Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:18 — 34.7MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More

How to Visit Kruger National Park with Simone Paddock

 

What is a self drive safari at Kruger National Park Like?

Imagine driving on a lonely road in the morning mist through the African bush – and all of a sudden, there’s a baby elephant appearing in front of you. He’s tiny, swinging his little trunk around, and running to try and catch up with mom. Then you notice papa elephant munching away on a shrub right next to your car and realize he’s been there for a while already, keeping a close eye on you. You stop, turn off your engine and just sit and watch them forage, play, be social and live their lives.

It’s a mystical, magical experience.

No amount of David Attenborough documentaries or re-runs of Madagascar or The Lion King can prepare you for the serene majesty of these animals and the utter wonder of seeing this type of wildlife in its own environment.

I think you immediately connect with the primal nature of the experience and realize how incredibly privileged we are as humans to be sharing the same planet with these animals.

Why did Simone visit Kruger National Park?

My parents lived in South Africa for 4 years in the late 1950s and 60s. Returning to Switzerland to raise their kids, they filled our house with treasures and mementos from their time in Africa, and I grew up surrounded by drums, masks, wooden figurines, beaded trinkets and even a zebra skin on the wall of our living room.

So I decided to go see for myself what made this continent so fascinating and to experience the magic for myself.

 

Why you should visit Kruger National Park:

With over 7,500 square miles of terrain, Kruger is one of the largest national parks in Africa. In terms of wildlife, however, Kruger is one of the world’s greatest game reserves. The diversity, density and the sheer number of animals is almost unparalleled.

What makes the park special though is the truly vast network of roads you are able to explore on your own – and without a paid guide by going on a self drive safari. There is a detailed map available and plenty of off-the-beaten-track small dirt roads you can follow, water holes you can hang out on and observe animals.

During my 9 days in Kruger National Park, I came to realize just how precious these animals in the park are – and how few are actually left.

 

In the mid-70s, around 1.5 million elephants roamed Africa. Today, it’s believed to be less than 400,000 – and about 100 are being poached EVERY SINGLE DAY for their ivory. What’s most distressing is that the poachers are ruthless and not only kill elephants outside of the parks – even in Kruger, there is poaching. 46 elephants were killed inside the park’s boundaries in 2016 alone, and the rangers protecting the wildlife are often also shot or even killed. In 2012 alone, 200 poachers were arrested inside the park.

It will only ever stop when the price for ivory in China goes from over $1,000 per pound and rhino horn in Vietnam goes from $40,000 per pound to ZERO.

 

Also consider this: There are about 25,000 rhinos left on the continent. South Africa’s has about 93% of them, and of those, 12,000 are found in Kruger. I never saw a single rhino during my entire time there.

I also only saw one lion. Which was lucky, considering that it’s estimated that only about 20,000 lions are left in Africa. A century ago there were over 200,000 – in the last 25 years alone, 50% of all lions have been killed or vanished. Threats are mainly loss of habitat, loss of food due to the illegal trade of bushmeat (many lions actually starve or are caught in traps intended for antelope), poaching for parts and human-lion conflict around life stock.

In addition, we’ve lost 40% of the giraffe population in the last 30 years, and leopards, cheetahs, and African wild dogs are all threatened species.

 

What I’ve learned since I returned from Africa, is that wildlife conservation is not an animal problem – it’s a human problem. Poachers exist because the market for their product exists – and the money to be made from the trade in illegal ivory and other animal products to the Far East is way more profitable than working as a farmer or any other traditional occupation.

So while you should definitely go see these animals as long as they are still around, know that your visit will actually help keep them alive.

Tourism turns these endangered species into valuable assets, driving business up in remote locations and creating jobs in both hospitality as well as wildlife conservation. Every tourist dollar that is spent on the continent contributes to preserving wildlife and its habitat.

 

When should you visit Kruger National Park?

Kruger gets about 1.3 million visitors a year, so go in the off-season. For Kruger, that’s in June through September. It’s winter in South Africa, so it’s cooler, and also drier. Wildlife viewing is best around that time of year too when the vegetation is leafless and the animals gather at water holes. There are also fewer people in the park, which makes driving around nicer.

How to get there:

Fly into Johannesburg or Pretoria, rent a vehicle (preferably with high clearance and elevated seating for better wildlife spotting and viewing) and drive the 4-6 hours to the park.

It’s important to plan your trip well ahead of time – spots at rest camps and lodges book out 6 to 9 months in advance, and they’re your only places to stay inside the park. Luckily, the South African National Parks site is incredibly informational and allows easy booking of accommodations.

Also, make sure to give yourself enough time – it takes a good 7-9 days to drive the park from top to bottom and experience it in all its geographic diversity. But to really take it all in, you’ll need about 2 weeks. Nothing worse than being rushed.

 

What you need to consider:

Outside of planning ahead well in time, it’s a good idea to purchase the WILD card, an all-access annual pass to all South African National Park. If you stay more than a few days inside of Kruger, it’s actually cheaper than paying the daily park fee.

Make also sure you’re up on your typhoid shots and consider getting a prescription for malaria pills. Kruger is the only section in South Africa where Malaria can be an issue.

 

How Much Does a Kruger National Park Safari Cost?

So what does a trip like this cost? Flights from just about anywhere to Johannesburg will be right around $1,500, coach, roundtrip. A rental vehicle will vary anywhere from a few hundred US dollars for the two weeks for a simple car, to a couple of thousand for a 4×4 overlanding vehicle with a full kitchen, sleeping quarters, fridges, solar power, camping toilet, shade, and cloth storage. But consider that the latter will be your house on wheels and provide accommodations while in the park.

A setup like this will also allow you to only have to rent a camping spot, which generally is in the neighborhood of around 300 South African Rand (or about $25). A private bungalow at any of the rest camps will run you around 1200 – 1600 Rand (or $85 to $100).

It’s a good idea to bring at least some of your own provisions with you too – there are restaurants and grocery stores at almost every rest camp, but the opening times are limited and the food, in general, isn’t exactly something to write home about. Note also that these supplies (in addition to gas) are generally a bit more expensive inside the park than outside.

If you are curious about other adventures you can take, check out other episodes on Experiences You Should Have!

 

Credit: Simone Paddock is an avid traveler, writer, and photographer. When she is not on the road, she is a digital strategy consultant at simonepaddock.com, providing SEO and marketing services to nonprofit (and other) clients.