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The smaller vehicles, used generally at bush camps, hold 10, and the larger ones hold @20 people. It's generally pretty easy to see and take pix, especially if you get an "outside" seat. You may also be asked to help operate a spotlight, but plenty of consideration is usually given to those trying to take pix.

I agree but we will probably take 1 night drive just for the experience. When we took a night boatride on an Amazon tributary it was awesome.

When we did our sunset drive from Croc. Bridge in May, I asked the lady ranger who took us out if they did the later night drive and her answer was that they would do it if people asked for it.
Whether this applies to the other camps as well, I do not know.
I am not sure how pleasant it would be in Winter as it would be extremely cold on the back of an open vehicle that late at night.

Very true
Dont forget gloves, windbreaker and something to cover your head.

Same goes for the morning walks and drives.
1st hour is cold

The night drive vehicle from Orpen picks up visitors from Marula and Tamboti and drops them off again afterwards.
I presume the walks are the same, as the camps are only 2 km apart.

Just to explain a bit...

If you wanna see nocturnal life then obviously the night drive is the way to go. In general, animals are far more comfy with vehicles in Kruger, thus you will get closer to the hairy and scary stuff on a night drive then whilst on foot.

Walks are there to experience the smaller things and scenery you tend to miss out on when driving around in a car.

The two areas differ vastly as well. Lower Sabie has a perennial river which Satara does not have. So the sightings of animals may differ. Both are very good for the main predators though.

It all depends on the atmosphere the driver and guests create. Some joking and banter between them will loosen up both parties.

At Olifants we actually had a driver go off road (not allowed, even to him) so we could see a leopard taking an impala.

That drive will be with me always!

You are right, you can book a 10 seater if you have a private party of less than 10. I have booked this at PK before, but not sure if all camps do this, and the price was roughly R25 more per person. Check with the camp itself.

I think it also depends on the camp, what type of car you get for the drives. In Crocodile Bridge we had a 10 Seater, as they were only a few people booked on the drive. At Satara we had 2 20-Seater for the Sunset Drive because there have been a lot of booking.

Before we went in KNP , we also read in "the routard guide " that for morning, sunset or night drive you could choose between the 10 or 20 places vehicule and that there were different prices according what you choose .
But it's not like that : usually there is only one vehicule for the drive and one price .
Two times at Letaba last year and Punda maria this year we have a small vehicule , at Letaba because on the morning drive in leaving the camp with the big vehicule we sticked in the mud as we were along the river bed looking at the hippopotams .
The other times we were in big vehicules , but sometimes alone so we have private drives !!Big vehicules are also pleasant as they are higher .
We have never reserved from europe , reserving only at midday when we arrive at the restcamp, and never haved problem, only this year at Skukuza which is a very busy camp , with a lot of bus coming with visitors for one night so i think there is perharps more people going on drives .All the drive were fulled for the week- end .Perharps it would be better also to reserve for the week-end or during the shool holidays for south africans ?
Anne .

The morningdrive you can do yourself, so that one is out of the list of choices.
The morningwalk however is something you really should do. You get to see the little things, the spiders, the plants, chameleons, and maybe the big 5 as well if you are lucky. The guides are very knowledgable, and will tell you all they know. So ask them whatever comes in your mind, and don't think it's a silly question.
Sunset or nightdrive.... That's not a hard one for me, the nightdrive. You have far more change of seeing the noctural animals then.

Walks and drives are quite different experiences, both rewarding!
My suggestions is that you do a walk and at least one drive.
Not all camps offer both sunset and night drives, but both sunset and night drives allow you the opportunity to experience the park after dark and the chance to see some nocturnal animals.
And morning drives leave before sunrise, so also give you a nocturnal experience.
Walks allow you to enjoy the smaller and more intimate things the park has to offer, so you'll learn about some plants and insects, and while walks are not focused on seeing big game, you never know what you might encounter.
And just the chance to be out walking in the bush — lots different from a get-out point or picnic spot — is magic!

You can book drives through central reservations, just email them with a list of which camps you'd like to book a drive.
If you tell us which camps you are staying at, other members can advise on which are best for drives.
I'd also hope you plan to do a morning walk at one of your camps.
The walk offers a very different sort of experience and is really not to be missed!
You're right in thinking that you don't want to overdo on drives, as you'll enjoy doing your own late afternoon drives as well and will also want to just enjoying relaxing in camp on some evenings.
Best is to have a balanced mix

I agree with everybody about night drives, sunset drives, and walks being a great way to see Kruger when the gates are closed.
And I also agree with the point about not overdoing the night drives--it's nice not to have to rush back to camp early every afternoon, and to get some leisurely braai-and-sundowner-time at camp.

But I also want to put in a good word for the morning drives.
As Arks pointed out, you do get to leave before the gates open and it's still dark enough for the nocturnal animals to be out.
Plus you get to see a spectacular sunrise!
We went on 2 morning drives last month, and had fantastic sightings on both: a pack of wild dogs (twice! ) and 2 prides of lions, plus lots of great zebras, ellies, and giraffes (my favorites), a bushbaby, etc., etc.
Yes, the gates do open up early enough to see the sunrise on a self-drive, but being out in the morning before everyone else AND seeing nocturnal animals made the morning drives as exciting as the night drives.
If it's not too expensive and you have the time (meaning you still have some afternoons and nights of free time), I'd recommend doing one of everything--walk, morning drive, and night/sunset drive!

Hi Jhquinn
I always try and vary my booking for the activities, so I think it is a good idea to do 1 sunset drive, 1 night drive with bushbraai and a morning walk. The drives usually takes about 3 hrs and the walk has taken us about 4 hours. I have done all the above at different camps, so it depends on you which camp you choose for which activity. Whatever you decide, enjoy it.