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Hall all!!

I was hoping to get some honest feedback from a few Kruger Lovers out there whi have recently visited the Park.

My parents are looking at taking a couple of their friends to South Africa (from sunny Australia) in mid next year and was hoping to spend about 2 weeks in the park travelling from North to South, BUT a friend of mums has said that the Park has gone down hill like crazy and he would not recommend going there with foreigners yikes!!

We all know that this friend can sometimes be a reall drama queen so I thought I would open the discussion and see what everyone else out there would think or suggest?

We were there for a quick trip in May and expereinced that the cafeteria's are really bad in terms of customer service, but it wasn't like that in ALL the camps. We were also told that the repair works had not yet started after all the floods and most picnic sites were still closed and unattended.

Your comments and feedback wouldbe great!! Thanks all!!

Maddie, Kruger is fine, the shops are expensive, the restaurants are sub-standard, except maybe 1 or 2, but I would take 2 weeks in Kruger anytime above the "private lodges"

I am young. So I cannot comment on the comparison to days of old
However, with self catering I cannot see a reason why I would not wholeheartedly recommend Kruger
Which other Park can possibly compare with regards to expanse and diversity?
By and large the problems people moan about (like speeding, littering etc) is related to certain times of year, and only in certain pockets of the Park. I think the 'downhill' is greatly exaggerated.
A self catering trip from North to South when its not holiday time should be bliss This is my opinion

There's nothing wrong with KNP that I can't live with.

Never knew the "old days" so what I know today is my experience of it and I will still recommend it wholeheartedly to anybody.

I would say leave the drama queen at home...

Maddie, I think your parents and their friends would truly be missing out on a fantastic opportunity and experience if they chose not to do that trip in Kruger.
Sure there are a few things that they could improve on but I am sure it would still not be attracting the number of visitors per year (can't quite remember the figures) if it weren't so!

Can not agree more

Maddie, being a great Kruger Lover myself I have unfortunately not been to Kruger in the last 2 years but would still like to make some comments.

There are school holidays between June 22 and July 15 2013, a period foreigners should avoid in Kruger. It will be full of people and cars, and there will be greater problems of littering, noise etc. My SO and I spent 3 nights in Kruger on our way to Mapungubwe a few days after the World Cup in July 2010 and the park was almost empty.

We mostly do self-catering (to 90%) in Kruger but to manage that for 4 persons in 2 weeks is tiring and requires a lot of planning. Also, if your parents and their friends are going in one car it may cause tension and/or some exhaustion. I therefore suggest a 2-3 day break and treat in the middle of the Kruger trip at a private lodge in one of the game reserves bordering Kruger. Some of them have low season prices from early May until the school break in June. I am not allowed to suggest any specific ones but you can PM me if you want more information. The friend of your mother may also come up with some good suggestions. It will give a different experience as you likely know.

I hardly believe Kruger has gone downhill that fast or at all. Kruger is unique, where you can get that wildlife experience so easily and comfortably. I often have to convince relatives and friends about the fantastic Kruger. It is a privilege to be able to spend 14 days in Kruger.

Wish your parents a wonderful trip to South Africa.

Hi there Maddie88

I like Cheetah2111, am also young and cannot comment on Kruger in the good old days. I have been going to Kruger for the last 6 years (A short term compared to most on the forum)

However, in that time I have seen things improve in Kruger. I was there last in September this year and in 3 out of the 4 camps we stayed in, the accommodation was freshened up or fixed up. New Furniture, new mosquito nets, new tiles in showers etc. The service from Gate and Reception staff has improved dramatically over the last few years. They have gone from satisfactory in 2007 to brilliant in 2012.

Also, as of September, practically all picnic spots were repaired and open to the public.

The only downside of Kruger is the restaurants and take aways. They are expensive, the staff is largely unfriendly and the food and service is sub standard. This made to look even worse when you then buy something from a SANParks camp shop and you are greeted at the till by a warm friendly face.

With regards to speeding and general misbehaving, we found that even though we stayed in the park longer than any other year, we witnessed less speeding and misbehaving this time.

That is our experience at least. As a frame of reference, we stayed in Orpen, Talamati, Satara and Letaba

I would take 2 days in Kruger Park above anything else!! lol I wish I was going with !!!



Your right Cheetah2111, they will mostly be doing self catering and maybe a bush braai or something exciting and different. Thanks!!!



Thanks Leaping Lizards! Glad to hear all the picnic spots are back up and running, that good news!! We also found that reception staff and camp staff members were very friendly and helpful, it was only the cafeteria that let us down...



Thanks to everyone for commenting!! A few more questions...

Have you ever been on a Bush braai? Which camp, what did you do, what did you eat and what made it super special or really forget-worthy for you? So pro's and cons?

What would you prefer: Sunset Drive? Night Drive or morning Drive?

Have you ever been on a morning walk and seen something super special or know of someone who has?

"Downhill like crazy" ??? What a joke. If some of the staff are not as friendly as you would expect or if the food is not up to standard, will that ruin your entire holiday? NO. Why go to Kruger? Is it to eat out or to enjoy nature? Kruger is not a 5 star establishment with more waiters and cleaners than guests. You will be paying about R800,00 per night per bungalow for 2 people instead of up to R12 000,00 per person per night in a 5 star lodge.

Maddie88, ask your parents to check out this forum where she will get all the info about Kruger. If Kruger was really going downhill, the forum members would be the first ones to tell you.

The one major comparison that stands out for me regarding before and now, is the social networks which I think are adding to the congestion at sightings. Much more fun wondering what is around the next corner and being the first to spot something for yourselves than people rushing from sighting to sighting which they have been advised about.

Maddie,

Downhill like crazy is not accurate. I've been to Kruger probably about six or seven times the last three years and in my opinion there are no significant problems at all.

My only complaint during this period has been the cafeterias. Service is not that good. But really, is it such an issue to ask twice before getting the right drink? Or waiting 30 minutes for a burger instead of 20 minutes? In the bigger scheme, it's a minor issue. I still make regular use of the cafeterias.

I would take two weeks in kruger above anything else! Especially for foreigners: you cant visit RSA and give up an opportunity to visit Kruger. If you can stay in kruger for two weeks - do so. If you can stay longer - stay longer!

Honestly, in my experience the last few years - things in Kruger are OK. Accommodation is neat and clean. Roads are in good condition. There's still some flood evidence but it's no constraint or inconvenience at all. It's an awe inspiring sight actually. Staff has been friendly in my experience. I respect these people so much - they work so hard - in tough conditions for very, very little pay and still produce friendly service. They are heroes in my view - from rangers, to office staff to curators, gardeners and cleaners! I booked my annual Kruger holiday last week for January - even the help from the booking office was so friendly and efficient.

I really don't see a problem for you. I had a two week stay in January 2012 and saw so much game, lions almost daily, leopard about six or seven times including a kill, i saw warthog chasing hyaena :-). I saw a python eating an impala. I saw wild dog several times. Rhino too!

Sorry for long post - just had to get all of that in!

And I haven't even started recommending where to stay and how to travel! Eish!

Just come visit Kruger, bring your folks and have a lovely time!

With Regards to bush braais ...

here is a topic I started trying to find out the same Click here

Lower Sabi is hailed as having bush braais second to none
With a few guests, the location is off in the bush. With many guests, it is held at Mlondozi Picnic site.