lenlu

Hi guys,
I'm wondering if you can suggest a tour operator for shorter safaris to Kruger? I'm thinking six nights. We'd be going in August of next year and I have two teenagers. I've been on safari before to Tanzania and it was two weeks of amazing. The kids won't want to stay nearly that long but we'd like them to experience the park and see the animals. We'd fly to Nelspruit to get close to the park. Can anyone suggest a tour operator? I used Africa Adventure Company before and while it was a great experience, it was incredibly expensive. I'd like a more affordable option if possible. Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thank you!

christabir

No need to use an agent. If you have 2 lodges you want to visit, just contact them and they can arrange everything including transfers, etc. If you don’t have lodges in mind, share a budget and ages of your kids and we can recommend some great ones. There are excellent lodges in all luxury/price ranges. I’m not comfortable giving agent recommendations on this forum. If you use an agent, and there are a few good ones, and they agree to work within a reasonable budget, be sure they stay within that budget.

Nelspruit might not be the best airport to use. It depends on the lodges you choose. There are also charters from Johannesburg.

All 6 nights in Kruger? Two good combos in 6 nights are Kirkmans or Ngala with Phinda or Mala Mala with Mashatu. Very different experiences and ecosystems and easily combined. Both are in the higher rate range, though good values in my view because the reserves and lodges are excellent.

Great family trip!

lenlu

Hi Christabir, thank you for sharing your ideas! So what you mentioned is what I was wondering, if I can just cut out a tour operator but I didn't mention it in my post. That would be ideal. The boys are 14 and 15 and I'd prefer 4/5 star places depending on the price which goes up since there are four of us. : ) I kept the safari shorter at six nights or so to keep the price at a place where we can still afford to go. But also, my kids really won't be able to look at animals for more than six nights or even five if I'm honest. I don't know if it's possible but if I can keep the cost at $1000 to $1500 a night, that would be really great but may not be possible. Is that totally unreasonable for four people? Maybe. I will look at the places you mentioned, thank you!

lenlu

Oh my, I see this will be around 20K for under a week. Hmmm...might not be possible.

Safari_Craig

How about this? No need to spend the kind of money suggested above.

Day 1 Arrive Polokwane (PTG) on South African Airways/SAA. Road transfer to Mashatu Tented Camp (ZAR 4,500 for four people = roughly $360 total). (ZAR = South Africa Rand)

Day 1,2,3 Mashatu Tented Camp. $415 per person per night/pppn. Kids over 12 welcome. http://mashatu.com/mashatu-tent-camp/

Day 4 Six hour road transfer to the Timbavati - roughly ZAR 8,000 = roughly $616 total.

Day 4,5,6 Three nights at Kambaku River Sands. Kids over 12 welcome. Rate = ZAR 7,2000 pppn = $554 pppn.

Day 7 Road transfer to Hoedspruit/HDS. Rougly $50 pp. Fly home.

*Kambaku has stay4pay3 in June 2018 so an extra night would be free.

Total cost = $12,804

You should get the best price if you book the above with a US based agent that does not have CC fees on top of above prices. I bet Mark or Kyle at Africa Adventure Company would be able to do this for you. I know both well - good friends and tough competitors. Perhaps your last trip just used more expensive camps?

Craig Beal

Safari_Craig

If you try to go any lower than the above cost of $12,000 for six nights you will most likely be on a fully fenced reserve (there are no fences at Masahtu or Kambaku and Kambaku is open to the Kruger National Park on the east side) OR you will have greater than six guests per safari vehicle OR you will conduct game drives in some sort of national park land with no control of the # of vehicles at prime animal sightings OR a combination of these factors.

BTW - I have rented a Toyota Hilux in Jo'burg and drove myself on the above routes. I have also traveled to Mashatu by private plane and by shared plane (like Angel Gabriel). The truck was over $1,200 for ten days + fuel so no savings vs. road transfers.

Craig Beal

christabir

No agents required in S Africa. It’s easier than E Africa to plan on your own and the lodges arrange transfers all the time. There’s just so many options! Tough to find the right spot.

