Visiting Kruger Park – What to Expect

Kruger Park, one of the most spectacular experiences I have had to date, it is a place that needs to be on every person’s bucket list! 

As this was my first time on a proper safari, there were quite a few things that I did not realize or take note of before my trip.  Obviously, what you see while on a safari drive is completely up to chance, but there are always tips and tricks! 

The start of the day in the park heavily depends on the time of year and when the sunrise and sunset are.  The gates from the camps to the park will open depending on this, sometimes as early as 4:30 am.  Always check what times they open and close, as this could be problematic if you have the time wrong! The animals are seemingly more active in the mornings and in the evenings since those times are often much cooler than midday, so theoretically getting out at the crack of dawn might have a big payoff! 

The premise of going on a safari is driving around, looking for wildlife.  Expect to be sat in the car for long stretches, where things might not be all that exciting.  

Night drives

These are the drives that you can sign up for in the camps you are staying in.  These need to be done with a professional game driver, as no one is allowed to drive through the park once the sun goes down.  I personally have done two.  One was a once in a lifetime experience and one, wasn't.  Things to note, you are driving around in an open air game vehicle.  The park is completely dark, so what you can see is up to the lights that the game vehicle provides.  These drives are about two hours longs, again, something to check in the camp you are staying in.  For one of our game drives, we got up close and personal with a leopard.  I assume I will never been within an arms reach again in my lifetime.  The second night drive I did, couldn't really compare to this, but that is the nature of driving around in the dark! I would definitely recommend trying it at least once! 

Weather

Obviously, this is super dependant on the time of year you visit, but do expect midday to hit some high temperatures! Prepare with clothing that works well in the heat, but also lots of cool drinks! 

Wildlife 

I got very lucky and had a few days of seeing the big five- but this is not necessarily the norm, but you should not let that ruin anything about your trip! 

Food

There were little shops throughout the park in the camps, so you are able to get most things you might need for a few days, just for a bit of a higher price point! There are also restaurants all throughout the park, with pretty good options throughout! 

Example of daily itinerary

5:45 am, waiting at the camp gate to be out for 6 am

Drive for a few hours till time for a breakfast or lunch break.

If we waited till lunch we would probably break from about 1-3

Typically, we found ourselves in other camps either eating in their restaurants or cooking our own

3- till gates close - drive.

Honestly, to date, this has been one of the best experiences of my life.  I would urge anyone to take any chance they have and head to Kruger.  I would go as far to say that it is borderline life changing.  So rarely have I had this complete disconnect from the outside world and just be able to be super connected with nature.  It was extremely relaxing and almost surreal.  I was never sure that I would get to South Africa once in my life (though I hoped) and I NEVER thought I'd get to go twice! Looking forward to many more exciting trips down there! 

Let me know any tips you might have from your time on Safari!