African Safari Kruger National Park
May 15, 2022 11:29:15 #
Larelain
Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC
Raccie wrote:
Great photo of the cheetah. I have never seen one in the KNP. Self guided is the best way to visit the Kruger Park which we have done many times. Total freedom to self cater and self drive. My wife and I do all our own bookings and hire a car. One saves a ton of money. The only downside is the cost and length of the flight from the USA to SA.
The cheetah was walking down the middle of road (S1 on the way to Phabeni Gate about 5 miles from Skukuza. We were very lucky. First one I have ever seen in the wild. I agree with you on the flight. The other challenge for me is the Johannesburg airport
May 15, 2022 11:40:57 #
Larelain
Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC
genocolo wrote:
Would you please elaborate on “booking” and “self-guided”? Thanks.
What I did is booked my airline flight through United from Myrtle Beach, SC through Johannesburg and then on to Nelspruit, SA where I picked up a rental car. (Do not book through Dollar and get an SUV for better viewing higher up) Booked directly through Kruger National Park for lodging in their rest camp. I was able to get all 28 days at Skukuza which my wife and I prefer. The other camps are good (Satara, Lower Sabie and Oliphant) Skukuza is the main camp and has two very nice restaurants "Cattle Barron and the Train Station" prices are reasonable. You can also buy groceries at the store there and fix your own meals.
My wife wants to go again in August if so the change I would make is to fly to Skukuza instead of Nelspruit and pick up my rental car there at the camp. Avis is there.
If you have any other questions just let me know
May 15, 2022 11:45:30 #
Larelain
Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC
genocolo wrote:
Would you please elaborate on “booking” and “self-guided”? Thanks.
I need to add our day would be at the gate when it opened each morning at 6 am and slowly drive the park. Come in at around 10:30 am and have breakfast at the Cattle Barron on the deck overlooking the Sabie river. Than go out again around 2:30 pm and be back at the camp before the gate closed a 6 pm. After a couple of days you learn what routes that you like
May 15, 2022 11:58:06 #
May 15, 2022 12:54:45 #
Raccie wrote:
Great photo of the cheetah. I have never seen one in the KNP. Self guided is the best way to visit the Kruger Park which we have done many times. Total freedom to self cater and self drive. My wife and I do all our own bookings and hire a car. One saves a ton of money. The only downside is the cost and length of the flight from the USA to SA.
I agree 100%. The flight is for the birds. 24 hours without sleep. I should have upgraded to economy plus.
May 15, 2022 13:05:43 #
genocolo
Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island
Larelain wrote:
What I did is booked my airline flight through Un... (show quote)
Thank you for the excellent info. Did you feel safe flying within Africa? How about driving? How would you rate the camps? Ritz Carlton or motel 6 or somewhere in between?
May 15, 2022 13:38:43 #
Indlovu
Loc: Greenville, NC
philo wrote:
I agree 100%. The flight is for the birds. 24 hours without sleep. I should have upgraded to economy plus.
If you are flying from the west coast I would look at Emirates or Quatar
May 15, 2022 14:17:27 #
Indlovu
Loc: Greenville, NC
genocolo wrote:
Thank you for the excellent info. Did you feel safe flying within Africa? How about driving? How would you rate the camps? Ritz Carlton or motel 6 or somewhere in between?
I have flown on single engine 4 seaters where they had to buzz the landing strip to get the animals off.
The African link which is the commuter out of Joberg is very good and they go out of their way to help with your oversize camera bag. As far as accommodation it can go from camping to luxury rooms depends on what you are willing to pay. We do the bungalow which are rustic but comfortable
May 15, 2022 19:41:31 #
Couple of good ones Larelain. I would suspect it took a lot of advance planning before venturing out on a self guided tour. Did you have any prior experience in doing this in Africa?
Don
Don
May 15, 2022 20:07:25 #
Larelain
Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC
PAR4DCR wrote:
Couple of good ones Larelain. I would suspect it took a lot of advance planning before venturing out on a self guided tour. Did you have any prior experience in doing this in Africa?
Don
Don
Don, actually a short story of my life. I married a Rhodesian in 1968 while still in college. After graduation I went to work for 3 years in Zambia. I have been hunting in Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. I have been on self guided tours in Etosha Pans, Hwange, Victoria Falls and Kruger. I have been on guided tours in Northern part of Kruger, Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta, I prefer to do it myself. Kruger is the easiest to do. Call the airlines and book the flight that works, contact Kruger for reservations and set up a rental car. I would do and SUV because it sets up higher and give a better view. If you are flying from the west coast I would look at either Emirates or Quatar and if you are on the east coast United is not bad.
May 18, 2022 13:43:04 #
Larelain wrote:
My wife and I just came back from a four week safari in Kruger National Park. The total cost was $5,300 excluding food. I did the booking myself and it was a self guided tour. My wife is 76 and I am 75. She wants to go back in this coming August. Not necessarily recommending this way but it is an alternative. Attached is a couple of pictures that we took.
Nice shots! Thanx for sharing.
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