What Kruger Safari to do? Types of Kruger National Park Safari Adventures

The Kruger National Park is world-famous for good reason. Rich in wildlife, home to the Big 5, loaded with quality luxury and budget accommodation, close to an international airport, and easily accessible from Johannesburg, its popularity is easy to understand. When booking your Kruger safari adventure, what does a Kruger National Park Safari look like and what are your options?

South Africa’s Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is South Africa’s premier safari destination. Located in the northwest corner it is South Africa’s first protected area, steeped in both modern and ancient history. The Kruger National Park covers 19,458 km² (7,523 square miles), contains 6 distinct rivers, is home to the Big 5 as well as 142 other species of large mammal, 517 species of birds, and 114 species of reptiles including the famous black mamba.

Did you know? In addition to this incredible display of wildlife and bush within Kruger National Park’s boundaries, it also forms a wildlife alliance in the form of the Great Limpopo Trans-frontier Park. The peace park is a collaborative effort between South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe which together at over 35000 km² create the largest protected area in Africa. Great limpopo transfrontier park

Add Greater Kruger National Park

In addition to the Kruger National Park, Kruger is also surrounded by an area commonly referred to as the Greater Kruger. The Greater Kruger is made up of privately owned wildlife concessions. Many of these have taken down their fences which allow the free movement of safari animals between national and private reserves.

These private game concessions run according to their own rules. They have a reputation for luxury African safaris and because they charge more and control their numbers more strictly, a much lower volume of traffic. Two of the activities exclusive to the Greater Kruger experience are off-road game drives and night safari drives.

Greater Kruger Guided Safari by Jeremy T. Hetzel

Because Kruger Park is such a massive area to explore, it can be tricky to know where to start and what to look for. To take a look at what is on offer, read on and discover the types of Kruger Safari Adventures available.

• Classic Kruger National Park Safari

The classic Kruger Park safari adventure is all about getting into the Kruger National Park and focussing on all that the bush has to offer. Safari packages for a classic Kruger safari can be anything from 2 to 5 days and come in the form of a fully guided safari tour. These Kruger safaris usually include time spent in both Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger so that you can get the best of both worlds. Safari drives in open-sided safari vehicles, guided game drives, nighttime safaris, and walking safaris are all possibilities.

The classic Kruger safari takes care of all the niggly-bits like food, accommodation, and driving. Fully guided Kruger safari tours allow you to get the best out of your time in the Kruger National Park. Kruger tour companies will collect you from the airport and take you directly on tried and tested routes, making sure that you arrive safe, rested, and ready to start your safari.

Accommodation can be anything from budget-tented safari camps to bungalows to five-star luxury safari lodges with champagne and strawberries. It is all about you, your safari budget, and what you’d like to see while on your African safari.

Kruger Safari Lodge by John Hickey-Fry

Guided by an experienced safari guide, the classic Kruger safari is an excellent choice because it takes the stress out of both planning for, and navigating in, an unfamiliar country not to mention allowing your attention to stay on the safari experience. It’s always a good idea to chat with an experienced safari consultant to figure out how much time you have and balance it with other activities you might want to squeeze into your South Africa safari getaway.

Take a look at the different guided Kruger Safaris you can book through African Budget Safaris. Or get in touch and our team will help you plan a classic Kruger Safari that meets your needs.

• Self-drive Kruger Safari Adventure

A self-drive Kruger Park safari puts you behind the wheel of your own vehicle. You control where you drive when you drive and what routes you drive. Kruger National Park generally has excellent roads – a combination of tar and gravel tracks – and it is easy to get around

The trick to a successful self-drive Kruger safari is to plan well and be prepared.

Self Drive Kruger Safari by Andre-Pierre du Plessis

Kruger National Park has 29 self-drive safari routes to choose from with a road network that covers nearly 2000km. People who enjoy their self-drive safaris the most are the ones who slow right down and try to get in sync with the rhythm of the wild. There are loads of comprehensive guides and information about the Kruger National Park’s self-drive routes. You can pick the best route for rhinos, elephants, birding, or natural scenery. You do not have to drive all 2000km of road (unless you want to of course!). It really does pay to do your research. Make sure you know the drive times and distances between camps and plan your itinerary around the ‘get-out’ points.

