental availability? There would be the two of us. Are advance reservations really needed in the camping areas at the times we are considering? We would like a loose unhurried trek.

We want to spend a month or more in our beloved Kruger and are considering Mapungubwe, Marakele and perhaps Kgalagadi. We are especially interested in photographing mammals. Yes, we love the cats and the Elles. Are these parks good choices?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated or am I crazy??

@Ekoppen, rather do your bookings and be safe otherwise you could find yourself in a park with no availability or too far to travel between camps to make it. You could always change your camps inside if you want to stay longer/shorter in a specific camp.
Kgalagadi is a must see if you have never been there, just remember there is no ellies, but then the mighty Gemsbok is there which is one of my favourite mammals.
Mapungubwe is a good choice for ellies and other big five population also in attendance.
Marakele is a real gem with the Tlope camp which has no fences, a real experience
But off course, Kruger stays my number one park

Hi ekoppen

No, you are not crazy - in fact you are planning a brilliant trip!

We did a similar trip 18 months ago, and the year before that spent 6 weeks just in Kruger; and are going to spend 7 weeks (KNP) from early next month. Its a wonderful way to spend time in the park and to travel.

A couple of points/thoughts from me:

- Camping is the only way to do this purely because one is so totally close to nature all the time.

- We use a van we can unhitch so that we do not have to pack up 'house' every time we wish to take a drive. If you are going for an extended stay, you might like to set up for a longer time in one camp, and make a more permanent set up with a shade awning up and so on.

- Plan your visit around staying a minimum of 4 nights in a camp, and try extend it to 6/7 nights per camp.

- Mapungubwe, perfect for ellies; Marakele - very special for rhino especially; and Kgalagadi for cats.

- If you wish to do both Kgalagadi and Kruger, then I suggest 4/5 weeks KNP, two weeks Mapungubwe and Marakele and then 2/3 weeks Kgalagadi.

- Mid Oct to Dec is going to be hot, so ensure you are prepared with fans that can be used in your camper, good plans for shade awnings etc. They are lovely months to visit though. Birds, babies and the bush turns from dry to green

Thank you all, for your comments and observations. 2014 here we come!

ekoppen, you are planning the trip to end all trips!
You will definitely get a different feel for Kruger by camping as the vast majority of camp sites are situated on the camp fence with only the wire between you and the "wild". When planning your camps in Kruger, don't forget the smaller non-electrical camps - Balule and Tsendze - they have a magic all of their own.
If you start at the botom of Kruger and work your way up to Punda, you can then exit at Pafuri Gate and ttravel across country through Musina to Mapungubwe. We have done this several times - usually towing a caravan - the average time taken is 6 hours which allows for some shopping in Musina.
From Mapungubwe, down to Marakele - about 5 hours and then the loooong trek further South to KTP. That stretch will need you to overnight somewhere at least once.
Enjoy planning - very

Thanks PNF for the great advice .....January, here we come

great advice offered here, book far in advance to get the better camps in KTP.

Hi ekoppen,

I would definitely 'spread my wings'.

I have never been to the others (except Kruger of course), but I would definitely include 2/3 weeks in Kgalagadi.

I have just returned from there. You don't get bigger lions anywhere, and being a semi desert park there is very little bush to interfere with sightings. Also if you want something a bit more 'wild' than Kruger.

Also there are many raptors.

No surface water means there are no eles, hippos, buffs or rhino, but you could see desert 'specials' like brown hyena, oryx, springbok.

Morning Ekoppen

Sounds like a dream holiday to me!
Kgalagadi has been extremely dry lately, with very poor animal sightings apart from a few predators -- we were there last week. They are having rain right now -- check if it is enough and follow the forums. You must see it, but make sure you don't spend too long a time there if conditions are not favourable.
You would make a VERY BIG MISTAKE if you only stuck to South African parks!
I would seriously recommend that you cross the border into Botswana near Mapungubwe. A few days up that way would be fantastic and add variety to your stay. I would do Zimbabwe by entering at Plumtree border post to Matobo NP, then spend a few days in Hwange where you will see herds of up to 700 elephants at a waterhole if the rains have not arrived yet -- you will see very few tourists, and really feel nature in the wild. One of the highlights is camping at picnic sites like Ngweshla, Shumba or Masuma Dam. You will be the only people there with only ablutions, an attendant, and a waterhole all to yourself! Do Victoria falls -- you won't be sorry. After that it can be Chobe, Caprivi, down the Okavango panhandle, and back into Namibia -- all on tar roads (except in the parks). Good dirt roads to Kgalagadi via Mata Mata, and you will really have seen some amazing things!

You don't need 4x4, and you can be very relaxed as you have so much time.

God bless,

Friedrich von Horsten

It sounds just wonderful.

Why not do a Sanparks tour? Each Park has its magic. Starting south of Kruger, it would be possible to go onto Mapungubwe, a Park of mystery, Marakela, a Park of beauty and then onto Mokala, KNP, Augrabies..

from there it is a hop skip and jump onto the Cape Parks.

depending on your natural draw card, you could do either the coastal, or the Karoo Cape Parks. It would give absolutely wonderful coverage.

Hugh and her SO did a three month tour, she might have some really good advice.

If you want a tour of the Cradle of humankind, MM is here to assist

ekoppen the other mites with much more experience have given lots of tips which is great because I want you to take more of those incredible videos and share on the forum.
(I also hope you have a wonderful holiday )

ekoppen
Very
About the elephants at Mpungubwe
Read on the forum that because of the flood in January most elephants seem to have disappeared

Definitely add KTP to your trip
(at least a week)
Cats and other ""rare" mammels like springbok and Oryx
And why not pop over to Augrabies for a few night