Check out Gomo Gomo. Really affordable, great family friendly lodge and in a good wildlife area. Big waterhole in camp so the animals come visit during the day. It gets great reviews and families seem to love it. It’s where I’ll be taking my grand nieces and nephews when they are a little bigger. It’s not 4/5 star but the lodges I mention above are 3-5 times more expensive (you wanted 4-5 star). Shindzela might work but I’m not sure they have any family accommodations so you might have to split up 2-2. It’s pretty rustic but has all the basics. They have a pretty reasonable rate for a private safari vehicle if you want to splurge on that for your family for a day or two.

Any chance you’d want to try a self drive in Kruger Park? It’s like Yellowstone and you can make your own schedule so your kids don’t need to stick to a strict schedule. Great fun! Stay in Skukuza so your boys have more to do in camp than the other rest camps. They have nice bungalows and cottages with bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor space. The guest houses in the park are gorgeous but sell out early. See www.SanParks.org for info, availability and booking. A bonus is it is an excellent value and you’ll see all sorts of wildlife on your own, on your own schedule. We stretch our budget and do a private lodge and self drive in Kruger. That way you can do a 4-5 star for 3 nights and then Kruger if you want! There are restaurants, shops, services and even a museum and golf at Skukuza. It’s a hoot to have a nice braai (bbq) out in the bush too! You can fly back to JNB from Skukuza.

I’m not well versed on which camps allow kids. Maybe Motswari, Arathusa, Inyati, Idube, Kambaku, Nkorho. Ivory Riversong has just 2 tents if you want a very intimate experience for your family. An acquaintance was there recently and loved it.

Choosing the right experience for your family might be tough but you’ll find it!

BTW - I drove to Mashatu last year in a small 2x4 SUV and spent about $500 for over 2 weeks, also doing Kruger and the area near Phinda. No need for a 4x4 most times of the year for the river crossing to Mashatu (and you can drive around to the bridge) and unnecessary in Kruger. I took a 2 person charter a few years back and that was great fun but my husband didn’t enjoy himself in that teeny tiny plane. There are also road transfers available at the same rate for 4 people as for 1. Interesting ride! It’s a beautiful part of the world, especially the Waterberg and Mapungubwe.

Safari_Craig

Christabir is right. No need for the hilux for the above plan. Even a Corolla would make it in the winter when there is no mud.

Crag Beal

lenlu

Oh you guys are the best! I went to bed turning this over in my mind with a headache thinking it's just too much for the time. I did use more expensive camps like Mbalageti and Treetops in Tarangire last time. The thing is, we stopped at the Sopa or Serena lodge (forget now which) for lunch and didn't care for it and that is why I mentioned 4/5 star places. But it's a good reality check since it's not possible. We want something nice, safe, clean but I looked at Kirkman's which is amazing but it doesn't need to be that fancy (good thing, eh?)! Mashatu and Kambaku look great and at a good price that leaves the door open to try to put this together. Thank you for your suggestions and the links! I appreciate your reminder about a crowded vehicle and crammed vehicles where the animals are seen. Those are important details. We were on a private safari last time, so it was just two of us-- this will be a new experience but we'll hopefully meet people! Also a great point about a fenced reserve vs. open. I'm impressed you drove yourself and I think we aren't that brave but I will chat with my husband and see if he's up for it. Yesterday was my first day of looking so I need to look at a map to get a clearer picture in my head and then look at internal flights. I have not contacted AAC (I spoke with Alison long ago and my last agent is no longer with the company it appears) but I won't rule it out. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and pearls of wisdom! I shall continue to look...

lenlu

Christabir,
Thank you so much for your ideas/thoughts. We haven't considered driving ourselves but that's not completely out of the question. I think I might be too nervous to do it though but you and Craig have both done it which is encouraging! I'm with your husband on the two seater plane. Did that once in Rarotonga, Cook Islands and I don't think I want to do it again, haaaaa! Goma Goma looks great though and I will check out the other places you mentioned. There is a ton of research to do and you're right, I did specify 4/5 star lodges. I didn't realize the price for all four of use would really crush the budget. That was silly of me! But you and Craig have given me options that make this trip possible. It would be very convenient to fly from Skukuza to JNB so I'm going to take a look at it. Thanks a million, this is really helpful!