Heard of the Kruger National Park? And interested in a Safari package to this iconic destination and don’t know where to start? Let us help navigate this process for you and find the best safari package to suit your requirements.
The Kruger National Park, located in the North-Eastern part of South Africa and spanning across the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, is probably one of South Africa’s most heard of destinations. However, it is quite a complicated entity to deal with for anyone interested in a safari as the options offered (from standards of accommodation and pricing and inclusions and location) can be as diverse as the South African landscape itself!

Here are just a few notes and explanations to help get you started and hopefully clear up some confusion before you let us continue with putting a package together to suit your specific requirements:

* The Kruger National Park – main rest camps operated by SANParks
There are many Kruger SANPark’s rest camps located within the traditional borders of the Kruger National Park, these are aimed mostly at the self drive traveler whom prefers to travel in their own vehicle and navigate the road network and cater for themselves. As an official supplier with SANParks we can assist with putting together a self drive package combining several rest camps to offer you a fantastic self drive experience combining various unique rest camps covering various types of terrain and drive options within the vastness of this over 2million hectare reserve. Whilst the rest camps do offer guided game drives and walks which can be pre-booked, you will still need your own vehicle getting to and from the camps. Most people who book at the main rest camps are usually for your seasoned Kruger traveler (mostly local South Africans having grown up with the Kruger on their doorstep), and a first time tourist with no knowledge of the Kruger may find this arrangement daunting and perhaps too unstructured for their liking. The standard of accommodation in the Kruger rest camps ranges from rustic shared ablution and shared kitchen facility options to fully equipped self catering max. 3 star standard chalets / safari tents as well as camping options. If you are looking for a luxury lodge option you will prefer one of the private game lodge options below. Note – Skukuza Rest Camp the Park’s main camp does also offer a really luxurious and unique option where you can stay in the converted Shalati Train Accommodation (ask us for more info).
Some of the well known traditional rest camps in the park include:
Southern Section – Pretoriuskop / Berg n Dal / Skukuza / Lower Sabie / Crocodile Bridge
Central Section – Satara / Orpen / Olifants / Letaba
Northern Section – Mopani / Shingwedzi / Punda Maria
There are several other “satellite” camps in addition to these main rest camps as well.
An option also to look into for the non seasoned Kruger visitor but still want to experience Kruger in it’s traditional form, is to book in at the rest camps but combine it with a driver/guide with vehicle to take care of the logistics and game viewing drives and even assist with the catering as well if required. All this can be booked through us at sportstravel.co.za, just send your requirements via the enquiry form.

* The Kruger National Park – private game lodges within the boundary of the park itself
SANParks have given concession areas within the traditional boundaries of the park to various privately operated game lodges. These lodges, also spanning from the Southern up to the Northern regions of the park are mostly of a luxurious standard (min. 4 to 5 Star), and often have their own private game concessionary rights and own road networks allowing exclusive non crowded game viewing opportunities in open safari vehicles with expert rangers. This combined with a fully catered meal (and sometimes inclusive drinks) programme as well as transfer arrangements from the various nearby airports or entrance gates, will be sure to offer you a hassle free luxurious, ultimate safari experience. There is also a range of pricing structures for these lodge options and we will be happy to find something to hopefully suit your budget, a 4 star lodge option for example offering the same safari experience to a 5 star lodge option can be R 1000’s cheaper if you are fine with compromising a little on certain exclusive accommodation luxuries our knowledge of the various options could help you save so much for a similar experience. But if you are happy to pay more and ultimate luxury is what you want, we are there for you as well to put together your all inclusive luxury safari. Our special negotiated tour operator rates with most of the private game lodges, can often mean you will pay LESS than if booked through various online platforms on the internet – we urge you to put us to the test!

HEREWITH A COUPLE OPTIONS WHICH MAY APPEAL TO YOU:
http://sportstravel.co.za/product/kruger-2-night-safaris-departures-from-johannesburg/

http://sportstravel.co.za/product/mdluli-safari-lodge-kruger-national-park/

* The Greater Kruger National Park – Big 5 private game reserves and lodges falling outside of the official boundary of the Park but sharing an unfenced boundary
Examples of these reserves include, The Sabie Sands (home to probably THE most famous established luxury lodges in South Africa), Mejejane (which offers some unique luxury self catering lodge private home options), The Thornybush Game Reserve, Timbavati Game Reserve, Manyaleti Game Reserve, Balule and Klaserie Private Nature Reserves, and Letaba Ranch (which offers basic more budget orientated rustic accommodation). The reserves and their lodges, whilst privately owned, all share unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park, essentially making them all part of the Greater Kruger National Park. Again as with the details highlighted above let us facilitate your ultimate game lodge experience and help match your budget and standards of accommodation with the right game lodge to suit your needs.

* Alternative independent Big 5 Game Reserves and Lodges – close to but not part of the Kruger itself
Two of the most famous examples of these reserves are Kapama Private Game Reserve and Karongwe Private Game Reserve, both these reserves are large private areas, close to the Kruger but within their own boundaries and not sharing an unfenced boundary with Kruger like the above reserves mentioned.  Located within these reserves will also be various exclusive private luxury game lodges, which will be fully catered and inclusive of open vehicle game drives with expert guides. Both reserves are Big 5 and will essentially offer you same experience as the Greater Kruger Private Lodges, some of these lodges will also offer better rates than the others for a similar experience and again please let us help you with this as well.

Range of accommodation, lodges and nature reserves within easy access to safaris into the Kruger National Park
There are a myriad of options all along the borders of the Kruger from the South to the North where you can enjoy lodge or guest house or even backpacker or camping style accommodation often within their own game filled nature reserves and within easy access the main SANParks operated Kruger National Park, where you can enjoy self drives or book an organised guided trip into the park through one of the many safari vehicle operations in the area. Some options like within Marloth Park or Ngwenya Resorts or the Protea by Marriott Kruger Gate, actually overlook the Kruger National Park proper and often you can spot the Big 5 coming down to drink from your own doorstep or veranda. These outside the Kruger park options with cover every budget option but will also allow you to explore the nearby scenic area known as the Panorama Route which combines spectacular waterfalls, forests, mountains, the Blyde River Canyon and the historical mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest. Again we will be able to assist with accommodation options as well as regional tours and pre arranged safaris into the Kruger Park itself.
Just send your details through the enquiry form and we will be happy to help with the perfect getaway for you.