SANParks.org Forums

I saw someone near the sable hide that had converted an old Land Rover Forward Control (I think) into an over landing vehicle. It was certainly an incredible sight

I remember our first kruger vehicle, a pale blue kombi caravelle thingy.lol. the same loaf-like ones.lol. Every kruger trip has been in a caravelle thankfully and i think it's the ideal kruger vehicle for the family. except ofcourse the lack of "opening style" windows for all four kids. everyday was like a world war, but it was fun.
Would like to go in a 4x4 land cruiser though*sigh* maybe one day.

Our first trip to kruger when i was a kid was with a Ford 20M.
Now that i am big my first kruger car is a trusty Blue combi Caravelle. THE most comfortable and capable Kruger vehicle....Lots of space even for a 60 liter fridge/freezer!!
I have recently aquired a Combi Syncro about the same model as the caravelle. Same amount of space but with more ground clearance and even more capable. Now i can do the "4X4" routes too!! Its the perfect vehicle in Kruger because at big5 sightings I can stop in "the back row" and still get e reasonable good sighting and not be involved in the traffic jams!!
I love my combis and would not swop them for any other vehicle around!!
All the space and confort to boot.
See you on my next trip!!

Hi reg knott... I see you've just been to Kruger. How about a Trip Report, please?

Cool topic, brings back great memories:

1st trip in bus on school outing from Benoni 1974.
One of my best trips was in a 1982 Toyota Corolla, No Aircon .... AAAAARGH!!!
1st trip with my kids in a 2001 Isuzu Frontier - great game viewing vehicle.

Current vehicle 4x4 Hilux DBL Cab.

First trip with a friend in his yellow 1.3L Toyota Corolla. Every bull elephant charged us!
Then I acquired my own Ford Sierra, which did me service for 10 years. The rattles and shakes I got used to, but it attracted a wealth of special sightings in that time.
After writing the Sierra (not in Kruger), I resurrected my 5.7 litre, Lincoln-green Camaro V8: not built for sand roads, nor for low revs, but could overtake everything after gate open. Could see the underside of game for the first time.
Went in a Mercedes Benz 230E twice (a pleasure, although also low), and then in a 260E that overheated a myriad times and took 11 hours to get from Kruger to Jhb.
Now, we just hire cars and skip the hassle. Hope one day to have a decent, high-clearance 4x4. Until then, I can be very persuasive and manoeuvrable at chock-a-blok sightings, so any car is fine, as long as it takes less than 11 hours to get to Kruger.

My first trip was in a Hillman in the 70ties
Actually came to a dead stop on the gravel in a dry riverbed
Dad had to get out, open the bonnet and look inside.
The whole family was protecting dads back.
Searching for lion from the safety of our car
Not many ellies in those days.
Dad then wanted to hand the keys over (was in his hand) to mum through the window so that she could start the car.
But...... the window was still closed so the keys landed on the ground and he had to bend to pick them up with some#$%&
1) he was not happy out there with his back unprotected
2) not amused when he saw his kids falling over backward laughing

btw, the only trip ever where i saw WD, lion and leopard in one day

Haven't thought of a Hillman in years!

.
I agree, any vehicle will do, although the higher the better. Every year I tell myself that my next car will be a "Kruger" car, in the mean time I am just thankful for the aircon on the way to KNP

When I was younger my parents would always hire or borrow a VW kombi - the ones that had opening windows at the back - why did they have to change that! Then my dad bought a Ford Husky which was just as good. Last week we went to Kruger with some overseas family so we hired a Toyota Quantum - it's a huge vehicle with plenty of space to move around in but only 3 tiny opening windows at the back. So on our future trips it's back to my trusty Kia Sportage - plenty room for 3 of us!!

Nkulu, I commiserate with you - I've been promising myself that for years! I want to see how I'm going to handle the heat this December without aircon.

Flutterby, seems like you've got it all covered! I also wonder why the modern cars have such strange viewing angles, whereas the older models used to open in all directions. Drive=ins were much easier then too.

Our first trip in 1969 was in a Valiant Regal white with black vinyl roof (Dad thought he was the mayor of Durbs) Then a few more years in a Cev 4100 auto (what a pleasure) 1 time in a JAG XJ6 belonging to an uncle then three years in an Escort 1600 Sport (Avocado Yellow) complete with mag wheels and front spot lights . 1982 in a Peugeot 504 (Honeymoon trip) a further 3 in a Jetta with trailer then 3 in a Tauran with trailer and one with Caravan and the last 4 with Touareg and Caravan. Love Camping anywhere anytime.

p.s. Once also in a Kombi which was hired at Skuks by my mother who gave her three sons and their three sons a little Christmas present.

Sparrow, lovely memories there!


Big V8's those were though; throbbing through your very spirit as you rode.


I haven't seen those for yonks! Was a powerful, compact car - six cylinder, if I remember. We had the 2500 and she could motor if she wanted to!


Are those two of the mites on this forum?

P.P.S
Sorry to say but we don`t use our aircon in the park. We feel that if the animals have to suffer so why can`t we. Thats what windows are for to let the air in and its much quieter at sightings as in the past we have had some idiots parked off with engines running so the aircon can work. Such inconsiderate bu---rs

Touareg is but Caravan no