Help me plan a Kruger Park trip

OP, I would rather choose north (Letaba and up) or south (Satara and down). And then do the other one the following year.

The past 4 times I was just in the north, haven't been in the south since I was still staying with my parents, going to explore the south for 7 nights starting from the 25th, yay me!
 
Kayoss said:
I think you may be a little mistaken about Shingwedzi.. If you're looking for rare antelope, then it's one of the best camps. If you're looking for big tuskers or huge herds of buffalo, then yes, it's great!

If however, you're looking for cats or the big 5, then you're far better off staying below Olifants. Once you go above Letaba, the amount of game decreases significantly.
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Thanks, I'll think about it a bit more.

I like the variety in my initial itinerary (2 nights Lower sabie, 2 nights Satara, 1 night Letaba, 1 night night Shingwedzi, 1 night Punda Maria), but the moving around concerns me.

An alternative would be to scrap the idea of heading to the North, and do something like 2 nights Lower Sabie, 5 nights Satara. Some of those Satara nights could even be spent at Talamati or Tamboti instead.
 
Ancalagon said:
Thanks, I'll think about it a bit more.

I like the variety in my initial itinerary (2 nights Lower sabie, 2 nights Satara, 1 night Letaba, 1 night night Shingwedzi, 1 night Punda Maria), but the moving around concerns me.

An alternative would be to scrap the idea of heading to the North, and do something like 2 nights Lower Sabie, 5 nights Satara. Some of those Satara nights could even be spent at Talamati or Tamboti instead.
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It is nice to have a base of operations for a few days, carting all your luggage in the car with you sucks, especially if you are planning on using the picnic sites (unpacking/repacking the car)..
 
Cray said:
It is nice to have a base of operations for a few days, carting all your luggage in the car with you sucks, especially if you are planning on using the picnic sites (unpacking/repacking the car)..
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I know what you mean.

It would probably make for a better, more enjoyable trip if we slowed it down and concentrated on the South and central part of the park.

Might even be worth it to reduce it to 6 nights instead of 7.
 
How I'd do it:

Berg and Dal - 2 nights (it is a different type of area compared to the rest of the south)
Lower Sabie - 2 or 3 nights
Satara - 3 or 2 nights
 
Agree with Supersunbird.

I quite like the itinerary.

Other thing to consider is how much time will you be spend driving daily. Spending 12hrs a day out on the road for 7days can be tiresome.
 
supersunbird said:
How I'd do it:

Berg and Dal - 2 nights (it is a different type of area compared to the rest of the south)
Lower Sabie - 2 or 3 nights
Satara - 3 or 2 nights
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Thanks, that does look like it could be good.

Badprop_za said:
Agree with Supersunbird.

I quite like the itinerary.

Other thing to consider is how much time will you be spend driving daily. Spending 12hrs a day out on the road for 7days can be tiresome.
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I know. It does need to be balanced otherwise you don't relax.

A question for the experienced - would you ever, under any circumstances, spend 1 night at a camp before moving on? For instance, 2 nights 1 night 2 nights? Would you ever do that?
 
Ancalagon said:
A question for the experienced - would you ever, under any circumstances, spend 1 night at a camp before moving on? For instance, 2 nights 1 night 2 nights? Would you ever do that?
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Have done it before not ideal but sometimes if you can't get your accommodation in the right order and you have to travel it can break up your journey.
 
Ancalagon said:
Thanks, that does look like it could be good.



I know. It does need to be balanced otherwise you don't relax.

A question for the experienced - would you ever, under any circumstances, spend 1 night at a camp before moving on? For instance, 2 nights 1 night 2 nights? Would you ever do that?
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No. I find too much of a rush. Only time when I consider it, it will be a stop-over to the next camp.

I have started camping and I would not stay less than 4 nights per camp.

As have been mentioned, what is the goal of the trip. See the Big 5? Just experience the Kruger? See rare antelope (Damn Sable is still evading me) :) ?
 
Cray said:
Have done it before not ideal but sometimes if you can't get your accommodation in the right order and you have to travel it can break up your journey.
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Thanks.

Badprop_za said:
No. I find too much of a rush. Only time when I consider it, it will be a stop-over to the next camp.

I have started camping and I would not stay less than 4 nights per camp.

As have been mentioned, what is the goal of the trip. See the Big 5? Just experience the Kruger? See rare antelope (Damn Sable is still evading me) :) ?
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You mean you would consider a 1 night stop over, but only if the stays at the other camps are significant? Ie more than 2 nights.

