SANParks.org Forums

I know everyone is different and every day is different but I’m looking for some up to date advice. We are coming to Kruger from Scotland, UK. next week, staying, for a week, mostly outside the park between Crocodile Bridge and Malelane Gate. We are spending one night at Lower Sabie, and probably another day or two in KNP – say 4 days in all.

We have been twice before (over 10 years ago, and in November) and remember the first 10km in from Crocodile bridge, first thing in the morning, the best for sightings. Is this the case now?

What are the best roads to take in the Malelane/Berg en Dal and Croc. Bridge/L. Sabie areas for wildlife (inc. birds) and scenery? And are there any especially good places to get photos at this time of year?

At Lower Sabie we are in a perimeter tent. Can we expect to get sightings from there at dawn and/or dusk, or are we better planning a morning or sunset drive? And/or are the bush braais recommended?

Thanks for any help
Margaret

Welcome to the forum
There has been a lot of rain and everything is still getting back to normal Some of the gravel roads are still closed ..
I would check the thread on road closures as they are kept fairly up to date .
Perimeter Tent ... marvellous . You will see plenty of animals including very noisy hippos . ellies and croc plus buck and baboons and monkeys and a hyena that trots around the outside of the fence everynight Not to mention plenty of birds .
Go on a sunset drive if you can ..

Warm welcome to the forum magbrin!

When you say 1 night in Lower Sabie and another day or 2 in KNP do you mean you have not yet booked anything further?

But yes, the Croc Bridge road to Lower Sabie can be very productive, so always a good one to drive, also the S28, the dirt road to the east of the tar road.
Perimeter tent at L/S is wonderful and you should have some amazing sights and sounds from there.

Bush braai's are definitely recommended. See Here

I don't think there are any particularly bad roads in the B & D, Malelane area that are bad, all mostly good.
But of course the old adage, Right place at the right time applies to any of the roads in the park.

Good luck and please do ask if there are any further questions you need to know.

Magbrin, a very warm welcome to you.

perimeter tent in Lower Sabie must be my favorite place in the whole world.



Watching the world wake up.







Enjoy

Thanks for your responses. Sounds as if we have made a good choice but by all accounts there may not be a lot of time/peace to sleep

We are staying outside the park for a week, Elsa - I imagine I can't say where so our other visits will be daytime, only, hence only doing the very south area, but varying our entry between CB and Malelane. We have not been to Berg en Dal before so imagine we will spend one day in that area and am I right in thinking there is a new picnic place, there? What facilities does it have (Braai, loos, water etc)?

Excellent pics, Meandering Mouse. Hope to be able to get some good ones myself. Old ones, from previous visits, are pre-digital.

Hope to be able to keep up with news, sightings, etc on forum once we arrive, but not sure how much coverage, and at what cost, we will get with our UK phones.

BTW what are the temps, rainfalls at the moment? Cold, wet & windy in N Scotland at the moment

You are going to experience very hot days and nights.
Weather in Feb is still very hot, might get some days that are overcast with rain or thunderstorms but even then it should not drop much below 30C.
Remember your sunblock, hats and mozzie repellant etc.

Lots of other mites find it cost effective to get a local SIM card and data bundle.
There is a thread somewhere about this!
Help please!

In terms of up to date sightings ...

Today:
18:23
4 Lion Cubs (Vurhami Pride)
H4-2/S25 junction
(near Croc Bridge)

16:37
Lion Cub
In a tree
H4-2, 2.2km from Crocodile Bridge

10:00
Leopard in tree
H10, 1km S of Mlondozi Loop turn
(North of Lower Sabi)

6:25am
Wild dogs
H3, 5 km from Afsaal – South towards Malelane

5:40
Civit
2Km before end of S28 – Towards Lower Sabie

By and large, the sightings have been better between Croc Bridge and Lower Sabi than Malalane

The Vurhami pride are always around the Vurhumi dam area, and there are often cheetah sightings at Mac's waterhole on the S28 near Croc Bridge. Another cheetah hotspot has been on the S28 just South of the Duke road turn off

If you drive north on the H10, you will first cross the Sabie River. The view of the Lower Sabie camp deck is rather impressive from here, and birding on and around the bridge is excellent! Look out for goliath heron, little egret and hamerkop in the rapids below the southern tip of the bridge. African fish-eagles may also be seen and heard from here. On the edge of the bridge you may find lesser striped and wire-tailed swallow, and pied and giant kingfishers. These have become completely relaxed next to the vehicles crossing the bridge.

Another birding hotspot is always sunset dam 1km West of Lower Sabi! Lapwings, egrets, grey herons, to name a few

The H10, S128 and S29 have been producing fairly good sightings of late! The rollers and bee eaters perching conveniently to be photographed on the shrubs An excellent area for cheetah and elephant sightings

Even if you find the S82 open (the dirt road that starts right by LS then goes South), do not drive it; the road was badly damaged in the floods. Sightings have been slow on the S140 Gomondwane road, but there is a hyena den there which might be of interest

I hope this helps.

Some more helpful information - thanks



What are the best ways of keeping cool.....................?

When driving around many folks place a face cloth or small towel that has been soaked in cold water, wrung out and placed on the back of the neck. Replace it often!
Also have the car aircon set to blow directly onto you.
Very important to keep yourselves well hydrated with plenty of fluids.
I see some of the camps now sell a little hand held fan/demister which blows a very fine spray of cool water onto you, can't vouch for how effective they are as I haven't tried them.
Try to plan your drives for very early in the morning as soon as the gates open and then return to your chalet from about 11am, have a swim, take a cool shower and just relax until about 4pm then go out again for the last few hours of the day when it is slightly cooler.
And hope you have a few cooler days in between!

Welcome to the forum magbrin.

I have not been to Kruger for 3 years, but in the 7 before that, like you, I found the first 10 or so km from Croc Bridge (on any road) very productive in the early morning, including a wild dog kill, in multiple doggie sightings, great leopard sightings, lots of lions and of course, the big & hairy.

Birding is also good, with a number of African Hawk Eagle sightings, and the carmine bee-eaters should even be that far south.

The BnD area is also good for leopard & doggies.

But timing is everything. Good luck.

Welcome to the Forum

I was at B & D for 4 nights in December.
General game was a bit slow at times.

But the area was good for the Big 5, particularly Leopard. I renamed the S110 (I think it is, map not with me at the moment - the tar road up to the camp) "Leopard Alley". Plenty of sightings along there.

Thanks again, for some good advice

We leave home tomorrow - if we can get out for the snow Blowing a blizzard as I speak, but forecast a bit better for tomorrow. Thinking of bringing a suitcase of snowballs to keep us cool

Arrive outside Kruger on Friday and will probably visit BeD area on Sunday, to give us a taste of things to come, and to see the scenery, there. LS night of Mon 11th and back in, probably on Thursday, from Crocodile Bridge. Can't wait Then South to Garden Route/Port Elizabeth area
Will post some photos on our return.

Enjoy and safe travels, looking forward to seeing the pics!