Kruger: Private lodge or self-drive for 3 nights?
 

I will be visiting South Africa for the second time in August and I'm having trouble deciding whether we should stay at a private lodge or do a self-drive for 3 nights.

On our last trip, we stayed at a private lodge in the Sabi Sands (Arathusa) and loved the experience, but the idea of driving ourselves throughout the park is pretty exciting. It would be a lot cheaper too. We've never driven in another country so that makes us a little bit nervous.

If we do decide to stay at a private lodge, we want to spend as little as possible so we are thinking about either the Africa on Foot camp or nThambo Tree Camp. They look fantastic!

Also, before going to Kruger, we will spend 3 nights in Chobe and 3 nights in Victoria Falls (where we will do either a walking safari or a game drive in the Zambezi National Park). We are also going to Durban for a few days after Kruger and we will probably do a day trip to the Tala Game Reserve or the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve. Is it too much time spent on safari?

t is so hard to decide. Please help!

Drive yourself in Kruger National Park. A totally different experience than a private safari camp. You alone explore the back roads (good wide flat gravel) and never know when you will come across a herd of eles or buffalo or zebra. But if there is a lion or leopard near road, expect to see many cars lined up.

http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/

With car rental, park fees, bungalow, gas, food, etc. budget for two (2) people about $250-$300 per day.


regards - tom

I calculated how much the self-drive and the private lodge would cost and there's only a 225$ total difference per person. We're friends and we're each paying for our half of the trip so it wouldn't make a big difference in our budget. Just another thing to consider. I am sure we would enjoy doing a self-drive but I think until the moment we arrive in Kruger, I would always worry about what could go wrong.

"225$ total difference per person."
Obviously depends on private camp, an &Beyond camp or MalaMala would be double that savings. (Not to mention others at 4 times!!).

Worry getting to Kruger?? No big deal, done it three times self driving from JNB. Avis rental car at JNB, 6 hour drive mostly on 4 lane divided tollway. But hey, if your mind is made up, sure, I love private camps, will do some in May, 20 days, 100% safari!!!
regards - tom

Self drive. Great fun, easy, you control where you go and for how long. You can spend the whole day every day out game driving if you want to. You can also take advantage of the sanparks guided game drives at sunset or after dark or even better, do a guided morning walk from one of the camps. A fantastic experience. You don't need a 4x4, a little sedan will do the job.

We love self-driving in Kruger and Umfolozi -- have done it a dozen times or more. Besides the perks mentioned by others, you'll probably meet and talk to some South Africans, not just other foreign visitors.

Well, I hate to be the red apple in a basket of green ones, but I'd have to say; private lodge.

The thing is that 3 nights is short. Basically, that's just two days and the rest is being "in transit". OK, you might be able to squeeze in an evening drive or last morning drive, but I think you know what I mean.

Depending on your own - untrained - eyes to see a decent amount of wildlife during those two days (read; enough to go home with the impression you've had your fill)... My magic 8-ball would say "outlook not so good". You certainly will not see what you saw at Arathusa.

Ciao,

J.

J - I agree completely. Private camps are easy. They take care of everything and generally do a great job. Self drive means you have to shop for food, supplies, etc before you go and is time consuming. For just three nights, it doesn't make sense to me. I love Kruger, but for me it is logistically much more difficult. I don't know how it can only be $225 less, but if it's not a budget-buster, I'd go private.

Yes, three days in Kruger is short but we will spend three nights on safari in Botswana before, plus we plan on spending a day in the Zambezi national park in Zimbabwe. We will also spend a day on safari in a game reserve near Durban. Doing a self-drive looks great and it would be cheaper but I'm not sure it's the right thing for us. Here is the cost breakdown for two people to compare the cost of doing a self-drive versus staying at a private camp (nThambo Tree Camp or Africa on Foot)

Self-drive in Kruger

3 nights at Skukuza + daily conservation fees: 460$
Cheapest car available with insurance, gps, etc: 200$
Food, gas, supplies, optional walks or safari organized by the camp: 300$ (is it too much or too little?)
Total: 960$

Private camp (everything included):
230$ per night x 3 nights x 2 people: 1380$

So there would be about a 200$ difference per person if we go for the private lodge. Its hard to decide!

I'll certainly agree that you will see more wildlife at a private camp. Especially the big 5. If I were going safari -first- time I would spend as much, both time and $$$, I could in private camps. (Like you did before). Just that that I know nothing about camps nThambo Tree Camp or Africa on Foot. $230 per night per person is a great deal, maybe I've been paying twice too much?? That is, at &Beyond camps, Kings Camp, MalaMala?

regards - tom
ps - check both camps at Tripadvisor. Bet they got wonderful reviews, everything does at TA. Wait, I'll do it for you - “Awesome safari experience!” “Another week in paradise” “Loved it..”

I don't agree that you necessarily see more wildlife at a private camp. Self driving I have seen far more over the same time (except wild dogs) than at private camps.