Well some more detail about the trip is on the first page, but for me, the goals are:
Excitement: The game I want to see are the big 5 (of course), kudu, warthog, cheetah, hippo, birds of prey (eagles, vultures, secretary bird, Scops owl). Would be nice to go on a night drive to see nocturnal game such as hyena, jackal, civet, etc etc.
Relaxation: I want to actually relax and have a good time, and not stress.
Novelty: Would like to see parts of the park that I've never been to.
Traffic: I hate traffic (like everybody does). Its difficult to balance in the Kruger park, since it is very difficult to see good sightings without visiting the busier areas of the park.
Newbies: I'd like the newbies to have a good experience in the park and not a bad experience.
 
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I remember once when I was a kid we where due to stay outside the park and commute in every day. We got some really dodgy accommodation and ended up staying in the park for 7 nights just by picking up last minute cancellations each day, had to do some backtracking but it was quite an adventure, ah good times. Love the KNP.
 
Jip. 1 night will be driving to next camp site.
Also,I normally stick to dirt roads which have less traffic. In August I had 2 Leopard sightings where it was 2 cars only on both occassions.
 
Badprop_za said:
Jip. 1 night will be driving to next camp site.
Also,I normally stick to dirt roads which have less traffic. In August I had 2 Leopard sightings where it was 2 cars only on both occassions.
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Thanks. Where were the leopard incidentally?


Thinking about it, these are the following rules (or predicates) that I could use to plan the trip.
1. Minimum number of nights is 6, maximum is 7.
2. Can spend less than 2 nights in a camp if and only if the preceding and succeeding camps have stays of 2 nights each
3. If the South and North are to be visited in the same trip, the trip must begin in the South
4. Maximum distance between successive camps is 120km
5. Maximum distance from the last camp to the closest gate is 60km

I'd really love to increase rule 1 to 8, but it isn't just up to me. I'd have to get approval from everyone else first - it starts getting really expensive.

I might consider breaking rule 4 if it meant I never have to invoke rule 2. In other words, it might be better to spend an entire day driving to Shingwedzi from Satara instead of spending 1 night in Letaba. Thoughts? Would you rather not undertake the drive at all?
 
Ancalagon said:
Thanks. Where were the leopard incidentally?


Thinking about it, these are the following rules (or predicates) that I could use to plan the trip.
1. Minimum number of nights is 6, maximum is 7.
2. Can spend less than 2 nights in a camp if and only if the preceding and succeeding camps have stays of 2 nights each
3. If the South and North are to be visited in the same trip, the trip must begin in the South
4. Maximum distance between successive camps is 120km
5. Maximum distance from the last camp to the closest gate is 60km

I'd really love to increase rule 1 to 8, but it isn't just up to me. I'd have to get approval from everyone else first - it starts getting really expensive.

I might consider breaking rule 4 if it meant I never have to invoke rule 2. In other words, it might be better to spend an entire day driving to Shingwedzi from Satara instead of spending 1 night in Letaba. Thoughts? Would you rather not undertake the drive at all?
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It was close to the S118 and S114 intersection. The S118 drives along the river. Leopard was walking along the riverbed across the S114 on the 1st day. On the 2nd day it again walked in the river bed and climbed into a tree.
Other Leopard sighting we had was from the deck of Mugg & Bean at Lower Sabie.

When calculating driving time, I work on an average speed of 20-25kph max. This gives you enough time to look for animals, stop and enjoy relevant sighting and don't feel rushed. If needed you can increase to 50kph in case of emergency but then focus should be to reach camp before closing time.

We stayed at BnD for 7 nights. I wanted to see Wilddog and Sable. Did not see either, but they where in the area as people spotted them daily. Luck not on my side. Then again, I spotted a Civet at 5pm in the afternoon on the S114.
Also, on the 4th day, we spent the afternoon in the camp. Took the little to swim in the pool and we also walked the Rhino Trail from the restaurant to our camping site.

On average we drove 150-175km per day. Luckily my 4yr old loves the Kruger. Also driving in a Disco 3 with alot of space for him also helps. :D

The problem will always be that you want to do too much while you are there and don't relax, feel rushed and return home still feeling tired. I would stay at 2 maybe 3 camps max for the 7 nights that you consider.
 
Thanks.

What would you guys rate as the top 5, must-stay-at camps?
 
Well, we're not camping.

I'd personally be fine with those luxury tents, or huts, or bungalows. I think my friends will go along with whatever I recommend, so long as they get some time in bungalows.
 
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