Finest Kruger Park Safaris

The Best Kruger Park Safaris

A safari in the Kruger Park will allow you to view more large mammals than any other national park in Africa. African Sky has been conducting private overland safaris and offering fly-in safari packages to the park and the private reserves that form part of Greater Kruger - most notably the Sabi Sand and Timbavati since 1998.

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Kruger National Park Safari Package Types

Our Kruger Park safaris are aimed at providing guests with more than just prolific Big Five game viewing. It is about a spiritual encounter with the African wilderness, a visceral reawakening of the senses. This wild Eden will creep into your heart and lure you back time and time again. Every time you venture out on a game drive is a novel experience, spiked with excitement and the promise of another memorable sighting.

Private Overland

These safari adventures explore Kruger accompanied by a private African Sky guide whose intimate knowledge of the Fauna & Flora, attractions, and history of the park will add tremendous value to your safari.

Personal

Personal lodges are the basis from which open 4X4 safaris are enjoyed in pursuit of the Big 5 and the lesser mammals of Kruger. Game drives are on open 4X4 vehicles.

Luxury

Fly-in safari packages visit Luxury lodges in private concessions in the Kruger Park or one of the Private Game Reserves that form part of the Greater Kruger National Park.

Exclusive To-End

The most luxurious and intimate of all, the Greater Kruger Park's Lodges will provide an exclusive retreat from which safaris are conducted on surrounding lands.

Tailor-Made

Allow the African Sky team to customize a safari to Kruger based on your unique interests and requirements within the constraints of the available budget.

Finest Safari Packages

These Safari Packages recommended by African Sky will make your visit to Kruger a memorable adventure.

Two Kruger Park Lodges

5 Days From: ZAR 69,270 pp Standard personal Code: KP11

A safari devoted to exploring the Kruger Park from two fine personal lodges located in two different private concessions.

Greater Kruger & Zululand

7 Days From: ZAR 69,270 pp Luxury Code: S14

This luxury safari combines the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve with Phinda in northern KwaZulu natal for an unforgettable safari adventure.

Private National Park Safari

15 Days From: ZAR 69,270 pp National Parks Camps Code: S29

This private overland safari visits some of South Africa's finest national parks. From Kruger and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi in the north to Addo in the south.

In-Depth Kruger Park Safari

7 Days From: ZAR 69,270 pp National Park Camps Code: S31

A week-long private safari in the Kruger National Park accompanied by an experienced African Sky guide - the safari explores Kruger from three camps.

Luxury Timbavati & Sabi Sand

7 Days From: ZAR 69,270 pp Personal & Luxury Code: KP05

Luxurious lodges in two of South Africa's premier private game reserves provide accommodation on this safari devoted to open 4X4 game drives in pristine wilderness areas.

Cape Town & Sabi Sand

7 Days From: ZAR 69,270 pp Exclusive Top-End Code: S06

This package features two of South Africa's top destinations. It combines Cape Town with a Big Five safari in the Sabi Sand.

Why Choose Kruger for your safari?

Exceptional Diversity

The Kruger National Park's biodiversity statistics are nothing short of astonishing: Almost 150 different species of mammals; more than 500 identified bird species; 118 reptile species; 35 amphibians; 53 species of fish, and nearly 2000 different species of flora scattered across five distinct eco-zones. These factors combined make for the most rewarding and prolific game viewing experiences imaginable.

Wide Range of Accommodation Options

For your safari in the Kruger National Park, you'll have various accommodations from which to choose. There is something to suit every budget or interest, from bare-bones camping with your tent to the opulent safari lodges tucked away in remote corners of the park and the private game reserves that share an unfenced border with it.

Easy Access & Great Infrastructure

The Kruger National Park offers easy safari access. You can travel comfortably overland from Johannesburg - a drive of around five hours, depending on the entrance gate - fly commercially (around one hour) to one of four different airports, or be chartered to an airstrip in one of the private game reserves. The park's excellent infrastructure also makes self-drive and privately guided safaris possible.

Experiences to Savor on Safari in Kruger

Nocturnal Soundtrack

The sounds of the bushveld coming alive at night is magical. Along with the typical chorus of crickets and the hoots of owls, you'll feel your spine tingle at the not-so-distant roar of a lion, the eerie laughter of a pack of hyenas, and the reverberating grunts of hippos out to feed.

