| 6 mins read
By Oliver Lynch
Among the world's dream safari destinations, Kruger National Park is a staple on every list. With the African Big 5 well represented here, it is the best place to spot some of the most fascinating wildlife vistas in the world. Lions, rhinos, leopards, buffalos, and elephants are all in abundance, as are giraffes, hippos, zebras and more.
If you’re planning a visit to South Africa, then a guided tour of Kruger is a must. Check out our list of the top 10 things to expect when you visit Kruger National Park.
1. Lots of Tours to Choose From
When it comes to booking a private tour in Kruger, you would be spoilt for choice - the wide variety of tour itineraries can make choosing the right one tricky. Do you go for a 3-day camping trip or a 5-day luxury safari tour? Of course, much of this will come down to your budget and time availability, but if you’re looking for the best tour of Kruger National Park, make sure to tag along with an experienced safari guide.
2. The Park Is Big!
Kruger is huge! It’s just under 20,000 km, which is more than the landmass of some countries! This means that using an experienced tour guide is essential to spot wildlife and get the best out of your safari experience. Tour guides in Kruger usually cover a particular area in detail and often know the best spots to find different animal species.
3. Small Groups Are Good
Browsing through the many Kruger safari tours, you will come across anything between standardised group tours to customised private tours. Most guides and tour operators offer a specially adapted covered vehicle such as a jeep or van. Safaris with a large group could be cramped. If you’re trying to get the perfect picture of a sleeping leopard, the last thing you’ll want is ten other people blocking your view.
If you’re in a smaller tour group, you’ll get to enjoy the safari at your own pace and have a more intimate experience. Most private tours offer an open safari vehicle for game-viewing, photography and bird-watching. After all, a safari is supposed to be relaxing!
4. Prepare for All Weathers
In most cases, cruising around the plains of Africa means sweltering under a hot sun. You will need a hat and a good sunscreen to stay protected. Most licensed tour guides and operators provide refreshments, but it is better to check with them in advance.
The weather, however, is unpredictable during the wet season. You can quickly go from scorching sun to torrential downpour within a few hours. Private tour operators might supply some items for inclement weather. Also, do not forget waterproof covers for your equipment such as cameras.
5. Bring Binoculars and/or a Zoom Lens
Though booking a private tour ensure front-row seats to wildlife spotting, there’s no guarantee that the animals make an appearance right beside your vehicle. With the long distances and open expanse of space, one of the Big Five may make an appearance…but in the far distance. Having a set of binoculars will help keep an eye on what’s going on.
One of the main things to do on safari is taking some great pictures. If you are going to bring a DSLR, then a zoom lens will really help; a 135mm telephoto at the very least. Although, for that close up of a sleeping lion, you might wish you’d bought a 300mm.
6. Getting Up Close & Personal
One of the biggest thrills of a safari tour is seeing the animals closer. On occasion, it might seem that you’re too close, but stay calm and enjoy the experience. Your tour guide will be experienced in how to behave around the animals, even if you think you are going to get charged at by an elephant!
Just remember to respect the animals and your surroundings - always listen to your professional safari guide’s advice. Never feed or pet any animal, or leave the vehicle. Avoid disturbing the serenity of the wild with loud noises or camera flashes.
7. The Accommodation
Most private guided tours of Kruger National Park will include accommodation, often with food. There are all types of lodgings to choose from - simple campsites to luxury hotels with spas.
On your wildlife tour, make some time to experience the facilities at your lodge and unwind. You might enjoy a swim in the pool or play a game of volleyball, or the most popular one of them all, just sit on your verandah and watch giraffes in the distance. Remember, tipping your lodge staff and your safari guide is expected here. You can usually tip your guide at the end of the tour.
8. The ‘Other’ Wildlife
While spotting all the majestic beasts, you might find that there is less welcome wildlife to encounter as well. You will find bugs everywhere, even in the luxury accommodations. Just remember, this is the wild and being prepared is the best defence.
Flies, mosquitoes, and bugs are all part and parcel of the safari experience. During some months of the year, it can be worse, especially with those pesky mosquitoes! Bringing a good insect repellent will help keep the critters away but keeping covered up helps the most. Packing a loose-fitting shirt and cotton trousers/skirt would be ideal.
9. Other Tours
If you’re all safari’d out and want to experience something different, you will find plenty of good options around Kruger. Visit local tribespeople on a cultural tour and experience their traditional lifestyles and customs. If you’re more of a rambler, you’ll find walking tours in and around the park, which can be a great way to experience the majestic natural beauty at leisure. Head to God's window, Graskop falls, or Bourkes luck potholes for spectacular sights.
In case you need a bit adrenalin rush, choose from abseiling, quad biking, horse riding, waterfall tubing, zip-line rides and other activities, available in and around the park.
10. Manage Your Expectations
Going on safari is a fantastic experience, no matter what animals you see. Of course, we all want to spot lions and leopards, but sometimes the time just isn’t right.
Local safari guides will do their best to make sure you spot the big attractions, but sometimes you might just run out of luck. However, the real joy of safaris is seeing the animals in their natural environment - it isn’t a zoo, so finding them is part of the adventure.
Oliver Lynch is a London based writer who travels as often as possible, usually for some kind of crazy adventure like exploring a jungle or going snowboarding.