Including the big 5?
In Kruger?

regards - tom

tom - I know you weren't enthralled with the choices I made on my last trip, but I suggest you mix it up a bit. Yes, Timbavati has been a bust for me, but that was due to bad weather luck both times. The day before we arrived at Shindzela the group got out of the vehicle and went on foot to get closer to rhino. I am convinced that those smaller independent camps have more leeway on what they do. I appreciate that. You have three weeks - give one or two of those camps a try. It may not work out, but your expectations are low. Hopefully they'll surprise you (in a good way).

I'd be freaking out not knowing where I'm going two months out. You seem to be feeling a little pressure. Is C going with you or are you on your own?

>> Just that that I know nothing about camps nThambo Tree Camp or Africa on Foot. $230 per night per person is a great deal, maybe I've been paying twice too much?? That is, at &Beyond camps, Kings Camp, MalaMala?

I wouldn't say "twice too much". Let's keep it at "a little too much" :-D

Seriously; MM is a league of it's own. Such a big plot. such exclusivity. And top in luxe as well.

King's Camp; idem when it comes to luxe, I assume. A bit less so if you look at exclusivity and traverse size. See the map:
http://www.sunsafaris.com/south-afri...timbavati-map/
I'd say other camps there are fairly similar in traverse. I don't know what Kings costs. The last time I was there, I chose Simbavati River Lodge, as it was the cheapest option of all the camps sharing their plots in the north of Timbavati. But I admit it was quite a far drive to get to a lion cub sighting on Umlani's plot. So; having traverse is one thing. The location of the lodge within the traverse area is another thing.

Now, if you compare all the above with AOF/nThambo: these two are sister camps, both on the Ross plot in Klaserie. The staff camp is in between them (but you don't see/hear it from either camp).
They share traverse with Gomo Gomo and with Baobab Ridge (the latter only by invitation). But they also share traverse with some plots up north. In total, I'd say total traverse is about similar as those camps in Timbavati.
But there's one caveat; the plots in the south are not connected to the plots in the north. And Klaserie rules forbid them to use cutline roads of plots on which they have no traverse. Hence, for lodge vehicles to get from N to S or vice versa, they need to use the asphalt road that lies in between Klaserie and Timbavati.
Personally, I don't see that as a disadvantage. It's a private road, so there's no traffic. It's quite similar to Kruger NP itself; plenty of asphalt there too. But some might say it spoils the mood a bit?
To be honest; if this is the only caveat that comes with such a fantastic price... to me it is a no-brainer. I went to AOF in 2010 and to nThambo in 2011. Going back to nThambo this year. And to Shindzela and Umkumbe too! :-)

Ciao,

J.

Hi All,
Like CB I always try new camps so I'm sure I will in May. If for no other reason than my budget is not $9K for 20 nights in Kings Camp. And sadly, no, Carolyn not going with me (other plans) so I have to lug all my camera kit myself :). Also means being solo so the dreaded SS can bite my camp $$ rates. I will be looking at all options in Timbavati and Sabi Sand and admit I'm a bit nervous about what I will find in mid-April for May. But it's an approach (super late booking) I've been curious about so now seems a good time to try. If I get too frustrated by process I'll try Sun Safaris as PP recommends. I'm not looking forward to calling camps, talking with reservation clerk, getting the standard published rate, then asking clerk if I can talk to camp manager about a better deal. I'm not much of a "horse trader".

Whatever the traversing rights, so much still depends on where the critters are moving about. I wish I had PP's trip report for his soon safari at those camps before mine starts. More ideas, suggestions, always appreciated, thanks.

regards - tom

<i>Also, before going to Kruger, we will spend 3 nights in Chobe and 3 nights in Victoria Falls (where we will do either a walking safari or a game drive in the Zambezi National Park). We are also going to Durban for a few days after Kruger and we will probably do a day trip to the Tala Game Reserve or the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve. Is it too much time spent on safari?</i>

Are you self-driving and camping in Chobe? At Ihaha campsite? If it were me, I would spend only two nights in Vic Falls and put the extra night into Chobe - maybe two nights in the park at Ihaha campsite and two nights on safari on the Chobe River on a house boat - a fabulous experience, which will offer you a bit of variation. See:

http://www.ichobezi.co.za/where-to-s...zi-safariboats

I am not familiar with Tala, but Hluhluwe Imfolozi is fabulous. However, it is a long drive from Durban, and it would therefore be difficult to visit the reserve on a day trip from Durban. CR

We are going on guided safaris in Chobe and Zimbabwe.

>>I wish I had PP's trip report for his soon safari at those camps before mine starts.

Well, I'm there end of April until half March. So that's about the same time s you, no? :-D

I suggest you skip Tala. If you are talking about the Tala less than an hour away from Durban. It is a lovely place, but it is small and would be a disappointment after Chobe and Kruger. Rather spend another day in Kruger. There is another Tala, closer to Mozambique, but that is far from Durban 4-5 hours. Have never been to that one, but hear good things. It is defininitely not a trip from Durban, but could be done en route from Kruger to Durban.

PP - "Well, I'm there end of April until half March. So that's about the same time s you, no?"
(You mean "half May", of course?)
I leave LAX May 6th, arrive JNB May 8th, leave JNB May 28th. So probably do overlap you. Thus I'll be there before you have returned home and made report?? I think you're from Belgium, so I'll ask around for Belgium Johan. You ask for Tom Graham :)

regards - tom