Going on safari can end up being an expensive affair. After paying for chartered flights to remote destinations and covering the cost of the accommodation; there’s barely any funds left for that double gin and tonic. And we all know that gin and tonics go hand in hand with safaris. It’s an old adage that the quinine in the tonic that repels mosquitoes. Spending a large budget on a safari is fine if you’re a Rockefeller. But, if like me, you’re the “other feller” you’ll need an affordable and accessible safari destination. This is why I love the Kruger – it’s ideal for a variety of budgets.
Having been to the Kruger’s private reserves on numerous occasions via a variety of different modes of transport, I decided to write about why the Kruger is the most accessible and affordable safari destination.
I am going to use three reserves as an example for this post. The Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (top 10 reasons to visit the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve), the Timbavati Game Reserve and the southern part of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. The Timbavati and the southern Sabi are highly popular reserves with first time visitors to the Kruger. The Klaserie is a lesser-visited private reserve, rich with a variety of small game and large predators.
Here are my top 4 reasons why Kruger is both accessible and affordable
1. It is easy to self-drive to the Kruger
The Kruger reserves have well-developed gravel roads which are signposted. There is the ocassional roadblock when the natural elements hit the landscape and roads become destroyed. However, lodges generally either create new roads or block off roads that cannot be accessed. In general, you do not need to hire a 4×4 to navigate your way through the reserves to your safari lodge. We actually hired a small, cheap rental which was sufficient. The entire self-drive trip between Sabi and the Klaserie was done in a Toyota Corolla, which I deliberately threw around like a monster truck. That was a joke.
Upon arrival at O.R. Tambo you will notice a number of different car hire companies available. The route to the Kruger is very straightforward . However, it is recommended you hire a GPS with your car. When driving to Sabi, we actually used the Lion Sands GPS co-ordinates which were accurate. The only annoying part of the route is driving through White River where the lines on the road are merely a suggestion of where to drive and not actually adhered to ! There are also two toll gates en route which require you to pay a fee. In total the drive took seven hours to get to Sabi.
All you need to do is get to Shaws Gate which serves as the entry point to numerous lodges. Once at Shaws Gate, there are creatively placed wooden signboards with the lodges’ names and distance to each lodge. Just be aware that there are numerous signboards to the Paul Kruger gate and road signage to Shaws Gate is not well-depicted.
So how do you know you have reached Shaws Gate? You will come across a massive wooden signboard with Mala Mala, Singita, Lion Sands and a host of other lodges listed on there. Turn up this road and follow the gravel road until the gate entrance. Don’t forget that whenever you enter a private reserve you will need to pay the gate and conservation fee, which varies in price according to the reserve. Personally, I do not recommend entering at Newington Gate. It’s quite a tricky route and not as enjoyable as Shaws Gate. Shaws gate closes at 23:00 so you have ample time to get lost. Not that you will – I trust your sense of direction.
Getting to the Timbavati and Klaserie is equally as easy. You’ll need to drive past Hoedspruit airport and enter via the Timbavati Gate. Although you can enter through Orpen and Incheni Gate, the easiest is Timbavati. Either follow the GPS co-ordinates of your chosen lodge or if you’re staying at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp are accurate. The Timbavati Gate is located right near the Hoedspruit airport. Once again, you’ll need to pay a conservation fee – bring that cash!
Always advise your lodge of your proposed arrival time. If you do not arrive on time they will either contact your booking agent or send a ranger out to find you if you’re stuck. Take the lodge’s number with you.
These are the wooden signboards that appear at Shaws Gate in the Sabi Sand Reserve
After Driving 10 Minutes through the Sabi we still saw signage to our camp.
The quality of the gravel roads in the Sabi Sands. Not bad at all !
The Klaserie road - easy to drive.
2. There are daily road shuttles/ transfers from O.R. Tambo airport to the Kruger
There are a number of realiable shuttles that service the Kruger region. The transfer vehicle could pick you up from the airport and take you to the lodge directly or to a central meeting point where you will be fetched by someone from the lodge. There are also shuttle companies that transfer guests between lodges. These services run daily at scheduled times. Catching a transfer is the ideal option for guests who do not drive or who are aprehensive about exploring the South African road systems. The beauty about a transfer? You get to take in the scenery while someone else does the driving!
You could also combine a self-drive with a transfer. Why not get a transfer vehicle for the long haul drive from O.R Tambo and then pick-up a car from one of the towns close to your chosen reserve in the Kruger? This will give you the best of both worlds !
3. Direct flights from international airports to major Kruger Airports
SA Airlink flies from O.R. Tambo to Hoedspruit Airport and there are direct flights from Cape Town to Hoedspruit (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays). Hoedspruit is the main airport serving the Timbavati and the Klaserie reserves. The airport is about 5 – 10 minutes from the Timbavati gate. Your lodge will come and pick you up from the airport – provided you arrange this beforehand. Phalaborwa airport is roughly an hour away from the Klaserie and Timbavati; and there are connecting flights from O.R Tambo to Phalaborwa airport.
The Skukuza Airport is due to open for commercial flights on 1 November this year, which will create greater daily accessibilityto surrounding camps. At the moment guests coming to Sabi could choose to fly into the Kruger/Mpumalanga International Airport located between Nelspruit and White River.
4. Affordable lodges in premier private reserves
The Sabi is home to premier, luxury lodges that fit the elite budget. However, the Umkumbe Safari Lodge in the heart of the Sabi offers an affordable safari experience that will give guests travelling on a budget the opportunity to explore one of the Kruger’s most loved reserves. The Klaserie offers unparalleled game viewing opportunities and the rates of the lodges are reasonable.
The Kruger, in my mind, is the most accessible and affordable safari destinations in Africa.
One of the rooms at Umkumbe Safari Lodge.
Pool with a view at Umkumbe Safari Lodge.
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