The Kruger National Park has been set up around the conservation and protection of this pristine environment. The park has strict rules and regulations around road usage that keeps nature safe and unspoiled. If you do want to go off-road then book a walking safari on one of your mornings. Alternatively, if your budget allows, book-end your self-drive Kruger safari with a stay in the Greater Kruger. Taking a guided safari game drive at the start of your self-drive safari will also give you a confidence boost about wildlife and how it behaves before you go off on your own.

Kruger National Park Gate by Chris Bloom

A Kruger Park self-drive safari can be an incredible way to experience Kruger Park. It allows you to choose your own route according to your interests and gives you the flexibility to change your mind mid-drive. It is also the most budget-friendly option if you are looking to spend a little more money elsewhere. There are some excellent guidebooks and loads of information online too. Lastly, talk to a safari consultant who can advise you about how to plan your trip safely so that you get the most out of your Kself-drive Kruger experience.

• Malaria-Free Kruger Safari Adventure?

No. Sadly the Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger are in a malaria area. Any advertising you see for a ‘malaria-free’ Kruger safari should not be trusted. The rainy season from October to April in Kruger Park is a high-risk season. Travelling outside of the rainy season will reduce risk but not eliminate it completely. When travelling to the Kruger National Park for any kind of safari, consult a travel doctor and make sure you keep yourself safe. There are no malaria-free Kruger safaris.

• Kruger National Park Family Safaris

Yes, you can take your whole family for a Kruger safari. Traveling with children can be tough and it is good to be prepared. So while a family safari to the Kruger National Park is the trip of a lifetime, there are a few things you ought to consider when you start planning your Kruger Park family adventure.

Kruger Family Safari by Amanda

Child-Friendly Kruger Safaris: Head South

The Kruger National Park is huge. For a child-friendly Kruger safari adventure, the south of Kruger offers an abundance of wildlife, varied scenery, and shorter distances between “get-out” points like picnic areas and rest camps. Lower Sabie for example is a child-friendly safari camp that is only an hour’s drive from the Crocodile Bridge Gate. The short drive plus the high density of animals in the area make this an excellent starting point as it keeps the young ones switched on and engaged right from the start.

Age limit for Kruger Family Safari

Malaria is a real risk in Kruger Park. Because malaria disproportionately affects children under 5, experts suggest that children younger than 5 do not go on a Kruger safari. Your best option is to speak to an experienced travel doctor and get advice about travelling to malaria areas. With very young children it may be better to consider doing a safari in a malaria-free area like Cape Town or the Garden Route.

Secondly, there are family-friendly safari lodges that do accommodate children of all ages BUT not all lodges accept younger children. In addition to this, there is often a 6-year-and-up age limit on safari game drives in open-sided safari vehicles. These measures are all put in place for the safety of your family. Family-friendly safari lodges will be able to accommodate you however so make sure before you book.

The best thing to do when planning your family Kruger safari is to speak with one of our experienced Kruger safari consultants who will be able to advise you on the where, when, how, and what is best for you and your family. Alternatively, start by browsing the affordable Kruger family safaris you can book through African Budget Safaris.

• Kruger Walking Safari

Walking with an experienced guide in the Kruger National Park is one of the most popular types of safari in Africa. Most private conservancies in the Greater Kruger offer guided safari walks of a few hours where you can experience the bush. The morning walks are best for game viewing and often include breakfast too.

Kruger Walking Safari

There are seven Kruger Park walking trails to choose from. Walking safari hikers are accompanied at all times by experienced, armed guides. Although the Kruger walking trails are considered safe, being in the wild surrounded by animals like buffalos, elephants, lions, and rhinos requires protection, and your guides are trained to keep you safe.

