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 Post subject: traveling in Kruger with young child
Unread postPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:20 am 
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Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:07 am
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Will be traveling with 3 year old child in eastern South Africa in late March into early April 2013.
After a stint at the beach near Durban, we wish to go to Kruger NP.
Are there certain activities that would not be recommended, or others specifically recommended with respect to traveling with such a young child and safety concerns.
Never having been to African game park, I would welcome any advice and I come with no point of reference or information.
Thank you all.


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 Post subject: Re: traveling in Kruger with young child
Unread postPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:43 am 
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Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:18 am
Posts: 14
Location: Secunda
Deon wrote:
A lot of your activities would be driving in the Park. Take the following in consideration:
1. Make sure to take a lot of fluid and refreshments along.
2. Also take some stuff with to keep the little one busy like animal books etc.
3. Make sure to take swimming gear with to let the little one enjou the swimming pools in the rest camps.
4. Monkeys are normally a problem in the Rest Camps, make sure to keep an eye on them as they tend to steel food etc. from the kids.
5. Try not to drive the whole day long as the kid will get very tired. Rather look at the map and make sure to stop at all the Rest Camps on your way. There are not a lot of camps.

Hope you will have a wonderfull visit to our beautiful country.


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 Post subject: Re: traveling in Kruger with young child
Unread postPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:20 am 
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Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 6:31 pm
Posts: 7225
Location: Ballito, KZN North Coast, South Africa
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Hi kimperato and a warm welcome to the forum! :clap:

Please do have a read Here for lots of great advice and info.
If there is anything further you need to know, please do ask.

Enjoy!

_________________
Where ever you go, go with all your Heart.

Kruger - Feb 6th - 22rd - 2013 &
May 24th - June 15th -2013.


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 Post subject: Re: traveling in Kruger with young child
Unread postPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 11:56 am 
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Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:25 pm
Posts: 17
I'd also suggest you base yourself in one of the larger camps for several days.
That way you won't have to drive around too much and you can enjoy the camp surrounds together. Pretoriuskop has a lovely swimming pool and there are tame impala living in camp which makes it nice for kids. Skukuza might also be an option because there are plenty of short trips you can do around there and there's lots of activity.
Satara has a nice play area for kids near the pool too.
Children don't have the same appetite for long game drives so it's probably best to do things in small bites.


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 Post subject: Re: traveling in Kruger with young child
Unread postPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 4:33 pm 
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Location: In the shadow of Table Mountain
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kimperato wrote:
After a stint at the beach near Durban, we wish to go to Kruger NP.


Be aware of the hot African sun, even in March/April, and put on sunscreen and cover up your child.

Without becoming neurotic, keep an eye on your child at all times. You will be visiting the African wilderness, and there are snakes, insects etc. Just remain alert, no need to panic.

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2R, KTP, 18 - 22 Mar 2013.

Arguments are to be avoided; they are always vulgar and often convincing.
- Oscar Wilde


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 Post subject: Re: traveling in Kruger with young child
Unread postPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:08 pm 
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Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:08 am
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Location: Chicago, IL, USA
We've taken our daughter twice, at 2 and 3 years of age.
Even at three, she is only really interested in animals that are quite close to the car.
So, it has changed our driving style somewhat.
Less time looking for the rarer animals far off in the bush, more sitting alongside a herd of zebra talking with her about what the animals are doing.
We also ensure that we could get out of the car at picnic areas on a regular basis

We bought her a cheap set of small construction vehicles and plastic shovel.
She spent most evenings scraping little roads in the dirt/gravel outside each bungalow we visited.

Also, there is a zebra at Lower Sabie and a giraffe at Skukuza that small children can ride (for 2 rand the animal rocks back and forth, like the horse rides elsewhere).
Six months after our second trip my daughter still considers this the high point of her trip!

Think through the malaria issues, be aware of the monkeys and the child will have a great time.
We gave our child a stick to carry when playing around the camp and the vervets treated her with more caution when she had the stick in her hand.


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