Kruger crossing self-drive safari
This is a great itinerary for a premium Kruger safari experience.
You will travel from the far remote north to the big game rich southern part of the park. Being accommodated in up-market lodges and tented camps in private concessions within the park. You could do a similar itinerary by using public rest camps all the way, saving good money. Here you spend the difference, still affordable comparing to private reserves, to enjoy the privilege to access areas of the park closed to the public. With a quality of the service comparable to the one of the exclusive private reserves, at a fraction of the cost. More authentic, on one side, although off-road driving is generally still not permitted and in any case not as much as in private reserves.
In the itinerary we have however included 2 public rest camps on the account of the distance – and the recommended game viewing cruising speed – from the far north to the central area of the park.
This trip is suggested to:
- Independent travelers who enjoy the luxury of private safari lodges…
- …without having to spend a little fortune as in the most of private reserves.
Why choose Kruger crossing self-drive safari?
- To discover many different facets of Kruger, without paying through the nose. What will be happening in most of private reserves.
- To make a much better experience comparing to using public rest camps. Not only for a higher quality of the accommodation, but also in terms of service, game viewing, safari experience.
The Kruger at a glance
The northern part is the less crowded. There’s also less game though. This depends on lower rainfalls and fewer roads. Especially in the far north, the park is very narrow, with just a few km from the western to the eastern border. However, it’s in the northern area that you find your best birdlife. Some species, like roan antelopes, can be basically seen only here. With regard to the flora, there are large spots of fever tree forest and quite a number of baobabs. This also the ideal habitat for the Black rhino. It’s very unlikely you will see many people on the road. You might instead meet almost nobody.
The area between Shingwedzi and Letaba is probably the less active, gamewise. You can, of course, meet just anything, but you shouldn’t expect that much.
South of Olifants, things change. The southern you go, the more roads and the more vehicles you will see, as well as more game (this is why there are more people…). But having the privilege to be the guest of lodges in private concessions, the crowds, if any, won’t be your concern.
The central area of the Kruger is well stocked with large predators, huge herds of Buffalos, Giraffes, Zebras and Elephants. Here there are the plains where you can possibly spot the Cheetah.
The southern area is real Rhino country. Plus all the rest.
When to go
All year-round. Game viewing is usually better during the dry season (May-October), except for birdlife (November-February). But we’re talking about a huge wilderness area, larger than a good couple of European countries, where anything is possible, anywhere and anytime.