The hikes are limited to a maximum of 8 people per hike and ages are limited to between 12 and 60 years old. Participants must arrive the night before at the nearest Kruger camp and then be transported to a wilderness base camp. Kruger walking safaris depart from these base camps and return to them each night. Distances for each of the three days range from 15km to 20km so it is advisable that participants are healthy and fit.

These Kruger walking safaris only run in the cooler months between March and October and are so popular that it is recommended that you book your safari at least a year in advance.

Check out the guided Kruger walking safaris on the African Budget Safaris' website.

• Hunting Safari in Kruger

There is no hunting inside the Kruger National Park. African Budget Safaris does not sell hunting packages. It is worth noting that some of the conservancies in the Greater Kruger do allow hunting.

There is No Hunting in the Kruger National Park by Celso FLORES

If this is something that you feel strongly about talk to one of our experienced consultants who will advise you about the Kruger-affiliated reserves that do and do not allow hunting.

• Kruger Horse Riding Safari

There are a number of companies in the Greater Kruger area that run horseback safaris. These Kruger Horse Riding adventures are aimed at folks who love our equine friends and generally cater to the full spectrum from beginner to advanced riders. While riding in the Kruger National Park is a dream trip, lions are big enough to see a horse as an easy meal and for this reason, there are no horseback safaris in the Kruger proper.

• Kruger National Park Golf Safari

The Skukuza Golf Club is located in the southern Kruger area. Designed by South African golf legend Gary Player, this course offers more than just eagles and birdies! While located just outside of the Kruger National Park, the 9-hole Skukuza Golf course has been dubbed the wildest golf course in the world. Indeed, unfenced, you could see anything on the fairways or greens including the Big 5.

• Are there hot-air balloon safaris in Kruger?

There are a few companies that run Hot Air Balloon trips in the Greater Kruger area. Sadly, a Hot Air Kruger safari is off-limits as flights over the Kruger National Park are prohibited. These trips fly out in the early mornings before the air gets too hot and turbulent. Luckily Balloon rides from Hoedspruit and Hazyview do fly over some smaller reserves and often include breakfast and a warm cup of coffee.

• Can I ride my Bicycle in Kruger National Park?

No. You cannot ride your bicycle, mountain bike, or otherwise in the Kruger National Park. As such there are no Kruger cycle safaris. What avid cyclists and adventurers often do is use Kruger as a start or end point for a South African mega ride and then do a one-day Kruger safari.

• Kruger Day Trips: Panorama & Blyde River Canyon to Kruger

The Kruger National Park is an amazing destination. With limited time and packed agendas, a popular option with tourists visiting South Africa is a one-day Kruger safari. These day trips are packed with incredible scenery and the chance to spot wild animals.

The Panorama Route and the Blyde River Canyon have increasingly been getting rave reviews. Exceptional views, waterfalls, forests, cultural and historical points of interest as well as adventure activities all add together to make the Panorama Route a destination in itself.

Panorama Route, Kruger Safari by Chris Bloom

Travelling from O.R.Thambo airport in Johannesburg, at the end of the Panorama Route is the Kruger National Park. If you fancy an action-packed safari adventure that could include zip-lining, cycling, and hot-air ballooning (all before you even reach Kruger Park), then planning your trip along the Panorama Route is a must.

Here are over 50 budget-friendly options that combine the Panorama Route & Kruger Safaris, as well as other top destinations in Southern Africa.

• What is the Best Kruger National Park Safari?

The best Kruger safari is the one that suits your needs. Whether you want to do an extended family Kruger safari or a day trip through the southern Kruger, the important thing is to get the safari that you want. You can visit Kruger National Park only, a private game reserve in Greater Kruger, or both. When it comes to accommodation, there are so many options to choose from, ranging from basic camping to lodge safaris of all kinds - luxury, tented, budget, family-friendly, private, and treehouse, you name it.

Our safari consultants are available to advise you on everything safari related from Greater Kruger breaks to full-on Kruger adventures. Speak to us today and start planning your best Kruger National Park safari.

Or, see all of our affordable Kruger National Park Safaris to find the right one for your trip to South Africa.

Kruger safari lions, South Africa