Predators on a hunt

Predators on a hunt Watching Africa's majestic predators - lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog - stealthily stalk and take down their prey is something that stays with you. There's something visceral about it and the rapid succession of emotions - suspense, sympathy, reverence. You'll undoubtedly find yourself in awe of this circle of life.

Herd antics

Often the most rewarding sightings involve simply stopping the vehicle and observing the interactions between a pride of lions, a herd of elephants, or a troop of baboons. The hierarchal structures, the quarrels, the affection, and the frolicking are all fascinating to observe.

FAQ

How often are game drives conducted on a private overland safari?

The duration of game drives depends entirely on you. You can spend the entire day exploring the park and looking for wildlife if you'd like. Your guide will plan your route to ensure a lunch stop at a picnic site or another rest camp. Alternatively, you can venture out for shorter trips and relax in camp at your behest. Discuss your preferences with your guide.

Where will we enjoy our meals during our overland safari?

We provide a stipend for breakfast and dinner daily as part of your package. These meals are served at the rest camp's restaurants, typically made up of standard local franchises offering fare like burgers, sandwiches, and a buffet.

Besides game drives, are there other safari activities that we can enjoy?

Besides game drives, are there other safari activities that we can enjoy? Yes, but this depends mainly on which rest camp or private lodge you are staying at. At an additional fee, guests staying in rest camp accommodation can embark on guided morning or afternoon walks accompanied by a park ranger. Bush breakfasts, dinners, and mountain biking trails at select camps are also offered. An optional bush walk is typically offered between breakfast and lunch at no extra cost at private lodges.

Which part of the Kruger National Park offers the best game viewing opportunities?

The best areas for Big Five game viewing are typically south of the Olifants River, particularly camps like Satara (the 'cat camp'), Lower Sabie, and Skukuza. Lower Sabie and Skukuza benefit from the bounteous flow of the Sabie River. At the same time, the savanna surrounding Satara supports a wealth of plains game species (and the predators that prey upon them). It must be noted, however, that sightings can never be guaranteed. Kruger Park is a wild place, and its animals are equally so.

Should I opt for a private overland safari or a fly-in safari?

This question is often a topic of hot debate, but it depends mainly on your budget and then on your interests. If your budget is modest, you prefer a relaxed schedule, and you enjoy the challenge and thrill of spotting your own game, an overland Kruger Park safari is the ideal option. If you have some funds to spare, relish the finer things in life, and prefer a more intimate experience, choose a fly-in package.

I have specific dietary requirements. Will the lodges/rest camps be able to accommodate me?

Most of the time, yes. The restaurants at the park's rest camps serve various meals and can easily cater to vegetarians. If you have any allergies or require halal or kosher meals, communicate this to us early so we can liaise with the lodges or reach out to the park's restaurants.

We have small children. Will they be allowed on game drives?

Many private lodges have age restrictions on children staying at the lodge (e.g., no children under 12), and most have open-air game drive restrictions for children under 6 (it may vary from lodge to lodge). Please enquire about a specific property based on the ages of your children.

There are no age restrictions if traveling overland with an African Sky guide, as your vehicle will be private and closed.

On a separate note, Kruger Park is a malaria area - most physicians advise against young children taking anti-malaria prophylactics. Consider exploring one of South Africa's many malaria-free Big 5 safari areas, like Madikwe, Pilanesberg, Shamwari, and Addo, which may be a better idea.

Which private game reserve is the best?

The Sabi Sand is the best of Kruger Park's plush extensions. Largely due to the wealth of luxury lodges and the extraordinarily high frequency of leopard sightings. It must be noted, however, that reserves with less traffic could offer superior game viewing. Do not overlook lesser-known wildlife areas like Manyeleti and Balule, nor the private concessions within the park itself.

Which airport will I be flying to?

If you've opted for a fly-in package, the airport will depend on which camp or lodge you are staying at. Phalaborwa, for example, caters to guests exploring the park's northern reaches, including camps like Mopani, Shingwedzi, and Punda Maria and lodges like The Outpost. Hoedspruit is for the central areas of the park, as well as game reserves like Timbavati, Klaserie, and Balule. Nelspruit (Kruger Mpumalanga) serves the southern region of the park and the Sabi Sand. However, the best and most convenient access is via Skukuza Airport within the park itself. Your game viewing begins when you step off onto the tarmac.