Conclusion

What a fantastic adventure over 17 days!

Spending time in a game reserve is truly an honour and should not be rushed. Driving through a game reserve at slow speeds is very relaxing and maximizes your chance of seeing something exciting.

I admire and appreciate the foresight of the Founding Fathers (Piet Grobler, Paul Kruger, Stevenson-Hamilton) who created this wonderful sanctuary.

The winter months are defintely the best time to visit the game reserve because the weather is good and temperatures are mild, however this is also the peak tourist time in the Kruger. Summer is known to be very hot and humid.

Staff and game wardens at all the camps were very friendly and competant.

Pafuri Picnic Site - Wall of the History of the region

The Nyawutsi Hide

A must:

Visitors must buy the Kruger Park Map & Guide at the Park Shop on the first day as this provides good information on each rest camp, route maps, contact details and images of the reptiles, animals and birds.
If you are going to spend more then 8 days in the park, you must buy a Wild Card per person as this will save you the daily R100.00 park fee per person and vehicle entrance fee.
You need binoculars and if you can afford it, a good camera with a good zoom lense if you want to photograph birds or animals at a distance.

Some negatives:

While all facilities were clean and in working order, there were indications of cost cutting. One simple example are taps of different types are found on a wash basin. In a number of cases, the hot-water urn was missing from a kitchen.
Many of the gravel roads were badly corrugated. After covering 80% to 90% of the gravel roads, I did not come across a single recently graded road. I did however see what appeared to be a new grader travelling along a tarred road.

Foot and Mouth Bath for travellers in the 1938's when crossing the border from Mozambique

Summary of costs of such a trip as on 2024-08-17

Reconstructed Stone Age Iron Ore furnace at Masorini

Take Aways:

1) Start without expectations and you will be surprised

I wanted to enjoy the beauty, piece and tranquility of the Kruger Park and I had no expectations of what I wanted to see. As a result, I was pleasantly surprised to see animals that I honestly thought I had little to no chance of seeing.

2) Do not chase the sightings

At rest camps, waterholes, viewpoints and picnic spots, people will inform you of their incredible sightings and locations. Do not rush off to witness the same sighting. The chances are you will exceed the speed limit, increase anxiety of possibly missing the experience and will either end up in a traffic jam at the location and see little to nothing on arrival as the animals have moved on.

3) Spotting Frenzy

If you are looking for specific species, you need patience. It is amazing how the mind starts tricking you where every large rock looks like a Elephant, Rhino or Hippo or every tuft of tall grass looks like a Lion, Leopard or Cheetah. Seeing the leg of a Leopard in a tree or the tail or ear of a Lion lying in the tall grass should not count as a sighting. Unless you have binoculars and/or a good camera, your time is better spent moving along to see a good sighting.

Spot the Elephant

Spot the Nyala

Spot the Wild Dogs

Spot the Lion

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