SANParks.org Forums

Believe a swimming pool will be nice for a toddler
All main camps in the South are great for a toddler all with pools
Nice feature about Pretoriuskop are the "tame" impala in camp

All three of my kids have been going to the park since they were only months old.

Although it is a good precaution to keep them inside an enclosed veranda after dark, it is really not necessary. My daughter is two years old and there is nothing she loves more than sitting around the fire at night with me and also to patrol the experiment fence.
We also never use any malaria medication and just ensure she is covered in repellant after dark, but that is your own choice to make.

On the topic of this very debatable issue, I always remind myself that my child is just one of thousands inside the malaria area and should not be treated any different.
In saying so, we do take every possible, but "sensible" precaution against malaria, while also ensuring they still enjoy the experience.

Hi, I'm sure this question has probably been asked many times before....but
If I am travelling to KNP 2 adults, and 2 children, but one of the children would still be in a travel cot and not require a bed.
would I need to book accom with max occupancy of 4 people, or can I book a bungalow for example with max occupancy of 3 as we would only need 3 beds....
I have been a SA travel agent for years, and never had this question pop up, now here i am in this situation lol!
many thanks for all your help
can't wait to get back to the bush

If the baby sleeping in a cot is younger than 2 you wont pay for him/her and you wont need to book a bed for him/her. So yes you can book a 3bed bungalow

Karriep, I was in Lower Sabie when I heard a conversation about exactly this issue with the receptionist.

The camp was very open to 4 people in a three bedded bungalow as long as they did not need an extra bed or matress. They emphasised that they did not have the equipment to deal with extra people, but if the visitors could bring their own matress, or share a bed, it was fine.

The children in this case were even older.

thanks for the quick helpful responses

We often travel with our two toddlers (7&4) and where possible book four beds. Where we have been unable to get 4 beds we have booked three and have never had a problem. In most instances the camps will provide you with an extra mattress but we also travel with our own just in case.

We put a price on every animal and then making a list for every kid.
At the end of the day the kid with the most sightings win like R100-00 and then for every animal they spotted we give them what ever the price was on that animal.
For example : Leopard for the first sighting R200-00 and there after R50-00 per leopard sighting.
Lion for the first R100-00 and R50-00 there after.
For rare sightings of any type of animal R100-00 and then R20-00.
We don't count Impala though.
You can also give a price for all the predators and another for antelope.

That worked for my kids.

going to kruger in september. mostly in south (lower sabie, satara, pkop)

going with my 4yr old and he loves it but trying to convince friends with a 2 and 3 yr old to come along and they worried about the kids being in the car all day....can anyone recommend a link or something giving feedback of happy kids that i can show them.

secondly is there kiddie activities in these camps? other than the swimming pool that we will make full use of.

Hi, we took our son 2 years ago when he was 1y old and he survived!
This year we are going with a 4y old and almost 2y old and don't even worry about it!
We did trips during the day and was back in camp by early afternoon sometimes later.

Hi

I took my grand chiuldren to Kruger one the age of 3 the other the age of 6. I made sure we could stop at picnic spots etc. The proof that kids enjoy it? Well they are visiting us from Australia in June/July. Their request
First - Kruger Park
Second Wimpy Bar???
Third Spur restaurant???
Then they are happy for anything else.
If you are at Lower Sabie its always good to come back in for a swim the same at Satara. If you head for Skuukuza the public rest area has a lovely pool there and braaing spots.
I am sure the kids will enjoy it.
Good Luck

I am always concerned when I hear about young children going to Kruger.

Read this first and foremost.

Malaria is deadly to kids under the age of 5.

Always keep in mind that malaria kills more kids in Africa than anything else. At the rate of about a child every 30sec.

I always advise people to rather be "bangjan" than "dooiejan" when it comes to this.

Some people say that malaria is not a problem in Kruger anymore. Don't listen to that hogwash! It is alive and well in Kruger!

Nicolette, I am very concerned about the fact that you've been advised to take antibiotics as a preventative measure. Maybe I understood you incorrectly. But please rethink that advice.

Yes, malaria has been around for long and most of us are still here. But it only takes one bite and that's that. There are quite a few people on the forums who have contracted malaria in Kruger. If you pick it up soon enough you should be ok, but for kids under 5 even the soonest sign would most probably already be too late.

I saw a mom and a dad in the Wilgers hospital in Pretoria sit next to their deadly sick 7 year old son, crying like babies and wanting to pull their hair out for taking the chance and putting their son in that situation.

My honest opinion is to rather sacrifice Kruger for those few years. NOTHING, but nothing is more important than a child's life. Not even Kruger.

Nicolette all my kids as well as I have been going to the Park since diapers and none of us have ever taken any meds for malaria. I am not saying that is what you should do, but merely stating the truth. Prevention is always better than cure and if you ensure your kids are well covered in tabard by nightfall nothing could happen.

I always get concerned when I read of people trying to keep kids out of the park 'just in case'. In fact I would encourage anybody to take their kids to the Park and introduce them to the wonders it have, before they actually think it is uncool. My youngest is 2 and half years old at the moment and she begs me constantly to go to the Park, which is great because I know she is hooked.

Dont worry too much about keeping them entertained either. We play games in the car and kids have an ability to entertain themselves.

@wildtuinman: doxycycline an antibiotic is all we have ever been prescribed for Malaria and I believe is one of the three most commonly prescribed anti-malarials
I hadn't even considered the malaria angle when I read this thread heading....
As a parent that would be a difficult thing for me to weigh up if I had very young children - not sure which way I would go?