The Greater Kruger National Park area includes a number of private game reserves including the Sabi-Sand Game Reserve, Manyeleti Game Reserve, Thornybush Private Game Reserve, Kapama Private Game Reserve and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
This area is over 2 million hectares in size and is one the greatest game reserves in the world. The Kruger National Park is home to a large variety of wildlife including the famous 'Big 5' (Buffalo, leopard, lion, rhino, and elephant). There are an impressive number of species: 147 mammals, 507 birds, 114 reptiles, 34 amphibians, 49 fish and 336 tree species!
The Park is easily accessible and has a good network of well maintained roads in the reserve. This makes it ideal for self-drive safari destination. If you are arriving in South Africa at O.R. Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport and prefer not to drive, you can either connect to a scheduled or private road transfer or a short flight. If you are arriving or traveling to The Kruger National Park from Cape Town, there are scheduled flights to Nelspruit, just outside the park where transfers to your lodges are arranged or you can collect your rental car.
Kruger National Park falls into two provinces; Mpumalanga and Limpopo and also borders Mozambique and Swaziland. The park is 350km (about 220miles) from North to South so it is impossible to see it all in one visit. There are many tour operators who offer packages from 3 days+ which will enable you to experience the best the park has to offer in a short amount of time.
Accommodation in the Greater Kruger National Park area varies substantially so it is always best to have an idea what kind of budget or a particular place you would like to stay at. Packages on offer vary not only in the experience provided by each camp but also in the activities available and what is included.
It can be a bit confusing to understand the range of accommodation on offer but here is a very broad and basic explanation:
There are the 'basic' fenced camps inside the reserve with accommodation ranging from camping with shared facilities to guest houses. Prices are more reasonable than the 'Private Camps' but then you usually have to add on the costs of game drives, meals etc.
The luxury private game lodges are usually inclusive of meals, drinks and game drives so therefore are more costly but you get an awesome experience and personalized safari vacation.
The winter months of May to September offer excellent game viewing with a lower risk of malaria. In winter, (before the rains) the animals have to find water and therefore you are bound to find wildlife at the watering holes and rivers that still have water. Day time temperatures are warm and at night it can be a little chilly.
Summer time (October to April) can be very hot so it is advisable to stay in air-conditioned accommodation. The rains make the area lush and green with newborn animals, prolific bird life and a variety of flowers.
Some of the more well-known Private Game Reserves in the Greater Kruger National Park:
MalaMala Game Reserve
Sabi Sabi Game Reserve
Timbavati Game Reserve
Also in this area is the Panorama Route - known for it's quaint towns, waterfalls and stunning vistas.
Kruger National Park falls into two provinces; Mpumalanga and Limpopo and also borders Mozambique and Swaziland. The park is 350km (about 220miles) from North to South so it is impossible to see it all in one visit. There are many tour operators who offer packages from 3 days+ which will enable you to experience the best the park has to offer in a short amount of time.
Accommodation in the Greater Kruger National Park area varies substantially so it is always best to have an idea what kind of budget or a particular place you would like to stay at. Packages on offer vary not only in the experience provided by each camp but also in the activities available and what is included.
It can be a bit confusing to understand the range of accommodation on offer but here is a very broad and basic explanation:
There are the 'basic' fenced camps inside the reserve with accommodation ranging from camping with shared facilities to guest houses. Prices are more reasonable than the 'Private Camps' but then you usually have to add on the costs of game drives, meals etc.
The luxury private game lodges are usually inclusive of meals, drinks and game drives so therefore are more costly but you get an awesome experience and personalized safari vacation.
The winter months of May to September offer excellent game viewing with a lower risk of malaria. In winter, (before the rains) the animals have to find water and therefore you are bound to find wildlife at the watering holes and rivers that still have water. Day time temperatures are warm and at night it can be a little chilly.
Summer time (October to April) can be very hot so it is advisable to stay in air-conditioned accommodation. The rains make the area lush and green with newborn animals, prolific bird life and a variety of flowers.
Some of the more well-known Private Game Reserves in the Greater Kruger National Park:
MalaMala Game Reserve
Sabi Sabi Game Reserve
Timbavati Game Reserve
Also in this area is the Panorama Route - known for it's quaint towns, waterfalls and stunning vistas.
All our Kruger tours and specials can be found here: