My partner and myself have 3 nights in the Kruger area and was hoping for some advice on where to stay. We are finding it a bit confusing and have several questions. Is there any major differences between the private reserves like Thornybush and Timbavati etc? Are some areas more likely to be game rich than others? We will be there in August if that makes any difference at all.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions given.

hi mopsy

it is confusing as you say. i have been to those areas many times. it would be easier if you provided me with some more info and then i could help further.
1. where are you coming from? driving flying etc.
2. budget in those parts varies considerably from one place to the next.
3. do you want to be in the National Park or on a private reserve bordering onto the park.
4. are you doing a self drive or do you want a guide?

let's take it from there and i will try to help you
eric

cantona7 - Will you perhaps do this old man a favor and use proper capitalization of your words. E.g. use a capital "I", begin sentences with a capital letter. Just use common business English punctuation. This will serve you well in making the most favorable impression with your readers. Can't hurt, can it?

regards - tom

tom

if you don't like my english don't read it. i clearly am of inferior intellect to yourself and don't have a huge amount of time on my hands to punctuate everything properly HOWEVER i still do my best to help others

sorry for the inconvenience

cantona7 - True, I may be of superior intellect so allow me to educate you in the only three things you need to know about this. After you use it you will find that there is no cost to you in time of typing. First, begin every sentence with a capital letter. Second, capitalize "I". Third after every sentence leave two spaces. That's the basics, thats all you need to do here. Now when people read your writing they will not think of you as not carrying about them the reader. For when you ignore the simple basics like this the impression readers have is that you are selfish and care only about your convenience. So, I too do my best to help others and I hope this helps you. My last words on this, you may have the last word if you wish.

regards - tom

you clearly have too much time on your hands tom, the reason for this thread was to assist mopsy but you've gone and turned it into something petty. i pity the managers of the destinations you visit...

shouldn't tom be spelt with a CAPITAL "T"

Hi Cantona7 our itinery goes like this.

Flying from Australia to Capetown
4 Nights Capetown - fly to Hoedsprit
3 Nights Kruger - fly to Jo'berg
1 Night Jo'berg - fly to Vic Falls
2 Nights Vic Falls
3 Nights Chobe - fly to Mfuwe
7 Nights South Luangwa

We are planning on using the guides at each camp/lodge. Budget of around $300 US pppn for our stay in Kruger. We are clueless whether the main park or the private reserves would be better for game viewing.

Thanks again, any advice given is much appreciated

hi mopsy

here are a few pointers

hoedspruit is dead centre kruger. the airport is a stones throw from the Timbavati so you will be able to get a road transfer there to one of the lodges. the timbavati is a fantastic (i neglected to ask you the time of year you are travelling though as game does vary)area for game viewing and the Big 5 does occur there. i have not been there for quite some time and there are a few new places. i am also not sure of the rates there nowadays. my personal favourite is Ngala (operated by CCAfrica) it is not a super luxury camp but more than sufficient. they do have a more upmarket tented camp on the same property but at a higher rate. the majority of their rangers and trackers is usually top notch and since you only have 3 days it may be worth the extra money?

depending on the time of year they may be accomodating as far as rates go if you book directly? don't quote me on this though.

there are various other lodges south of there in the Sabie Sands Game Reserve but it can be busy and will also take much longer to get there and cost more too.

ngala is on a sole traversing area which means you will not bump into any vehicles apart from other ngala vehicles. all vehicles are in radio contact so sightings will be shared. some of the other camps share traversing areas which in my experience can be a little over the top at times and possibly be insensitive to the animals on occasion.

take a look at the CCAfrica website and feel free to ask for more info at any time

good luck
eric

mopsy - Hoedspruit is the gateway into the Timbavati Reserve. In the Timbavati I have been to Kings Camp recently, twice, and highly recommend it. I have not been to Ngala but do have reservations for it (and Kings Camp again) for next Sep 2008. Both are probably within your budget and both have web sites.

Another option at Hoedspruit would be to rent/hire a car from Avis. Then drive yourself into Kruger, about an hours drive from Hoedspruit. Kruger has several nice camps very reasonably priced. You could do your own Kruger for much less than your budget, $150 pppn including the car. The only "problem" with Kruger is seeing the big 5 there, you may or may not. The big cats, lions and leopards can be elusive. While, at Kings Camp I've have seen the big 5 on every visit with lions and leopards on most every game drive.

In Sep 2007 I/we were at Kruger and Kings Camp (and MalaMala). Here is a link to my trip report on Fodors.
http://tinyurl.com/329b8g

regards - tom

I have never been to Kruger and that decision was mostly based on reviews from several friends and family that were disappointed there because they did not see very much due to not being able to drive off road. I don't know if that is true for the whole park, but it was the reason we went to Mala Mala and Timbavati instead of Kruger itself. Many people on this board love Kruger and return many times, but just thought this may be something to consider. Don't want to offend anyone that loves Kruger and can't speak from personal experience but just food for thought.

aowens - True, Kruger is not in the same ball park as the private reserves. For concentration of the big 5 and especially lions and leopards then the Sabi Sand Reserve with its several private and expensive camps can't be beat. If I could go only to one place it would be Sabi Sand. And I also expect to pay $500 to $1,300 pppn. Your choice of MalaMala and the Timbavati was the best one.

We like to go to Kruger to begin our safari. Fly into Joburg, rent a car and drive over to one of the Kruger camps. This gives us total flexibility to recover from the rigors of air travel and time changes. And at very reasonable cost. Although in actuality we are so eager and excited to see game that we are out about as much as possible/allowed.

Guess what I'm trying to say is that if you don't have the budget to do Sabi Sand but do want to see African wildlife, Kruger is a good alternative.

regards - tom

Agree with Tom. On our first game drive in Kruger, 10 minutes from the first camp we came across a rhino. Also saw hundreds of elephants, many lions, hippo, giraffe, hyena and everything else but dogs and leopard. We actually saw more variety in Kruger than at Mala Mala, but it is an entirely different experience, and a lot of fun driving around all day long. You can cook your own meals or eat at the restaurants, spend as much time at a sighting as you want and set your own pace. Sure you can't go off-road in Kruger but when we were there everything seemed to be near the roadway. Nothing is guaranteed, but the private lodges do go out of their way to try and make sure you leave seeing everything on your list.

hey all

i enjoy the odd bit of writing now and then. i thinked that i can like to write a book one of those days.

Hi Mopsy

Looking at what you want to do i would suggest 3 days at Tanda Tula or 3 days at Motswari, they should both fit into your budget and are great!

"10 minutes from the first camp we came across a rhino. Also saw hundreds of elephants, many lions, hippo, giraffe, hyena and everything else but dogs and leopard. We actually saw more variety in Kruger than at Mala Mala,"....

Wow thats great! Really looking forward to my upcoming Kruger trip.

I have been following the Sanparks forum sightings at Berg en Dal and last few days they are seeing a pack of wild dogs almost daily. Seems thay have regular lion and leopard sightins too.