Advice on a long term trip to Kruger

[Karacal]

Hi
Maybe not next year, or the year after but I would like to plan a 6-12 month stay in Kruger.
As a UK national. Usually on a 90 day stay, would I get a bias for such a trip?
Also, what is the best way of “doing it”? Camper van, caravan a separate vehicle? Camping (but maybe Accommodation in the really wet periods)?

It’s early days, but some initial advice would be welcome

[arks]

For a stay in SA of over 90 days you would likely need to get a temporary resident's visa, if you qualify. Have a look at the SA Department of Home Affairs website for qualifications and how/where to apply.

[Expat_Kiwi]

Hi Karacal.

As arks has suggested it is probably best to check with the DHA (Department of Home Affairs) with regards a visa extension. I do know you get an extension for a further three months (a total of six months) but I am not sure how to go about applying.

As for the long term stay in the Kruger, we did a seven and a half month trip in 2018 and this year we are doing another seven month trip. We stayed in our motorhome for the whole period. I have attached a summary of our trip - the reasons for the motorhome as opposed to a caravan or other, the planning and the stay itself. It also includes an indication of how we lived and of our spending.

If you have any other questions or want to pick my brains about other aspects of our trip just ask.

Info for Long-Term Kruger National Park Stay.pdf

(105.17 KiB) Downloaded 248 times

[Hippotragus]

Hi Karacal. How exciting!

I have asked Crested Val to reply to you - she and her husband used to stay in South Africa for extended periods.

A friend of mine flies home to UK every 3 months for a few days, then comes back for another 3 months! I suppose you could also just pop over the border to Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland etc. and re-enter SA.

[Crested Val]

Hi Karacal
As Mary said, we used to stay. 6 months in SA and 6 back here in the UK

At first it was simple, as we just went to any local Hone Affairs office and apply for a 90 day extension on top of our 90 day holiday visa.

Then all this process was moved to Pretoria and the nightmare started.

In 6 years never did our paperwork come back in time, and although we were on the computer, we had some very unpleasant times at OR Tambo on the flight home!!

Due to family health issues we had to stop our visits, but had we been able to continue, we were advised to go to SA House in Trafalgar Square and obtain the 6 month visa before we left.

Not sure if this still applies, but worth a phone call to check.

We didn’t actually stay in the park for 6 months, but rented a cottage in Phalaborwa, going in as day visitors as often as we wanted, with a few 2-3 overnight stops.

I hope that you can get something sorted, and if you need further info, you are very welcome to PM me.

[Karacal]

Many thanks for the replies ... I’ll read them and consider at length.

I hadn’t considered renting outside the park - is that cost effective? And which towns are the best locations?

I have read that the SA authorities do not like people who constantly leave and re enter and have “multiple entries in their passports”..,. As you say , a conversation with the local embassy might be a first step,