SAFARI TIPS
THE BENEFITS OF STAYING ON A PRIVATE GAME RESERVE IN KRUGER
The Kruger National Park is an iconic South African safari destination and one of Africa’s top safari destinations. At 2-million hectares, Kruger is home to 147 mammal species and over 500 bird species. The number of Big Five are impressive – an estimated 1,500 lion, 2,500 buffalo, 1,000 leopards and 5,000 rhino. Not to mention the regular sightings of cheetah, the rare African wild dog, spotted hyena, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, warthog, and many antelope species.
The neighbouring fences between Kruger and its neighbouring private game reserves, such as Sabi Sands and Timbavati, have been removed. This means that the animals are free-roaming over an area equivalent in size to Switzerland.
Here is why we recommend opting for a private game reserve for your Kruger experience.
Private vs. Public
The public national Kruger Park is government run which means there is standardised accommodation and a number of restrictions for visitors and game-viewing procedures. Compared to this the private game reserves are all run independently. This results in more intimate and exclusive experiences of the Kruger Park and an unforgettable safari experience. Each private reserve is home to a select number of safari lodges. There is also a fair amount of competition between these private safari lodges, which means they are always looking for new ways to offer the best safari experiences, luxury accommodation and fantastic levels of service.
Kruger National Park also has a number of private concessions. These are privatised sections of land within the national park that are for exclusive use by luxury safari lodges. They have to adhere to some of the public park regulations but are otherwise run and managed similarly to the private game reserves.
Exclusivity and Privacy
One of the biggest benefits of choosing a private game reserve or concessions is the privacy that comes with it. You swap out the crowds in the public park, fighting to be front and centre for a great viewing, for a much more authentic and secluded safari experience.
The lodges in the private reserves also share traversing rights. This means that neighbouring lodges can drive onto each other’s land within the same private reserve. This allows game rangers to track animals more extensively making for more spectacular sightings. It still remains an exclusive experience as the number of game-drive vehicles is limited.
Fantastic Game Rangers
A good game ranger is one of the biggest factors in determining the quality of your safari. The right guide will not only show you the safari stars, like the Big Five, giraffe and zebra, but will make the bush come alive with their knowledge of smaller animals, flora and birdlife. The game rangers found at Kruger’s private lodges are experts in their field and will ensure you have world-class wildlife-watching experiences. They go the extra mile to make your safari as authentic, exciting and memorable as possible. Get ready to hear enthralling tales of their time in the bush, learn new things about animals both large and small, share sundowners on an evening game drive and fall in love with Africa!
Incredible Game Viewing Options
The private reserves are not restricted to the rules of the national park. This is one of the greatest benefits to opting for one of Kruger’s private game reserves because it allows for a much more immersive safari experience. You will be go for game drives in open-top vehicles, track animals off-road, go on night drives and even enjoy guided walking safaris – it’s a wonderfully well-rounded experience of the African bush! You will get closer to the animals, have more frequent sightings, feel more secluded and truly engage the wonder and magic of the Kruger National Park.
Luxury Accommodation
The Kruger’s private game reserves offer superb luxury accommodation. Elegant, beautifully decorated to merge seamlessly with the surrounding bush, the safari lodges are reminiscent of the safaris of days gone by but with all the modern luxuries you could hope for. Delicious cuisine, relaxing spas, welcoming atmospheres – they make for the perfect retreat into nature.
