Out of all the animals at Kruger National Park, which is the one do you fear most? This was a question I asked Andy, our safari tour guide. He answered, “I would not say fear, it’s more like respect. And the one I respect most is the cape buffalo.”
I loved our safari experience so much and if given another chance, I will definitely go on a safari tour again. It became not only one of the highlights of our South Africa trip but one of my most memorable travel experiences as well. When I was asked before what I wanted to do if not doing the job I currently have, I always say I’ll be a barista. But after our visit to Kruger National Park, I would answer, “A barista or a safari tour guide.”
About Kruger National Park
Located in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, Kruger National Park is the largest national park in South Africa. It is home to a beautiful and diverse wildlife, that is, a wide array of species from mammals to reptiles, even birds. Kruger National Park aims to protect the wildlife with the aid of tourism to maintain conservation efforts.
Driving from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park
From Johannesburg, we drove around six hours to reach Mpumalanga. We opted to stay in the town of Hazyview as it is situated near some Kruger National Park gates like the Paul Kruger Entrance Gate and Phabeni Gate. We arrived at Hazyview a day before our scheduled safari tour to have adequate time to rest and prepare. Even the half day tour will take six hours of your time so it’s really recommended to be around the area ahead of schedule especially if you’re coming from a distant destination like Johannesburg.
Bubezi Safaris and Guesthouse
Looking for a Kruger National Park airbnb, we found Bubezi Guesthouse for our accommodation. Bubezi guesthouse is part of Bubezi Safaris, a safari tour company in South Africa. Having over two decades of African safari experience, they offer personalized expeditions with specialties in Kruger National Park and the Timbavati Private game reserve.
Bubezi Safaris has different packages to choose from. If you have time constraint, their morning or afternoon drive may be suitable. But if you want to make the most of your Kruger National Park experience, opt for the full day safari tour. They also offer a private tour that can cater to special interest groups like photographers or Kruger National Park bird watchers.
Our group availed the morning safari drive. Andy was our amazing guide. He was genuinely passionate and highly knowledgeable about the animals at Kruger National Park. Each time we came across a car with headlights still on in broad daylight (some who started during dawn forgot to turn them off when the sun was already up), I remembered Andy courteously asked them to turn the lights off as it may affect the animals around.
Riding the Badass Safari Vehicle
What can get better than riding an open safari vehicle in the wild and incredible African bush? It was the cold, month of May (almost winter) when we explored Kruger National Park. Freezing as we were in the early morning, our safari experience was definitely one of the highlights of our South Africa trip. Our group was the only one in the tour at the time so it was like an exclusive safari expedition. Compared to an ordinary car, the badass safari vehicle allowed for a better viewing experience.
Driving in Kruger National Park
If you have a car, it is also possible to drive on your own and explore Kruger National Park by yourself. But personally, I would suggest getting a knowledgeable guide not only to help you navigate the park better but to be able to appreciate more the fascinating wildlife.
Big Five of Kruger National Park
From Bubezi Guesthouse, we headed out to Kruger National Park even before the sun was up. According to Andy, we had to be really early if we wanted to catch the big cats (lions and leopards). This was because there will be better chances of seeing them when it’s not yet that hot. These big cats are actually part of what they call as the Big Five of Kruger National Park. Animals included in the Big Five are what they considered as the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot in Africa. The Big Five are buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino.
While we were on the lookout for the big cats, we started seeing Kruger National Park animals and the first one we saw was the gentler giant, the elephant! It was not my first to see elephants but catching a glimpse of them in their natural habitat was definitely an exceptional experience. Later, we even encountered an herd crossing the road.
We also came across buffaloes and rhinos. Just like the elephant, the buffalo is one of the easier Kruger National Park big five animals to spot. Unfortunately, we were not able to see the more elusive of the big cats – the leopards.
But our efforts did pay off because we saw not just one but a lioness with her cubs! What a sight!
Animals at Kruger National Park
I did not really know what to expect when we rode that badass safari vehicle. But as we encounter the animals at Kruger National Park, one after the other, we were like kids almost jumping off our feet. I did not even imagine to see some of them in my lifetime. We were able to appreciate them even more because Andy described them to us in details.
We were always on the lookout for whatever animal we’ll see on the road. We would stop from time to time to just gaze and marvel at these wonderful creatures.
Ending our safari tour was also a blast. We saw a lot but we haven’t encountered any zebras yet, one of the animals we were really looking forward to see. But lo and behold, when we were almost at the exit gate, beautiful zebras ran right before our eyes as if bidding a wonderful goodbye.
Itinerary for Kruger National Park
Since we availed both our accommodation and tour from Bubezi Safaris, pick-up was easy. If you’re staying in another guesthouse around Hazyview or other areas, you can contact them to discuss.
For the morning drive, we started heading out even before the sun was up, around 5AM. We had an early lunch where we also had time to check out the souvenir shop. After a remarkable exploration, we headed back to our guesthouse at noon time.
If you’re driving Kruger National Park on your own, make sure to start early or if not, drive in the afternoon. Avoid midday when the sun is harsh because the animals don’t like it hot so they hide or take shelter and you might not see much. Also, the early morning game drive might give you a better experience because animals are more active at this time of day.
Kruger National Park Safety and Tips
Below are Kruger National Park tips to help you enjoy more your safari tour.
- Wear neutral colors like brown, black, or white. For safety purposes, it is advisable to blend in the natural surroundings. Avoid wearing clothes with bright or bold colors that might strike attention.
- For guided walks in Kruger National Park, take note not to wear perfume (or any lotion, body cream, deodorant with a strong smell) as well. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- When choosing your schedule, consider the early morning to explore the park since you have better chances of seeing more wildlife during this time of the day.
- Make sure to bring a jacket particularly if you’re taking the early morning drive and riding an open safari vehicle. The cold wind can be really unbearable (especially if you’re from the tropics like me).
- If you have a car, you can drive and explore on your own. But personally, I’d recommend getting a knowledgeable guide who knows how to better navigate the area and can give you insights about the animals at Kruger National Park. The park is a nature reserve where animals walk freely and there is no guarantee which ones you will encounter on your visit. A safari guide will tremendously help you to see more as they know which areas specific animals are most likely to appear.
- Feeding and touching the animals are prohibited. Do not make sounds or attempt to get the attention of the animals.
- Kruger National Park is situated within a malaria risk area. The risk is low but you can take safety precautions because prevention is better than cure. You can wear long sleeve shirts and pants to avoid mosquito bites. You can also use odorless mosquito repellent lotions for added protection.
There are also anti-malaria tablets available. During our visit, we did take these tablets. My friend who has been working in Johannesburg at the time bought us some. If you’re planning to take the tablets as well, please consult your doctor first particularly if you have special conditions or taking other medications.
How to Get to Kruger National Park
From Johannesburg to Kruger National Park
If you have a car, you can take a long drive from Johannesburg to the town of Hazyview in the province of Mpumalanga. Travel time is around six hours. You can also take a flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport or Hoedspruit Airport. There are also flights to Skukuza Airport that is located inside the park itself. If you take any of these flights, travel time is only an hour.
From Cape Town to Kruger National Park
From Cape Town, there are also flights going to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, Hoedspruit Airport, and Skukuza Airport. Travel time is around 2.5 hours.
Related Websites
To check conservation fees and other helpful information, check Kruger National Park – South African Safari.
For accommodations and safari tour packages, check Bubezi Safaris.
