Kruger National Park

Hello everyone!

I have some questions I really hope someone can help me with!

Im currently in south America and are going to South Africa probably in the middle of may sometime. I have a flight on may 2, but are going to postphone this a couple of weeks or so. Exact date not set yet.

I was supposed to meet a friend there, but because of the work-situation at home he couldnt come, som Im doing it solo. Holla if anyone want to join me 28 y female from Norway, normal in most ways

Anyways, the questions I have is regarding Kruger park and how to do this... Im flying to and from Johannesburg. I have about 3 weeks in SA in total. Exept kruger, I want to spend my time in SA in Cape Town.

- how long time is it "normal" to spend in the park?
- is it ok to do it solo? Or do i need to find others to do it with in order to do it?
- how do i proceed from here? I realize i might have a pickle with the time now, but i hope its going to be alright

ANY advice is highly appreciated!!

hugs Kat

Hi Kat,

depending on how long you like to sit in a car and look at animals...four to six days is a normal visit for a trip to the Kruger. You can easily visit the kruger by yourself in several different ways:

1. by organizing a trip through a tour operator
2. staying in one of the many game lodges outside the park that run trips into the park during the day
3. Renting a car and camping or staying in self-catering cottages within the park, you could hook up with some other travelers at a backpackers and share the expenses

any of these options are really easy to organize from any location. you really just need to decide how you are going to do it, how much money you want to spend, and then either book it, or wing it once you arrive. It is easy to do any of the options above solo, as you will end up being grouped together with other people. Several backpacker/camping options are very reasonable and run 4 day trips out of joburg to the park.

good luck! and enjoy your stay!

[ Edit: Edited on 18-Apr-2009, at 13:28 by soupatrvlr ]

Hi there!

Sorry for such a late reply, lots of travellering lately

Thank you for a very informative reply! Im going to check as much as I can before I go there (in about 2/3 weeks), but soon Ill have poor internet-coverage, so I guess Ill have to do alot when I get there as well. Good to know I can do it that way

Do you have any suggestions on good tour operator, or just where I can find one?

You listed different ways to do a trip. Have you done any of them? Do you have any personal recommandations? Im travelleling on a budget, so offcourse thats a big issue, but then again Kruger is a dream come true, so money is not necissarily the main focus..

Thank you for any info

Kat

Hi Kat,

I have been to the Kruger several times and have always just rented a car and either camped or stayed in the park's accommodations. I'm usually traveling with my husband (a South African), so we do have a lot of on-the-ground resources. However, I have done a couple of overlands that offer this sort of trip and I will send you a pm with that information. As for as getting together with a group of friends you meet while over there, you could start your travels in Cape Town and try to hook up with some new friends. Then your group could organize the trip while on the ground in Cape Town. There are several tour operators on Long Street that offer these kinds of trips. Long Street is the backpacking center of the city. Good luck!

Holly