How far in advance one should make reservations for Kruger and flights?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,892
How far in advance one should make reservations for Kruger and flights?
Seems our next trip to South Africa (Kruger, Garden Route or alternatives) and Victoria Falls has slipped from May/June next year to November next year.
So I have two questions:
- How far in advance one should start look for/making accommodation reservations at Kruger?
- Except Garden Route which I have not seen yet and Panorama Route (which I've seen) what are other recommended nice and safe road trips in South Africa?
So I have two questions:
- How far in advance one should start look for/making accommodation reservations at Kruger?
- Except Garden Route which I have not seen yet and Panorama Route (which I've seen) what are other recommended nice and safe road trips in South Africa?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,892
Term 'safe' was used not to the traffic situation and road trip itself - after driving in Indonesia and Malaysia I do not think South Africa is any more dangerous, however, if one wants to train him/herself on pothole avoidance course, R535/R533/R536 are definitely recommended places to go - but rather to crime situation at stop areas.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 108
Seems our next trip to South Africa (Kruger, Garden Route or alternatives) and Victoria Falls has slipped from May/June next year to November next year.
So I have two questions:
- How far in advance one should start look for/making accommodation reservations at Kruger?
- Except Garden Route which I have not seen yet and Panorama Route (which I've seen) what are other recommended nice and safe road trips in South Africa?
So I have two questions:
- How far in advance one should start look for/making accommodation reservations at Kruger?
- Except Garden Route which I have not seen yet and Panorama Route (which I've seen) what are other recommended nice and safe road trips in South Africa?
Leaving from Cape Town, you can do either the Garden Route via the N2, or head in the direction of Namibia on the N7. Lots to see.do on the way if you don't want to go the whole way there.
Leaving from Joburg, the drive to Swaziland is very beautiful, you can also split off and head to Kruger or Mozambique depending on how you are feeling.
Safety wise, as long as you are only stopping in designated areas (petrol stations, small towns etc.), you should have no major concerns RE crime.
#5
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,090
I'm booking a trip now for next May. I tend to think that you should book as soon as know what your plans are. Otherwise, you know the plans, but the airlines and hotels don't!
RichardAtCT, you mentioned a few places nice to drive to in your post. Can you take a rental car from JNB out of the country?
RichardAtCT, you mentioned a few places nice to drive to in your post. Can you take a rental car from JNB out of the country?
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,892
I was planning to allocate about 18 days for whole trip: 2 days for VF, and the rest splitted across Cape Town, Garden Route and Kruger. How many days the drive towards Namibia will take? I don't want to backtrack.
Leaving from Joburg, the drive to Swaziland is very beautiful, you can also split off and head to Kruger or Mozambique depending on how you are feeling.
Safety wise, as long as you are only stopping in designated areas (petrol stations, small towns etc.), you should have no major concerns RE crime.
Safety wise, as long as you are only stopping in designated areas (petrol stations, small towns etc.), you should have no major concerns RE crime.
Drive to Namibia and back on a rental car is a common thing, I was told, however due to insurance requirements rental price doubles.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 220
Here's a few photos of the bungalows available in the various camps within Kruger. This one was for 1/2 people, and had shower/WC as well as kitchen either inside or on the patio. Importantly, they are air conditioned and have a fridge!
Other options, apart from camping/tents are huts which are similar to the above, but without the bathroom or kitchen. I think they may have a sink.
Other options, apart from camping/tents are huts which are similar to the above, but without the bathroom or kitchen. I think they may have a sink.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 108
I never investigated that direction. Could you tell what are highlights there?
I was planning to allocate about 18 days for whole trip: 2 days for VF, and the rest splitted across Cape Town, Garden Route and Kruger. How many days the drive towards Namibia will take? I don't want to backtrack.
Any countries except SA are not an option unfortunately - couple of people in our group do not have visa free entry anywhere in that region and getting visas from South Africa are enough hassle already.
I was planning to allocate about 18 days for whole trip: 2 days for VF, and the rest splitted across Cape Town, Garden Route and Kruger. How many days the drive towards Namibia will take? I don't want to backtrack.
Any countries except SA are not an option unfortunately - couple of people in our group do not have visa free entry anywhere in that region and getting visas from South Africa are enough hassle already.
#9
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 630
Even though early November is less popular than winter (it will be hot and may have started raining), the more popular locations (south and central) can still sell out quickly in the National Park rest camps. As I understand it, accommodation opens for booking 10-11 months out, on the first day of the month, so for November 2018 bookings will open 1 January 2018.
Yes unfortunately that budget will be incredibly tight, even for NP rest camps. With conservation fees (assuming non-southern African) of $20-25 per person per day, you may only be able to afford the shared kitchen, shared bathroom 'huts'. Note that, when staying within Kruger NP you pay conservation fees per night (your last night's conservation fee covers the day you leave the park), which helps! You also mention a group travelling. The number of family cottages and guest houses are small, so book early, but you might get much better accommodation standards if you share the cost. And by self-catering you can save some money. Roodewal is probably more than you want to pay, but it is a camp you book in its entirety. The cottages have some great advantages like the ones with amazing views at Oliphants or Fish Eagle at Letaba which has its own private bird hide. If you are willing to 'rough it' and be self sufficient, two bird hides are available to hire overnight (Sable Dam and Shipandani) at a very good cost because of the limited facilities, but you need to get up very early to vacate for day visitors. The sanparks forum has loads of information on the rest camps and accommodation types.
Yes unfortunately that budget will be incredibly tight, even for NP rest camps. With conservation fees (assuming non-southern African) of $20-25 per person per day, you may only be able to afford the shared kitchen, shared bathroom 'huts'. Note that, when staying within Kruger NP you pay conservation fees per night (your last night's conservation fee covers the day you leave the park), which helps! You also mention a group travelling. The number of family cottages and guest houses are small, so book early, but you might get much better accommodation standards if you share the cost. And by self-catering you can save some money. Roodewal is probably more than you want to pay, but it is a camp you book in its entirety. The cottages have some great advantages like the ones with amazing views at Oliphants or Fish Eagle at Letaba which has its own private bird hide. If you are willing to 'rough it' and be self sufficient, two bird hides are available to hire overnight (Sable Dam and Shipandani) at a very good cost because of the limited facilities, but you need to get up very early to vacate for day visitors. The sanparks forum has loads of information on the rest camps and accommodation types.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 630
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,892
If you buy an International Wild Card for a couple travelling together, it saves you money after 6 days/nights. Current fees are here: https://www.sanparks.org/docs/touris...time1500363862.
Am I correct?
#14
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 630
International Wildcard is R3455 per couple until October 2017. Your mixing up SA resident / citizen fees and International. Still offers good savings if visiting a number of parks.
#15
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
That Wildcard price you quote is for South African and SADC guests only. For "International" guests it costs an eye-watering R3,455 per couple!